After
only a few steps on top of the water, Peter began to sink. His doubt arose from
focusing his attention away from the Savior and onto the boisterous winds and
engulfing waves surrounding him. We must ask ourselves: what are the daunting
winds and waves that impede our efforts to come to the Savior? What are the
sources of doubt in our 21st-century society that cause some to falter
in their faith? President Uchtdorf taught:
The search for truth has
led millions of people to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
However, there are some who leave the Church they once loved.
One might ask, “If the
gospel is so wonderful, why would anyone leave?”
Sometimes we assume it
is because they have been offended or lazy or sinful. Actually, it is not that
simple. In fact, there is not just one reason that applies to the variety of
situations.[1]
Let’s
explore some of the root sources that stimulate doubt. Just as knowing the
cause of an illness can help us more readily identify a cure, so knowing the source
of doubt can help us more quickly resolve it. The things that generate doubt
may be different for each person, but there are at least seven common instigators prevalent among Church members today.
Unfulfilled Expectations and
Unanticipated Trials
We live
in a fallen world.[2]
Because of this, many things do not go according to our desires or plans. The
Prophet Joseph Smith taught that our destinies “are in the hands of a just God,
and He will do no injustice to any one.” But he further explained, “they who
will live godly in Christ Jesus, shall suffer persecution; and before their
robes are made white in the blood of the Lamb, it is to be expected…they will
pass through great tribulation.”[3]
Given this sobering statement by the Prophet, we should not be surprised to
face unfulfilled expectations or unanticipated trials all throughout our mortal
lives. “The storms and temptations of this life, confirmed Elder Quentin L.
Cook, “are often unpredictable. But this we know: they will come!...Life is not
easy, nor was it meant to be. It is a time of testing and trial.”[4]
We
should also be alerted to the fact that some trials may cause us to doubt – to
doubt the purpose of our lives and to wonder if God is even aware of us or if
He exists at all. For example, a couple marries with the delightful
anticipation of having children, only to find they cannot. This may cause them
to question why a loving God would command them to “multiply and replenish the
earth” but not bless them to be able to do so. Without help, this couple may
experience disappointment, despair, and doubt about the purpose of their lives
and God’s plan of salvation.
There
are some who want to marry, but who will not have the opportunity in this life.
Not only do they experience disappointment, sadness, and loneliness, but they
may doubt God’s love for them or their worthiness to continue the path of true
discipleship. Still others will marry and later find that their spouse isn’t
what they expected; divorce ensues and doubt about eternal happiness develops.
Some
are tried by physical, mental, or emotional challenges. Others suffer agony
over the unexpected death of a loved one. Many suffer injustices or abuses. Everyone
experiences hurt, frustration, and anger at the lack of truthfulness and
integrity in others, especially in settings where we’d expect these attributes to
exist in abundance. Surprising, even shocking, behavior by Church members can
cause us to question the truthfulness of the Church and possibly the existence
of the Lord. I know of one father whose son told him that he left the Church
because he could not continue to tolerate the hypocrisy of some local Church
leaders. He wondered how God could call such men and women to leadership when
they were, in his opinion, “evil-doers.”[5]
All of
these experiences may cause us, or those we love, to doubt. Unfulfilled
expectations and unanticipated trials can diminish and even dispel our faith if
we do not have a proper understanding of the purpose of our lives. While the
scriptures assure us that “all these things shall give [us] experience, and
shall be for [our] good,”[6]
trials and tribulation can also lead to spiritually crippling doubt that may
carry us into inactivity.
The
Prophet Joseph Smith had a life full of unfulfilled expectations and
unanticipated trials and yet remained faithful to the Lord. On one occasion, a
drunken, angry mob broke into the house he was living in. The Prophet later
recounted the horrifying event:
“The mob burst open the
door and surrounded the bed in an instant, and … the first I knew I was going
out of the door in the hands of an infuriated mob. I made a desperate struggle,
as I was forced out, to extricate myself, but only cleared one leg, with which
I made a pass at one man, and he fell on the door steps. I was immediately
overpowered again; and they swore … they would kill me if I did not be still,
which quieted me. …
“They then seized me by
the throat and held on till I lost my breath. After I came to, as they passed
along with me, about thirty rods from the house, I saw Elder Rigdon stretched
out on the ground, whither they had dragged him by his heels. I supposed he was
dead. I began to plead with them, saying, ‘You will have mercy and spare my
life, I hope.’ To which they replied, ‘… Call on yer God for help, we’ll
show ye no mercy.’”
After some discussion,
the mob “concluded not to kill me,” the Prophet related, “but to beat and
scratch me well, tear off my shirt and drawers, and leave me naked. … They ran
back and fetched the bucket of tar, when one exclaimed, with an oath, ‘Let us
tar up his mouth;’ and they tried to force the tar-paddle into my mouth; I
twisted my head around, so that they could not; and they cried out,
‘… Hold up yer head and let us giv ye some tar.’ They then tried to force
a vial into my mouth, and broke it in my teeth. All my clothes were torn off me
except my shirt collar; and one man fell on me and scratched my body with his
nails like a mad cat. …
“They then left me, and
I attempted to rise, but fell again; I pulled the tar away from my lips, so
that I could breathe more freely, and after a while I began to recover, and
raised myself up, whereupon I saw two lights. I made my way towards one of
them, and found it was Father Johnson’s. When I came to the door … the tar made
me look as if I were covered with blood, and when my wife saw me she thought I
was all crushed to pieces, and fainted. …
“My friends spent the night
in scraping and removing the tar, and washing and cleansing my body; so that by
morning I was ready to be clothed again.”[7]
Later
that day, Joseph preached a sermon, even after such a trying experience. “The
people assembled for meeting at the usual hour of worship,” the Prophet
recorded, “and among them came also the mobbers. … With my flesh all scarified
and defaced, I preached to the congregation as usual, and in the afternoon of
the same day baptized three individuals.”[8]
Fifty
years after that experience, Wilford Woodruff said of Joseph Smith, “The Lord
told Joseph that He would prove him, whether he would abide in His covenant or
not, even unto death. He did prove him; and although [Joseph] had the whole
world to contend against and the treachery of false friends to withstand,
although his whole life was a scene of trouble and anxiety and care, yet, in
all his afflictions, his imprisonments, the mobbings and ill treatment he
passed through, he was ever true to his God.”[9]
Sometimes,
even the teachings or official statements of Church leaders can be unexpected
and require us to grapple with our own opinions in order to avoid doubt and remain
faithful. While teaching in a Capernaum synagogue, the Savior compared Himself
to the manna that came down from heaven to feed the children of Israel while
they wandered in the desert toward the Promised Land. “I am the bread of life,”
He declared, “Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood,
ye have no life in you.”[10]
While we may have a better understanding of this saying in our day because of
our weekly participation in the Sacrament, this particular teaching offended a
few disciples who felt that this was “an hard saying” and they “walked no more
with” Jesus.[11]
Disciples with budding testimonies of the Savior became doubters when
confronted with hard doctrine. We are not immune to this phenomenon today.
Throughout
the history of the Church, prophets have been inspired to make statements that
have tried, albeit unintentionally, the faith of the Saints. Polygamy, the
Manifesto, Official Declaration 2, and policies on same-gender marriage are
just a few official statements that have required members to unexpectedly
reconcile their personal opinions with divine teachings. These have brought
unanticipated moments of doubt to a few members. Some continue forward, walking
by faith, while others chose to walk no more with the Savior’s church.
It
might help those who doubt because of unfulfilled expectations or unanticipated
trials to remember that Jesus Christ did not deserve the trials he faced during
his mortal life. While He did nothing wrong, he ironically faced innumerable
and incalculable trials. None of us will ever feel more lonely, lost, or
neglected than did Jesus, for He “descended below them all.”[12]
He was literally “in all points tempted.”[13]
He had “no beauty that we should desire him.” He was “despised and rejected” by
people. He was amply acquainted with sorrow and grief. He was not held in high
esteem by most of the people of His day. They saw Him as one who had fallen out
of favor with God and who was stricken, smitten, and afflicted.[14]
Because
of His own personal experiences in mortality and because of His infinite
atonement, He knows perfectly how we feel when we are met with unfulfilled
expectations and unanticipated trials. Because He suffered “pains and
afflictions and temptations of every kind” He knows exactly how to succor us
“according to [our own] infirmities.”[15]
None of us it out of the reach of His ability to comfort, soothe, heal, or rescue.
When
you learn that your loved ones are doubting because of unfulfilled expectations
or unanticipated trials, it might be helpful to remind them that everyone has
trials. No one get’s out of this life without experiencing such things. Elder
Joseph B. Wirthlin reminded us, “The Lord in His wisdom does not shield anyone
from grief or sadness.”[16]
Referring to the living apostles, Elder David A. Bednar said, “These men are
not spared from affliction.”[17]
Help your
loved ones realize that even though they may feel “singled out” or as though
they are experiencing more than their fair share of trials, they can be assured
that everyone will have them, even if we don’t observe them in others. It is
one of the purposes of mortality and no one is immune. Even the “highly favored
of the Lord” Nephi had “many afflictions in the course of [his] days.”[18]
Our
mettle must be tested. God clearly stated, “we will make an earth whereon these
(His children) may dwell; And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will
do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them.”[19]
Our eternity depends on our ability to remain loyal to God under pressure. That
means dealing faithfully with things we did not expect to happen. George A.
Smith, while in the midst of a great trial, told of the counsel he received
from Joseph Smith, “He told me I should never get discouraged, whatever
difficulties might surround me. If I was sunk in the lowest pit of Nova Scotia
and all the Rocky Mountains piled on top of me, I ought not to be discouraged
but hang on, exercise faith, and keep up good courage and I should come out on
the top of the heap at last.”[20]
Remind
yourself, and those who are doubting, to practice patience, persistence, and
prayer when confronted with unanticipated experiences. Encourage them to follow
the advice Joseph Smith gave Abraham C. Hodge just days prior to his martyrdom.
“Now, Brother Hodge,” he said, “let what will, come; don’t deny the faith, and
all will be well.”[21]
Jesus Christ, Joseph Smith, and many others did not deny the faith. They showed
the way to live so that trials that tend to diminish faith by fanning the
singeing flames of doubt can be endured faithfully and eventually overcome.
[2] 1
Nephi 10:6; Alma 34:9.
[3] Teachings of Presidents of the Church:
Joseph Smith, p. 230; see also History
of the Church, 1:449; from a letter from Joseph Smith to Edward Partridge
and others, December 5, 1833, Kirtland, Ohio.
[4]
“Shipshape and Bristol Fashion; Be Temple Worthy—in Good Times and Bad,”
Ensign, November 2015, p. 39, 42.
[5]
Psalms 37:1; the first 20 verses give the faithful reason to be patient until
the Lord exacts His justice.
[6]
Doctrine and Covenants 122:7.
[7] Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph
Smith, pp. 227–229; see also History of the Church, 1:261–64;
italics deleted; from “History of the Church” (manuscript), book A-1,
pp. 205–8, Church Archives, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah.
[8]
Ibid.
[9]
Ibid.; see also Deseret News: Semi-Weekly, Oct. 18, 1881,
p. 1; punctuation and capitalization modernized.
[10]
John 6:48, 53.
[11]
John 6: 60, 66.
[12]
Doctrine and Covenants 122:8.
[13]
Hebrews 4:15; Doctrine and Covenants 20:22.
[14]
Mosiah 14:2–4.
[15]
Alma 7:11–12.
[16]
“Come What May and Love It,” Ensign,
November 2008, p. 26.
[17]
“Chosen to Bear Testimony of My Name,” Ensign,
November 2015, p. 129.
[18] 1
Nephi 1:1.
[19]
Abraham 3:25.
[20] Teachings of Presidents of the Church:
Joseph Smith, p. 235; see also “History of George Albert Smith by Himself,”
p. 49, George Albert Smith, Papers, 1834-75, LDS Church Archives.
[21] Teachings of Presidents of the Church:
Joseph Smith, p. 235; see also History
of the Church, 6:546, from “History of the Church” (manuscript), book F-1,
p. 147, LDS Church Archives.
