When I first started investigating the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church) with the Mormon missionaries, I had to accept many things by faith. My investigation was actually a relatively short process, shortened by faith, because in spite of being attracted by the general vision and basic principles of the Church, and by the testimony of the prophet Joseph Smith, there were so many things that were so new and strange, especially in the Book of Mormon that could only be accepted by faith. There was no time to investigate all of them. The Jaredites story was definitively one of them. But there was one verse in the Book of Ether, that became my favorite and a key to my conversion, Ether 12:27.

Recently I have been thinking a lot about how lack of faith is so tragically linked to bad choices, for young and older people.

Hugh Nibley in his writing about the World of the Jaredites gives a great context to the my favorite scripture

Those without faith live in a world of their own which to them seems logical and final; they take the very unscientific stand that beyond the realm of their own very limited experience nothing whatever exists! God’s works to them look small, and they will never be cured of their myopia until they are willing to face facts and pass a test that only the honest in heart can consider without a chill of aversion. The test is this: “… if men come unto me, I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; … then will I make weak things become strong unto them.” (Ether 12:27)

Faith is a gift of God, and I am thankful for it. Life can really be miserable without it, and consequences for individuals and people may be terrible.