Sunday, November 13, 2011

Having Faith and Humility in Following God's Direction

by Ranzel Ganzon

Good morning dear brothers and sisters. It is wonderful to stand here before you in this District Conference to share a message of what I know have a great importance in our journey towards our eternal goal.

I was assigned to speak about having faith and humility in following God’s direction. In speaking about faith, the Apostle Paul taught that “faith is the substance (an assurance) of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Alma made a similar statement: “If ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true” (Alma 32:21). Faith is a principle of action and power. Whenever we work toward a worthy goal, we exercise faith. We show our hope for something that we haven’t actually seen yet.

The first principle of the gospel is to have Faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, which is also the most important requirement as we take the very first step in our journey towards exaltation. The scripture tells us that Heavenly Father decreed a law in heaven, and abiding to this law will always bring us happiness and joy in this life. Blessings will constantly flow as we remain faithful to the very last day of our life.

So, why is it important to show faith when we choose to follow God’s direction? At the end of my mission, I had a wonderful privilege to sit down with my mission president. He gave me a wonderful counsel - to be strong and steadfast to the right course of my journey. The very last words he said still ring bells in my ears until this very day - mostly whenever I feel discouraged and down and feels like the world is all against me.

He holds my hands looked straight to my eyes and said, “Elder Ganzon, Heavenly Father loves you and He will never forsake you. Always have that faith and courage to move forward. Walk to the edge of the light, and then take a few steps into the darkness; then the light will appear and there you will find your dreams.”

Taking a few steps into darkness requires tons of faith, most especially when we do not know what lies beyond the darkness. It will be very scary most especially when we do not have anything with us to guide us through. But in having faith to the promise that beyond the veil of darkness is a beautiful light that holds our dreams, I know that fear will turn into courage, and that courage will help bring us through.

When I met Sister Ganzon, I was jobless but I was actively helping the church everyday of my life. I was teaching Sunday School and the Institute Class, sometimes as an Elder’s Quorum Teacher; been called to serve as a counselor in the District Presidency, and everyday was a busy day for me serving the Lord in His Church. I enjoyed every bit of my callings; and the reward I only wished for is that someday Heavenly Father will find me a good wife so I can build my own family, and we can serve altogether in the church.

With faith in God, Sister Ganzon accepted my humble offer to bring her to the temple and there be married for time and all eternity. On our first night together, we knelt down and promised the Lord that as long as we live we will pay our tithes. In return, we asked for a favor of a little comfort in life so we too can raise our children well and that we can also extend whatever blessings we have to others who likewise will also need our help.

Then, Heavenly Father opened the windows of heaven to us. Sister Ganzon and I were blessed to be working in Hong Kong. Blessings flow constantly. We are blessed with 2 wonderful sons, and together we all faithfully serve in His Church. We kept our promise to continually help others as He provides us with our everyday needs. The Lord has promised, “I the Lord am bound if you do what I say, but ye do not what I say ye have no promise.”

Oftentimes, the challenge to follow God’s direction is almost next to impossible. The counsel by our leader to our Filipino sisters, for example, of setting a goal in going back home to their husbands and children is almost nothing but impossible to many. As soon as they come to Hong Kong they are instantly trapped as the bread winner and provider of the entire family plus extended families. Even though how much desire they have in their hearts to go home and be once again in the arms of their children, it will almost take a leap of faith for them to do so. Some of the Filipino sisters I know have been working here in Hong Kong for more than 20 to 25 years already. They left their homes when their children were young, and when those children had grown older, married, and begun to have their own children… poor grandma is still here supporting them all. This is a real and sad story for the many.

But for the very few others who have bravely taken a few steps into the darkness, who have faithfully heeded the counsel of the church leaders were able to go home early, set up a good starting foundation, enjoyed the companionship of their husbands and were able to raise up the children according to the plan of our Heavenly Father.

Oftentimes, there are things that we may not understand in an instant. Yet again and again, we are directed to follow the directions of our leaders and our prophets. Their counsel comes as an inspiration from Heavenly Father. It holds the blessings which are about to come. I remember Abraham; he proved himself to the Lord with unwavering faith when he took his son Isaac to the mountain to be sacrificed. A promised blessing was bestowed upon him and his posterity.


Humility also comes as an important part in following God’s direction. To be humble is to recognize gratefully our dependence on the Lord—to understand that we have constant need for His support. Humility is to acknowledge that our talents and abilities are gifts from God. It is not a sign of weakness or fear; but it is an indication that we know where our true strength lies. We can be both humble and fearless. We can be both humble and courageous.

Jesus Christ is our greatest example of humility. During His mortal life, He always acknowledged that His strength comes from His Father. He said: “I can of mine own self do nothing. . . . I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me” (John 5:30).

A proud person will never follow direction. A proud person always tells himself that he is better than anyone else, and that his accomplishment came from nothing but himself. A proud person exalts himself. He thinks he can do anything without God’s help.

But remember the story of the tower of Babel. When the tower they built was almost touching the heavens, God destroyed it and confounded their tongues so as they can no more understand each other.

President Ezra Taft Benson gave a wonderful talk about pride. He said, “Pride is a very misunderstood sin, and many are sinning in ignorance. (See Mosiah 3:11; 3 Ne. 6:18.) In the scriptures there is no such thing as righteous pride—it is always considered a sin.”

If a man is self-centered, conceited, boastful, and arrogant will it be easy for him to follow God’s direction? No, not at all for he sees himself higher than any beings even on heaven and on earth.

I am humbled to belong to a church were everyone, in spite of our achievements in life, no matter how great it is; everybody treats everyone fairly and the same. In the church there is neither rich nor poor. Everybody looks great.

Victoria 1st Branch where my family and I belong now has a lot of members who are top ranking people in the society and in their own respective workplaces, but their humbleness in serving the Lord humbles me in so many ways.

Faith and humility are the key ingredients in following God’s direction. Without faith and humility, following the counsels of our church leaders is next to nothing. The early pioneers who followed Brigham Young to the Salt Lake Valley were tested of their faith and humility when they crossed the great mountains of ice and snows leaving behind their dead love ones along the way in shallow graves. Because of their faithfulness and humility to follow the counsels of the prophet, Heavenly Father has given them courage to take a few steps into darkness. Because of their faith a beautiful city was built, a beautiful temple was built, and the church did continue and prosper and blossomed like a rose in a desert.

We do not pray to be spared from the trials of life but we should pray that we may have the strength to rise above them. In so doing we come closer to our Heavenly Father and to that state of perfection we are seeking.

Brothers and sisters, whatever our station in life, whatever our achievements, no matter how great it is, a submissive heart and a humble spirit are still fundamental to our faith. We must guard against letting our worldly success or earthly learning become a substitution for spiritual wisdom and divine direction given through the prophets.

Yes, like Abraham, our faith is going to be tested. We will suffer sickness, pain, death, and tragedy. This is inevitable. This is a major reason why we choose to be a mortal being. We can endure these trials and tribulations because we have the gifts of heaven which will help us see them for what they are.

Let us seek truth, guidance and direction from a loving Father. Let us look to our Father in Heaven and His living prophets and personal revelation for guidance. When the prophets speak, let us listen and obey.

I bear with you my testimony that this church is the only true church of God upon the face of the earth, that He has called upon us leaders to help and counsel us. I know that with faith and humility we will be blessed with the courage that we need as we plunge ourselves in taking a few steps into the darkness, for surely behind it will appear a light. And in that light - lies the fullness of our dreams.

This is my testimony in the sacred name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.