By Adam Porter

Things are constantly coming into physical form—and just as constantly moving out of it. Thanks to our agency, we can take ideas that begin as thoughts and, through intention and action, bring them into our physical reality. That’s how sweet prosperity begins.

The idea of prosperity reminds me of Alma’s lesson on faith in the Book of Mormon. In his allegory, Alma compares faith to planting a seed. Likewise, our thoughts are seeds we plant in our hearts and minds, and when we nourish them, they grow into beautiful trees of prosperity. Planting any seed is an act of faith. We believe that if we care for it, it will grow—even though we don’t have a perfect knowledge it will. We plant anyway, trusting the process and hoping for a harvest.

As Alma teaches, “faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true” (Alma 32:21). This is where many people get stuck—if they can’t see it or touch it, they don’t want to believe in it. Boyd K. Packer once said, “you exercise faith by causing or by making your mind accept or believe as truth that which you cannot, by reason alone, prove for certainty” (New Era, January 1995). Sounds challenging, doesn’t it?

But Alma offers more help: “experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you” (Alma 32:27). If you can’t fully believe just yet, desire is enough to begin. The key is not to cast it out with unbelief.

Give the seed time to grow. For some, especially those stuck in a negative vibration, this can feel like a real challenge. But seeds thrive in fertile, hopeful soil. Negativity is like a barren wasteland to your little plant. Every seed brings forth after its kind. If it’s a good seed, you’ll feel it swell inside you—it will expand your vision of prosperity, enlighten your mind, and feel delicious to your soul.

Let this seed of faith take root in you. Allow yourself to hope, even when prosperity feels impossible. And if you exercise faith in something and it doesn’t grow—well, then you’ll know it was a bad seed, and you can cast it out. But if it begins to sprout, take root, and grow, that will naturally strengthen your faith. And you’ll love the feeling of that.

Alma then asks, “Is your knowledge perfect? Yea, it is perfect in that thing.”

Have you ever felt that? When your understanding brightens and your vision becomes clearer? The resources and circumstances you need start taking shape in a spiritual way—they’re beginning to manifest. "After you have tasted this light is your knowledge perfect? Nay..."

Even though you've come to know this is a good path, your tree still needs nourishment. That means you must keep exercising faith. As James reminds us, “But be ye doers of the word, and not just hearers only, deceiving your own selves” (James 1:22). Faith requires action. Wishing alone won’t bring prosperity. It comes through diligent seeking, steady work, and constant nourishing of your thoughts.

You haven’t neglected the tree. The Lord has helped you learn how to care for it. You’ve become a co-creator with Him through your thoughts and faith. You’ve lived the Law through belief, patience, and persistence. And now, “behold, [you can] pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet...ye shall reap the rewards of your faith, diligence, patience, and long suffering” (Alma 32:42). I’ve tasted the fruits of faith many times, and I can promise there’s nothing sweeter than seeing hope and effort rewarded.

Don’t wait until things go wrong to turn to the Lord—He’s already blessing you, even in the experience. He wants to strengthen and uplift you. Follow His commandments—they were given so He could bless you. Sometimes it may feel like He’s against you, but remember: “whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son (or daughter) whom he receiveth... We have had fathers of the flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence; shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?” (Hebrews 12:6–9).

Let us show gratitude and reverence to Him in everything we do. Ask for what you need, and “doubt not, but be believing” (Mormon 9:27). He is always ready—waiting to open the windows of heaven and pour out blessings on you.

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