I thought I'd share something I drew today (Disclaimer: I don't claim to be an artist. However, my dad is! Here's his website [Ron Richmond Fine Art], and here's his business facebook. Enjoy!). As quoted, the pictures are based off of a sermon that the Book of Mormon prophet Alma gave on the topic of Faith.
If you can't read what the stickies say, I'll provide some captions:
1. "Now, we will compare the word unto a seed...(Alma 32:28)"
2. "...If ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold...it will begin to swell within your breasts... (Alma 32:28)"
"...And now, because...it...beginneth to grow, ye must needs know that the seed is good (Alma 32:33)"
3. "And behold, as the tree beginneth to grow, ye will say: Let us nourish it with great care,... that it may grow up, and bring forth fruit unto us... (Alma 32:37)"
4. "...by your faith with great diligence, and with patience... it shall be a tree springing up unto Everlasting Life (Alma 32:41)"
5. "...By and by, ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious... and pure above all that is pure... and ye shall feast upon this fruit, even until ye are filled (Alma 32:42)"
So, what does all this mean?
It means that there is a process we follow to see if something will help us out. We first obtain a seed, either by reading the scriptures or hearing someone's testimony. The seed is the word of God, and it promises us happiness. If we believe it, we then seek to apply it to our lives (we "plant it in our hearts") to see if it really will bring us the promised blessings (and even if we don't believe it, simply the desire to believe in it can be enough to work with (see Alma 32:27)). As it grows, it makes us feel good, and we can then determine that the seed was a good seed; the word is true. But, that isn't the end. We must continue to act on this belief, or "nourish the seed," throughout our lives. At the end, we'll have a giant tree, bearing fruit. And, as we eat this fruit, we will find that it brings us the greatest joy possible: the joy of Eternal Life with our Heavenly Father, His son Jesus Christ, and our families, for eternity.
I know that, even though I haven't tasted the fruit yet, it does exist, and it will be the most wonderful thing we can possibly imagine. I know that patiently nourishing the tree of our faith can be discouraging at times, but I know that it really will be worth it in the end. I so testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
-Elder Richmond
