Nourishing Faith

     The final part of Alma’s analogy comparing faith in God and His word to a seed (found in The Book of Mormon:  Another Testament of Jesus Christ) is nourishment and enjoyment of the fruit.  In Alma 32:37-43, Alma states, “And behold, as the tree beginneth to grow, ye will say: Let us nourish it with great care, that it may get root, that it may grow up, and bring forth fruit unto us.  And now behold, if ye nourish it with much care it will get root, and grow up, and bring forth fruit.

     “But if ye neglect the tree, and take no thought for its nourishment, behold it will not get any root; and when the heat of the sun cometh and scorcheth it, because it hath no root it withers away, and ye pluck it up and cast it out.  Now, this is not because the seed was not good, neither is it because the fruit thereof would not be desirable; but it is because your ground is barren, and ye will not nourish the tree, therefore ye cannot have the fruit thereof. 

     “And thus, if ye will not nourish the word, looking forward with an eye of faith to the fruit thereof, ye can never pluck of the fruit of the tree of life.  But if ye will nourish the word, yea nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life. 

     “And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst.  Then, my brethren, ye shall reap the rewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you.”

     When I read these verses of scripture, I think of my musical career with instruments.  Several times in my life, I’ve attempted to learn how to play a musical instrument.  The first of these came in grade school.  My elementary school had violin classes.  I joined this class and learned how to songs like “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” on the violin.  I really enjoyed playing the violin and thought I’d grow up learning how to do it.  I had every intention of taking orchestra classes through high school.

     In sixth grade, however, my family moved to a place where the schools didn’t teach violin classes.  There were people in the community that taught these classes.  Yet, for whatever reason, I decided to stop taking these classes.  Now, 18 years later, I can’t pick up the violin and play “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”.  It’s not that I don’t have the ability.  It’s that I stopped developing the ability and let myself forget the skills I had learned.

     The piano is another excellent example.  There have been three different times that I remember in my life when I’ve started taking piano lessons.  The first time was in high school.  I practiced enough to be able to play a very simple version of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”.  I wasn’t by any means good.  In fact, I failed miserably the time I tried to perform it in front of a group of people.  But I could do it.  Then I stopped practicing and forgot the little skill I had.

     During my first year in college, I started learning how to play the piano again.  I didn’t learn very much at all before I quit this time.  So I lost the skill again. 

     Then I started trying a short time later.  This time I put more thought and effort into it than I ever had before.  I developed the ability to play several hymns with my right hand.  I could even slowly pluck through the tune to a few hymns with my left hand.  Yet I never reached a point of combining the two hands before I quit devoting my time to developing the skill.  Now I’m again at a point where I can’t play any of the hymns.

     The point with this story is that I actually started developing the ability to play the piano and violin.  Yet I didn’t make either one of these skills a priority in my life.  So neither of them has developed into an actual talent I can use.  My lack of devotion has actually left me with an inability to perform even the little bit I once could.  I could learn either of these talents at any time, but I would have to devote time and effort to either one.  It would have to be a priority in my life.

     The same concept applies to faith in God and His word.  As long as you continue to study the word of God, pray for His guidance, and practice faith, your faith and knowledge in Him and His word will grow.  But if you choose to neglect the things of God, you will be losing the faith and knowledge you have.

     Think of it this way.  If a plant isn’t growing in some way, then it’s dying.  If you aren’t devoting time or energy into developing most of the skills or talents you currently have, then you are forgetting them.  If you aren’t practicing faith, than you are losing the faith you have.  So make faith in God a part of your life every day.  Only then can you have the peace and joy that comes as the fruit of faith in God.