In his talk “Faith to Move Mountains” President Gordon B. Hinckley speaks about the faith of those in the church. He opens the talk by briefly speaking of his health and age. He says that as long as the Lord is willing to have him serve he will And when the time comes for new leadership the church will move forward in faith.
President Hinckley goes on to say that the church was built on faith. He speaks about Joseph Smith and that it was faith that led him to pray in the grove, and translate the Book of Mormon. He also speaks of the faith of Brigham Young as he led the pioneers to the Salt Lake Valley.
President Hinckley spoke about the faith of the members of the Willie and Martin Handcart companies. He also spoke of the faith of those who went to their aid. While many suffered and died, many more were saved as members of the church put their faith into action.
President Hinckley also spoke of the important of small acts of faith. He shared the story of his wife’s grandmother. She became a young widow when her husband was injured while he was working on the Manti temple. All she had left to remember him by was her wedding ring. While doing the spring cleaning she lost the ring in the straw of a mattress. She looked for the ring and could not find it. Finally she knelt and prayed that she might find it. After the prayer she found the ring. President Hinckley said of this experience:
“Now I hold it in my hand. It is too small for all of you to see. It is 18 karat gold, old and scarred and bent. But it represents faith, the faith of a widow who pleaded with the Lord in her extremity. Such faith is the wellspring of activity. It is the root of hope and trust. It is this simple faith that all of us so much need.
“In the on-working of this great cause, increased faith is what we most need. Without it, the work would stagnate. With it, no one can stop its progress. . .
“May the Lord bless us with faith in the great cause of which we are a part. May faith be as a candle to guide us in the night by its light. May it go before us as a cloud in the day.”
This a wonderful talk about the importance of faith in our lives. Faith can help us through the bigger trials of life, but it is also there to guide us through the daily challenges that we each face. I hope that you will take the time to read and ponder President Hinckley’s words.
Related Articles:
General Conference: “Faith, Service and Constancy”
General Conference: “Spiritual Nutrients”
General Conference: “How Firm a Foundation”