Live as though there is a God.

I remember what it was like starting a new job several years ago.

I welcomed a new office, new responsibilities, new employees in new countries, and naturally, new questions.

After providing me with comprehensive tutorials and outlines, helpful co-workers stood ready to answer my questions.

I did not wish to discredit their work, so I searched what they had already given. There was an extremely good chance my question had already been explicitly answered.

If I still had unanswered questions, I would ask. My inquiry was always met with willingness and direction, especially when my precursory effort was noticeable. The best, most helpful answers always came following my own research.

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‘Our own research’ seems to cover an overwhelming amount of personal circumstance. Luckily, that which is most personal is most universal.

Another testament of our Savior shares this universal directive in conducting our own research.

Concerning our faith and lack thereof, and not wishing to discredit His work, we too can do all we can with what’s been given.

“Now, as I said concerning faith—that it was not a perfect knowledge—even so it is with my words. Ye cannot know of their surety at first, unto perfection, any more than faith is a perfect knowledge.

But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than a desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.” (Alma 32)

Use what we’ve already been given, even and especially if just a desire.

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I found myself on a few flights this week, consuming these repeated words from the pre-flight spiel:

After the mask is on, “breathe normally and note that oxygen is flowing, even if the bag does not inflate.”

One might panic in a time where oxygen masks are needed if successful operation was strictly associated with the inflation function of the oxygen mask.

Luckily for plane passengers and all of us, unseen progress is still progress.

Only the enemy of all good things - those good things including our potential and purpose in this life- would place skepticism of such a vital tool in the heart of the one who needs it most.

I imagine that’s why this simple phrase of advice from an inspired priesthood leader resonated with me this week.

A question concerning a struggle to believe in God was met with this inspired counsel,

“Select a period of time, and live as though there is a God.”

We bring to the table our decision and resolve, and the Savior serves validation and reassurance.

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Valuing research, conducting it in desire and faith, and trusting the unseen works of Heaven for our growth and good-

All give place for Him to work.