2.154 Because I Believe
Show Notes
Allen Roberds explores Doctrine and Covenants 58:3, reflecting on why belief in God's future designs profoundly impacts our present lives. This episode addresses common arguments against organized religion by sharing personal insights on how faith and covenants lead to greater patience, resilience in trials, and stronger eternal relationships, ultimately making us better people here and now.
Key Points
- The episode addresses the common argument that believing in future blessings is foolish, instead focusing on current life.
- Doctrine and Covenants 58:3 reveals that we cannot currently behold God's full design or the glory that follows tribulation.
- Allen Roberds shares how his belief in God's promises makes him more patient, resilient in sadness, less cynical, and focused on eternal relationships.
- True belief and living covenants are shown to improve one's character and circumstances in the present, not just for future rewards.
- The host emphasizes that belief in divine promises transforms and enhances daily life, leading to personal growth and betterment.
Everything in my life is better because I believe.
Episode Resources
Full Transcript
In Matthew 5:13, Jesus calls us the salt of the earth, a bold reminder that our lives are meant to carry his flavor, his truth, and his love to the world. Join me each day to explore one verse of scripture and one thought, striving to stay full of savor and truly live as savory salt. Hello, my friends.
Great to have you with me. Today, let's be anxiously engaged in a good cause and bring to pass much righteousness. Welcome to our readings this week as we are in the middle of Doctrine and Covenants sections 58 and 59, as well as Alma chapters 2 through 5.
We started yesterday with Alma chapter 1, a little bit of a connection from last week, actually. We're going to dive into our Doctrine and Covenants readings this week by looking inside of section 58. I've titled this one, "Because I Believe," and I want to actually frame it in advance before we do the verse for today.
You see, one of the core arguments against organized religion is this idea that followers of the religions are waiting for promised blessings. So many of those that don't believe say it's a foolish thing to believe in future blessings because they're never going to come anyway and they're never going to exist anyway and there's no afterlife anyway. So we're fools to believe that anything we do here and now has any sort of bearing in any afterlife if there is any at all.
And it's been an argument for millennia. It's been an argument for thousands of years that those who believe and buy into the idea of a heaven or a greater happiness or a greater level of glory in the afterlife are fools and that they should instead focus on their current lives. Now that's the argument against it.
I want to provide our verse for today and maybe just provide some of the reasons behind why I believe and what happens in my life because I believe. Our verse for today is in Doctrine and Covenants section 58, verse 3. The saints at that time have been going through some difficult times.
There's been some challenges and they're moving from place to place and sometimes there's land available and sometimes there's not land available and all these things are happening. And then the Lord says this, verse 3: You cannot behold with your natural eyes for the present time the design of your God concerning those things which shall come hereafter and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation. So in response to those that have those doubts and that have lost those beliefs, here's something that I thought about and I actually wrote it down a little bit.
This is such a beautiful promise, but this is what's also changed in my life because I believe in the Lord. I'm more patient in my own trials and tribulations. Because I believe in this, I'm better able to handle sadness and tragedy in my life.
Because I believe in these blessings, I'm less cynical about others' own persuasions or thoughts or motives. Because I believe, I'm more focused on making sure my relationships are built for eternity. You see, everything in my life is better because I believe.
So in this interesting twist, I'm not living my life here and now for some promised blessings of reward and glory, though the Lord has promised them to those that are faithful. I'm living the covenants I've made here and now because they make me a better person here and now. I hope your covenants have done the same for you.
If you haven't made covenants with the Lord, I hope that this experience in Savory Salt is drawing you closer to doing that. I hope you spend more time in the scriptures and see that the blessings that the Lord promises that are of the future actually change our present conditions and circumstances here and now as we apply them in our lives. That's something I truly believe.
I am better because I believe. I'm continuing to grow. I'm continuing to learn.
But I can absolutely say I am better because I believe. That's all for today, my friends. Lift up your hearts and rejoice.
Cleave into the covenants you have made. And together we will be savory salt. For more information, visit us at www.fema.org.
This transcript was generated using AI and may contain errors. I do my best to review and edit them when I can.