That's Faith!

By Janene Ustach

It's one thing to say you're faithful, but how can you know for sure how much faith you really have? In That's Faith! teens and parents alike can measure their spiritual status in an uplifting and encouraging way. With topics like friends, modesty, peer pressure, and education, as well as plenty of inspiring stories to keep you entertained, this book is a perfect guide to living life as a faithful LDS teen. Experienced as a seminary teacher, curriculum writer, fireside speaker, and bishop, Timothy L. Carver presents a fun and optimistic look at improving your faith and testimony.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cedar Fort Publishing & Media
• Release date: Jul 10, 2023
• ISBN: 9781462102051

Book preview

Can I Measure My Faith?

Of all our needs, I think the greatest is an increase in faith.

—Gordon B. Hinckley[1]

Several years ago one of my seminary students stayed after class to ask me a question. Our lesson that day had been about faith and his question was this: Is there any way I can measure how much faith I have?

I thought it was a great question. He sincerely wanted to know how he measured up in following the teachings of our Savior. I disappointed him a bit when I told him I didn’t know of a way to actually gauge faith.

But I pondered his question for several days and suddenly realized that there is a way to measure faith! The apostle James taught that faith, if it hath not works, is dead (James 2:17). Faith is based on works. So we can measure our faith in the Lord by measuring our obedience to His teachings.

I decided to prepare a lesson that would give my students an opportunity to gain insights into their level of faith in Jesus Christ. I gave each of them a list of commandments and guidelines the Lord has given today’s youth through His prophets—chastity, dating, tithing, and so forth. As we discussed each commandment, I shared a brief story of someone who, in a moment of trial, had exercised faith in that principle. The students were then given the opportunity to measure their own faith by ranking from 1 to 10 how well they were living each of the teachings.

The impact of the lesson surprised me! Many students were significantly touched as they considered their faith in the teachings of Jesus Christ.

I have shared this lesson for many years in numerous classrooms and firesides. The positive effect it has had on youth has encouraged me to write a book that can hopefully give you something of the same experience. Each chapter focuses on a commandment or principle the Lord has given the youth of His Church. The principle is then highlighted by a true story of someone who, in a moment of temptation or trial, passed the test of faith. At the end of each chapter you will have the opportunity to assess your faith in Christ by considering how well you are living that teaching. The purpose is not to promote feelings of guilt, but to allow you to look inward and consider your obedience to the teachings of our Savior. You will also have the opportunity to set one or two goals to exercise greater faith in each of the principles.

There’s no specific order to reading the chapters. You may start on principles in which you’re strongest and move to the more difficult ones, or vice versa. But be sure to take time to honestly evaluate how well you are living each principle. Doing this will tell you a great deal about your faith in the Savior.

Notes

Gordon B. Hinckley, Lord, Increase Our Faith. Ensign, Nov. 1987, 54.

[return]

A Formula for Faith

Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone (James 2:17).

One evening I was reading the newspaper and came across an article that deeply surprised me. It stated that more than 90 percent of Americans believe in God.[1] I wondered how so many people could claim to believe in God when there is so much crime, immorality, and drug abuse in our country.

Then I remembered something I had read by Elder James E. Talmage of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles. He stated that belief and faith are not the same thing. A person can believe in something without living it. But "faith implies such confidence and conviction as will impel to action."[2] In other words, belief can be idle and inactive, but faith leads a person to act upon the teachings of Jesus Christ.

The Apostle James stressed this when he said to mere believers of his day: Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? (James 2:19–20).

Faith isn’t faith unless we are acting upon our beliefs. We might write a simple formula for faith this way:

Belief + Action = Faith!

That’s why faith in Jesus Christ is the first principle of the gospel. It’s the principle that motivates us to act upon the Savior’s teachings. Often our obedience to His teachings is preceded by a challenge or a temptation that Moroni and Peter describe as a trial of your faith (Ether 12:6; 1 Peter 1:7). Let me illustrate.

Aleisha Cramer-Rose began playing soccer when she was six years old. At sixteen she was playing on the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team. She was later named the national high school player of the year and recruited by every national college soccer team. She finally settled on BYU, where she became a two-year All-American. During her college years she also played on the U.S. National Team. The coach of that team called her the most impactful player in women’s college soccer. She was in training for the 2003 World Cup and the 2004 Olympic soccer team.

Then, at the age of twenty, Aleisha quit the national team. Why? There are games on Sundays, she said, and I won’t play on Sunday, no matter what.

Was the decision hard for her? If I had to do it over again, I’d make the right decision Aleisha said. But when you make the right decisions it’s still going to be hard. I was going to all these cool countries and now it’s like I’m not going to do that anymore.[3]

Does she have any regrets? Sure, it’d be so awesome to be like Mia Hamm or Michelle Akers and represent your country—I loved those things. . . . I guess my standards are more important to me than being Mia Hamm. I’d rather follow what I believe. When you do what you feel is right, you have a peaceful feeling.[4]

Belief + Action. That’s faith!

Notes

Numerous surveys continue to show similar results. See Views of God Can Predict Values, Politics (www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2006-09-11-religion-survey_x.htm) and Do Americans Believe in God? (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/polls/wat/archive/wat042400.htm).

[return]

James E. Talmage, The Articles of Faith (Salt Lake City: The Deseret News, 1899), 98-99. Emphasis added.

[return]

She Quits National Team, Stuns Soccer World, Church News, 30 Nov. 2002, 12.

[return]

Scott French, Taking Another Path. Soccer America, 7 Oct. 2002, 14.

[return]

Honesty

Let us avoid cheating, falsifying, taking advantage of others, or anything like unto it. Let integrity be our standard.

—Thomas S. Monson[1]

In 1887 a man by the name of Emmanuel Ninger walked into a neighborhood grocery store to buy some vegetables. He handed the cashier a twenty dollar bill and waited for his change. The cashier’s fingers were wet from the vegetables and she noticed ink from the bill coming off on her fingers. She thought, Emmanuel Ninger is a long-time friend and customer. He wouldn’t give me a bill that wasn’t genuine. So she gave him the change and he left.

But twenty dollars was a lot of money in 1887, so she finally sent for