A Deeper Understanding of Faith

In my personal scripture reading the last few weeks, I've been studying faith. I began with the normal faith scriptures:

And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith. (Ether 12:6)

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)

At one point, however, I turned to the Bible Dictionary, and was there referred to the Lectures on Faith, and so I spent a few days reading these lectures, and I think it has broadened my understanding of what faith is and how it works.

According to the Lectures, faith is a principle of action. It is the cause behind everything that we do. (We would never plant a seed if we didn't have some faith that it would grow, or ask a question if we had no hope that it might be answered.) Faith is also a principle of power. "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!"

There are three things are necessary for a person to be able to exercise sufficient faith in God to receive life and salvation:

1. A knowledge that God exists.
2. A correct idea of God's character and attributes
3. A knowledge that the course he pursues is in accordance with God's will.

The lectures explain each bit in detail - about how the knowledge of the existence of God was passed down from Adam, who spoke with God face to face in the Garden of Eden, through all the generations until Noah, and from Noah to Abraham. (The Lectures point out, interestingly, that Adam died during Noah's father, Lamech's life time, and Noah was 84 years old when Enos, Adam's son died, so there were plenty of people around who would have had many opportunities to hear and pass on Adam's testimony of God's existence. Likewise, Noah didn't die until Abraham's father, Terah's lifetime, and Noah's son Shem didn't die until Abraham was about 150 years old, so again, Noah's testimony of God's existence, commanding him to build an ark, etc. had plenty of opportunity to be passed on.)

It doesn't say so exactly in the Lectures, but it is my conjecture that every dispensation has begun with someone who has seen, and had a direct witness of God's existence: The Brother of Jared (Ether 3:13), Moses (Moses 1:31), Nephi (1 Ne 10:17. 1 Ne 11:20-33), Peter (John 6:68-69), and Joseph Smith (JS-H 1:17) all received powerful witnesses of God's existence.

The lectures go on about gaining a correct understanding of God's attributes and character: that he is unchanging, merciful, eternal, truthful, loving, and just. He is the epitome of knowledge, power, justice, judgement, mercy and truth. Scripture study and prayer help to lead us to an understanding of these attributes, and help us come to a state where we can "know" God. (See John 17:3)

The last requirement is a knowledge that the course we are pursuing is in accordance with God's will. This is the one that seems hardest to me, but it is also the one that has the most power. In my mind, it encompasses two parts: obedience, and sacrifice.

God has given us commandments. In order to know that our course is in accordance with God's will, (and thus have faith) we must be striving our utmost to keep those commandments. (See 3 Ne 8:1 and Moroni 7:37, also D&C 136:42).

Beyond just the commandments that are given in scriptures and by prophets, we must be willing to obey all that God requires of us, and that includes sacrifice. An oft quoted sentence from Lectures on Faith states: "a religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation."

If we want to receive salvation, that is, return to Heavenly Father's presence and dwell with him, we must be willing to sacrifice everything that he may require of us. Early saints were sometimes required to sacrifice their homes, their unbelieving friends and families, sometimes even their lives in their efforts to do what God asked of them, to come to Zion. Today we may be asked to give our time or our talents to serve in a calling. We are asked to give money in the form of tithing and fast offerings. We are asked to help the sick and the needy. We are asked to "stand as witnesses in all ...places that we may be in." (See Mosiah 18:9)

As we exercise our faith, believing that God exists and that he has certain qualities - eternal, loving, merciful, trustworthy, we can begin to have the strength and courage to do what we must to live in the way God would have us live. (See Alma 34:4 and Alma 32:27-30) As we move forward in faith, and as we see the results of acting in faith, our faith is strengthened, and our power to walk by faith increases. Eventually our faith will grow to the point that we will see miracles.

An example: Paying tithing can sometimes seem like a sacrifice, especially when there doesn't appear to be sufficient money to pay for all it is needed to cover. When we have faith, we still pay it. Why? Well, to begin with, we trust that God exists. We understand from studying the scriptures and other sources, that God is merciful and loving as well as all-powerful. We understand that paying a full tithing first is the course that would be pleasing to God, that would be His will for us. So in faith, we take an action: we obey the commandment, pay the tithing, sacrifice our money, trusting that things will work out somehow. And miraculously, things do work out. Somehow, there is money to pay everything that must be paid. Thus our faith is strengthened, and we increase in power.

I read Hebrews chapter 11 last night, with this understanding in my head, and it changed the way I thought about it:

6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is (#1 - know God exists), and that he is a rewarder (#2 - know God's attributes) of them that diligently seek him (#3 - live according to God's will).

7 By faith Noah, being warned of God (#1 - know God exists) of things not seen as yet, moved with fear (#2 - know God's attributes), prepared an ark to the saving of his house (#3 - live according to God's will); by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

8 By faith Abraham, when he was called (#1 - know God exists) to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed (#3 - live according to God's will); and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God (#2 - know God's attributes).

11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised (#2 - know God's attributes).

12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.

13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them (#2 - know God's attributes), and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth (#3 - live according to God's will).

It goes on, but I think you get the idea. Later in the same chapter, we read how faith brings power to do miracles:

33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
39 And these all, having obtained a good report (testimony or witness) through faith, received not the promise:
JST Heb 11:40 God having provided some better things for them through their sufferings, for without sufferings they could not be made perfect.

Could it be that the more we willingly suffer (sacrifice) in order to obey God's will, the greater our faith will become? What great prophet didn't suffer great difficulties and trials? Should we not be grateful for the trials that we receive - because they help to strengthen our faith? Are trials not the refining fire that will strengthen us and bring us to God?

And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God. (Zechariah 13:9)