In the Book of Luke in the New Testament, the angel told Mary “For with God nothing shall be impossible” (Luke 1:37.) Lately, I have heard a lot about the idea of ‘expectation.’ This theory purports that if we go about expecting good things to happen to us, they will happen to us. I believe such an idea is true, but not because fate or some other ethereal law is at play. I believe when we have faith in God, and we are doing those things that would make us worthy of His blessings, we can expect that He can and will bless us.
Mormon beliefs support that our founding Prophet often received revelation and guidance from Jesus Christ Himself, because The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is His restored gospel. In 1837 the Lord Jesus Christ counseled us to “Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers” (D&C 112:10.)
From the New Testament, James instructed us:
“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
“But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering” (James 1:5-6.)
In the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ, we read, “And Christ hath said: If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me” (Moroni 7:33.)
The scriptures are replete with many references to Elder Richard G. Scott taught: “You will gather the fruits of faith as you follow the principles God has established for its use.” One of those principles is to “trust in God and in His willingness to provide help when needed, no matter how challenging the circumstance” (“The Sustaining Power of Faith in Times of Uncertainty and Testing,” Ensign, May 2003, 76.)
If your faith has been lacking and you haven’t been reaching out to your Father in prayer, today is a good day to start. You won’t be punished for staying away. Your Heavenly Father loves you. He wants to hear your prayers. He wants to bless you (D&C 76:5.)
President Thomas S. Monson has encouraged us:
“As we offer unto the Lord our family and our personal prayers, let us do so with faith and trust in him. … If any of us has been slow to hearken to the counsel to pray always, there is no finer hour to begin than now” (In Conference Report, Apr. 1964, 130; or Improvement Era, June 1964, 509.)
Have faith that happiness can be yours … if you will only ask for it.
