Becoming: more EFY gems

We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

Articles of Faith 1:13

We believe in BEING

The 13th article of faith is different from the other 12 because it states that we believing in BEING. The others show what we have faith in, and the things that we believe to be true. But the 13th describes what we believe in being, and what we must seek.

There are specific steps in learning how to become. Thanks to my EFY session director Brother McDonald, I have learned of a clear way to visualize how to become. It's called the becoming pyramid:

Become

Apply/Do

Believe

Gain Knowledge/Understanding

Desire

Becoming something starts with the sincere desire to become. We learn in the scriptures that the Lord with judge us "according to the desires of our hearts" (Doctrine and Covenants 137:9). What we desire shows who we truly are, and who we sincerely want to become. Therefore, desiring is the first step to becoming.

Next we must gain knowledge and understanding. My post from last week about "Ask and ye shall receive" describes in full this process, and how it has personally effected me. We cannot become something we do not truly understand.

Next is belief. Belief, faith, and hope in what you desire, in the Lord, and in yourself. You must believe that what you want to become will benefit you and raise you higher if you can truly become it. Too often we fool ourselves into believing that our unrighteous desires will make us happy, and that is when we can become something that really doesn't benefit us. We must also believe that the Lord will help us become. And finally we must believe that we can become.

Next we must apply and do. Before we can truly become a new person, we have to change our behavior to align itself with that person we want to become. We must test it out, and create a habit. As soon as its a habit, it must become second nature. When it is second nature, it becomes first nature --and we have become.

I have a testimony of these steps to becoming. I have consciously and subconsciously used them in my life to help shape the person I am today. We have all used this steps in our life. Our goal is to become. To become everything the 13th article of faith says we believe in being. And to become someone who always desires righteousness, because when we desire righteousness, that is who we will become. Ultimately we desire to become like our Savior, so we must do what we can in this life to learn of and understand him, to believe in Him, and to follow in His ways. This is our life purpose. This is the essence of the gospel. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.