No Lid on the Jar of Faith: John 1

By Mary Stallings
It was one of those days. I left a store with one kid in the stroller crying and one kid in my arms, kicking while accidentally peeing his pants. My patience was gone and I was just. so. tired. We got into the car, and as both kids cried, I remember saying to God: “I am trying my best and still failing!” And I felt strongly God say back: “You are right. You are doing your best. You are doing everything in your power, and in this moment, you are still failing. Why not try using some of MY power?”

Boom. Shot through the heart.

While pondering on this message, I studied the life of John the Baptist. Although the scriptures do not teach us how John was affected by Herod's edict, Joseph Smith does. He states,

“When Herod’s edict went forth to destroy young children, [...] Zachariah caused his mother to take him into the mountains, where he was raised on locusts and wild honey. When his father refused to disclose his hiding place, and being the officiating high priest at the Temple that year, was slain by Herod’s order.” (1)

Joseph Smith, who read from the Apocrypha (2) surely got this information on John from the book of James. AND GUESS WHAT? There is more to the story. A part that I am just in love with. 

Picture source here
"And when Elizabeth heard that John was being sought, she took him and headed for the hills. And she looked around to find where she could hide him, but there was not any good place. Then, as Elizabeth sighed, she said with a loud voice, ‘Mountain of God, take me, a mother with her child.’” We have to remember: Elizabeth was about 80 years old at this point. She was not in shape for any intense mountain climbing, particularly with a young child in her arms. She had reached a point where she was afraid to go up higher. Then, “at once, the mountain split open and received her. And there was light shining through the mountain to her. For an angel of the Lord was with them, guarding them." (3) 

A woman, who was trying her best and doing everything in her power, was failing. And what did she do? She used her faith to access the Lord's power, and a miracle happened. 

Elder D. Todd Christofferson has stated there are two types of faith in Jesus Christ: (4)
1. Faith as a principle of action (what I like to call faith 1.0)
2. Faith as a principle of action and power.  (or faith 2.0)

He describes faith as a principle of action looking like us feasting upon the words of Christ, repenting, and keeping our covenants. He states, “[This] is a level of faith that consists of spiritual assurances and that produces good works, most especially obedience to the principles and commandments of the gospel."

So so so so many times, I stop at Faith 1.0—faith as a principle of action. I am brought peace that what I am doing is right through the spiritual assurances and good works that I reap. But faith has the potential to reap so much more than spiritual assurances and good works. 

Elder Christofferson continues, 
“There is, however, a level of faith that not only governs our behavior but also empowers us to change what is and to make things happen that otherwise would not happen. I am speaking of faith not only as a principle of action but also as a principle of power.”

I feel like this was a particularly eye-opening lesson for me. Many times, as a woman, I feel like we think of our faith leading to babysitting, meal making, and making visits to people in need. I am not downplaying any of these things. But faith has the power to do so much more than make a meal.

To illustrate this principle of power in faith, I’d like to bring up a piece of research.

In an experiment, a scientist placed a number of fleas in a glass jar. They quickly jumped out. He then put the fleas back into the jar and placed a glass lid over the top. The fleas began jumping and hitting the glass lid, falling back down into the jar. After a while, the fleas, conditioned to the presence of the glass lid, began jumping slightly below the glass lid so as not to hit it. The scientist then removed the glass lid, and none of the fleas escaped because they had learned to limit themselves from jumping beyond the lid. (5)

Picture source here
When referring to faith, I feel like so many times, I am that flea. Stuck in the jar, never reaching my potential because I think there is a lid. But the truth is, there is no lid on the power of faith. 

According to the Bible dictionary, we
Heal by the power of faith, faith that each of us have access to.
Command the elements by the power of faith, faith that each of us has access to.
Perform miracles by the power of faith
Have visions by the power of faith
Move mountains by the power of faith
Raise the dead by the power of faith. The same faith we all have access to

There truly is no lid on the jar of faith. And really, there is no jar either. The only limits to faith are the ones that we impose on ourselves.

That day, when I had two wailing kids in the car, I viewed the situation with my power and supposed limitations, like the flea. Since that day, God has taught me how to view a situation with an eye of faith. To rely His power, instead of relying on my own.

To not use my weakness to excuse me, but use his power to expand me.

You might say, “I’m not a Faith 2.0 type of person.” Many times, we doubt our faith, because we feel we don’t understand certain principles. We don’t understand some aspect of church history or the temple, and so we feel we don’t have faith. But a lack of understanding isn’t a lack of faith, it is just a fact of faith. Faith isn’t necessary where there is knowledge. So, when you don’t understand a principle of the gospel, understand this: that is the perfect environment for faith to grow. Importantly, faith is not a cop out! I repeat. Faith is not a cop out! Faith eventually leads to perfect knowledge.  

 Faith is the upward motion that makes stumbling blocks into stepping stones.

It isn’t about the amount of faith you have, but who your faith is in that gives it power. We can move mountains with faith the size of a mustard seed.

And that is the power of faith we each have access to.
The power to do miracles.

The power, as Elder Christofferson said, to not only change ourselves, but "to change what is and to make things happen that otherwise would not happen”…just as Elizabeth did. 

Truly, there is nothing we cannot do, in the Lord. There is no lid to the jar of faith.






1. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p 261
2. D&C 91
4. Building Faith in Christ by Elder Christofferson 

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