Elder Michael T. Ringwood Of the Seventy spoke of how it is possible to have an easiness and willingness to believe. He said, speaking of the Laminites mighty change of heart that led to an easiness and willingness to believe, "As I pondered what caused this mighty change in the hearts of these Lamanites, I came to realize this easiness and willingness to believe in the word of God comes from a softness of heart. It comes from having a heart that is sensitive to the Holy Ghost. It comes from having a heart that can love. It comes from having a heart that will make and keep sacred covenants. It comes from a soft heart that can feel the power of the Atonement of Christ."
"This easiness to believe comes from the example of others who have soft hearts and who model this easiness to believe."
He then gave scriptural examples such as, "Nephi teaches the importance of desire and diligence in keeping commandments and calling upon God in order to have the ability to say with ease, “I will go and do”.
"From Enos we learn the importance of allowing the words of God to sink deep into our hearts till we hunger for truth. An easiness to believe will come when the word of God is etched into our hearts.
"From the example of Lamoni’s father, we learn the importance of a soft heart that is willing to change. When he first prayed, he offered that which Heavenly Father wanted when he said, “I will give away all my sins to know thee”. An easiness and willingness to believe the word of God will come from repentance and obedience."
He then says, "An examination of our lives will reveal periods when we found it easier to believe the word of God. Periods of significant change, such as marriage or the birth of a child; periods of intense service from a new calling or a mission; periods in our youth with a wonderful bishop, youth leaders, and seminary teachers; periods of trials; and periods of growth from learning for the first time about the gospel are all periods of an easiness to believe."
He then says, and this is why I chose this talk tonight, "Perhaps the most significant period is childhood. As a child I found it easy to believe the word of God taught to me by valiant parents and grandparents. No wonder we are admonished to become as little children to inherit eternal life. No wonder we are taught to “bring up [our] children in light and truth”
During sacrament meeting today the ward choir sang, "I Am A Child of God". As they sung, little Evan who was sitting next to me sung the words out with them. He sung it with all his heart, and very loudly. But I didn't try and stop him. In fact I was so touched by his little testimony born through song. Who better to sing the words of that song? My thoughts have refereed back to that many times today as my heart has been touched by that firm conviction that he truly does know that he is a child of God.
Elder Ringwood goes on to say, "If you are like me, you will find what really brought an easiness and willingness to believe were not the circumstances but the commitment to live the gospel during these periods of life. You were found more often on your knees and immersed in the scriptures during these periods. You found it easier to gather for family home evening and family prayer. You found it easy to be in church and to worship in the temple. You found it easy to pay tithes and offerings. Indeed, the daily living of the gospel brings a softness of heart needed to have an easiness and willingness to believe the word of God.
"I witness that this easiness and willingness to believe will come from doing those seemingly insignificant things taught to us repeatedly since our youth
May we always find it easy to believe His word. May you with easiness declare, as do I, that Jesus is the Son of God. He is our Shepherd, and those with an easiness and willingness to believe will know His voice."
It is my hope and prayer that I will believe just as Evan, and all my other children do.
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