“Shortly after I was called as a General Authority, I went to Elder Harold B. Lee for counsel. He listened very carefully to my problem and suggested that I see President David O. McKay. President McKay counseled me as to the direction I should go. I was very willing to be obedient but saw no way possible for me to do as he counseled me to do.
I returned to Elder Lee and told him that I saw no way to move in the direction I was counseled to go. He said, ‘The trouble with you is you want to see the end from the beginning.’ I replied that I would like to see at least a step or two ahead. Then came the lesson of a lifetime: ‘You must learn to walk to the edge of the light, and then a few steps into the darkness; then the light will appear and show the way before you.’ Then he quoted these 18 words from the Book of Mormon:
‘Dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.’
Those 18 words from Moroni have been like a beacon light to me. Let me put them in their setting:
And it came to pass that Ether did prophesy great and marvelous things unto the people, which they did not believe, because they saw them not. And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith. (Ether 12:5-6.)
During the 29 years following that experience, I have learned over and over again that all of us must walk by faith—near the edge of the light. Like Nephi, who said, “I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do” (1 Nephi 4:6), each of us must learn to take a few steps into the darkness of the unknown.”
Boyd K. Packer, BYU Today (Mar, 1991, pp. 22-23)
When you have come to the edge of all the light you know, and are about to step off into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing one of two things will happen:
There will be something solid to stand on, or you will be taught how to fly.
Faith--that living, inspiring, confidence in God, that causes us to accept His will as our law.
James E. Talmage
I returned to Elder Lee and told him that I saw no way to move in the direction I was counseled to go. He said, ‘The trouble with you is you want to see the end from the beginning.’ I replied that I would like to see at least a step or two ahead. Then came the lesson of a lifetime: ‘You must learn to walk to the edge of the light, and then a few steps into the darkness; then the light will appear and show the way before you.’ Then he quoted these 18 words from the Book of Mormon:
‘Dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.’
Those 18 words from Moroni have been like a beacon light to me. Let me put them in their setting:
And it came to pass that Ether did prophesy great and marvelous things unto the people, which they did not believe, because they saw them not. And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith. (Ether 12:5-6.)
During the 29 years following that experience, I have learned over and over again that all of us must walk by faith—near the edge of the light. Like Nephi, who said, “I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do” (1 Nephi 4:6), each of us must learn to take a few steps into the darkness of the unknown.”
Boyd K. Packer, BYU Today (Mar, 1991, pp. 22-23)
When you have come to the edge of all the light you know, and are about to step off into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing one of two things will happen:
There will be something solid to stand on, or you will be taught how to fly.
Faith--that living, inspiring, confidence in God, that causes us to accept His will as our law.
James E. Talmage
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