Know and Feel

I was talking with an awesome guy the other day who has a very strong faith in Christ and who has spent much of his life in the word and in church. Quite honestly, he is one of the most spiritual men I have ever met. He highlighted a truth in a very succinct way that is sometimes better felt than heard:

Teaching is for the head, preaching is for the heart.

Learning the gospel gives us a knowledge that gives us freedom and power.

Being taught that knowledge is a valuable thing that adds to us... perhaps best likend to a spiritual well from which we can draw upon. Being preached the gospel does the same, though it feels more to draw something out of us... perhaps best likened to that spiritual well being drawn upon.

Truely, both experiences are a part of our learning the gospel.


EDIT: December 29th, 2011
Mr. Turner passed away over night at the age of 76. He was a good man, deeply spiritual and a steady rock to all around him. He was able to be what others around him needed him to be, because he was firmly anchored in the gospel of Jesus Christ, and he himself was built upon a sure foundation. He will be missed, but he is where the Lord would have him be, when the Lord would have him be there.

Trust Fall

This great story came to my mind the other day and I wanted to share!

A little girl took her father’s lunch to him as he worked deep in a well. Although she could not see her father down in the darkness of the well, when she called to him he answered, so she knew he was there. The father told her to drop the lunch bucket into the hole, and he would catch it. He did so, and in a moment called up to her that he had too much lunch for just one person, and invited her to join him. “Jump,” he said, “and I will catch you. You cannot see me, but I can see you, and I will not let you fall.” She jumped into the dark well and landed safely in her father’s strong arms. Together they had a fun time sharing the lunch.

Great Story, Huh?!

Even though the hole was very deep and likely very scary, the little girl trusted her father after hearing his voice and knowing he was there. She could not see him, but she believed two things about her father: The first was that he COULD catch her, and the second was that he WOULD catch her.

Perhaps not just anyone could have caught her as she fell several feet down the dank well, but as her father was a strong working man, he would have no problem making sure she would be safe. He had the means and capability to make sure everything would be okay.

He also made the promise that he would not let her fall. He had a perspective so that he could see her perfectly silhouetted against the lighted backdrop of day, and he was attentive to her and aware of her as she peered over the edge into the blackness. He called out to her, and promised he would be right there. If she trusted him enough to leap, he would do the rest.

This trust that the father and daughter experienced together is like faith. We too cannot see our Father in Heaven, but He can see us and will make sure that we are okay. He has the power to do so, we have His promise He will follow through. Things wont always be perfect, but He will be there to make sure we end up in His arms as we fall through the darkness.

Ether 12:6 is one of my favorite scriptures on showing faith:

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 trail of your faith.