March - May 2008 Edition

Volume 4, Issue 2

Bishop's Office: Exercising Faith

By Todd Dudley

Why is it that whenever I turn around, the family room or kitchen is a mess? Why do I constantly lose the battle with weight unless I'm diligent about exercise and eating right? Why can't the room just stay clean—or better yet, clean itself? Why can't I just snap my fingers and watch the weight drip off? Unfortunately, the tendency toward disorder, toward the less desirable, is the default in life, a condition called entropy. The idea is that it takes constant effort not only to move things forward, but even just to keep things as they are.

The principle of entropy holds true in our spiritual lives, also. If we are not constantly striving to progress, the natural tendency is to regress, to shrink. In Helaman 3:36 we read about the Nephites and the "great pride which had gotten into the hearts of the people; and it was because of their exceedingly great riches and their prosperity in the land; and it did grow upon them from day to day." The natural course for the pride that they had allowed to enter their hearts, if left unchecked, was to grow. Just as weeds that naturally spring forth and need very little encouragement or nourishment to flourish, and have done so since Adam and Eve left the presence of God in the Garden, natural inclinations such as pride seem to grow all too naturally, eventually taking over our garden--unless we intervene. In Helaman 3:35 we read about some of the Nephites who did just that:

"Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God."

It takes constant effort, such as the example of fasting and praying oft, in order for us to reach the spiritual heights that our Father desires for us. Unless we are willing to exercise our faith in such a way, we will shrink until we become, as described by Elder Maxwell, spiritual ciphers.

Let us constantly work against the natural tendencies in all of us by exercising our faith unto repentance, working out our salvation, never resting in this constant struggle for our souls. And then we will be able, "having done all, to stand" (Eph 6:13).