Time Experience Thoughts

Following the Prophets in Unity In this there is safety, peace By Scott L. Vanatter, Reston Ward, July 20, 2014 INTRO Please return with me to my senior year in high school over forty years ago. It was just prior to my  receiving a testimony of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. The foundational truths of the Restoration revealed by God through the Prophet Joseph Smith were about to be made known to me. At the time I was ignorantly, blissfully satisfied existing in the world without a belief in God. While others found truth and solace in religion, I was compelled to reject what I saw as the false, double predestination of automatically consigning most of humankind to eternal damnation. This very narrow sliver of philosophy, to me, seemed to infect most of the Christian churches I had encountered. I couldn’t conceive that, if there was a God, this plan was what he or she or it designed and set in motion. If there was a God, this world could not have begun as a major acciden...

On Destructive Doubt Compared to Fruitful Faith Scott L. Vanatter, October 1, 2006, August 29, 2007, October 10, 2007, May 15, 2012   Of course, there is such a thing as faith run amok, as well as there is such a thing as a healthy skepticism. (“Trust, but verify.”) Still . . .   I. Faith creates clarity.       Doubt causes confusion.  Faith enlightens.       Doubt darkens.  Faith is light.       Doubt is dark.  Faith feels.       Doubt numbs. Faith joys.       Doubt fears feelings. Faith is full.       Doubt is empty.  Faith fills with beauty.       Doubt ends in ugliness.       Faith Sings.       Doubt sorrows.  II. Faith is assurance; doubt, misgivings.  Faith creates commitment; doubt, d...