Faith and Testimony

When I try new things, I'll be honest, I'm a bit of a wimp. I spend a lot of time trying to think everything out in my mind, and plan how I'm going to do things. I want to fully understand the concept before I get started. I took a springboard diving class one semester at school, and sometimes this desire to understand before I would try a new dive would cause me to spend a few minutes standing by the pool thinking in stead of just going for it and actually learning. I've learned that there is a fine line that divides conceptual understanding from real learning, and that more times than not, that line comes from experience. We have to experience something to really be able to learn it. That's why this life is so great, because we have so many different experiences that we can learn from, that will eventually prepare us for the eternities.

The same principle is true for Gospel doctrines. Naturally, as humans, we don't understand them, and it doesn't make sense why we would believe in something that we can't see, or keep a commandment we can't see the immediate benefit of. And sometimes we want to fully understand a Gospel principle or doctrine, and have a testimony of its truthfulness before we begin to act on it. Unfortunately, that's not how God works. God wants us to show our faith in Him. And it's only then that the testimony comes. The Savior taught in the Bible, "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself" (John 7:17). The trick, here, is that we are required to act, to experience the doctrine, before we will know whether or not it comes from the Father.

So that puts me in a little bind, because I like to understand things before I act. But that's where faith comes in. I've learned that sometimes, I need to just show some faith and act. In my diving class, I eventually got over my thoughts, and just got on the board and jumped and tried new things. And I learned. I wasn't perfect at first, but my ability improved as I tried it, and I learned as I went. With God, we trust in him, go out and get on the figurative board of life, and jump. He will catch us. He will sustain us. And He will bless us for our faith, our obedience, and our effort to follow Him. He will let us know that our efforts are pleasing to Him, and that the principles we are learning and applying truly are His.