Faith by choice

Has anyone ever thought, “Wouldn’t it be awesome if President Nelson could just perform some giant miracle on TV and the whole world would be converted?”

Most miracles are sacred and personal, and aren’t meant to be displayed or even proclaimed publicly.

But I can think about times when miracles HAVE been performed for large groups of people.

By Jesus Christ, by Moses, by Nephi, son of Helaman…

And the part that baffles my mind?

The public miracles don’t always convert everyone.

In fact, when Nephi told the people their chief judge had been murdered, and then accurately told them how to catch the killer, Mormon narrates that “some” were converted while others explained it away.

What?!

How could you see that and not believe?

But I think it comes back to a principle that has been taught time and time again:

Faith is a choice.

We choose whether or not a miracle will strengthen our faith, or whether we will explain it away.

Giant miracles don’t produce faith for everyone. At least not the conversion-level faith that is required to change hearts permanently.

But I also find the “faith is a choice” concept really comforting.

I’m not going to just lose my faith someday on accident.

If I’m doing the little things that I know will invite the Spirit with the intention to grow my faith, then I will grow my faith.

And the miracles that I see in my life, both small and mighty, will strengthen my faith because I want them to strengthen my faith.

Because the future of my faith is not by chance, but by choice.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black