Elder David A. Bednar: Taking action is the exercise of faith. The children of Israel are carrying the ark of the covenant. They come to the River Jordan. The promise is they will cross over on dry land. When does the water part? When their feet are wet. They walk into the river—act. Power follows—the water parts.
We oftentimes believe, “I’m going to have this perfect understanding, and then I’m going to transform that into what I do.” I would suggest that we have enough to get started. We have a sense of the right direction. Faith is a principle—the principle—of action and of power. True faith is focused in and on the Lord Jesus Christ and always leads to action.
(See “Seek Learning by Faith” [address to Church Educational System religious educators, Feb. 3, 2006], lds.org/media-library)
Discuss:Why does true faith always lead to action? Why is faith necessary for God to help us temporally and spiritually?
Read:Matthew 6:30 and the quote from the Lectures on Faith (on the right)
Commit:Commit to do the following actions during the week. Check the box when you complete each action.
Show your faith this Sunday by keeping the Sabbath day holy and reverently partaking of the sacrament.
Read from the Book of Mormon every day.
Read the scriptures on page 45. Choose one and share it with your family or friends.
Scriptures about Faith in Action
Because Daniel would not stop praying, he was thrown into a den of lions, but “God … sent his angel, and … shut the lions’ mouths, … and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God” (Daniel 6:22–23; see also verses 16–21).
The Lord gave Lehi the Liahona to guide his family, and “it did work for them according to their faith in God. … [When] they were slothful, and forgot to exercise their faith and diligence … they did not progress in their journey” (Alma 37:40–41).
“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse … and prove me now herewith … if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it” (Malachi 3:10).
During a famine, Elijah asked a widow to give him her last meal. Elijah promised that because of her faith the Lord would provide food to her, and her food never ran out. (See 1 Kings 17.)
“When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them” (Isaiah 41:17; see also verse 18).