Ryan Reeder
Religion 333
Juan Henderson
August 3, 2000
Faith is described similarly in Hebrews 11:1, Alma 32:21, and Ether 12:6. Paul says that faith is "the substance (JST-assurance) of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Alma describes faith as "not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true." Finally, Moroni states that faith is "things which are hoped for and not seen." All three of these scriptures contain the words "not seen." Doctrine and Covenants 88:118 distinguishes two methods of learning "even by study and also by faith." There are things which are known through science and other quantitative learning. There are also things outside this realm, yet no less real. These things are revealed through spiritual means. We can 'know' of these things through faith.
Joseph Smith, in presenting the Lectures on Faith described a three-part arrangement by which we should teach about faith. First-what faith is, which we have already discussed. Second-the object upon which it rests, and third-the effects which flow from it. (Lectures on Faith 1:2-5). Faith must be centered in Jesus Christ in order to produce salvation. (BD 669) Joseph Smith stated that "three things are necessary in order that any rational and intelligent being may exercise faith in God unto life and salvation. First, the idea that he actually exists. Secondly, a correct idea of his character, perfections, and attributes. Thirdly, an actual knowledge that the course of life which he is pursuing is according to his will." (L on F 3:2-5) Mormon taught that God sent angels to minister to men so that they might know of Christ. Thus, "by the ministering of angels, and by every word which proceeded forth out of the mouth of God, men began to exercise faith in Christ." (Moroni 7:22-25). Thus, knowing what to base faith on comes through revelation.
Great power comes through faith. Paul taught that "through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God" (Hebrews 11:3). Jacob taught that after receiving many witnesses "our faith becometh unshaken, insomuch that we truly can command in the name of Jesus and the very trees obey us, or the mountains, or the waves of the sea" (Jacob 4:6). However, the most important effect of faith in Jesus Christ is our eternal salvation. Christ did perform the atonement, making it possible for all of us to return to the presence of our Father. But it is only through faith on his name that we can gain access to him. By believing him and believing in him, we can become like him.
Following are references from Apostles and Prophets concerning faith organized in various subheadings.
What is it?
"If men were duly to consider themselves, and turn their thoughts and reflections to the operations of their own minds, they would readily discover that it is faith, and faith only, which is the moving cause of all action in them; that without it both mind and body would be in a state of inactivity, and all their exertions would cease, both physical and mental." (Joseph Smith, Lectures on Faith 1:10)
"Faith is the element that builds the bridge in the absence of concrete evidence. This is exactly what the writer of the epistle to the Hebrews was talking about when he referred to faith as 'the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.' (Heb. 11:1.) In other words, faith is the assurance of the existence of a truth even though it is not evident or cannot be proved by positive evidence." (Howard W. Hunter, "Faith----The First Step," Ensign, May 1975, 37).
"The apostle Paul tells us: '…… faith is the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen.' (Heb. 11:1.) Faith and belief have been used synonymously, and it is sometimes difficult for us to differentiate between the two. There is a difference.
We cannot have faith without belief, but we can believe without having faith. Belief is the foundation of faith. Faith is trusting in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ."
(O. Leslie Stone, "The Constant Exercise of Our Faith," Ensign, July 1973, 59)
Faith is "the moving cause of all action," "the element that builds the bridge in the absence of concrete evidence" and "trusting in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ." It is the first principle of the gospel.
Faith and Works
"Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ motivates us to repent. Through repentance, made possible by the Lord's Atonement, we can feel the calming peace of forgiveness for our sins, weaknesses, and mistakes. With faith in a spiritual rebirth, we are baptized and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
"We strive to keep the commandments of God with faith that obedience will help us become like Him. By virtue of the Resurrection of our Savior, we have faith that death is not the end of life. We have faith that we once again will know the pleasant company and warm embrace of loved ones who have departed from mortality.
(Joseph B. Wirthlin, "Cultivating Divine Attributes," Ensign, Nov. 1998, 25)
"It is also God's plan that we cannot return to his presence alone, without the help of someone else. James put it best: 'Faith without works is dead, being alone.' (James 2:17.) The gospel plan requires giving and receiving. Faith alone is not enough. We need 'works' to serve and to be served. We can't do it alone.
"The many missions which we have in life cannot be embarked upon successfully without the help of others. Birth requires earthly parents. Our blessing as a child, our baptism, our receiving the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, our receiving membership in his church, ordination to the priesthood, going on a mission, being married, having children of our own, blessings during illness and times of need----all require the help of others. And all these are acts of love and service which require the help of others and the giving of help to others."
(Robert D. Hales, "We Can't Do It Alone," Ensign, Nov. 1975, 90)
"And then we have the words from James that faith without works is dead. We must combine our faith with our works and our works with our faith to be Christians indeed, and our works must be works of truth." (Mark E. Petersen, "Honesty, a Principle of Salvation," Ensign, Dec. 1971, 72)
Faith should lead to repentance and continuous obedience to the commandments. We must give and receive good works to return to God's presence. Works and faith must go together.
Faith and Fear
"Let us remember that the Savior is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and there can be no greater promise than to know that if we are faithful and true, we will one day be safely encircled in the arms of His love (see D&C 6:20). He is always there to give encouragement, to forgive, and to rescue. Therefore, as we exercise faith and are diligent in keeping the commandments, we have nothing to fear from the journey." (M. Russell Ballard, "You Have Nothing to Fear from the Journey," Ensign, May 1997, 59)
"How soon we forget. It would not have been better to stay and serve the Egyptians, and it is not better to remain outside the Church nor to reject a mission call nor to put off marriage and so on and so on forever. Of course our faith will be tested as we fight through these self-doubts and second thoughts. Some days we will be miraculously led out of Egypt--seemingly free, seemingly on our way--only to come to yet another confrontation, like all that water lying before us. At those times we must resist the temptation to panic and to give up. At those times fear will be the strongest of the adversary's weapons against us.
"'And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord. . . . The Lord shall fight for you.'
"In confirmation the great Jehovah said to Moses, "Speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward" (Exodus 14:13--15; emphasis added).
"That is the second lesson of the spirit of revelation. After you have gotten the message, after you have paid the price to feel his love and hear the word of the Lord, "go forward." Don't fear, don't vacillate, don't quibble, don't whine. You may, like Alma going to Ammonihah, have to find a route that leads an unusual way, but that is exactly what the Lord was doing here for the children of Israel. Nobody had ever crossed the Red Sea this way, but so what? There's always a first time. With the spirit of revelation, dismiss your fears and wade in with both feet. In the words of Joseph Smith, "Brethren [and, I would add, sisters], shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory!" (D&C 128:22)."
(Jeffrey R. Holland, "Cast Not Away Therefore Your Confidence" BYU Devotional Address, 2 March 1999)
"Preparing ourselves and our families for the challenges of the coming years will require us to replace fear with faith. We must be able to overcome the fear of enemies who oppose and threaten us. The Lord has said, 'Fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail.' (D&C 6:34.)"
(M. Russell Ballard, "Duties, Rewards, and Risks," Ensign, Nov. 1989, 33)
With faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, we can overcome fear. We must go forward with faith and without fear. Through overcoming fear, we can accomplish the things required of us.
Faith and Prayer
"Faith can be fortified through prayer. Prayer is the powerful key to making decisions, not only concerning your physical body, but concerning all other important aspects of your life. Humbly seek the Lord in prayer with a sincere heart and real intent, and He will help you. (See Alma 33:23; Moro. 7:9; Moro. 10:4; D&C 9:7-9.)" (Russell M. Nelson, "Choices," Ensign, Nov. 1990, 73)
"Finally, love is spoken in prayer. In your home, do children hear their parents pray for them in specific ways? For instance, when Kami is sick, she can hear the family pray she will have the Lord's healing influence. When Cameron needs a job, it will help him to hear the prayers of his family express confidence in him. If in your home children hear their parents pray for each other daily, then your home is a faith-building home. In it, hearts can be changed, and those who live there may become the children of Christ." (H. Burke Peterson, "Preparing the Heart," Ensign, May 1990, 83)
"Earnest prayer is essential to increasing one's faith. Prayer is vocalized faith. . . .The constant exercise of our faith by lofty thinking, prayer, devotion, and acts of righteousness is just as essential to spiritual health as physical exercise is to the health of the body. Like all priceless things, faith, if lost, is hard to regain. Eternal vigilance is the price of our faith. In order to retain our faith we must keep ourselves in tune with our Heavenly Father by living in accordance with the principles and ordinances of the gospel." (O. Leslie Stone, "The Constant Exercise of Our Faith," Ensign, July 1973, 59)
We must continually pray in order to maintain and increase our faith. Prayer develops and fortifies faith.
Faith and the Word
"Alma with his love and the circumstances of their lives, which led them to be humble, had prepared them. They were then ready to hear the word of God. If they chose to plant it in their hearts, the growth in their souls would surely follow, and that would increase their faith."
(Henry B. Eyring, "To Touch a Life with Faith," Ensign, Nov. 1995, 37)
"I testify to you that if you do these things----truly try this experiment regarding the word of God as contained in the gospel of Jesus Christ and live in accordance with the commandments therein set forth, nourishing the truths of the gospel----you shall have the privilege of feasting upon this fruit; your faith will be fully rewarded and will develop into a sure knowledge of the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ." (Joseph Anderson, "Man's Eternal Horizon," Ensign, July 1972, 80)
"Building faith is often preceded by shaping circumstances, benefitting those who are 'in a preparation to hear the word.' (Alma 32:6.) These beginnings require at least a 'desire to believe' and then comes the exercising of a 'particle of faith.' (Alma 32:27.)"
(Neal A. Maxwell, "Lest Ye Be Wearied and Faint in Your Minds," Ensign, May 1991, 88)
The experiment described in Alma works. If we plant the word in our hearts and nourish it, our faith will increase.
Faith and "A Correct Idea of His Character, Perfections, and Attributes"
"We can start by adding the ingredients of faith identified in the Lectures on Faith:
"1. To know and accept that God exists.
"2. To know His correct character, attributes, and perfections.
"3. To know that the course of life we are now pursuing is according to God's will. (See p. 38.)
"Let's add these three elements to our priesthood power tools. We can't do it unless we sanctify our lives and add more spiritual depth to our knowledge."
(John K. Carmack, "Faith Yields Priesthood Power," Ensign, May 1993, 41)
It is essential to know God so that we can gain eternal blessings and salvation through living in accordance with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Gaining a knowledge of Christ and God is a prerequisite for a true understanding of our mission in life. Lowell L. Bennion writes in his book Legacies of Jesus: 'One of the most important things we need to learn is what are the attributes of God. Christ came to earth to reveal to us the character of God. He is the revelation of God to human beings, teaching us by precept and example the meaning of faith, humility, integrity, and love' (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1990, p. 61)."(Hans B. Ringger, "Lord, to Whom Shall We Go?" Ensign, Nov. 1995, 83)
"In addition to a belief in the existence of God, we must know something of his character and attributes or our faith will be imperfect and unfruitful. Faith will avail us nothing unless it is based on true principles. This is illustrated in a story I have told before about the meeting of the Indians with the Europeans when they first began their explorations in the New World. The Indians were amazed at the power and explosive qualities of gunpowder and asked many questions about how it was produced. Taking advantage of the ignorance of the savages and seeing an opportunity to increase their wealth through deception, the Europeans told them it came from the seed of a plant. The Indians believed them and purchased some seed in exchange for gold. They carefully planted the seed and watched it grow, but of course they did not get any gunpowder. No matter how sincere one's belief may be in an error, it will not change the error into truth.
"So it is with our belief in God. Unless we know him and understand his nature and character, we cannot have perfect faith in him." (N. Eldon Tanner, "A Basis for Faith in the Living God," Ensign, Nov. 1978, 46)
Through knowing God, we come to know ourselves. As our understanding of God becomes more correct, we can develop more faith in Him and ourselves.
Faith and Spiritual Gifts
Also, we need to use more fully the gifts of the Spirit, all of which operate through faith. These gifts are available to us today. Even the ultimate power----to raise the dead----is occasionally exercised by those of great faith. The sick are healed, the blind see, the lame walk, and evil spirits are cast out----all through faith and priesthood power in combination. I feel we do not enjoy enough spiritual gifts in our priesthood callings.
(John K. Carmack, "Faith Yields Priesthood Power," Ensign, May 1993, 41)
"As members of the Church, is our faith sufficiently strong? Are we in tune with the Spirit that we might be blessed by these great gifts? Do we believe a miracle can be performed or a blessing given? Do we call upon the priesthood as often as we should to administer to the sick? Do we believe we can be healed? Do we have faith to heal? Is the priesthood always prepared to give a blessing? How strong is your faith?" (James A. Cullimore, "Gifts of the Spirit," Ensign, Nov. 1974, 27)
"A missionary faces many challenges that he has not dealt with previously. Giving the best he knows when he arrives will not fulfill the calling. Enduring requires doing better than your best of today by developing additional gifts as granted from the Lord. It takes faith to listen to the Lord and to mission leaders and learn how to accomplish whatever missionaries are called to do. Of course, it is difficult. That's what makes it such a gift and why it has such great rewards. We must recognize who we are and achieve our ultimate purpose. We must then resolve to overcome all obstacles with great determination to endure to the end." (Robert D. Hales, "Behold, We Count Them Happy Which Endure," Ensign, May 1998, 75)
Spiritual gifts are increased and produced through faith. With faith, all things are possible. With a lack of faith, it becomes more difficult to exercise these gifts. It is difficult to develop sufficient faith-but the rewards are great.
Faith and Power
"We here understand, that the sacred writers say that all these things were done by faith. It was by faith that the worlds were framed. God spake, chaos heard, and worlds came into order by reason of the faith there was in HIM. So with man also; he spake by faith in the name of God, and the sun stood still, the moon obeyed, mountains removed, prisons fell, lions' mouths were closed, the human heart lost its enmity, fire its violence, armies their power, the sword its terror, and death its dominion; and all this by reason of the faith which was in him. Had it not been for the faith which was in men, they might have spoken to the sun, the moon, the mountains, prisons, the human heart, fire, armies, the sword, or to death in vain! Faith, then, is the first great governing principle which has power, dominion, and authority over all things; by it they exist, by it they are upheld, by it they are changed, or by it they remain, agreeable to the will of God. Without it there is no power, and without power there could be no creation nor existence!" (Joseph Smith, Lectures on Faith 1:22-24)
Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the priesthood's dynamic power source. By failing to put faith first in our callings, we reduce the priesthood's light and power. Other obstacles also block its beneficial rays.
(John K. Carmack, "Faith Yields Priesthood Power," Ensign, May 1993, 41)
"Faith and priesthood go hand in hand. Faith is power and power is priesthood. After we gain faith, we receive the priesthood. Then, through the priesthood, we grow in faith until, having all power, we become like our Lord."
(Bruce R. McConkie, "The Doctrine of the Priesthood," Ensign, May 1982, 32)
Through faith, great power is available. This power comes through the priesthood, which is exercised through faith.
Faith-Promoting Stories by General Authorities
"In the last eighteen months, I've watched this kind of faith cause things to happen. It began with a prophet. He spoke. His words put spiritual forces into action that heretofore had been dormant. People acted. They repented. They changed. Events changed.
"A prophet not only prophesies of things that will happen. A prophet, by the exercise of faith, causes things to happen.
"Let me tell you what has happened since the prophet spoke.
"He asked for more missionaries----and more came! They came from areas of the world where they have never come from before----and in greater numbers. At first they came by ones and twos, then by scores, then hundreds, now by thousands. Hearts are touched. Lives are changed. Youth responds. Sacrifice increases. Parents weep for joy. A prophet is made glad.
"Usually people don't listen to statistics, but these are impressive. Eighteen months ago in Brazil they had only forty local Brazilian missionaries. Today they have over one hundred. Elsewhere in South America, Mexico, Asia, the islands of the sea, Europe, and other areas of the world, there is similar response.
"Eighteen months ago, in all the missions of the world combined, there were 17,600 missionaries. At that time our projections indicated that we might possibly have as many as 19,000 by this year's end. Already we have more than 21,000! By year's end we will have more than 22,000." (A. Theodore Tuttle, "A Prophet's Faith," Ensign, Nov. 1975, 23)
"For a final profile, I mention the mother of one noble missionary son. The family lived in the harsh climate of Star Valley, Wyoming. Summer there is brief and warm, while winter is long and cold. When a fine son of nineteen said farewell to home and family, he knew on whom the burden of work would fall. Father was ill and limited. To mother came the task of milking by hand the small dairy herd which sustained the family.
"While serving as a mission president, I attended a seminar for all presidents held in Salt Lake City. My wife and I were privileged to devote an evening to meeting the parents of those missionaries who served with us. Some parents were wealthy and handsomely attired. They spoke in a gracious manner. Their faith was strong. Others were less affluent, of modest means and rather shy. They, too, were proud of their special missionary and prayed and sacrificed for his welfare.
"Of all the parents whom I met that evening, the best remembered was that mother from Star Valley. As she took my hand in hers I felt the large calluses which revealed the manual labor she daily performed. Almost apologetically, she attempted to excuse her rough hands, her wind-whipped face. She whispered, 'Tell our son Spencer that we love him, that we're proud of him, and that we pray daily for him.'
"Until that night I had never seen an angel nor heard an angel speak. I never again could make that statement, for that angel mother carried with her the Spirit of Christ. She, who with that same hand clasped in the hand of God had walked bravely into the valley of the shadow of death to bring to this mortal life her son, had indelibly impressed my life."
(Thomas S. Monson, "Profiles of Faith," Ensign, Nov. 1978, 55)
"Now, the story I promised to tell you began before the October 1856 general conference, but that is where we will begin. President Brigham Young stood at the Old Tabernacle pulpit on this square and issued a call to go rescue the Willie and Martin Handcart Companies. Two days later, about 30 faithful brethren with good mule teams were dispatched to go bring in the handcarters stranded several hundred miles east. Dan W. Jones, a convert of less than five years, volunteered.
"After arduous effort, the Willie Company finally was found. Caught in the storms of early winter, the Saints were freezing and starving to death. The relief party did all they could to improve conditions, but for some it was simply too late. The morning after the rescuers' arrival, nine of the company were buried in a common grave.
"Some of the rescuers were assigned to escort the handcarters to the Salt Lake Valley, but others pushed further eastward in an effort to find the Martin Company. Finally they were found, along with the Hodgett and Hunt Wagon Companies, bogged down and helpless in the snow east of Devil's Gate, Wyoming.
"Members of the Martin Company were in dire straits. Their food rations had been cut to a few ounces of flour per day. Only a third of them could walk, and deaths were recorded daily.
"The leaders of the rescue party wisely decided to spare no effort in getting the suffering survivors to safety in the Salt Lake Valley. Because of the shortage of space in the wagons, it was necessary to leave most of the handcarters' possessions in storage at Devil's Gate till spring.
"Brother Dan W. Jones and two others from the relief party, along with 17 young men from the wagon companies, were called to stay behind to guard the property. They were left to face five winter months in Wyoming, hundreds of miles from help, with scarcely anything to eat, and under conditions of extreme privation. Imagine the sacrifice! Offers were made to each man to join the wagons bound for the valley, but every one of them chose to stay behind, obedient to the call to serve.
"That winter was recorded as one of the most severe ever. The intrepid watchmen struggled to repair the cabins at Devil's Gate; killed the remaining cattle; stored the tough, stringy beef for food; and reconditioned and stacked the goods they were left to protect.
"They killed a few buffalo, but the hunting became bad. Soon they were reduced to living on animal hides, from which they scraped off the hair, then boiled the leather. They ate the leather wrappings off the wagon tongues, old moccasin soles, and a well-worn buffalo hide that had been used as a foot mat for two months. At one point Dan Jones was literally preparing to eat his own saddle!
"In February of that extreme winter, a member of the Snake Indian tribe visited and helped them. That first night he and two scouts came to camp loaded with good buffalo meat.
"The winter passed, and finally, early in May, the relief wagons began to roll in. Of the various communications Brother Jones received, one critical letter from Brigham Young had not arrived. Loading and shipping of the stored goods could not commence without it.
"For days they waited, becoming increasingly anxious. Finally Brother Jones sought the Lord in prayer to know how to proceed. He recorded the following testimony: 'Next morning without saying anything about the lack of instructions we commenced business. Soon some one asked whose teams were to be loaded first, [and] I dictated to my clerk. Thus we continued. As fast as the clerk put them down, orders would be given, and we passed on to the next. We continued this [way] for four days. …… All the teams were loaded up, companies organized and started back [to the valley]' (Daniel W. Jones, Forty Years among the Indians [1960], 107).
"The 17 young men were loaded on the last wagons departing to the Salt Lake Valley, where they would be reunited with their families and loved ones.
"Brother Jones arrived later to report to President Young, feeling not a little uncertain how he would be received. Should he have waited for the President's written orders? As everything unfolded, it was learned that President Young had indeed dictated a letter of instructions, which was never received. Dan carefully presented his detailed report. It was a testimony to him to find that the inspiration he'd received in Wyoming was exactly the same as in the prophet's letter.
"Dan Jones's young men had done more than they ever would have imagined they could:
"• They had crossed the plains in wagons and by handcart, mostly on foot.
"• They had seen many of their friends and relatives die along the way.
"• They had volunteered to spend the winter 300 miles from their destination.
"• They had survived a harsh winter with little food and few, if any, comforts.
"• They had heeded the call of the prophet to serve their fellow Saints.
"• They had endured to the end nobly and were blessed for their efforts.
"I repeat, brethren: Ordinary men, blessed with the privilege of holding the priesthood of God, may be called upon to do extraordinary tasks and accomplish mighty feats through faith in that sacred power!"
(Jack H Goaslind, "In His Strength I Can Do All Things," Ensign, May 1997, 39)
These stories show the power of faith. On April 4, 1974, President Kimball spoke at a Regional Representatives Seminar on "When will the World be Converted?" (Spencer W. Kimball, ""When the World Will Be Converted,"" Ensign, Oct. 1974, 3) A great increase in missionary work followed. Thomas S. Monson tells many faith-promoting stories in his talks. This one shows the faith of some parents in Wyoming who sent their son on a mission. Finally, Elder Goaslind tells the story of how Daniel Webster Jones, my great-great-great grandfather, and others were able to accomplish extraordinary tasks in harsh conditions through faith.
These quotes show the remarkable power of faith. Through modern revelation and authorized servants of the Lord Jesus Christ, we are able to learn the principles of the gospel. Their words on faith teach us what it is, what we can do to develop it, and how we can use it to approach nearer to God. I know that Jesus Christ lives. I know that through Him and through obedience to His commandments, I can become like him. I know that his servants today are called of God.
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