Doubt Leads to Faith
A friend told me that Mormons are too afraid to think. They think if they ask questions, then that means they doubt and do not have faith. But doubt actually leads to faith, and free thought to revelation.
Three examples:
1.
I was raised an atheist. I doubted my parents, gained faith, and was baptized. Doubt led directly to faith in this instance.
2.
A few weeks ago I asked the question, "Was Joshua apostate?" I doubted whether Joshua of the Bible, successor of Moses and namesake of the book of Joshua, was inspired. It seems like most of the problems people have with the Old Testament begins with Joshua, who slaughtered the inhabitants of Palestine.
Moses was definitely inspired. He spoke to God face to face, received the law, and lead Israel away from captivity. But when he died, maybe Joshua took over, and pretended to be inspired by that same God, but just did things his way.
The Book of Mormon answered my question. I remember when Nephi spoke to his brothers, who doubted that Jerusalem would be destroyed. Nephi said, that if the inhabitants of Palestine in Joshua's time had been righteous, God would not have allowed them to be destroyed.
Nephi's point was that Jerusalem was going to be destroyed. His brothers thought that since it was Jerusalem, it was righteous, and couldn't be destroyed. We have the same mindset in America. We think America is righteous because it is America. This is a falsehood. Righteousness depends on righteous acts. It does not matter who you are or where you are from, God is no respecter of persons.
This doubt and question strengthened my testimony in the Old Testament and led me to an inspired answer in the Book of Mormon.
3.
In the New Testament a man asked the Savior to heal his son. His son was often seized by devils, had seizures, and cast himself into fires and waters and other dangers. He was worried for his son's health and life.
When he asked for help, the Savior said, "If thou canst believe, all things are apossible."
The man "cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine aunbelief."
If we do not ask questions, the Savior cannot heal our unbelief. Just as if we do not admit our sin, we cannot repent and be forgiven by the Savior.
If we will admit our doubt by asking questions, the Savior will heal our unbelief.
Three examples:
1.
I was raised an atheist. I doubted my parents, gained faith, and was baptized. Doubt led directly to faith in this instance.
2.
A few weeks ago I asked the question, "Was Joshua apostate?" I doubted whether Joshua of the Bible, successor of Moses and namesake of the book of Joshua, was inspired. It seems like most of the problems people have with the Old Testament begins with Joshua, who slaughtered the inhabitants of Palestine.
Moses was definitely inspired. He spoke to God face to face, received the law, and lead Israel away from captivity. But when he died, maybe Joshua took over, and pretended to be inspired by that same God, but just did things his way.
The Book of Mormon answered my question. I remember when Nephi spoke to his brothers, who doubted that Jerusalem would be destroyed. Nephi said, that if the inhabitants of Palestine in Joshua's time had been righteous, God would not have allowed them to be destroyed.
Nephi's point was that Jerusalem was going to be destroyed. His brothers thought that since it was Jerusalem, it was righteous, and couldn't be destroyed. We have the same mindset in America. We think America is righteous because it is America. This is a falsehood. Righteousness depends on righteous acts. It does not matter who you are or where you are from, God is no respecter of persons.
This doubt and question strengthened my testimony in the Old Testament and led me to an inspired answer in the Book of Mormon.
3.
In the New Testament a man asked the Savior to heal his son. His son was often seized by devils, had seizures, and cast himself into fires and waters and other dangers. He was worried for his son's health and life.
When he asked for help, the Savior said, "If thou canst believe, all things are apossible."
The man "cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine aunbelief."
If we do not ask questions, the Savior cannot heal our unbelief. Just as if we do not admit our sin, we cannot repent and be forgiven by the Savior.
If we will admit our doubt by asking questions, the Savior will heal our unbelief.
I'm glad I got to hear this first, before it went online.
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