Alma 32: 27 But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.
Recently I was reading about faith and came across this excerpt from Alma 32 and it made me reflect on an experience in high school. I had been in seminary and had a goal for my scripture reading during the school year. I felt that I was making a lot of spiritual progress and I could feel a difference in my outlook on life. I knew that when the Spirit was with me I was happier. I felt my testimony growing each time I read my scriptures. Then school ended and I no longer had to get to bed early and I didn't have Seminary anymore. I was staying out late with friends every night and when I would finally come home I would fall asleep reading my scriptures. I felt a halt in my spiritual progression. It took me a while to realize it and a few weeks turned into a month and I knew that I wasn't in the same place I had been during the school year. When I tried to read the scriptures I found myself browsing through the highlights and reading the words, but there was no searching, pondering or enlightening happening. One night I was getting ready for bed and I realized how tired I was of reading the words in the scriptures just so I didn't feel bad that I hadn't done it. I decided that I had to change, but I didn't know what to do. I felt frustrated and felt like I needed to be in a class or have somebody ELSE help me to feel the Spirit again. I prayed that night that I would get that feeling back. I prayed that I would be able to feel the prompting of the Holy Ghost while I studied. I prayed that I would be able to focus not just on the words in these holy writings, but on the meaning and specifically on the meaning for me. I prayed that Heavenly Father would help me continue to grow and strengthen my testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That night I pulled my scriptures out and it was like a switch had gone off. I felt the Spirit flood into my soul and I felt my testimony stir back into a place where it could grow. I was amazed at how fast it happened. I realized that all I had to do was to have a desire and a faith that Heavenly Father would allow the Spirit to be with me and it was. I am so grateful for that experience and I am grateful for this passage in Alma 32 that reminded me of that time of growing in my life and reminded me that all I have to do is desire for faith and He will help me.
Recently I was reading about faith and came across this excerpt from Alma 32 and it made me reflect on an experience in high school. I had been in seminary and had a goal for my scripture reading during the school year. I felt that I was making a lot of spiritual progress and I could feel a difference in my outlook on life. I knew that when the Spirit was with me I was happier. I felt my testimony growing each time I read my scriptures. Then school ended and I no longer had to get to bed early and I didn't have Seminary anymore. I was staying out late with friends every night and when I would finally come home I would fall asleep reading my scriptures. I felt a halt in my spiritual progression. It took me a while to realize it and a few weeks turned into a month and I knew that I wasn't in the same place I had been during the school year. When I tried to read the scriptures I found myself browsing through the highlights and reading the words, but there was no searching, pondering or enlightening happening. One night I was getting ready for bed and I realized how tired I was of reading the words in the scriptures just so I didn't feel bad that I hadn't done it. I decided that I had to change, but I didn't know what to do. I felt frustrated and felt like I needed to be in a class or have somebody ELSE help me to feel the Spirit again. I prayed that night that I would get that feeling back. I prayed that I would be able to feel the prompting of the Holy Ghost while I studied. I prayed that I would be able to focus not just on the words in these holy writings, but on the meaning and specifically on the meaning for me. I prayed that Heavenly Father would help me continue to grow and strengthen my testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That night I pulled my scriptures out and it was like a switch had gone off. I felt the Spirit flood into my soul and I felt my testimony stir back into a place where it could grow. I was amazed at how fast it happened. I realized that all I had to do was to have a desire and a faith that Heavenly Father would allow the Spirit to be with me and it was. I am so grateful for that experience and I am grateful for this passage in Alma 32 that reminded me of that time of growing in my life and reminded me that all I have to do is desire for faith and He will help me.
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