During October 2018 General Conference, Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, spoke of his experience in learning from Elder Richard G. Scott [also of the Twelve Apostles]. Elder Scott tutored him in water color painting….
Elder Gong said… “My testimony is—for those who seek, allow, and live for it—the dawn of faith, sometimes gradually, will come or can return. The light will come when we desire and seek for it, when we are patient and obedient to God’s commandments, when we are open to God’s grace, healing and covenants.
As we began painting, Elder Scott encouraged, “Gerrit, even with one lesson you will paint something you will want to keep and remember.” Elder Scott was right. I treasure the water color of our campfire of faith Elder Scott helped me paint. My artistic ability was and remains limited but the remembrance of our campfire of faith can encourage us in five ways.
First our campfire of faith can encourage us to find joy in wholesome creativity. There is joy in imagining, learning, doing worthwhile new things. This is especially true as we deepen faith and trust in Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. We cannot love ourselves enough to save ourselves. But Heavenly Father loves us more and knows us better than we know ourselves. We can trust the Lord and lean not unto our own understanding.9
Have you ever been the only one not invited to someone’s birthday party? Have you ever been chosen last, or not chosen, when teams are selected? Have you prepared for a school test, a job interview, an opportunity you really wanted—and you felt you failed? Have you prayed for a relationship that, for whatever reason, has not worked out? Have you faced chronic illness, been abandoned by a spouse, agonized for family?
Our Savior knows our circumstances. As we exercise God-given agency and engage all our faculties in humility and faith, our Savior, Jesus Christ, can help us meet life’s challenges and joys. Faith includes a desire and choice to believe. Faith also comes from obeying God’s commandments, given to bless us, as we follow His covenant path.
When we have felt, or feel, uncertain, alone, frustrated, angry, let down, disappointed or estranged from God and His restored Church, it may take an extra measure of effort and faith to enter again on His covenant path. But it is worth it! Please come, or come again, unto the Lord Jesus Christ! God’s love is stronger than the cords of death—temporal or spiritual.10 Our Savior’s Atonement is infinite and eternal. Each of us strays and falls short. We may, for a time, lose our way. God lovingly assures us, no matter where we are or what we have done, there is no point of no return. He waits ready to embrace us. 11
Second….
(For Gong’s complete talk, click…‘Our Campfire of Faith’
