October 5, 2025
THE FAITH TO ASK
MACK WILBERG
Conductor
RICHARD ELLIOTT AND BRIAN MATHIAS
Organists
DERRICK PORTER
The Spoken Word
GUIDE US, O THOU GREAT JEHOVAH
Music: John Hughes
Text: William Williams
Arrangement: Mack Wilberg
I WILL FOLLOW GOD’S PLAN
Music and Text: Vanja Y. Watkins
Arrangement: Nathan L. Hofheins
WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS (ISRAEL, ISRAEL, GOD IS CALLING)
Music: Charles C. Converse
Arrangement: Richard Elliott
A NEW COMMANDMENT I GIVE UNTO YOU
Music: Crawford Gates
Text: John 13:34–35
BE THOU MY VISION
Music: traditional Irish hymn
Text: versed by Eleanor H. Hull; trans. Mary E. Byrne
Arrangement: Mack Wilberg
OUR PRAYER TO THEE
Music: Joseph Parry
Text: Russell M. Nelson
Arrangement: Mack Wilberg
THE SPOKEN WORD
“The Faith to Ask”
WHEN FAITH ENDURES
Music: Stephen M. Jones
Text: Naomi W. Randall
PRESS FORWARD, SAINTS
Music: Vanja Y. Watkins
Text: Marvin K. Gardner
Arrangement: Mack Wilberg
THE FAITH TO ASK
The Spoken Word, October 5, 2025
By: Derrick Porter
As blessings unfold around us, when victory is ours and life is going well, it can be easy to jubilantly declare, “I believe!”
At other times, perhaps in moments of discouragement or worry, we may instead find ourselves asking, “Heavenly Father, are you really there?”
For each of us, there are seasons when doubt and uncertainty cloud our vision. So what do we do when those moments come? How do we move past them and not allow ourselves to be drowned by the despair that doubt can bring?
We turn to God for help. On bended knee, we can approach the throne of God, asking for the strength to believe—regardless of how little or how much faith we may think we already have. Like the father who pleaded with the Savior for his son: “But if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us. Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible. … And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.”1 Jesus did heal the child. He “took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.”2
Like this father, our faith need not be perfect in order to ask for help. Even Jesus’s Apostles of old asked for such help when they said to Him, “Lord, Increase our faith.”3 Faith always grows when we invite God into the process. It increases. It becomes enduring.
If we turn to the Lord—even if we have only enough faith to ask for more faith—it is enough to begin.4 Jesus Christ, He who dispels all fear,5 gives power to the faint,6 and comforts even the most troubled heart,7 will take us by the hand and help us move forward.8
The words the Choir will now sing demonstrate the fruits of faith that come to those who ask:
I will not doubt, I will not fear;
God’s love and strength are always near.
His promised gift helps me to find
An inner strength and peace of mind.
I give the Father willingly
My trust, my prayers, humility.
His Spirit guides; his love assures
That fear departs when faith endures.9
References:
Mark 9:22–24.
Mark 9:27.
Luke 17:5.
See Alma 32:27–43.
See Doctrine and Covenants 68:6.
See Isaiah 40:29–31.
See Doctrine and Covenants 121:7–8.
See 3 Nephi 9:13–14.
“When Faith Endures,” Hymns, no. 128.