The “trial of our faith” will always involve staying true to simple, daily practices of faith, said Elder L. Whitney Clayton of the Presidency of the Seventy.
“Then, and only then, does He promise that we will receive the divine response for which we long…,” he said. “Real obedience accepts God’s commandments unconditionally and in advance.”
Speaking Sunday morning in an address he titled “Whatsoever He Saith Unto You, Do It,” Elder Clayton counseled Latter-day Saints to align their everyday behavior with God’s will.
“Such simple acts of faith as studying the scriptures daily, fasting regularly, and praying with real intent, deepen our well of spiritual capacity to meet the demands of mortality,” he said. “Over time, simple habits of belief lead to miraculous results. They transform our faith from a seedling into a dynamic power for good in our lives. Then, when challenges come our way, our rootedness in Christ provides steadfastness for our souls.”
Elder Clayton said over time he has observed that those who are deliberate about doing the “small and simple things” — obeying in seemingly little ways — are blessed with faith and strength.
“It may seem hard to draw a connection between the basic daily acts of obedience and solutions to the big, complicated problems we face,” he said. “But they are related. In my experience, getting the little daily habits of faith right is the single best way to fortify ourselves against the troubles of life, whatever they may be.
“Small acts of faith, even when they seem insignificant or entirely disconnected from the specific problems that vex us, bless us in all we do.”
Some rewards of obedience come quickly; others only come after we are tested, he said.
“God will always bless us for our steadfast obedience to His gospel and loyalty to His Church, but He rarely shows us His timetable for doing so in advance,” Elder Clayton said. “He doesn’t show us the whole picture from the outset. That is where faith, hope, and trusting in the Lord come in. God asks us to bear with Him — to trust Him and to follow Him.”
sarah@deseretnews.com @SJW_ChurchNews
