Question
Dear Gramps,
As I am writing this many of the members of the church I grew up with are calling my coming home or back an Alma the Younger Conversion. Through many trials and tribulations I have closed my heart off to Heavenly father and the rest of humanity. As I am going through the repentance process, I am discovering that I need to trust and open my heart more to Heavenly Father. Moreover I need to learn to trust him. My question is how Do I do this. I Know I need more than just prayer.
Aaron
Answer
Aaron,
May the Lord bless you for the desire you have shown to come back to the fold of God. The truth is that you’ve already begun the process. You’ve come to a point where you’ve recognized that the path you were on was not where you want to be. And you’ve recognized that the path you want to be on is the one that leads to your Heavenly Father.
Take everything one step at a time.
Wherefore, my beloved (brother) I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism—yea, by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost; and then can ye speak with the tongue of angels, and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel. 2 Nephi 31:13
Doing the will of the Lord is one of the first things you can do to gain trust in His words. Gain trust in his words and you will soon gain trust in Him.
You were baptized early in life. But a renewal of those covenants comes from partaking of the sacrament with full purpose of heart. Are you willing to take upon yourself the name of Christ? This means that you perform every action asking yourself, “As a representative of Jesus Christ, is this action going to honor or disgrace the name of Christ?”
And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son; and ye have received the Holy Ghost, which witnesses of the Father and the Son, unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive. 2 Nephi 31:18
Then the promise is held for you as you endure to the end.
19 And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.
20 Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life. 2 Nephi 31:19-20
There really is no other way other than that initial leap of faith. Begin with a small amount of trust. Test his words. Live the gospel. As you do, you’ll begin to see the blessings in your life. They may not be temporal blessings. But you’ll see the guiding hand of the Lord in your life. As you begin to see these things, you’ll find great peace in continuing in his word. That peace will help open your heart for all the Lord has in store for you.
Gramps
