A growing testimony of God the Father and His son, Jesus Christ is something that is simple, yet that needs constant work and action - through faith.
In the vision of the Tree of Life which Lehi saw there is a point where a Rod of Iron is leading to the beautiful, and light tree of life on a streight and narrow path. At some points of the journey mists of darkness encompassing the never changing, ever sure, and steady Rod of Iron. When the mist comes I imagine objects such as metal becoming slippery, with a little bit of droplets of water from the mist; which allows this metal a little harder to hold onto.
In Mormon 9 the chapter talks about why God IS a God of miracles, why He will always be unchangable and never cease to work miracles among His children. Just like the symbolic dark mists, fear, doubt, and unbelief closes our spiritual eyes to the Lord, His tender mercies and His miracles that just abound in our lives! Our Heavenly Father does want to bless each and every one of His children, but it is our choice whether we SEE and ACCEPT His kindness, love, and mercy.
Fear, doubt, and unbelief does not help in opening our eyes to SEE, and they allow our testimonies in the Lord and Savior to 'dwindle in unbelief.'
"[...] whosoever shall believe in my name doubting nothing unto him will I confirm all my words, even unto the end of the earth. [...] despise not, and wonder not, but hearken unto the words of the Lord, and ask the Father in the name of Jesus for what things soever ye shall stand in need. Doubt not [...] be believeing, and begin as in times of old, [...] come unto the Lord with all your heart, [...] "
It is by faith that we can SEE all the hand of the Lord, and just as the mists of darkness cannot be avoided throughout our journey fears, doubts also cannot be without in this life. Although we each must experience fear, doubt, and unbelief at some time we also can learn how to fight against these mists of darkness...Only this can be done through our Savior, Jesus Christ.
In the passages from Mormon 9 --above-- I love how if we practice Faith in the name of Jesus then He will confirm...or in other words testify ALL His words to us!
A testimony grows through struggling... through tests and trials, it grows as faith is exercised and experiences gained in this mortal life...as we hold onto the Iron Rod we exercise the faith we need to continue the journey all the way to the Bright, beautiful, and living Tree of Life!
You know what is pretty miraclulous about reading and studying the vision of the Tree of Life is that it happened so long ago, yet still has meaning and is likened even to our every day lives!
God truly IS still, and forever will be a God of miracles!
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