My Foundation: Exercise Faith in Jesus Christ—Maximum Time: 20 Minutes

Ponder:

Ask yourself, “How does my faith in Jesus Christ help me handle hard times?”

Watch:

“Exercise Faith in Jesus Christ,” available at https://churchofjesuschrist.org/study/video/self-reliance-videos [1:43]. (No video? Read the transcript for “Exercise Faith in Jesus Christ.”)

Exercise Faith in Jesus Christ

If you are unable to watch the video, read this script.

man carrying the ark of the covenant

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], ChurchofJesusChrist.org/media-library.)

Read:

The following scripture passage and statements by Church leaders:

“And neither at any time hath any wrought miracles until after their faith; wherefore they first believed in the Son of God” (Ether 12:18).

“Faith in God includes faith in His purposes as well as in His timing. We cannot fully accept Him while rejecting His schedule” (Neal A. Maxwell, That Ye May Believe [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1992], 84).

“Faith in Jesus Christ propels us to do things we otherwise would not do. Faith that motivates us to action gives us more access to His power. We also increase the Savior’s power in our lives when we make sacred covenants and keep those covenants with precision. Our covenants bind us to Him and give us godly power” (Russell M. Nelson, “Drawing the Power of Jesus Christ into Our Lives,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 41).

“We can feel joy even while having a bad day, a bad week, or even a bad year!

“My dear brothers and sisters, the joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives.

“When the focus of our lives is on God’s plan of salvation … and Jesus Christ and His gospel, we can feel joy regardless of what is happening—or not happening—in our lives. Joy comes from and because of Him. He is the source of all joy” (Russell M. Nelson, “Joy and Spiritual Survival,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2016, 82).

Discuss:

Why is faith necessary for God to strengthen us temporally, emotionally, and spiritually?

Activity

Step 1: As a group, read the quotes below.

Step 2: Discuss how acting on these prophetic priorities can help you have more faith in Jesus Christ.

Prophetic Priorities and Promises

“The more we know about the Savior’s ministry and mission—the more we understand His doctrine and what He did for us—the more we know that He can provide the power that we need for our lives” (Russell M. Nelson, “Drawing the Power of Jesus Christ into Our Lives,” Ensign or Liahona, Apr. 2017, 39).

“Your faith will grow not by chance, but by choice. … When was the last time that you read the Book of Mormon from cover to cover? Read it again. It will increase your faith” (Neil L. Andersen, “Faith Is Not by Chance, but by Choice,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2015, 66–67).

“Ordinances that are received worthily and remembered continually open the heavenly channels through which the power of godliness can flow into our lives. … The Sabbath day and the holy temple are two specific sources of divine help instituted by God to assist us in rising above the level and corruption of the world” (David A. Bednar, “Exceeding Great and Precious Promises,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2017, 91–92).

Commit:

I will choose one thing to do this week to strengthen my faith in Jesus Christ.