FAITH:

Although “faith” encompasses many things, it is critical to realize that true faith is a principle of action.

Although there are many definitions of faith, perhaps one of the simplest definitions – or applications – of faith can be summed up in this statement:

“When you receive a prompting from the Holy Ghost, do you have the faith to act on this prompting?”

This is key because quite often we receive impressions, whisperings, or promptings that seem silly or do not make sense.

Why would we act to do something that doesn’t make sense? Right?

The scriptures clearly teach that we do not receive our witness until after the trial of our faith. This is just another way of saying that when we receive a prompting that doesn’t make sense, we do not come to fully understand the wisdom of the prompting until after we obey they Spirit with purpose and determination.

Ultimately faith is not about believing in the reality of Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father while simply sitting on the couch doing nothing – even the devil and those who follow him have knowledge of the reality of Jesus Christ.

Faith is about acting. It is about serving. When one acts to serve another as directed by the Holy Ghost, one in turn becomes the recipient of Heavenly help.

WORKS:

Works are often misunderstood.

Indeed, we cannot work our way into Heaven, especially according to our own wisdom and our own understanding.

Rather, “works” as described in the scriptures are in reality “acts of faith.”

Said differently, when we “act in faith” to serve another, we are really giving grace, or giving life to another. It is this “work” that opens the Heavens to blessing us and lifting us with divine grace.

GRACE:

As previously detailed, “grace” is an enabling power.

When we lift and serve others, we enable them.

When the Heavens reach down and lift and bless us, we too are enabled.

COMMANDMENTS:

We keep the commandments not for the commandment’s sake, but rather because through keeping the commandments we are better able to hear the whisperings of the Holy Ghost (a member of the Godhead).

HOLY GHOST:

The Holy Ghost is a member of the Godhead. How cool is that. We are each entitled to have the companionship of a member of the Godhead.

NOTES:

(1) I am not sure we really appreciate how awesome and cool it is that we are each entitled to the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. Figuratively speaking, the Holy Ghost is no low level janitor of some huge multinational company. The Holy Ghost is the CCO … or the Chief Communication Officer, next to the CEO (Heavenly Father) and the COO (Jesus Christ). Do we all really appreciate how amazing it is that we are entitled to constant companionship with this Divine member of the Godhead?