Genesis 6:9
Question
Living according to gospel standards may sometimes seem irrational to those not of our faith, just as building an ark on dry ground seemed foolish to the people in Noah’s day. But because of Noah’s exact obedience, he and his family were spared from coming destruction. We too can be spared from harm, both physically and spiritually, by following God’s commandments.
What faith-building experiences have you had in your life as a result of obeying God’s commandments?
What can you do to further develop this kind of faith, even when “the wisdom of God…appears as foolishness to men?”
Scripture
9 These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.
Genesis 6:9
Link to Verse
Quote
“A just man and perfect in his generations,” one who “walked with God,” was the prophet Noah. Ordained to the priesthood at an early age, “he became a preacher of righteousness and declared the gospel of Jesus Christ, … teaching faith, repentance, baptism, and the reception of the Holy Ghost.” He warned that failure to heed his message would bring floods upon those who heard his voice, and yet they hearkened not to his words.
Noah heeded God’s command to build an ark, that he and his family might be spared destruction. He followed God’s instructions to gather into the ark two of every living creature, that they also might be saved from the floodwaters.
Said President Spencer W. Kimball: “As yet there was no evidence of rain and flood. … [Noah’s] warnings were considered irrational. … How foolish to build an ark on dry ground with the sun shining and life moving forward as usual! But time ran out. … The floods came. The disobedient … were drowned. The miracle of the ark followed the faith manifested in its building.”
Noah had the unwavering faith to follow God’s commandments. May we ever do likewise. May we remember that the wisdom of God ofttimes appears as foolishness to men; but the greatest lesson we can learn in mortality is that when God speaks and we obey, we will always be right.
President Thomas S. Monson
Link to Talk
Bethene Zetterquist Photography 