Elder Robert D. Hales
E-mail story
It's easy. Send a link to the story you were just reading to a friend. Just fill out the form on this page and we'll send it along.
Your name and e-mail address are transmitted to the recipient. Otherwise, it is considered private information; see Privacy policy.
Believing in the Savior and his mission is so essential that it is the first principle of the gospel.
"From the beginning of time, prophets have known that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, of his mortal mission and his Atonement for all mankind. Sacred records give us the prophecies of thousands of years — not only of the first coming of the Savior, but also of the Second Coming — a glorious day that will most assuredly come.
"If we had lived in the days of these prophets of old, would we have believed on their words? Would we have faith in the coming of our Savior?"
The first step to finding faith is to let the words of God touch the heart. But it is not enough to merely hear the words. Hearing requires an active effort. It means taking seriously the Lord's teachings and carefully considering and studying them.
The Book of Mormon prophet Enos heard gospel teachings from his father and prayed all day and night to receive witness of their truthfulness.
Enos establishes a pattern for all to follow: Hear the word of God; let that word sink deep into the heart; hunger for righteousness; ask in prayer to know that Jesus Christ is the Savior.
Challenges in mortality may make it seem hard to have faith or hard to believe.
"At these times, only faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and his Atonement can bring us peace, hope and understanding. Only faith that he suffered for our sakes will give us strength to endure to the end."
