Thought for the Day

I read an article on KSL today that made me remember this talk from General Conference. I couldn't remember when it was, or who the speaker had been, but I had remembered the message. I did some searching on LDS.org and found the paragraph I had remembered.

"Yet sorrowfully, on occasion, some are willing to set aside the precious gospel truths restored by Joseph Smith because they get diverted on some historical issue or some scientific hypothesis not central to their exaltation, and in so doing they trade their spiritual birthright for a mess of pottage. They exchange the absolute certainty of the Restoration for a doubt, and in that process they fall into the trap of losing faith in the many things they do know because of a few things they do not know. There will always be some seemingly intellectual crisis looming on the horizon as long as faith is required and our minds are finite, but likewise there will always be the sure and solid doctrines of the Restoration to cling to, which will provide the rock foundation upon which our testimonies may be built."

-Elder Tad Callister, Oct. 2009 General Conference

I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints because of the truths that I know, because of the sure and solid doctrines of the Restoration. I know that God lives, and the He is my Father. I know that Jesus Christ lives and is my Savior. I know that Joseph Smith is a true prophet of God. I know that the Book of Mormon is true. I know that the First Presidency and Twelve Apostles are true prophets of God. I know that true happiness comes from obeying the commandments of God. But I also recognize that I do not know or understand everything. But I can't sacrifice the great truths that I do know for doubt about something that is not central to my exaltation.


My Grandma shared this scripture years ago at the funeral of my great-grandma, and I still remember it vividly. 

"Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend."

-Mosiah 4:9

We have to believe that God comprehends more than we do. We have to believe that we can't and won't understand everything in this life. But there are things we can understand and know in this life, and the rest is where faith comes in. Heavenly Father sees the big picture, and while I can't see all of it, I can see enough to know who He is which makes me willing to place my hand in His and let Him lead me.