Trials of Faith

Trials of Faith
This talk was first given on June 22, 2014

There is a common misconception in the Church (and other Christian denominations) that only those who have compromised themselves through sin or sloth experience trials of faith, trials where our very relationship with God is thrown into question. Such is not the case: we read in Zechariah 13:8-9:

And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third part shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God.

In the fifth verse of the eleventh Psalm we also see “The Lord trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.” God does not try the faith of the wicked: there is nothing there to try. God is not a sadist who seeks to inflict pain upon his children without purpose.

So, what then is the purpose of these trials of faith? In 1 Peter 1:6, 7, and 9 we read:

Though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ
. . . Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

The purpose of these trials of faith is to bring salvation to our souls. These hardship refine and test us and make us better. But if tribulation is the path to salvation, then the Church and its members should act as a staff which we lean on. Elder Uchtdorf, in the October 2013 General Conference, said that “One of the purposes of the Church is to nurture and cultivate the seed of faith—even in the sometimes sandy soil of doubt and uncertainty.”

This concept is not unique to Mormonism: William James, a philosopher and father of American psychology, describes this phenomenon in terms of the “once-born” and the “twice-born” souls. Once-born souls are those who have first found faith, and their passion burns with a luminous intensity. Unfortunately, much like stars, the brightest fires also tend to be the quickest to burn themselves out. The twice-born souls are those who, when their light first began to flicker and fail, managed to fight through and light a second fire, a bed of coals that, though it doesn’t seem to burn as bright, burns with an intensity and endurance that the once-born soul cannot match.

So how can we assist each other (or ourselves) in enduring trials and becoming twice-born souls? To do so we must understand the nature of trials. Trials of faith can be broken down into three major forms that they tend to take: trials of doubt, trials of fear, and trials of guilt.

Trials of Doubt

Again, the assumption tends to be that doubt is the purview of the unstudious, but such is not the case. We can see examples in the scriptures of those who doubt, including Nephi who doubted the divine command to slay Laban and Gideon who repeatedly sought signs to confirm that what the Lord had told him to do was, in fact, correct. A dose of skepticism is the better part of discernment.

The problem arises when two sinister serpents raise their heads: cynicism and self-negation. Cynicism sprouts not from an attempt to discover the truth, but an attempt to tear down the Church. Doubters become cynics when they are dissatisfied with how their doubts are treated by the leadership or other members (and unfortunately they often have every right to be dissatisfied). Self-negation is the unfortunate tendency to allow doubt about certain principles to gnaw away at related ideas they once had a strong testimony about.

How do we overcome doubt? And how do we help others who struggle with it?

The “Primary answers” are often insufficient and, if used exclusively, even detrimental. Telling a person with doubts about the Church to “just pray and read their scriptures more” is both unhelpful (maybe they did pray and the Lord sent them to you to help assuage their doubts) and insulting (as it implies that they have not been doing so). It also may trivialize an issue that is actually a legitimate cause for concern.

The only panacea for doubt is truth. The first verse of “Truth Eternal” puts it eloquently:

Truth eternal, truth divine,

In thine ancient fullness shine!

Burst the fetters of the mind

From the millions of mankind!

It’s also important to note that it’s not just gospel truth that one needs acquaint themselves with: in Doctrine and Covenants 88:118 we read “And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith.” Education on spiritual and secular matters is critical to assuaging both our own doubts and the doubts of others. This is why the Come, Follow Me curriculum for youth is so important: it teaches youth not just principles, but the way to search and discover those principles for themselves, enabling them to become dispensers of truth.

An honest conversation is necessary to overcome trials of doubt. The hallmark of an honest conversation is that both participants are willing to adjust and rethink their stance based on the truth that is presented by either side. Both sides must also be willing to turn a critical eye to their ideas and assumptions.

As a final note on trials of doubt, let me just say that being pigheaded is not the same thing as being a stalwart defender of the faith.

Trials of Fear

Fear, like doubt, is another natural and healthy thing. In a world with spiders and snakes, pestilences and politicians, fear is rational. But sometimes we allow fear to paralyze us. Like a housecat who has lived its whole life indoors, we sometimes shrink to the ground and hiss when presented with the infinite sky above us. This fear is not just of real, mortal dangers: it is often a fear of possibilities. A fear that a past harm may happen again. A fear that any decision you make will ruin your life forever. A fear of not always making the best choice.

The only way to help someone overcome a trial of fear is assurance. It means being a source of comfort, being a rock they can build their foundation on when the winds of life buffet them. This requires a community—as sociologists say, gemeinschaft. Too often we allow our lives to be dominated with economic interactions: I go to the store, I ask the cashier how she is and ignore the response, she rings up my goods, and I give her money. These interactions are so much easier because instead of having to invest ourselves into these relationships, we can just throw money at them. Of course, not every economic interaction is centered on money. Sometimes we go to church, ask brother so-and-so how he is and ignore the response, get a feel good message from sister thus-and-such, and give up the low low price of just three hours each Sunday morning.

We need to learn to avoid these superficial relationships. This is the purpose of attending your meetings and other ward functions: to get to know and establish meaningful relationships with other members of your ward. Yes, it’s impossible to get to know everybody, but that’s no excuse to not know anybody. Building a community takes work, just like building anything else. Home and visiting teaching are a great way to start building community.

As individuals experiencing trials of fear, the key is to seek those assurances: surround yourselves with friends, family, scriptures, and Church leaders who build you up and encourage you to take action to overcome your fears. It’s important not to let pride hobble you in your efforts: asking for help is the first step towards receiving it. If your case is so bad that you need medical help, do not be afraid to seek it. Too often we as a society are leery of receiving psychiatric help, and we are paying the dividends for it.

I’d leave this topic with an assurance from God in Isaiah 41:10 “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

Trials of Guilt

These trials tend to be the most pernicious because, unlike the other two kinds of trials, those experiencing trials of guilt have more than likely actually done something wrong. But guilt only becomes a trial when it stops us from utilizing the Atonement: when we say that the Atonement is infinite, but only for others. This feeling can strike a person regardless of the seriousness of the sin. Many times, unfortunately, people who are actually innocent may suffer a trial of guilt because a friend, family member, or church leader/teacher has castigated them for something that is not actually sinful.

How can we help a person through such a time? By offering our love and support. One thing that is definitely not needed is chastisement. They are more than likely painfully aware of any shortcoming: in fact it is such an acute awareness that leads to their trial in the first place. The person feels that, because of what they have done (or not done), they are unworthy of God’s love. Prove them wrong by first offering your love. Elder Neal A. Maxwell once said: “Let us be merciful with each other. We certainly do not criticize hospital patients amid intensive care for looking pale and preoccupied. Why then those recovering from surgery on their souls? No need for us to stare; those stitches will finally come out.”

For those of us suffering a trial of guilt—not godly sorrow, not feeling a little bit bad, but those in the gulf of misery—the best recourse is to immediately speak with your bishop. Not a friend, not a family member, not that guy you know who seems to know his stuff about the gospel, the bishop. The bishop has been called to hear your confessions and to help guide you on the path of repentance. It is part of his mantle of authority. Trust him, and do as he says. And when he says that you have suffered enough, believe him.

Christ tells us “My grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then I will make weak things become strong unto them” (Ether 12:27). God loves you. Let him show it.

Conclusion

We all endure trials. Like the old saying goes, if you haven’t, wait around long enough and you will. But we also can all overcome trials—our consuming doubts, our paralyzing fear, our burdensome guilt—together. We can be a true community in Christ, helping, lifting, and sustaining each other. Salvation can be ours if we will be stand strong against the tide of adversity. But we need not stand alone.