Ether 12:6 -- On Essential Uncertainty

"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 12:6

The whole "receive no witness until after the trial of your faith" seems so *unfair* sometimes, doesn't it?  It's so hard making decisions based on thoughts and impressions and not certainty.  ... And yet, how else could it possibly work?  How else could we learn to listen to the spirit or to make our own choices?  Life is designed to teach us to know who we are individually, and help us to find out what we want, and where we want to go... and it just couldn't do that if certainty was always granted to us.

Today, when we're uncertain and lost, let's exercise our faith.  ... Exercise is an appropriate word here because it takes practice and learning and dedication, but it isn't about immediate perfection.  It's a process.  Let's study and learn more about God, and pray and talk things over with him, so that it is more than just an occasional thought or feeling, and we can learn to discern the voice of God more consistently... and understand more clearly why we need him in our lives.

Let's hope for light and love and certainty, and learn the less certain and less bright lessons on the way that are essential to achieving that perfect pureness someday. :)