Choose to Live by Faith and not Fear

The Fifth D is Disobedience and the Sixth is Disbelief

“For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.” Titus 3:3

Lack of diligence ultimately leads to disobedience, which undermines the very basis of faith.

Each person's success and happiness, both now and in the eternities, depends largely on his or her responses to the difficulties of life. … Trials may come as a consequence of a person's own pride and disobedience. These trials can be avoided through righteous living. … If a person's trials come because of disobedience, he or she should correct the behavior and humbly seek forgiveness. —See True to the Faith (2004), 8–11

"The more obedient you are, the more you stand for true principles, the more the Lord can help you overcome temptation. You can also help others because they will feel your strength. Let them know about your standards by consistently living them. Answer questions about your principles when you are asked, but avoid being preachy. I know from personal experience that works.

"No one intends to make serious mistakes. They come when you compromise your standards to be more accepted by others. You be the strong one. You be the leader. Choose good friends and resist peer pressure together." —Richard G. Scott, Ensign, Nov. 1994

So often the result is disbelief, the conscious or unconscious refusal to believe. The scriptures describe disbelief as the state of having chosen to harden one’s heart. It is to be past feeling.

“If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. “And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.” Mark 9:23–24

“Jesus labored. Jesus loved. Jesus served. Jesus testified. What finer example could we strive to emulate? Let us begin now, this very night, to do so. Cast off forever will be the old self and with it defeat, despair, doubt, and disbelief. To a newness of life we come—a life of faith, hope, courage, and joy. No task looms too large; no responsibility weighs too heavily; no duty is a burden. All things become possible.” —Thomas S. Monson, GC Apr 2008

I loved collecting these scriptures and words of the prophets on this destructive cycle. It gave me pause to evaluate myself and how I am doing. It was great to share with my family. If you want to read the original talk that inspired these thoughts, you can find it here. As Elder Pearson says, "In a household of faith, there is no need to fear or doubt. Choose to live by faith and not fear."