Elder Ballard begins,
"One of the most heart-wrenching stories in scripture occurred when “many of [the Lord’s] disciples” found it hard to accept His teachings and doctrine, and they “went back, and walked no more with him. As these disciples left, Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Will ye also go away?”
Peter responded: “Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life."
What can we do to prepare ourselves for a moment that may come when our faith is shaken?
Some comments shared:
-We can prepare ourselves for times of worry by going over in our mind things we know for sure. There is strength in the basics, such as those found in the Gospel Principles manual, and these basics are what we can build our testimonies on.
-We can fortify ourselves before our doubts come. Strive to have experiences that energize us and make the gospel a living part of our life. Be actively engaged and serve.
-No matter what foundation and knowledge you have, you should surround yourself with faithful people to anchor you down.
-Go to faithful people you admire rather than to people who may not have faith in the church when you have questions and doubts.
-Recall faith promoting experiences you have had with the spirit and use those memories as an anchor.
Elder Ballard stated:
"Today is no different. For some, Christ’s invitation to believe and remain continues to be hard—or difficult to accept. Some disciples struggle to understand a specific Church policy or teaching. Others find concerns in our history or in the imperfections of some members and leaders, past and present. Still others find it difficult to live a religion that requires so much. Finally, some have become “weary in well-doing.”5 For these and other reasons, some Church members vacillate in their faith, wondering if perhaps they should follow those who “went back, and walked no more” with Jesus."
-We may find that many of our friends and acquaintances are leaving the church. It is becoming more commonplace for people to doubt and question. No one is immune- it can happen to anyone.
-There is power in bearing testimony. Our teacher challenged us to bear our testimony to ourself or others regularly. Soon we start to realize there are many pieces involved in our testimonies.
Elder Ballard also gave the analogy between the gospel and hiking.
"Brothers and sisters, accepting and living the gospel of Christ can be challenging. It has always been thus, and it ever will be. Life can be like hikers ascending a steep and arduous trail. It is a natural and normal thing to occasionally pause on the path to catch our breath, to recalculate our bearings, and to reconsider our pace. Not everyone needs to pause on the path, but there is nothing wrong with doing so when your circumstances require. In fact, it can be a positive thing for those who take full advantage of the opportunity to refresh themselves with the living water of the gospel of Christ."
Not everyone is going the same pace. We each are having different experiences.
"In the end, each one of us must respond to the Savior’s question: “Will ye also go away?” We all have to search for our own answer to that question. For some, the answer is easy; for others, it is difficult. I don’t pretend to know why faith to believe comes easier for some than for others. I’m just so grateful to know that the answers are always there, and if we seek them—really seek with real intent and with full purpose of a prayerful heart—we will eventually find the answers to our questions as we continue on the gospel path."
Time was given for sisters to share experiences that have have helped anchor them in the gospel during moments of doubt. Heartfelt, sacred stories were shared.
Sarah G. concluded the meeting with her hopes that the Relief Society can be there for you in your wavering moments and times of storms. Remember, the storms can help us build our faith!
