Recently I read a blog that talked about choices and it included sage counsel from Thomas S. Monson, an apostle for the LDS Church. One quote in particular stood out for me, and of course, I focus on the word faith. It has been the center of my study for the past 28 years so I pick up on the word and analyze its use immediately. The quote reads as follows:
Each of us should remember that he or she is a son or daughter of God, endowed with faith, gifted with courage, and guided by prayer.
Thomas S. Monson
I begin to think about the phrase “endowed with faith” and taken at face value think of it as being provided with or supplied with faith as a child of God. When I ask people if they understand what faith is the most common reply is “Yeah, I know as much as anyone else.” But the question then becomes, “How much does anyone else really know?”
If you have read any of my writing, you will know that I love to go to the dictionary and thesaurus to gain a better comprehension of words. And in this case it is no different, so I look up the word endowed.
Roget's Thesaurus gives me a better insight of the word. Under the subtitle Notes it has an interesting point.
Notes: able is having the necessary power to accomplish something while capable means having the potential to accomplish something.
Entry for endowed
Main Entry: able
Part of Speech: adjective
Definition: capable
Synonyms: able, adept, adequate, adroit, alert, bright, capable, cleft, competent, cunning, dexterous, easy, effortless, endowed, equipped, facile, fitted, good, intelligent, knowing, powerful, qualified, ready, smart, strong, worthy
Antonyms: incompetent, ineffective, inept, infirm, not able, powerless, unable, useless, weak
Roget's New Millennium™ Thesaurus, First Edition (v 1.3.1)
Endowed then is not necessarily the ability to do something rather the potential for its accomplishment and anyone knows that when it comes to human performance there is a lot of wasted potential!
As for the other two parts of the quote even though we are gifted with courage too many people live lives of fear. Prayer is another subject altogether, where has prayer gone? And if there is no prayer how can there be Divine guidance? It all boils back down to that endowment of faith and our ability to make faith work in our lives!
I was consulting with a friend the other day and he will tell you that he is a flat out atheist. We have never discussed my philosophy of COnCEPT Q but instead when I talk to him we talk finances and those things that he is expert in. When I brought up the topic that I was an expert in faith he said too many people think they are experts in faith and most people believe that they have ample faith. I agree. He proceeded to say that it was people like Mother Theresa in Calcutta that dedicate their lives in helping others or like the monks down in Brazil that selflessly give themselves to others’ service that really understand what faith is and are the faith experts.
I won’t disagree that these people have faith demonstrating hope for a better reward in a future afterlife, however, not everyone is willing to do as they do. It is therefore necessary that other forms of faith can be demonstrated and built upon than just merely claiming the possession of faith.
Faith is NOT passive. Faith requires action. Faith must be based on truth and upon knowledge. Faith is not a simple acclamation of beliefs stating, “Yeah I have faith.” And then turning around and doing things that are contrary to that person’s beliefs or simply change their beliefs so that their actions do not contradict what they say they believe. Faith requires focus and discipline, it requires direction.
In the afore mentioned blog its author is quoting Thomas S Monson who talks about story of Alice in Wonderland where he states:
“You will remember that she comes to a crossroads with two paths before her, each stretching onward but in opposite directions. She is confronted by the Cheshire cat, of whom Alice asks, “Which path shall I follow?” The cat answers: “That depends where you want to go. If you do not know where you want to go, it doesn’t matter which path you take.”
But he goes on...
"Unlike Alice, we all know where we want to go, and it does matter which way we go, for the path we follow in this life surely leads to the path we will follow in the next. Each of us should remember that he or she is a son or daughter of God, endowed with faith, gifted with courage, and guided by prayer. Our eternal destiny is before us. At times many of us let that enemy of achievement even the culprit self-defeat dwarf our aspirations, smother our dreams, cloud our vision, and impair our lives. The enemy’s voice whispers in our ears, you can’t do it. You’re too old. You’re nobody. This is when we remember that we are created in the image of God. Reflection on this truth provides a profound sense of strength and power.”
This is very true and has a profound impact on our ability to exercise faith. (More on this later.)
The blog’s author then makes an observation,
“As I watch my children grow, especially at this time my stepson, who has no goals, no motivation, little ambition and direction, I reflect again on that statement and twist it to apply to myself as well “if you don't know what you want, it doesn't matter what you do.” But I know what I want, and it does matter, and yes, side projects are fun and keep me busy, but what is it that I really want, and what I am willing to give up to get it? Some of you have read my rants lately, the experience of the last month has left me rather bitter towards my wife, and while we still maintain a fragile hold, the discussions we have had basically revolve around this one issue... “Where are you going, and does it matter what path you take?”
“YES, it does, radically. One cannot study mechanics and then practice medicine. You can’t plant corn and harvest wheat. If you want wheat, you plant wheat. I told a friend of mine recently (actually several friends) if you want to meet someone who doesn’t drink; don’t go to a bar on Saturday night. You reap what you sow…”
And so it is!
My friend’s blog brings out some important aspects of exercising faith. Faith in part is a hope for things not seen yet they are true. This is an ample subject that I will not tackle at this time rather than to emphasize that the choices you make affect your final destination, ALWAYS. That is the eternal law upon which faith is based!
You can’t hope for wheat when you plant corn! You can’t expect God to help you if you don’t ask for his help. But most importantly you can’t expect Him to do it for you if you won’t move your butt either, that is FAITHLESS!
We are endowed with faith, yes, we have the capacity, we just need to learn to use it. And we are gifted with courage, but what good is a gift that we are unwilling to use? Fear of the unknown can be overcome by courage and guided by prayer, but we can only be guided if we are willing to pray.
Know who you are and what you want. If you don’t, then take time to find out. Monitor what you constantly tell yourself! You CAN do it! You are NOT too old! You ARE somebody, you are a child of God! Faith is an endowment, but it doesn’t mean that you are an expert in its use. Spend time to gain an understanding of how it works. The scriptures are a great source. If you haven’t read them in a while, pull them out, dust them off and give’em a read. COnCEPT Q is another excellent visual way of understanding faith and your inner power. conceptq@sabermountain.com
Faith is an endowment; LEARN TO USE IT!
posted by Don-Alan Rekow at 7:48 PM
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