What I learned:  This week I loved thinking about this idea of faith and works and water skiing.  I share and idea from episode 47 of the podcast Follow Him, hosted by Hank Smith and Jon Bytheway, and the guest is Dr. J.B. Haws.  They are talking about the book of  James from the New Testament who is sharing this idea of faith and works.  You have to show your faith by your works.  This is a bit in contrast to what Paul has said in other Epistles, like Ephesians where he wants to remind us that we are saved by Jesus Christ not by our works.  I share the following scriptures: 

Paul to the Ephesian saints - Ephesian 2: 8-9 - 

8 For by agrace are ye bsaved through cfaith; and that not of yourselves: it is the dgift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should aboast.

and also James 2:14-19

14 aWhat doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath bfaith, and have not works? can faith save him?

15 If a abrother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily bfood,

16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye agive them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

17 Even so afaith, if it hath not bworks, is dead, being alone.

18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my afaith by my bworks.

19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the adevils also bbelieve, and tremble.

I then share the metaphor of a water skiier that Dr. J.B Haws shares in the episode.  Here is the quote from part 2 of episode 47: 

 26:59  This is a pretty homey analogy, but I love water skiing. I often think of this grace works thing is like a water skier. No matter how accomplished someone is as a water skier, no matter how strong they are a swimmer, there is just no way they're going to be able to water ski without a boat. I mean, there's nothing they could do on their own. They could never say, "I can do this on my own." But at the same time, if you don't choose to respond to the boat, if you do nothing but attach a rope to you, there's no way you're going to water ski. You're going to just be dragged into the water.   27:27  It's these two things working in tandem. You can never boast and say, "I can do this without the boat." But if you don't respond to the boat and you make those choices, nothing's going to happen either. 

Then I also mention another quote that Dr. J.B. Haws says from Pres. Dallin H. Oaks about becoming: 

"25:23 I'll just say what this one calls to my mind, this discussion of James is President Oaks, The Challenge to Become talk, which he reprised so much in this last general conference, that what we're really talking about is becoming something. It's the Savior's grace that changes us and enables us and empowers us, but he gives us the right to choose. And we demonstrate our choice, our agency, by the things that we do. That shapes us and then we're becoming something. Faith without works is meaningless, because we can't become something unless we choose something. The Savior's grace gives us the right to choose to become what he offers us to become. "

I  love this idea of water skiier.  We would never say that we can water ski without a boat, no matter how good we are at water skiing.  We still need a boat.  

Relating that to Christ - he really is the only way we make it in this life and as we choose to follow him we can become better and better at becoming like he is. 

I also talk about how hard it can be to get up - you really do have to work and when you are first learning it feels so foreign.  

Relating this to Christ - that is takes work to learn how to become like him.  It is hard, there is opposition.  Both of those things actually can help us and give us momentum. 

I also mention the people in the boat.  They are so patient and kind and want you to get up.  So there is more direction and correction as well as encouragement and cheering when you finally make it.  Relating this to Christ - he is the boat or driving the boat and all the people in our lives are the people that are cheering us on and helping us become more like him.  

Then I also mention a few times how I tried I different type of water skiing - wake boarding and surfing and I had relearn getting up and figuring it out again.   Relating this to Christ is that when our life get difficult or we have trials or new things come our way it is almost like we have to relearn some new things to continute to follow him.  

I love to how once you finally get up there is so much joy - Just like there is so much joy and happiness as you follow Jesus Christ.  He only wants to best of you. 

Now what happens when you fall down or have a big crash after skiing for a while?  The boat always comes back around to get you.  The boat or Christ, will never leave you in the water.  He will always be there to come pick you up and help you get back up again.  

So as we relate this back to faith and works - faith is in Christ.  He saved us and that is how we return to our Heavenly Father.  We choose to work because of our faith.  We love Jesus Christ so much that we choose to become like him, just like he invited us to do when he said "come follow me."  Jesus Christ will pull us out of the water but we need to work and hold on to make it.  And with our works of helping others and keeping the commandments that is what brings us so much joy.   Just like finally being able to get up on thoes skis, wakeboard or surf board.  

Such a fun topic to think about!  Thanks for listening!