I was reading an article today on LDS.org when I felt a nudge from the Spirit. There was one moment that stuck me so much and was so uplifting and encouraging that I had to share it with you. The article was written by Marianne Holman Prescott, a staff writer at Church News. She was reporting on a talk that Elder Ballard gave at the recent BYU Women’s Conference.
In his presentation, Elder Ballard said this: “As members of the Church, we should not be critical of those who have sincere, heartfelt questions or concerns about their faith.” Instead we should remember that “the Restoration, in all of its glory and wonder, was launched in response to a spiritual question of a 14-year-old young man. Such questions can be a catalyst to real conversion if they prompt us to seek truth in the light of faith.”
As someone who struggles with depression and anxiety, I often feel guilty about the questions, and even doubts, that sometimes enter my head. We’ve been told to be of good cheer and that Heavenly Father’s plan is a plan of Happiness, but at times I simply don’t feel happy. I struggle to have confidence and to feel my faith. Unfortunately, this can sometimes last for long periods of time, periods when I'm in survival mode and when I struggle to live daily as the disciple of Christ that I want to be. In these moments, I feel guilty about not being a good example for my family and friends.
Thankfully, I’ve had enough experiences to know that this is the true Church, so these struggles don’t pull me away from the Church. But they do make life … challenging.
It was wonderful to read Elder Ballard’s words and to know that Heavenly Father can, and will, use the questions that inspire, and sometimes plague me to strengthen my testimony and to help me fulfill my purpose. As I move forward, I will strive to use these questions to strengthen my relationship with Heavenly Father and to strengthen my resolve to live my faith.
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