Our faith is often tested. These four practices can help nurture your faith and your trust in Heavenly Father.
Shortly after I got home from my mission, COVID-19 swept over the world. I spent the first six months back trying to maintain a sense of normalcy in the midst of a lockdown. But I stopped praying and lost motivation to read my scriptures. I felt like I was losing my faith.
At some point, everyone goes through experiences like this one. It’s natural to have periods of weakened faith. The question is, what can we do to build that faith back up? In a recent general conference talk, “Faith: A Bond of Trust and Loyalty,” Elder Sandino Roman recommends four practices to increase our trust in Jesus Christ and to build our faith in Him.
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Photo By Fabrizio Conti Meditate on the gospel and the happiness that it brings us. In our crazy lives, we can seek quiet moments—in the car, on the way to school, just before completing an assignment—where we can reflect on the joy we feel in living the gospel of Jesus Christ.
- Make a record of the spiritually defining memories in our lives. This easily lends itself to the principle of gratitude. Remembering spiritually defining memories shows Heavenly Father that you appreciate the revelation and care he has blessed us with.
- Pray to our Heavenly Father “as if it were the first time.” Taking the time to build a relationship with God will help our religious practices become more meaningful and intentional.
- Have a sincere and humble attitude. Elder Roman promises, “If you are sincere and humble, you will hear His answer,” helping us to deepen our relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
My faith is still imperfect, but by implementing simple practices like these four, I have learned that Heavenly Father is waiting with open arms to receive us. If you are going through a similar experience, or even if you’re feeling spiritually confident, try one or all of these four faith practices to add to your spiritual routine. Reach out to God. Even the tiniest tweak can make a world of difference.
To learn more about how faith is a bond of trust and loyalty, read Elder Roman’s full talk: “Faith: A Bond of Trust and Loyalty.”
Source: General Conference
—Maddie Hoopes, Latter-day Saint Insights
FEATURE IMAGE BY AKIL MAZUMDER
Find more insights
Discover questions that will help you determine where your faith lies with Megan Crook’s Latter-day Saint Insights article, “6 Questions to Evaluate Your Faith.”
Learn more about how to act on your faith by reading Lydia Mercado’s Latter-day Saint Insights article, “Getting Your Feet Wet: The Faith to Act.”