Posted on Jun 07, 2024

Never Let a Faith Crisis Go to Waste

Never Let a Faith Crisis Go to Waste

In this week’s episode of Why We Believe, Stuart Draper, a successful entrepreneur and faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, shared his inspiring story of faith and conversion. From a young age, Stuart's parents and church leaders played a significant role in helping him develop a strong testimony of the gospel. Despite the challenges he has faced throughout his life, including his daughter's ongoing health issues and his brother's temporary inactivity from the church, Stuart's faith has remained unshakable.

In the episode, Stuart mentions a thought-provoking idea shared by Jared Halverson on the Unshaken Saints podcast: "Never let a good faith crisis go to waste." This concept encourages individuals to view their faith crises as opportunities for growth and deeper understanding rather than as obstacles that threaten to destroy their beliefs. By embracing this mindset, we can navigate through our doubts and emerge with a stronger, more resilient faith.


The Power of Scripture Study and Prayer


One key factor that has helped Stu maintain his testimony is his dedication to daily scripture study and prayer. He credits his deacon's quorum leader, Scott Sauners, with instilling in him the importance of this habit at a young age. By consistently engaging with the scriptures and communicating with God, Stu has found answers to his questions and strengthened his faith.

Stu's experience highlights the transformative power of regular scripture study and prayer. When we prioritize these practices in our lives, we open ourselves up to receiving personal revelation and guidance from the Holy Ghost. During times of doubt or uncertainty, turning to the scriptures and prayer can provide the comfort, clarity, and direction we need to press forward in faith.


The Influence of Family and Church Leaders


Throughout my interview with him, Stu emphasized the crucial role that his parents and various church leaders played in his spiritual development. From his parents' unwavering example of faithfulness to the countless Sunday School teachers, seminary instructors, and home teachers who invested in his spiritual growth, Stu recognizes these individuals' impact on his testimony.

This serves as a reminder of the importance of surrounding ourselves with people who can support and encourage us in our faith journey. When facing a faith crisis, isolating ourselves or seeking out those who share our doubts can be tempting. However, by staying connected to family members, friends, and church leaders who are strong in the gospel, we can find the strength and guidance we need to navigate our challenges and come out stronger on the other side.


Eternal Families and the Plan of Salvation


Another central theme in Stu's story is his testimony of eternal families and the Plan of Salvation. Having witnessed the challenges faced by his niece with severe disabilities and the tragic loss of his young nephew to cancer, Stu finds comfort in the knowledge that families can be together forever through the sealing power of the temple.

When confronted with a faith crisis, losing sight of the bigger picture and the eternal truths that anchor our beliefs can be easy. We can find hope and perspective amidst our struggles by holding fast to our testimony of the Plan of Salvation and the promise of eternal families. Remembering that this life is just a small part of our eternal journey can help us approach our doubts and questions with patience, humility, and trust in God's divine plan.


Navigating Faith a Faith Crisis


Stuart Draper's story is a powerful reminder that faith crises while challenging, can ultimately lead to spiritual growth and a deeper relationship with God. By following his example of consistent scripture study, prayer, and reliance on the support of family and church leaders, we can face our doubts head-on and emerge with a stronger, more resilient testimony.

As you navigate your own faith journey, always remember to:

  • Hold fast to the truths you already know
  • Seek answers through daily scripture study and prayer
  • Surround yourself with people who can support and encourage you in the gospel
  • Keep an eternal perspective and trust in God's plan for you and your family

By embracing the idea of never letting a faith crisis go to waste, you can view your challenges as opportunities for growth and allow them to refine and strengthen your faith in Jesus Christ and His restored gospel.


Key Takeaways


1. Stuart Draper's faith journey began with the examples set by his faithful parents and ancestors, who paved the way for him to develop a strong testimony at a young age.

2. Stu's personal conversion came through powerful spiritual experiences, such as feeling the Spirit during testimony meetings and learning to repent and seek forgiveness.

3. Consistent scripture study, a habit Stu developed at age 12, has been instrumental in his spiritual growth and helped him make better choices throughout his life.

4. Serving a mission in Argentina provided Stu with numerous experiences where he felt he was exactly where God wanted him to be, doing what God wanted him to do.

5. Stu's faith has carried him through difficult trials, such as his daughter's ongoing health struggles and watching his brother briefly step away from the Church.

6. A vivid dream and a powerful spiritual impression led Stu to recognize his wife, Lindsay, as his eternal companion shortly after they first met.

7. Stu's testimony of eternal families has been strengthened by the challenges faced by his niece with severe disabilities and the passing of his young nephew.

8. When struggling with faith, Stu advises holding fast to the principles and truths one already knows, recognizing that faith is a work in progress and that doubts can lead to spiritual growth.

9. The intricacies of the Earth, human body, and universe are evidence to Stu of a divine creator and a master plan for all of God's children.

10. Living the teachings of Jesus Christ and striving to be more like Him has brought true happiness and blessings to Stu's life and family.

Thank you for joining us for this episode. I pray Stu’s message of never letting a faith crisis go to waste that will strengthen your testimony to do the same.

If you would like to learn more about the Why We Believe show, please visit WhyWeBelieve.com.

Related Blog

Having the Faith to Go, See, and Change with Sean Luangrath
Having the Faith to Go, See, and Change with Sean Luangrath
  • by Julia Denner
  • Jun 21, 2024

Having the Faith to Go, See, and Change with Sean Luangrath In this week's episode of the Why We Believe show, we are joined by Sean Luangrath. Sean is the CEO of a portable solar generator company. Sean and his family came to the United States as refugees from Laos when he was just six years old. Growing up, Buddhism was their family's religion and cultural tradition. However, while in refugee camps, Sean's parents were introduced to Christianity and were baptized. Later, after settling in California, missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints began teaching Sean's family, leading to powerful experiences that would shape the course of Sean's life. Sean's story beautifully illustrates the profound impact the gospel can have when individuals and families embrace its teachings. His experiences demonstrate the transformative power of faith, not only in his own life but in the lives of all who earnestly seek truth. In the rest of this post, we'll explore four key parts of Sean's journey and the powerful lessons we can learn as a result of acting in faith. The Gospel Brings Love Sean shared that one of his earliest testimonies of the gospel came from witnessing the changes in his own family, especially his father after they joined the Church. Sean's dad, who was previously not very expressive or affectionate, quit smoking and drinking and became a more loving, involved father and husband as he lived gospel principles. Through the Church, Sean's parents learned more ways to teach and guide their children. Rather than cultural traditions of harsh discipline, they began showing increased love and using positive reinforcement. Sean felt that the gospel helped his father become a better man because it helped him choose to be a better man. These changes had a profound impact on young Sean. Seeing the love the gospel fostered in his family was his first powerful witness that the Church was a good influence and that living its teachings led to peace and joy. Transforming his home environment through gospel living became fundamental to Sean's faith. The Gospel is Meant to be Shared At age 19, was called to the Australia Melbourne Mission Mandarin-speaking. Sean was assigned to work with the Chinese community there, largely made up of immigrants and refugees. As a missionary, Sean focused on helping people come to Christ. Coming from a Buddhist background, Sean could relate to those who believed differently. He found joy in teaching, and as he did so, he recognized God’s love and felt the peace the gospel brought. Daily sharing his beliefs as a missionary strengthened Sean's own testimony. Teaching others inspired Sean to ponder how he knew God was there and that Jesus Christ was his Savior. Sean's mission gave him spiritual experiences that solidified his witness of gospel truths. The Gospel Teaches the Atonement Recently, Sean had the opportunity to serve in the leadership of a young single adult ward. As Sean served, he had powerful spiritual witnesses of God's love for His children and the reality of Christ's Atonement. In counseling with ward members going through challenges, Sean often felt he was a conduit for Heavenly Father's love to these young adults. He was sometimes overcome with emotion as he experienced God's care for them. Sean's heart expanded as he conveyed God's love and saw it uplift and heal others. He developed an unshakable testimony of the power of the Savior's Atonement as he saw it transform people’s lives. Working with individuals striving to change and come unto Christ, Sean witnessed the complete "180-degree" turnarounds people could make through repentance and coming to feel God's love and forgiveness. Come and See Sean's experiences show us that a testimony of the gospel is built line upon line as we live its teachings and open our hearts to God's love. Whether we see the impact of gospel principles on our families, share our beliefs with others, rely on the Lord in trials, or witness His love and the Atonement's power, each of us can come to know the joy and peace the gospel brings. As Sean points out, all people are children of God, regardless of their background or circumstances. God wants us each to feel His love and experience the happiness that comes from living the gospel. Sean's invitation to "come and see" and learn of Christ is extended to all. How have your experiences with “come and see” inspired your own testimony? And how could your experiences maybe help others? Take a moment to ponder and perhaps write down some of these faith-building moments in your life. Consider sharing them with a family member or friend to lift them up and strengthen your own testimony. As we each live and share our faith, we will gain a deeper understanding of the power of the gospel and the impact it can make in our lives. Thank you for joining us for this week's episode of Why We Believe! For more stories like this one, you can find more here!

Read more
Growing Faith Through Life's Challenges with Cheryl Conner
Growing Faith Through Life's Challenges with Cheryl Conner
  • by Julia Denner
  • Jun 28, 2024

Growing Faith Through Life's Challenges with Cheryl Conner This week on Why We Believe, I had the privilege of sitting down with Cheryl Conner, a remarkable woman whose experiences are just as inspiring as she is. Cheryl is the founder of SnappConner PR and the author of the Forbes ebook Beyond PR: Communication Like a Champ in the Digital Age. Her expertise in public relations and communications has earned her a spot among the top 20 business influencers to follow, as recognized by Clear Points. Cheryl's story is a testament to the power of faith in overcoming life's challenges and finding purpose in our experiences. From childhood miracles to navigating personal struggles, her life experiences illustrate how faith is a guiding light through both triumphs and tribulations. We'll explore insights on growing faith through repentance, scripture study, and meaningful interactions with others. Growing Faith Through Repentance Repentance is fundamental in our faith, and Cheryl's experiences highlight its transformative power. Understanding the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ gives us the gift of forgiveness. When genuine repentance occurs, the sin is truly forgiven and is not held against the individual. It allows us to move past our sins and overcome them in ways we didn’t think we could. Understanding forgiveness and repentance helps grow our faith. Actively participating in the Atonement can bring so much more peace and happiness than any of us can imagine. It is never our job to be the judge of others, and the Atonement helps anyone come closer to Christ regardless of their past. The Power of Scripture in Strengthening Faith The Bible and the Book of Mormon, demonstrate how the study of scripture can profoundly impact the growth rate of faith. For Cheryl an intensive study allows her to approach each day with new eyes. Each day brings new blessings and new challenges and she is able to face it all when she has scripture and prayer to fall back on. Regular scripture study can provide anyone with strength and perspective during difficult times. It has helped Cheryl maintain focus on her beliefs and values, even when faced with personal and professional challenges. The scriptures became a source of comfort, wisdom, and spiritual nourishment that sustained her faith. Learning Faith Through Others' Examples Interactions with others can significantly influence the growth of our faith. It all comes down to how we choose to react and what we choose to do as we talk to others about our faith and in turn, listen to them and foster communication and understanding. Cheryl's mother, a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has demonstrated unwavering faith throughout her life. Even in the face of losing her husband, Cheryl's mother maintained her faith and chose to see the positive side of things. This example of steadfast faith has been a constant source of inspiration for Cheryl, influencing her own approach to life's challenges. Putting Faith to Action Cheryl's experiences demonstrate that faith is not merely a set of beliefs, but a guide for how to approach different aspects of life. She has found numerous ways to put her faith into action, strengthening it in the process. One of the key ways Cheryl has lived her faith is through service. During particularly challenging times in her life, Cheryl found that as she focused on serving others her own worries dissipated. She discovered that by losing herself in service, she often found the peace and happiness she was seeking. Some ways to work on your faith include: Regular scripture study Serving others, especially during personal challenges Standing firm in your beliefs in all aspects of life Seeking opportunities to share your faith with others Practicing forgiveness and repentance with others and yourself Conclusion: A Call to Action Faith is not static. It grows and deepens through our life experiences, challenges, and interactions with others. Consider how we can apply these lessons to our own lives. Are there opportunities for us to deepen our understanding of forgiveness and repentance? Can we commit to more meaningful engagement with our spiritual texts? How can we learn from the faithful examples of those around us? Let's challenge ourselves to put our faith into action. Whether it's through service, standing firm in our beliefs, or seeking opportunities to share our faith with others, each action we take can strengthen our convictions and potentially impact others. Our words and actions can have far-reaching effects that we may never fully comprehend. By living our faith authentically and courageously, we not only strengthen our own beliefs but also have the potential to positively influence others, creating a ripple effect of faith and goodness in the world. Let us take inspiration from Cheryl's journey and commit to nurturing our faith, not just in times of ease, but especially in the face of challenges. For it is often through these trials that our faith grows strongest, shaping us into individuals of deep conviction and positive influence. Thank you for joining us for this week's episode of Why We Believe! For more stories like this one, you can find more here!

Read more
Finding God in the Details of Our Lives With Donald Kelly
Finding God in the Details of Our Lives With Donald Kelly
  • by Julia Denner
  • Jun 07, 2024

In a recent episode of Why We Believe, I sat down with our guest for this week, Donald Kelly. Donald is a renowned sales and podcasting expert. He founded The Sales Evangelist, a company dedicated to helping B2B salespeople reach their full potential. Donald has been a keynote speaker at numerous events and has received multiple awards for his work in the sales industry. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Donald is a man of faith who has served in various roles within the Church. This week, Donald shares the story of why he believes. Finding God in the details of our lives, even amidst adversity, is one of the focuses of Donald’s life. As we explore Donald's story, we'll see how his experiences have shaped his belief that God is intimately involved in our lives and that with Him, every problem has a solution. Though our lives are busy and complicated, in the end, nothing is impossible with God. Finding God We are all in different places in our lives. God will reveal himself in the lives of those who seek him. Donald has seen this throughout his life. Family, friends, and miracles that have helped his family stay together through the trials have been a huge testament to this. God has an active role in his life. Donald learned about the Church because of the scouting program. He was too old to participate, but his friend then told him about the Church’s Young Men’s program, and he was excited to be a part of that. Around that time, he felt a need to start going to church again. It made sense to him to start going with his friend, who had invited him to those activities. As Donald began learning about the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith's First Vision, and the restored gospel, he felt the spirit as he applied what he had learned. Studying the scriptures and pondering them each day, he saw the difference in his life and in his relationships with his loved ones. Acting in Faith When we choose to live our lives in a way that will bring us closer to God, we choose to live our lives differently. Acting in faith is hard. It requires sacrifice and commitment of time and effort on our part. As we make decisions that bring us closer to Christ, going to church, taking the sacrament, and participating in saving ordinances, all help us grow in faith. Donald’s faith was tested again when he felt a strong prompting to serve a mission. His mother, who had sacrificed so much to bring their family to the U.S. for better opportunities, insisted that Donald pursue his education first. In the midst of the unknown, he chose to act in faith. He continued to make choices that would help him accomplish both goals. He applied to Brigham Young University-Idaho, and he began working on his mission papers. Towards the end of this process, his mother simply wanted him to do what would make him happy. And he was prepared for two very important parts of his future. Letting God Lead the Way Acting in faith is sometimes the best way to receive revelation. God guides us as we go, sometimes only with little lights to guide us along our way. The paths God will take us on will help us make changes and grow as we prepare ourselves to face them. Donald's experiences on his mission further reinforced the principle that with God, every problem has a solution. God may not be the answer, but He will help you find it. He gives comfort when we need it most. He helps us understand our divine identities and potential. Missions are an amazing place to grow, develop a personal testimony of what you have experienced, and see God’s direct influence in our lives. Donald witnessed the Lord guiding him to solutions. These mission experiences laid a foundation for Donald to trust God's guidance in future challenges. Fortifying Our Faith Any good thing must be maintained and taken care of. If you want something to last and work well in life, you do not leave it to gather dust. Our faith is the same way. You cannot build it up only to leave it idle and unused. Donald recognized the importance of maintaining a strong spiritual foundation through daily scripture study, prayer, and temple attendance. He also learned that when one member of a family is called to serve, the whole family serves and sacrifices together. Donald has continued to see the Lord's hand guiding him and his family in ways that can build up their faith together. Time and again, he has learned that what may seem like coincidences are actually evidence of God's involvement in the details of our lives. Seeking God's Will and Trusting His Path Donald’s story helps us see how, no matter where we are in life, letting God be the guiding force in your life will help you become more than you thought you could be. Here are some things to keep in mind as you continue on your path of faith: God is intimately involved in the details of your lives With God, every problem has a solution As we serve faithfully, God provides for our needs What may seem like coincidences are often evidence of God's hand If you find yourself struggling with doubts or facing challenges, remember that you are not facing your trials alone. Seek God's will for your life, trust in the path He leads you down, and have faith that He will guide you to solutions. Even if your faith is the size of a mustard seed, God will multiply it when you act on it. So, continue in faith, do what you can, and trust that God will make up the rest.

Read more
Sacrificing Your Time to Serve the Lord: Lessons from a Collegiate Athlete Turned Missionary
Sacrificing Your Time to Serve the Lord: Lessons from a Collegiate Athlete Turned Missionary
  • by Julia Denner
  • Jul 12, 2024

In this week’s episode of Why We Believe, I had the pleasure of speaking with McKinley Willardson, a collegiate basketball player from Brigham Young University who has chosen to put her athletic career on hold to serve an 18-month mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. McKinley's story is truly inspiring. As a freshman on BYU's women's basketball team during their inaugural season in the Big 12 conference, she had a promising future ahead of her. However, she felt called to serve a mission and made the difficult decision to pause her collegiate athletic career. McKinley's choice to sacrifice her time and talents for the Lord's work is a powerful example of faith in action. In our conversation, we explored the blessings that come from dedicating ourselves to God's service, the challenges of making such a significant decision, and the importance of trusting in the Lord's plan for our lives. McKinley's experiences offer valuable insights for anyone considering how they can best serve the Lord and make a difference in the world.

Read more

Subscribe to our newsletter and receive new episodes sent straight to your inbox.

Comments

Share your story