Indiana Jones and the Last Crusades
Faith is probably the most discussed topic throughout the world. Whether it's a casual question to a friend of what their faith is, or a deep conversation about what makes someone believe in a higher power. Faith can be used in many different topics. You may have faith that you will get to work on time despite how bad rush hour is. Or you might have faith that you will pass your final exams because of how you prepared. Or you might even have faith that someone is listening to you when you are pouring you heart out in a silent but fervent prayer. However broad or narrow the topic of 'Faith' might be, we all have it.
When teaching someone about faith I love to use one of my favorite movies to illustrate my point.
Indiana Jones: At the end of the Indiana Jones saga Dr. Jones is faced with a life or death decision as he stands at the edge of a sheer cliff staring into what seems to be a never ending black pit. Not only is his life at stake but his father's life is in his hands with every step he takes. Dr. Jones is not only know for his book smarts but for knowing how to get out of sticky situations. But this time it seems that he is faced with no other option but to keep moving forward. If he goes back to where he was before, his father dies. If he takes one more step he falls in to the deep abyss. When all seems hopeless he remembers the book that his father had given to him. A book that his father held very dear, and studied often. Indiana had studied it as well and knew that his answer lie within it's stained and worn pages. He reviews it one last time and knows exactly what he must do.
He must take a leap of faith.
As illustrated in the picture above it requires a lot more than just walking forward. You have to have a goal. Something you are reaching for. Something you desire. Then you must have faith.
And it was with that faith that Indiana Jones takes his infamous LEAP OF FAITH. He puts one foot forward...and...to his surprise a bridge appears and his weight is supported. He is then able to run to his destination.
Just like us, we all come to a cliff where we know we must move forward but we see no bridge, just the ever expanding blackness beneath us. We know we can't go back to where we were before, but we don't see a way to make it across. It's too wide to jump across, so we must take our own leap of faith.
Just like Indiana Jones, we too have the tools to give us the faith. We are not asked to step blindly. We have the Spirit. The scriptures. More specifically the Book of Mormon. It gives us what we are to do when we all come to our 'cliffs'. But ultimately it is us that must take that first step.
If you are at a cliff in your life now and you feel you are at a stand still, don't look back. Take the tools you have and decide to take that Leap of Faith. I promise you and the Lord has promised, that WHEN you do there WILL be a bridge to support you. Weigh your options and then
JUST DO IT!
