We all have faith. We have faith that we eat, and the food will sustain our body. We have faith that we drink, and the water sustains our body. We have faith that we breathe, and air sustains our body. We have faith that we will move, and it happens. Every act of our lives is an act of faith.
As Lectures on Faith Lecture First says: “without [faith], both mind and body would be in a state of inactivity, and all their exertions would cease, both physical and mental.”
Whether you believe in a Creator or not, this fact remains: all have faith. The only question is: what is your faith in?
I previously wrote about the faith of an atheist HERE. That post talks about the hope of an atheist. What about the faith?
If we all live by faith, what does an atheist have faith in?
The only thing I can think that an atheist has faith in is their self.
When you remove God from the equation, what else is there? There is you, your mind, your thoughts, your supremacy. Not only that, if there is no God, then this all just happened by chance. You are a product of random chance, with no meaning. You are an object with atoms inside of you bouncing around causing you to do things. If this is all by chance, there is no free will. If there is no God and we are all happenstance, if we are all a great coincidence, then we are Gods, and there are no Gods. There is nothing. There is no point.
A lack of a belief in God is a lack of belief in anything. If this life is not about a bigger plan then it’s all pointless.
“I wanted so badly to have the life I thought I knew we could have. But we were sent here with free will and someone needs to want to change in order to truly change…”
That statement hits hard. To be clear with all reading: I have many similarities to Beth’s story. I also have many similarities to her boyfriend John. You can’t change until you’re ready to change.
For anyone who knows my wife, her conversion story gives some perspective on why she is who she is. We don’t become who we are by happenstance. There are always experiences, moments, profound MOMENTS that shape us. That is why we are here. After reading some of Beth’s story, and if you know her, you can start to see why she is caring, considerate, and loving to those around her. It is partly who she is and partly the experiences of her life that have changed her. I can relate. I used to be a self-absorbed punk. It took a lot of small steps to change who I once was. Her words make me feel what I always know about my wife – she is special.
This is all I could picture as I read of Beth’s dream:
And now this:
God is great.
I am lucky. Beyond lucky. What did I do to deserve so much?
How could I think anything but how lucky I truly am as I read my wife’s testimony? She is strong, and powerful, truly a queen, and we are one.
As I read, I’m struck by the similarities in our stories. The falling away, not knowing if / not wanting to come back, the prayer and feeling of atonement, dreams, pushes, promptings, coincidences.
I’m brought to tears as I read my wife’s story. All God did to bring us together can be read in between those lines.
She wrote this April 20, 2016. I came back to church, where I eventually met her, in March of 2016. Coincidence? Come on.
Let’s take a quick trip through history. Bear with me on the history recap, I swear it will be brief.
The Revolutionary War started in 1775.
Some rag-tag colonists decided to stand up to and fight for independence from the greatest power in the world. I’ll say that again, a group of mostly untrained men decided to take on the greatest military force on earth at that time. Louder for those in the back, a group of settlers stood up to THE world superpower.
Can you believe how truly insane that was? Just that they revolted was crazy. Surely that got smashed into submission…right? WRONG!
They won! Independence. How? Tons of stories from that time point to divine intervention. We can save those for another day.
244 years ago, July 4, 1776 The Declaration of Independence was signed.
1777 The Articles of Confederation were written. This would be the first constitution of the United States.
1787 The Constitution we have today was written.
1791 the Bill of Rights was written for the United States.
Amendment I of that Bill of Rights:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”
1805 The Prophet Joseph Smith was born.
1820 God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to Joseph Smith.
1827 Joseph Smith received the golden plates.
1830 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Christ’s restored church was re-established on the earth.
Fourteen short years after the Bill of Rights was established and set forth the freedom of religion in this choice nation a prophet was born. 29 years after the established freedom of religion Heavenly Father appeared to His prophet. Four short decades after the Bill of Rights was ratified Christ’s Church was restored.
Think about that for a moment. Human history spanning thousands of years. Yet, somehow, within 15 years of a free nation set forth the guidelines for free religion, a boy was born who 15 years later would claim visitation from God the Father. He would establish a church from meager means. Within 200 years that church would have millions of members across the globe.
Talk about all the coincidences.
It was less than 40 years after freedom of religion was established in the United States of America that the Church of Jesus Christ was organized.
What spectacular timing.
I know there aren’t coincidences in God’s plan. I know he reared up and prepared inspired, God-loving, intelligent men to establish this great nation. Men who desired freedom above all else. I know that soon after they did their part in establishing this free country it was finally time in God’s plan to establish His Church. There had to be a place for the Church to be restored first. There was nowhere else in the world the Church of Jesus Christ could have been established.
God works in miraculous and spectacular ways for His purposes.
I know the exact timing of Joseph Smith’s birth and the exact timing of the freedom of the United States were no coincidence. They were planned out long ago.
On this Fourth of July I’m grateful to our founding fathers.
I’m grateful to Joseph Smith.
More than anything I’m grateful to God for His perfect plan.
I’m grateful for a country where I can worship whom, how, and where I please. I’m grateful that I can pray in private or public. I’m grateful to be born in a country free. I’m grateful that I’ve never been truly persecuted for my religious beliefs. We live in a special country. We live in a country founded on true principles: freedom, liberty, and equality. I know it took some time for those principles to be truly established and I know we’re still working on some of those principles. But the principles are there. There are still parts of the world, many parts of the world, where freedom, liberty, and equality are not even considered.
The most important principle of all that this nation was founded on: faith and belief in God.
I know right now America is in a predicament. We have turned from God. God gave us this great nation and helped its establishment. Now we spit on Him and marvel at our own great strength and power. We’re American! THE Global Superpower. Doesn’t that sound familiar. We know what happens to global superpowers that rely on their own strength.
If we don’t humble ourselves and confess to whom we owe all, God in Heaven, He will take back His land. We are only as strong and powerful as our faith in God allows. Like England during the Revolutionary War we will fall if our pride is not removed. We must return to God. He founded this country and it will continue to degrade until we return to the source of all strength. It’s time to repent.
I love this country. I hope we can return to our principles and be better. I hope we can love God and keep Him here with us.
In October of 2018, less than two years ago, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints made a huge change; the switch to two-hour church with an emphasis on having a church and Christ-centered home. How amazing that within two years we are in a position where we are unable to gather together at church.
Coincidence?
Because we haven’t been able to gather for church, you might think we are unable to partake of the sacrament. How grateful I am to have the priesthood authority of God and to have a bishop with the keys to authorize me to bless the sacrament in my home. I was given that opportunity the last two weeks, since we haven’t been able to go to church.
I am so grateful for the organization of the church. I’m grateful for the authority to bless and pass the sacrament in my home. There is no confusion. My bishop gives that authority and I can act on it. Without my bishop’s permission, I could do no such thing, for Christ’s Church is a church of order.
God is planning ahead for us and we are in His hands. This becomes extraordinarily evident when we consider the revelations delivered to us by Russell M. Nelson in the last couple years.
Let’s look at October 2019. God’s Prophet made an interesting statement at this time. We should read it very closely given the current state of our world:
“Thus, the year 2020 will be designated as a bicentennial year. General conference next April will be different from any previous conference. In the next six months, I hope that every member and every family will prepare for a unique conference that will commemorate the very foundations of the restored gospel.”
He continues,
“Select your own questions. Design your own plan. Immerse yourself in the glorious light of the Restoration. As you do, general conference next April will be not only memorable; it will be unforgettable.”
How prophetic. As my former roommate (not a member of my church) noted, “I think that’s a weird coincidence.” Yeah, I’d agree, if I believed in coincidences.
Our Prophet asked us to ponder two questions in order to make this upcoming general conference special. His questions were:
“How would my life be different if my knowledge gained from the Book of Mormon were suddenly taken away?”
“How have the events that followed the First Vision made a difference for me and my loved ones?”
I hope we are all considering these questions thoughtfully and prayerfully.
I don’t know what’s coming on April 4 and 5. There may not be any grand announcement; there may be no huge changes. I know it will be a great spiritual growing experience. I know I will come out of this upcoming conference different than I am right now.
And if a great announcement or great change comes, that is wonderful. A living Prophet leads this Church. I believe he is in close communication with Heavenly Father. I know that the direction he sends us will be another step towards God’s great purposes. I can’t wait.
Members of the Church: I hope we don’t forget what our Prophet has said and I hope we’re listening. Look at the world around us. It is a critical time to be listening to the Prophet and heeding the advice he delivers to us.
Here is President Nelson’s concluding statement from last conference:
“Now in closing, I leave with you my love and my blessing that each of you may become happier and holier with each passing day. Meanwhile, please be assured that revelation continues in the Church and will continue under the Lord’s direction until ‘the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done’.
I so bless you, reaffirming my love for you, with my testimony that God lives! Jesus is the Christ! This is His Church and we are His people. In the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.”
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Leave a comment on how you’re preparing for conference.
No Coincidences 