Gregory Clark, associate dean in the College of Humanities, counseled students to choose faith and forsake fear during the first university devotional of spring term held in the de Jong Concert Hall Tuesday.

"I am beginning to think," Clark said, "That faith and fear - as much as good and evil - is the opposition that structures my experience in this life."

Clark explained that when living in faith, he does not fear change or changing himself for the better, which is the very foundation of Heavenly Fathers plan for his children. Conversely, when living in fear, change appears almost impossible.

In studying Book of Mormon definitions of faith, Clark discovered the principle that having faith is a choice one must make over and over again.

"Faith is a choice to believe and to act upon that belief in the face of uncertainty," Clark said. "I have a testimony of the gospel. Yet, as I try day-to-day to live that gospel, I find myself having consciously to choose faith."

Demonstrating this principle, Clark referenced the familiar biblical story of Jesus calming the storm. After seeing his apostles' fear at the raging storm, Jesus rebuked them saying, "Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?" (Mark 4:40).

Clark explained that although these apostles had, in days prior, witnessed the Savior's power, the only things they had a perfect knowledge of in that moment were the mortal perils that faced them. They chose fear.

"Faith is founded upon our memory of divine witnesses and blessings received in the past, and our hope in divine promises for the future," Clark said.

Because of faith's dual foundation in both past and future promises, it can become vulnerable when present experiences seem to contradict both, Clark said.

"So even with the knowledge of the truth, in the present moments of our day-to-day experience we remain subject to fear and must choose again and again consciously, to believe, to remember, to hope, to have faith."

Clark warned of the destructive nature of fear, comparing it to a cold virus, which, if not taken care of, can develop into a life-threatening disease. Clark said fear too, if not treated, can be as disabling spiritually and emotionally as pneumonia is physically.

So what is the source of fear? Clark said this source is rooted in the assumption that one must solve all his own problems and face all his challenges alone. This fear leads to hopelessness and eventually paralysis, or, being "frozen in fear."

Clark further cautioned that fear can be just as destructive as faith is uplifting. Clark said faith opens a divine channel through which God's children receive the transformative blessings of the atonement. Fear closes that channel.

"To put it bluntly," Clark said, "Choosing fear - and fear, like faith, is also a choice - may well keep the blessings of the atonement from us."

To overcome fear, Clark suggested choosing to be humble.

"If I am humble," Clark said, "if I work constantly to choose attitudes and actions of humility before the Lord, then he will strengthen my faith and eliminate my fears. ... I have learned that active and practical humility is the way we choose faith."



Copyright Brigham Young University 7 May 2008