Topic: Probation:  

Genesis 3:22-23 > Alma 12:23-24 > Alma 12:31 > 2 Nephi 2:21 > Job 1:12 > Job 2:6 > Job 7:1, 17-19 > Job 36:11-12 > Job 38:3 > Exodus 20:20 > 1 Nephi 10:21 > Job 23:10-12 > The Acts 14:22 > Doctrine and Covenants 58:2 > John 8:51 > 2 Corinthians 8:2

A probationary state is a time of trial, testing, and proving of one’s willingness to live by the law; we might also say it is a test of one’s character or work ethic. This is exactly what our time on earth is. Why is this earth life a probationary time? The scriptures are very clear on the subject of probation. In Genesis chapter 3 verses 22 and 23, we read God’s statement concerning Adam and Eve after they partook of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil and their expulsion from the garden. God said, “And now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever:” What was God’s fear in not wanting Adam and Eve to partake of the tree? We read the answer to this question in the Book of Mormon, Alma chapter 12 verses 23 and 24; Alma teaches us that if Adam and Eve had partaken of the fruit of the Tree of Life, then there would have been no death. The Word of God would have been voided, which Word He stated saying that if they ate of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil then they would surely die. In verse 24, we also learn that because death came upon all mankind that there was a time granted unto men to repent, the time before death. Thus, this earth life became a probationary time. It became a time where man would suffer trials and testing and prove himself willing to return to the presence of God.

In Alma chapter 12 verse 31, we continue to learn that God granted unto man their agency, or an ability to choose according to their own will. Agency is a critical ingredient during a time of probation. If I am forced to comply with a certain standard and not given an opportunity to choose between a variety of choices, then my willingness to live by the law, my character and work ethic can never be tested. It is not God, who is being tested, nor is He testing us to learn how we will do, but rather, since He knows all things, then it is us who are being tested, we need to know how we will do given the circumstances of our probation. I can stand up and say all day that I will do everything asked of me and do it correctly; but I truly do not know how I will act or how I will do until I am actually faced with trial and testing, until I am given the chance to choose. In 2 Nephi chapter 2 verse 21, we learn that God gave man this probationary time, which is a time to repent; or in other words, a time to change our carnal nature into a more Christ-like nature. He lengthened out the duration of our lives to give us ample time to learn and to make proper choices. So this earth life is a time of testing for us, a time to prove to ourselves that we will do all that God asks of us.

One of the great scripture stories of testing and trial is that of Job. In Job chapter 1 verse 12 and chapter 2 verse 6, we read that God allowed the devil, Satan, to test and to try Job up until the point of death; he was not allowed to take Job’s life. In his record Job asks in chapter 7 verse 1 and 17 through 19, “Is there not an appointed time for man upon earth?” Because of his sore afflictions, he simply wanted to die. He wondered why God would test him so severely, yet we know from the record that he never gave up his faith in God. Some believed as Elihu believed, as stated in Job chapter 36 verses 11 and 12 that the trials we pass through in life are a direct result of the evil of our lives. If this were the case, no one would sin, for as soon as they sinned evil judgments would come upon them; so in a sense, they would be forced into doing good if they didn’t want bad things to happen to them. What does the Lord expect from us? A simple answer can be found in His conversation with Job in chapter 38 verse 3; He says rise up and be a man and take care of all that I will demand of you and answer the questions I will ask of you. As I interpret this, God is saying, rise to the occasion and be faithful!

Moses teaches in Exodus chapter 20 verse 20 that God sent us here to prove us; so what happens if we fail this probationary time? If I work for someone and continually fail to meet expectations, then I will be terminated as an employee. Nephi teaches in 1 Nephi chapter 10 verse 21 that we will be cast off forever. What happens if I pass? Job says in Job chapter 23 verses 10 through 12, “I shall come forth as gold”!  Paul teaches in The Acts chapter 14 verse 22 that we must pass through much tribulation, implying that if we do so successfully, we will enter the kingdom of God. In the Doctrine and Covenants section 58 verse 2, the Lord teaches, “Blessed is he that keepeth my commandments…the reward of the same is greater in the kingdom of heaven”. Finally, in John chapter 8 verse 51, the Lord is quoted as saying, “If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death”, meaning that if we pass through this probationary time well, we will not die a spiritual death.

Paul teaches in 2 Corinthians chapter 8 verse 2 that from the great trials of life comes the abundance of joy and from poverty, the richness of our liberty. Think about it, if we knew no pain in life, would we know joy? Can we appreciate sweet if we never tasted the bitter? This time of probation is here to bless us. It is according to God’s plan that we pass through the bitter that we may know the sweet. Think, Christ passed through the depths of hell to save us from sin; should we expect to pass through life with no pain, no suffering and no trials if we desire to live with God and Christ someday and to be like them? 

Topic: Pride:

Isaiah 5:21 > Psalms 10  > 2 Timothy 3:1-5 > Doctrine and Covenants 23:1 > Jeremiah 13:15 > Doctrine and Covenants 88:121 > 1 John 2:16 > Deuteronomy 8:13-19 > 2 Nephi 9:28 > Proverbs 6:16-19 > Proverbs 13:10 > Proverbs 16: 18 > 1 Timothy 6:3-5 > Obadiah 1:3 > James 4:6 > 2 Nephi 26:20-21 > 2 Nephi 28:12-15 > Mormon 8:35-41 > Moroni 8:27 > Doctrine and Covenants 90:17 > Isaiah 2:10-17 > Malachi 4:1 > Jacob 2:16

This Scripture Train, treating the topic of Pride, is at the root of the previous Scripture Train we just discussed, Hard-heartedness. Pride is at the root of all sin. Isaiah warns, “Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!” From Psalms chapter 10, we learn that pride persecutes the poor, is boastful, covetous, does not seek after God, nor is God in his thoughts. We also learn that the proud is full of cursing, deceit, fraud, vanity and that he preys upon the poor. In 2 Timothy chapter 3 verses 1 through 5, we learn that pride is at the root of all sin; how else would we describe someone who is a lover of his own self, but that he is full of pride! All the sins mentioned in these verses have their root in pride! Pride gives self the credit rather than God. Pride does not show respect to man or to his property. Pride is selfish, vain, egotistical, narcissistic, thoughtless, crude, lazy and so much more. The Lord speaking to Oliver Cowdery in the Doctrine and Covenants section 23 verse 1, says that pride leads to temptation; we all know that temptation will lead to sin if not arrested. Jeremiah chapter 13 verse 15 quotes the Lord as saying, “Be not proud”. In the Doctrine and Covenants section 88 verse 121, the Lord commands us to cease from all our pride. Then in 1 John chapter 2 verse 16 we learn that pride is not of God, but rather it is of the world; the world, of course, means of the devil.

In Deuteronomy chapter 8 verses 13 through 19 and 2 Nephi chapter 9 verse 28, we learn why the Lord warns us of pride. We learn that it is the basic tendency of mankind that when he begins to gain wealth and wisdom or when he begins to prosper, when his money multiplies, when his crops increase, when his flocks and herds grow, then is when his heart is lifted up and he forgets the Lord who blessed him with the abilities, talents, skills and all the capacities of mind and body to do such great work. In both of these verses the Lord warns that these people will perish!

In Proverbs chapter 6 verses 16 through 19 we see a whole list of sins and it all begins with a proud look, which the Lord hates. Also in Proverbs chapter 13 verse 10, we learn that pride is the root cause of contention. From contention springs anger, wrath, quarreling, hatred, fighting, war and murder. In chapter 16 verses 18, we learn that pride brings about our fall and destruction. In 1 Timothy chapter 6 verses 3 through 5, we see another list of terrible sins all which stem from pride. Not only do these evils arise from pride, but in Obadiah chapter 1 verse 3, we learn that pride deceives our hearts. As we have shown in this Scripture Train, pride is at the root of all evil. As we allow pride to grow in our hearts, this pride turns on us and deceives us making us think that we really are the great guy that our vanity has led us to think. Is it any wonder as James chapter 4 verse 6 teaches that God resists the proud?

In 2 Nephi chapter 26 verses 20 and 21, and chapter 28 verses 12 through 15, we learn another very critical impact that the poison of pride causes. Pride is one of the key reasons why there are so many churches today. People, we learn, “Preach up unto themselves their own wisdom and their own learning”. “They put down the power and miracles of God”. These many churches, “Cause envying, and strife, and malice.” Due to, “False teachers and false doctrines, their churches have become corrupted”, they are lifted up in pride; they rob the poor and persecute the meek.

How can I recognize if I am caught up in the pride of my heart? What do the prophets of old admonish us to do? What advice or counsel do they give? Mormon chapter 8 verses 35 through 41 get us off to a good start in answering these questions. What are some of the signs of pride that Mormon warns of? 1. I wear costly apparel, 2. I cause others to envy me, 3. My church is polluted with sins caused by pride, 4. I love money, apparel, substance and so forth more than the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted, 5. I sell my teaching, my preaching, or my ministry for money, 6. I am ashamed to take upon myself the name of Christ, 7. I love adornments, 8. I ignore the sick, the naked, and the afflicted, 9. I seek for gain on the backs of the widow and the orphan, 10. I seek happiness in worldliness.

In these verses where Mormon asks us these questions, he asks an important, soul searching question, “Why do ye not think that greater is the value of an endless happiness than that misery which never dies?” Very thought provoking! If life goes on after death forever, then wouldn’t I rather be happy for all eternity than miserable? Wouldn’t it be worth giving up my pride now and humbling myself before God, than enjoying wickedness for a few years and then misery forever?  In Moroni chapter 8 verse 27, Mormon, writing to his son says that pride has destroyed the nation. Do we want to avoid destruction? If so, we’d better humble ourselves before God. The Lord teaches in the Doctrine and Covenants section 90 verse 17 that pride will snare our souls. He teaches us not to be ashamed, meaning of Himself, Jesus Christ. We learn that if we are not proud, then we will not be confounded, in other words, our enemies will never have power over us. He says we should take admonishment. In order to do so we need to be humble. Isaiah warns in chapter 2 verses 10 through 17 that in the end all the proud will be humbled; so either we can humble ourselves now or God will humble us later. Which will be better for us in the eternal scheme of things? Better for us to humble ourselves than for God to humble us, His will not be pleasant; if you think not then read Malachi chapter 4 verse 1. Neither root nor branch means that you will have neither posterity nor ancestry; you will be a lone individual in the eternities to come; all because of pride. Jacob, in the Book of Mormon  chapter 2 verse 16, gives us the final admonition: He exhorts us to rid ourselves of pride so that it will not destroy our souls. 

Topic: Hard Heart (resist/deny the impressions and feelings of the Holy Ghost):

2 Timothy 3:8 > The Acts 7:51 > Romans 13:1-2 > 1 John 5:7 > Alma 30:46 > 2 Nephi 33:2 > Job 9:2-4 > Mark 3:4-5 > Mark 6:52 > Mark 8:14-21 > Mark 16:14 > Alma 12:10 > Ephesians 4:17-19 > 1 Nephi 14:7 > Helaman 6:35 > Helaman 13:8 > Doctrine and Covenants 20:15 > Doctrine and Covenants 45:28-29 > Doctrine and Covenants 29:7 > Hebrews 4:7

A hardened heart is quite prevalent in the world today. In my work among many different people, I see two types of hard hearts. One is the person who simply refuses to have any type of discussion about religion, their own spirituality, or anything near to it. The second type of person hardens their hearts against the feelings and promptings of the Holy Ghost. These people love to sit down and discuss the scriptures, religious topics, ideas and so forth, but when it comes to allowing the feelings and promptings of the Holy Ghost to enter their hearts and minds, they are quick to block any such spiritual communications. In other words, they harden their hearts against the Holy Ghost. Their reasoning is this: You cannot trust your feelings. Feelings will deceive you; you must only trust the written word of God.

Yes, sometimes it is true that we cannot trust our feelings; yes sometimes it is true that our feelings may deceive us; and yes, it is true, we must trust the written Word of God; however, as we have learned in past Scripture Trains, the Word of God comes from the living servants of God, too. And, only those who have never learned how to judge their own feelings, which feelings to trust and which not to trust will fall to deceit and faulty judgment. How can a man who will not allow himself to trust his feelings ever know love and how will he ever be able to trust the feeling of love, if he has not learned to discriminate between love and lust? A man who has not learned which feelings to trust and which not to trust, is a man who does not know himself, the world around him or how the Holy Ghost communicates with mankind. Feelings are a major part of the human soul! What are the feelings of a man or a woman when they hold their own child in their arms for the first time? What are the feelings of a man or a woman when they hold their dying mother in their arms for the last time? Or, what are the feelings of a man or a woman when they hold their dying spouse in their arms for the last time after a lifetime together? We cannot deny our feelings any more than we should deny the tender communications, which come from the Holy Ghost, which usually come as impressions or feelings. For example, if I am searching for a way to communicate something very important to my son and seek God’s help, then the things I need to tell him will come by way of impressions from the Holy Ghost. If I seek to learn and know religious truth, I must seek it from the source of truth, even God. I should do all I can to study and investigate and when I have found what I believe in my mind and feel in my heart is true, then I need to ask God if what I think and feel is indeed true. The answer will come via divine revelation even by way of the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost will communicate to us through our feelings. If what we have found and what we believe to be true is indeed true, then He will bless us with feelings of warmth or comfort, we will feel completely at peace with what we have found. Those who harden their heart against these feelings will of course never feel them and thus will never come to know the truth by revelation through the Holy Ghost. Not only do we suffer from hard heartedness today, but so did the people who lived anciently in Christ’s day! In 2 Timothy chapter 3 verse 8, we see that men withstood Moses, God’s Oracle. If you reject God’s Oracle, you reject God too. In Acts chapter 7 verse 51, we learn that people resisted, or hardened their hearts against the Holy Ghost then too. The scriptures call those who resist the Holy Ghost stiff-necked, or uncircumcised in heart and ears. Someone who is stiff-necked will not bow to the will of God. He who is uncircumcised in heart is hard hearted; they have not cut away the fat to allow the Word of God to enter. The uncircumcised in ear is anyone who will not listen, or as we said in the previous Scripture Train, they will not hearken, or listen and obey.

In Romans chapter 13 verses 1 and 2, we learn that those who resist the higher powers, or in other words, the Holy Ghost, for it is through the Holy Ghost that God communicates to His children, will receive to themselves damnation. How can a person be saved if they resist a member of the Godhead, even the Holy Ghost? It would be just the same as resisting God, Himself. Please see 1 John chapter 5 verse 7! In the Book of Mormon, Alma chapter 30 verse 46, Alma feels so grieved for a man by the name of Korihor because he is so willing to harden his heart against the Spirit of Truth (The Holy Ghost), and will do so even to his own destruction. This man, Korihor, is so hardened that he would rather be destroyed than open his heart to the impressions and promptings of the Holy Ghost. In 2 Nephi chapter 33 verse 2, we learn that to harden your heart against the Holy Ghost is to treat the things of God as worthless. In Job chapter 9 verses 2 through 4, we learn that he who hardens himself against God, or against any member of the Godhead, such as the Holy Ghost, will not prosper. We must assume that Job is referring to spiritual prosperity. In Mark chapter 3 verses 4 and 5, we learn that if the men of Jesus’ day would have softened their hearts toward Him, they would have learned that doing good on the Sabbath day is right and pleasing to God. However, they were so stuck on the letter of the law that they resisted the Holy Ghost and perished spiritually. In Mark chapter 6 verse 52, we learn something new about a hard heart; when our hearts are hardened against God, we fail to recognize His miracles; and I would say miracles, both large and small. I would also suggest that many of the hardhearted fail to recognize the beauty of a rainy day, a grand snowstorm, majestic mountains in all their color and splendor, the tiny buds of a budding fruit tree and many other beauties of God’s creations. I suggest this because I know many like this and so I assume that many more are. Even many of Jesus’ disciples were yet hardened for they also failed to recognize Jesus’ miracles as we read in Mark chapter 8 verses 14 through 21 and chapter 16 verse 14. Even the miracle of the resurrection when it was witnessed to them by those who knew they failed to believe, because they had not yet learned to give their hearts over to the impressions of the Holy Ghost.

In Alma chapter 12 verse 10, we learn that the hardhearted receive a lesser portion of the Word of God, while those who have learned to soften their heart and listen to the promptings of the Holy Ghost receive a greater portion of the Word. At this point it is important to bring up an interesting irony. I mentioned previously that I have met many people who claim that we cannot trust our feelings, therefore they harden their hearts against the Holy Ghost and the feelings and impressions that come from Him. They claim that we should only rely on the written Word of God, meaning, of course, the Holy Bible. This brings forth the irony: A person who claims that they cannot have any other source of truth other than the Holy Bible, who completely shuts out the feelings and the impressions of the third member of the Godhead, the Holy Ghost, is he not in fact someone who while claiming to hold fast to the Word of God, has lifted himself up in the pride of his heart relying upon his own understanding and denying the vary God, the Holy Ghost, through whom the scriptures and the testimonies thereof were revealed? He has made himself subject to receiving a lesser portion of the Word as Alma teaches.

Ephesians chapter 4 verses 17 through 19 testify of this very condition! Paul testifies, in the Lord, that the Gentiles who have blinded their hearts against the Word of God, in other words not giving place for the feelings and impressions of the Holy Ghost, which come to the heart, live in the vanity of their minds, which has caused their understandings to be darkened, alienating themselves from the light and life of God. He goes on to say that they are actually past feeling! Past feeling what? The feelings and impressions of the Holy Ghost! Nephi says in 1 Nephi chapter 14 verse 7 that the work of God will either work in man one of two things: One, either to convince them unto peace and life eternal, or two, unto the deliverance of them to the hardness of their hearts and the blindness of their minds, which will bring them into captivity and destruction.

To summarize these references, we learn that the hardhearted are vain in their minds. While pretending to rely upon the Word of God they deny the power and gift of the Holy Ghost. In other words, they don’t need God, they do just fine interpreting scripture on their own; all their knowledge is attributable to their own genius and hard work.

In the book of Helaman chapter 6 verse 35, we learn that the Spirit of God withdraws from the hard hearted, thus leaving them to themselves. For this reason they are everlastingly separated from God and know only destruction and captivity. In Helaman chapter 13 verse 8, we see these same teachings with one other point to emphasize, the hearts of their brethren will turn against them. Brethren could mean associates, friends, family, neighbors and so forth. Obviously, the heard hearted, those who are lifted up in the pride of their hearts, become a people who lose the confidence and love of their brethren. They have become self absorbed, selfish and hardened.

In the final few references, we learn the following truths: Doctrine and Covenants section 20 verse 15, the hardhearted reject truth to their own condemnation; section 45 verses 28 through 29, if we listen to the precepts of men, rather than God, our hearts will be turned from light and truth for we will not perceive or recognize it; section 29 verse 7, we learn that God’s elect, those who He knows, will soften their hearts to His Word and will not harden their hearts against Him. Finally, in Hebrews chapter 4 verse 7, Paul exhorts us saying, “Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” Obviously, there is more to hearing the Word of God than just with our ears; we must hear with our hearts too, we must hear via the Holy Ghost. I pray, that you will not harden your heart, but allow the Holy Ghost to have place there so that He may teach you the truths of God. His teachings will come in the form of impressions to your mind and feelings to your heart. The impressions and feelings that will come to your heart will be familiar as if you had known these things already. The feelings that will come to your heart will invite warmth and comfort, peace and joy, satisfaction and desire for more.

Topic: Desire, How to gain a desire

Alma 32:21 > Enos 1:1-4 > The Acts 9:1-6 > Alma 36:5-21 > Matthew 11:15 > Matthew 7:24 > The Acts 2:37 > The Acts 10:44-48 > St. John 16:13 > Alma 32:26-27 > Matthew 21:22 > Alma 32:28-31,37 > Moroni 7:6,9 > Matthew 13:23 > Psalm 10:17 > Romans 10:17-18 > Deuteronomy 4:12 > 2 Nephi 9:31 > Proverbs 8:33 > Ezekiel 33:31 > Luke 6:49 > Hebrews 5:9

Before we can do truly worthwhile things in life, we must first have within ourselves a true desire to do them and then the faith to do it. Desire is a sense of longing for or hoping for an outcome. Faith is the fundamental motivator of all human action. Desire, coupled with faith, is the fire that kindles action and accomplishment. When a person desires something, their sense of want is excited by the thought of it and when this desire is coupled with the faith to achieve the desired outcome, positive action is taken.

If I desire to be a better basketball player, but I do not have the faith to motivate me to practice, take lessons, or to do whatever it takes to get better, then I will never improve. If I desire to be more knowledgeable in a particular field of study, but do not have the faith to motivate me to put forth the effort to study and learn, then I will never have the knowledge I desire. A desire in such circumstances is merely a wish if we do not add faith. The absence of keen desire causes depression of body and spirit, a deflation of action. When we see a soul in such a state, we see sadness, melancholy and slothfulness; he has removed himself from the rise and fall of most feelings; desire, itself, has dried up.

Faith is a critical aspect of desire and is dependent upon several factors. The Book of Mormon teaches in Alma chapter 32 verse 21 that faith is not a perfect knowledge. In other words, when we set out on a course of action kindled by our desire and motivated by our faith, we do not know for sure if we will be successful, yet the possibility of success is real. We set out exercising faith in the accomplishment of our desire. Alma also teaches that we cannot have faith in something that is not true, nor can we have faith in the impossible. An example of this would be outside limitations. For example, if I have a desire to travel to the moon, but there are no rockets to take me there, then no matter how much desire I have or how motivated and committed I am, it is not going to happen, therefore, it is impossible to exercise true faith in my desire; eventually the action will cease. Another limitation would be my own physical self, such as physical strength, stature, weight and so forth. Can I be an NBA star if I am only 5’ 8” tall and weigh a mere 125 pounds? Or, can I be a professional football quarterback if I’m blind? So, faith is the great motivator, but I can only have faith in things which are true or possible; without it all action ceases.

If I know I should do something, but do it not, what is missing? We can come up with a few adjectives to describe such a person: Lazy, uncommitted or faithless. Here are my fundamental questions, “How do I get to the point of wanting to do good and worthwhile things if there is currently no desire to even want to? If I lack desire is there something I can do to create it? Is it possible to generate desire where there is none? We learned in the previous paragraphs that faith is the great motivator; does this mean that if I do not have any desire I do not have any faith? It seems that a logical answer to these questions is, “If I want to gain desire, I need to build my faith”. So how do I create desire where there is none and how do I build faith in my desires, which will lead me to action? It may be worthwhile to examine how we got into such a terrible state to begin with. How did we get to the point in life where we have no desire to do anything worthwhile or anything good? Certainly such a person would be in a state of despair! Can we imagine such a person? Can we imagine someone in such a state of faithlessness that he has little or no motivation to do any good? Let’s examine three basic human needs that motivate us to action.

A person has three basic appetites that must be met or else life will eventually cease; 1. Food, we have a basic need for food. Without food we will eventually die. When we get hungry enough, the desire for food and the faith we have that food will cure our hunger will motivate us to eat. When food is extremely scarce, some people have been known to resort to steeling in order to obtain food, 2. Sleep, sleep deprivation can be very harmful if not fatal to life. If a person goes without sleep long enough, eventually the body will just shut down; if this happens at a bad time, such as when driving, it can be fatal. Typically, when a person becomes so fatigued and so desirous for sleep, he will be motivated by his desire and his faith that rest will cure his fatigue; he will seek rest, 3. Shelter, shelter only becomes a concern to mortal life when we are exposed to extremes of cold or heat. Without proper shelter, a person exposed to extreme cold will freeze to death. A person exposed to extreme heat will give way to heat or sun stroke, which will eventually cause death. A person exposed to such extremes will be motivated by his desire and faith in the comfort of proper shelter to seek it out.

I site these basic human needs to exemplify that a person, when he recognizes a fundamental need, can find within himself desire and the faith to motivate him to action. There is another human need we need to examine, although it is not life threatening to our physical bodies, it is life threatening to our spiritual well being; and although many may not recognize it for some time, eventually, we all will recognize and desire the need to change or to repent. In the Book of Mormon, the prophet Enos was such a person. He recognized a deep need to repent and change the course of his life. In Enos chapter 1 verses 1 through 4, Enos states that his soul hungered. Due to this hunger of soul, desire for forgiveness of sin became the overriding desire in his heart and through a spark of faith in God, he acted upon his need. Saul, in the New Testament and Alma in the Book of Mormon, through heavenly visions, came to a realization that their lives needed to change. With this realization, they acted upon this new desire of their hearts and in faith turned to God for the help they needed to change. (See The Acts chapter 9 verses 1 through 6 and Alma chapter 36 verses 5 through 21) As with the example of physical needs sited earlier, these needs are spiritual and although they are spiritual needs, they can be just as fierce as physical needs.

The point I hope to make with these examples and what I hope you are realizing is that when a person finds himself in such deep despair, whether it be physical or spiritual, desire will be born and the faith necessary to bring the person to action will be found. This does not take away an individual’s final choice, he can still choose not to act and perish, or he can choose to act and live, but I believe that ultimately this is the way that desire is born within us. We recognize a need and from that need the desire is born to satisfy it.

At this point, let us examine what the scriptures teach about desire. In Matthew chapter 11 verse 15, Christ calls to the people saying, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” In other words, I have ears they work just fine; so He calls to me to hear Him. In the scriptures, in most instances, when we are called to hear we are called to hearken, to listen and to obey what we hear. Hearing is an active verb; it requires paying attention, giving heed to the speaker, internalizing the message and acting upon it. The hope is that with the call to hear, a desire will spring up in our hearts to hear what is being said and then in faith actively listen and then obey. Christ’s teachings in Matthew chapter 7 verse 24, helps us understand this. He says we must hear and do! An example of hearing and doing is found in Acts chapter 2 verse 37; Peter was teaching a large group of people and when the people heard what was being said they asked, “What shall we do?” Obviously, they were hearing, listening and internalizing. Upon doing so, they desired to act upon what they heard.

Up to this point, we have discussed our role in the process of building desire. At this point, it is very important that we discuss who Heavenly Father has made available to us to help us build desire.  In Acts chapter 10 verses 44 through 48, we learn of this important gift. While Peter was preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, the Holy Ghost fell upon those who were listening. As a result, they were converted to what was taught and they desired baptism. Jesus Christ promised His Disciples in St. John chapter 16 verse 13, that the Spirit of truth, which is the Holy Ghost, will guide them into all truth! I want to emphasize ‘ALL TRUTH’. Yes, even truth about me and what I need to do to create desire in myself to do good, to do things that are worthwhile. So, where do I go from here? How do I get the Holy Ghost to guide me into all truth? In Alma chapter 32 verses 26 and 27, Alma reminds me that faith is not a perfect knowledge; he calls upon me to let my desire work within me to exercise a particle of faith in what I am taught at this time. In the book of Matthew chapter 21 verse 22 Christ’s teaching is to pray! I must ask for desire! I need to pray and ask God to bless me with desire! Returning to Alma chapter 32, now read verses 28 through 31 and 37; Alma calls upon me to experiment on the Word. Give it a try, what is it going to hurt! But I must try in faith, believing in my Heavenly Father that He will bless me with the Holy Ghost and that the Holy Ghost will endow me with the desire I need. I must pray with the determination that I will act upon the answer I receive or else nothing will happen, I will not receive an answer to my prayers. This is taught by Mormon in the Book of Mormon in Moroni chapter 7 verses 6 and 9. I must pray with real intent of heart! When I pray, or as I pray, I need to listen for an answer. When I use the word listen I also mean feel for an answer. The Holy Ghost when He comes upon a person, the person may not hear anything as with the ear, but may most likely feel the answer. Another way the Holy Ghost works upon us is through Scripture; as we study the Word of God we will often be led by the Holy Ghost to find the answers we are looking for, in this case an increase in desire. So, as Alma invites back in Alma chapter 32, we need to experiment on his word. He likens the word to a seed. If we plant the seed and it grows, then we know the seed is good, or we know the Word is good. If we then take care to nourish the seed, it will eventually grow to become a tree bearing good fruit. In other words, the word will have grown within us and by exercising our faith unto action we will see the word grow within us unto the production of good works. We will no longer be that lazy or uncommitted individual, but rather we will become fully engaged, active and productive. We will have come to know the truth about ourselves and what we need to do to produce good works and lead a worthwhile and productive life. See Matthew chapter 13 verse 23.

The following verses, I hope, will serve to motivate and plant faith in your heart in the sure promises of God. Psalms chapter 10 verse 17, the Lord will hear the desire of the humble. Who are the humble? The humble are those who recognize their dependence upon God, search for truth and bend the knee in prayer; the humble are those who will hearken to the word when it sounds in their ear or felt in their heart. In Romans chapter 10 verses 17 and 18, Paul teaches that faith will come by hearing the word! The word has gone forth throughout the earth, will you stop and listen and obey? The Lord will probably not speak to you out of a burning bush as with Moses in Deuteronomy chapter 4 verse 12, but He will speak to you out of the mouth of His servants. Moses listened, will you? See 2 Nephi chapter 9 verse 31. After Moses listened, he did what he was commanded to do. So must you. As we learned in Alma, when we DO, we learn the truth; as we learn the truth, the truth will also serve to strengthen our desire. Last of all, remember Proverbs chapter 8 verse 33: Hear instruction, be wise and do not refuse it. Do not be like the people as Ezekiel spoke of in chapter 33 verse 31, “They hear thy words, but they will not do them”, or like those of whom the Savior spoke of in Luke chapter 6 verse 49! Rather remember Hebrews chapter 5 verse 9, “He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him”.

When we have a vision of what we can become, our desire and our power to act increase enormously.