![\"\"](\"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/IMG_5396-800x533.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
We talk a lot about faith in our classes and sermons. It\u2019s not hard to see why\u2014faith is at once one of the crucial elements of our spiritual lives and one of the most difficult elements to practice. Add to that it\u2019s tendency to conflict with \u201ccommon sense\u201d (which is in reality simply our understanding of how the world works), and we need to regularly examine what it means, how it operates and why it\u2019s difficult to practice.<\/p>\n
In a sense, poetry, with its emphasis on imagery and metaphor, may be a better form for explaining and exploring faith, since understanding when and how to have faith in God is often subjective and depends on recognizing what God would have us do in the circumstances we face. Often trust in God means relying on the idea that He will support us somehow that we don\u2019t know and sometime that isn\u2019t clear. But this trust is necessary for our spiritual development and for accomplishing what is beyond our abilities. Having faith is not trivial.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
If we have always talked about the importance of faith, the idea that there are challenges to faith has quickly followed, although in recent decades the tenor of that idea has changed. In one sense we believe that the whole point of this life is to probe and challenge our faith, testing and proving each of us in order to prepare us for the next life. On the other hand, the challenges in the last few decades seem to have been more difficult and led many more people to doubt about the Church. Regardless, these challenges to faith are often seen as a kind of battle for the souls of human beings.<\/p>\n
This is the metaphor used in the following poem, by Charles W. Penrose, who was later a member of the Quorum of the Twelve. Written during the \u201cReformation\u201d of 1856-1858, during which the Church in Utah sought to strengthen the faith of members, this poem talks about fighting challenges to faith in almost military terms, reminding members of previous persecution and the need to stay close to the faith they have accepted.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
by Charles W. Penrose<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
1857<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Perhaps in contrast to the idea of challenges to faith is the idea that faith can be grounded in an understanding that everything is in the Lord\u2019s hands, and therefore it will all turn out according to His pre-determined result. In a sense the almost pre-destined idea that everything will follow the Lord\u2019s plan can seem to leave us with a senses that we aren\u2019t in control, and maybe not responsible for our actions. Of course, what is really meant is that the Lord has foreseen everything and has a way to work around anything that might threaten that plan.<\/p>\n
Here the prolific poet Joel H. Johnson makes the claim that the Lord is in control. He specifically addresses the issues with faith and fate when he admits that he is \u201cStrong in faith with will subdued\u201d\u2014if his will is subdued, then is he responsible for what happens?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
by Joel H. Johnson<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
1882<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Where does this leave us? Does our free will get in the way of having confidence in the Lord? Can we somehow find solace for our weaknesses, even if they get in the way of our faith?<\/p>\n
The following poem talks bout how we find solace in the scriptures, despite weakness \u2014 both our own and that of those described in the scriptures.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
by Addie S. Pace<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
1920<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I believe covenants help with this. We need faith in situations where we don\u2019t know what to do and aren\u2019t sure of the outcome. Making covenants can help us keep commitments we make in calmer times, when we aren\u2019t pressured by urgent concerns of the moment. Covenants are like a spiritual commitment device, helping us get through the challenges that are inevitable in this life.<\/p>\n
Here British convert John Jaques, shows the implication of his covenant-like conviction to follow the gospel of Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
by John Jaques<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
1852<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
We talk a lot about faith in our classes and sermons. It\u2019s not hard to see why\u2014faith is at once one of the crucial elements of our spiritual lives and one of the most difficult elements to practice. Add to that it\u2019s tendency to conflict with \u201ccommon sense\u201d (which is in reality simply our understanding of how the world works), and we need to regularly examine what it means, how it operates and why it\u2019s difficult to practice. In a sense, poetry, with its emphasis on imagery and metaphor, may be a better form for explaining and exploring faith, since understanding when and how to have faith in God is often subjective and depends on recognizing what God would have us do in the circumstances we face. Often trust in God means relying on the idea that He will support us somehow that we don\u2019t know and sometime that isn\u2019t clear. But this trust is necessary for our spiritual development and for accomplishing what is beyond our abilities. Having faith is not trivial. I can stay true to the Lord when my faith is challenged. If we have always talked about the importance of faith, the idea that there […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":111,"featured_media":53993,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[53],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-53944","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latter-day-saint-thought"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/IMG_5396.jpeg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53944","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/111"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=53944"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53944\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":54000,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53944\/revisions\/54000"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/53993"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=53944"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=53944"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=53944"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}