Belief in God's power, discerning our detractors' words

By: Justin Hansen

A couple of topics went through my mind this week, and I have decided to kind of mix the 2 of them. I have, in the last few weeks been able to take good steps to overcome a particularly trying challenge in my life. It has been great to feel a burden lifted and joy replace that particular worry in my life. That said, other challenges have, do, and will come into life. That said, we know to whom we can turn to move past hem. I have grown more in the last 2 or weeks because I have more earnestly sought the will of God in my life and asked for him to help my unbelief (Mark 9:24). I have grown closer to him, and thank him for it. I believe this belief, plus our acting on that belief is what helps us most in this life. We have The Spirit to guide and direct us, allowing us to bask in God's love and at least understand His will and love, and that the trials we face are there because he loves us.
Now, along those lines, we have many voices screaming or whispering at us these days, some are good and wholesome, others are not, some of those that can detract us do it knowingly. Others are simply too much in the world to understand what they are doing. Others, and those that seem to be the loudest, are detractors of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They may be of other faiths, those who truly believe they are doing God's will in trying to lead us out of our current faith. Others may have been a member at one point and are bitter, angry, or simply determined to take as many out of the path as possible since they are out (insert here: This list is not all-inclusive, or pointed at any specific individual, it is simply a list of a few examples seen by yours truly throughout life). So, should we take stock in what they say, what parts and how much. Though some of the things they shout are probably laced with truth, they are either mixed with error, or truth twisted to fit an agenda. For example, it is true that some missionaries baptize people without helping them convert first, even using antics that are deplorable. Does this reflect upon the whole church as the norm? No way, but many who rail the church want outsiders to think so, or at least place a grain of doubt or discontent among those in or out of the church who may be struggling, or whose faith is young. There are specific examples of this throughout Church History, and interestingly enough, they are often similar in nature (did you know that Jesus and Satan are brothers......and the list goes on). Take heed not to the many little seeds of doubt thrown out, but to the seeds of faith that God wishes to help us discover, faith, coupled with action and study, will allow us to overcome and purge the poison that comes to our faith in many shapes and sizes.