Walk with Him: Trust is the Foundation

A question I ask of clients to measure the strength of their social connections is, “Who would you call at 2 am to come and bail you out of jail?” It’s a good question, right? Who would you trust to get out of bed and come, with a checkbook and without judgement, to help you in a most difficult situation?
Faith and trust can be synonymous, and I’m beginning to prefer “trust”. The stories of Abraham, Sarah and Hagar describe the gold standard of trust with God. Trust in God, the Eternal Father, trust in His son, Jesus Christ and trust in the Holy Ghost. Trust combined with humility to listen and believe, patience to wait, and strength to be obedient.
Trust (faith) is the first principle of the gospel because it is the foundation of all secure, thriving relationships, both in heaven and on earth. Trust comes from honoring commitments (keeping the commandments), communicating openly without hiding details (praying openly and often), actively listening (following the prompts of the Holy Ghost) and admitting mistakes (repenting). While our mortal friends may be delayed or unable to come to our aid in the middle of the night, God will always show up, having already paid the price for our freedom.

“No matter how serious the trial, how deep the distress, how great the affliction, [God] will never desert us. He never has, and He never will. He cannot do it. It is [against] His character [to do so]. He is an unchangeable being. … He will stand by us. We may pass through the fiery furnace; we may pass through deep waters; but we shall not be consumed nor overwhelmed. We shall emerge from all these trials and difficulties the better and the purer for them, if we only trust in our God and keep His commandments.” –President George Q. Cannon
“I believe that the characteristic that helped both Mormon and Paul face difficult lives with calmness and optimism is trust in the Lord and his promises. For them this trust transcended any circumstance, however negative and threatening. Once believers have come to know that God’s assurances are true, no circumstance can undermine their fervent and, ultimately, optimistic view of the world God has created. They understand that the reason for their existence, even in times of trial, is joy.” –Todd A. Britsch

Coming Closer to Jesus Christ, President Dallin H. Oaks, February 10, 2026, BYU Speeches
Trusting God When Things Go Wrong, Todd A. Britsch, September 30, 1997, BYU Speeches