Mustard Seed
QUESTION
“And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” (Matthew 17:20)
Explain that text to me. Particularly the moving mountains and nothing impossible part.
ANSWER
No doubt there are many thoughts that arise from this enigmatic statement. Three thoughts come to mind:
It seems evident that this text affirms that we do not have much faith, often not so much as a mustard seed. I take this to mean something like, “Don’t think too highly of your faith.”
When properly employed, faith aligns us with the will of God. It would therefore only call for the moving of mountains when this is also God’s will. Faith is not some mystical power that gives us dominion over the laws of nature. Faith is the vital capacity whereby we may draw nigh to God who has dominion over nature and who has desired to override natural law at times.
Imagine an instance where by faith you were so close to the will of God that you were certain that He was willing to overturn nature in some particular life circumstance. I have not experienced this. I take this as an affirmation that I have sub-mustard-seed-level faith.
I believe the Lord’s words are intended to humble us while exalting God; something we regularly need to hear.
- Elder Daniel Samons