Quotes of Note: Elder Maxwell on Increasing Faith

I miss Elder Maxwell…

There are other things we can do daily to bolster the faith of others as well as our own. Peter prescribed: “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15).

The word answer here means a verbal defense or a reason statement. The very act of so giving our witness will help not only others but also ourselves. As Brigham Young said, we will grow in the knowledge of the truth as we “impart knowledge to others,” by means of which we “will also grow and increase.” Hence, President Young continued, “Wherever you see an opportunity to do good, do it, for that is the way to increase and grow in the knowledge of the truth.” If, instead, we are reluctant to do good, we “will become contracted” in our views and feelings.

-Elder Neal A. Maxwell, Lord, Increase Our Faith (Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft, 1994), 113-114.

Elder Maxwell, I think, knew that the word was Gr. apologia, whence we get “apology.” But instead of “being sorry,” it meant “the defense of a position, answer back, reply.” I might paraphras as “Be prepared to explain the reasons for your faith,” which for me lies in the same ballpark as the idea kicked around the Naccle of inoculation (see here by DMI Dave, or here by me) or put more scripturally, “preparing [our] minds to be faithful to the Lord their God.” (Alma 48:7)