Brigham Young on Individual Learning

I really like this quote from Brigham Young about our individual ability and opportunity to be taught directly by God.

Our motive is to make every man and woman to know just as much as we do; this is the plan of the Gospel, and this is what I would like to do. I would like all the Latter-day Saints to come up to this standard, and know as much as I do, and then just as much more as they can learn, and if they can get ahead of me, all right. I can then have the privilege of following after them. If they keep up close to me, so that they will understand as I do the workings of the Spirit, they will do a good deal better than they do now. But the beauty and excellency of the wisdom that God has revealed to us is to fill everybody with wisdom, bringing them up to the highest standard of knowledge and wisdom, purifying us and preparing us to enter into the highest state of glory, knowledge and power, that we may become fit associates of the Gods and be prepared to dwell with them. This I say is the beauty and glory of the great knowledge that God has revealed unto the Latter-day Saints. You may ask in what particular? In every particular. For the knowledge men possess of every science, every art, every study there is, and every branch of mechanism known to men, they are indebted to the Lord. True men may have been taught it by his fellow man and he may have discovered much himself; but all originated with God our Heavenly Father, through his agents to the children of men. The faith and philosophy of our religion comprehends all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and I wish I was able to say a little better than I am, endures all things. But we must endure all things that we cannot help, enduring patiently until we are counted worthy to be free.

- Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, 19: 98

Time and Repentance

Time is inexorable.  We move through time, moment by moment, until mortal life is done.  Each future moment becomes the present and then the past.  And, once past, it is gone.  Imagine a task that needs to be done.  Every day, or even every minute, that we postpone the task is a day or minute less that is available to do the task.  Mortality is limited by death and death creates a limit to the time available for us to do our work in mortality.  Consider Alma 12:

  24 And we see that death comes upon mankind, yea, the death which has been spoken of by Amulek, which is the temporal death; nevertheless there was a space granted unto man in which he might repent; therefore this life became a probationary state; a time to prepare to meet God; a time to prepare for that endless state which has been spoken of by us, which is after the resurrection of the dead.

One of the key works of mortality is to experience the bitterness of sin and the goodness that comes through repentance.  Our father Adam was taught (see Moses 6):

  55 And the Lord spake unto Adam, saying: Inasmuch as thy children are conceived in sin, even so when they begin to grow up, sin conceiveth in their hearts, and they taste the bitter, that they may know to prize the good.

  56 And it is given unto them to know good from evil; wherefore they are agents unto themselves, and I have given unto you another law and commandment.

  57 Wherefore teach it unto your children, that all men, everywhere, must repent, or they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God, for no unclean thing can dwell there, or dwell in his presence; ...

When we learn that our life is in some way not in harmony with God we taste the bitterness of sin.  When we repent we know the goodness of God and His Son.  At first we may be motivated by the deadlines created by time and death in mortality.  But, through experience we may find that we prize the good for its own sake.  We begin to learn, repent, and grow because that is what we love to do.

Once we become someone who learns because of the love of the word of God and we repent because of our trust in Jesus Christ, we are ready for the eternal life where there is no time.  Imagine, with no death and no time, there is no less time after procrastination than there was before procrastination.  I might sit and watch a canyon form before getting to work because I have not lost any time in watching the eons pass while a canyon forms.  If I have not learned to love learning and progressing in this life, it may be very difficult to learn in a life with no time and, thus, no deadlines.  With no time and no deadlines, I will only do that which I have come to find intrinsically motivating.  Maybe this observation is related to the verse in D&C 130:

 19 And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come.

Music and Zion

Imagine that it is time for the ward choir to sing in sacrament meeting.  The pianist plays an introduction.  The choir director signals the start of the signing and the choir sings. There is only one problem.  One member of choir is singing a different song!  What a cacophony!  The conflicting song is in a different key, at a different tempo, and clashes badly.  Why does this happen?  The one member of the choir felt that the other song was a better choice for that meeting.

In reality this hypothetical scenario is almost unimaginable.  Once the choir director chooses a song and helps the choir rehearse they sing in beautiful unity. There is a wonderful message in this.  Once the person with the authority to lead makes a decision, there is little to be gained from public discord.  We might compare the choir to the ward council.  The council meets together to discuss the needs of the ward.  They contribute ideas and insight.  The bishop listens carefully and learns from the members of the council.  But, once a decision is made and the bishop signals that it is time to move forward, complaints and actions inconsistent with the decision made in council is much like singing a different song than the rest of the choir because you didn't get your way.

The lessons to be learned from music extend to singing hymns in sacrament meeting.  Remember the Lord's statement on singing in D&C 25:

  12 For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads.

Just as with the ward choir, it would be quite disruptive to sing a different song than the rest of the ward.  We join in, not because the current hymn is our favorite or the one we would have selected, but because it is being sung in praise and worship.  It is a unified prayer for the congregation and brings the spirit into the hearts of those attending.  When we sing hymns we are experiencing a type of unity.  There can be people in the congregation who have differences.  They may even have hard feelings in some areas.  Yet, while the hymn is being sung they are praying and praising God in unity, and being blessed for it.  In a small way, the singing of hymns is an experiential lesson preparing us for Zion.  As the Lord taught in Moses 7:

18 And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; 

The hope is that we can take the wonderful spirit and attitude of unity that we feel while singing hymns and extend that to all of our service to one another in the church.  The singing of hymns is a type of experiential learning about Zion, where we will be of one heart and one mind.  Learning this lesson will help us learn of Zion.

Knowing Jesus Christ

A few years ago I began to feel that, while I understood the doctrine of Jesus Christ, I lacked the deeper witness of the Spirit regarding the mission and reality of Jesus Christ.  I had learned in my mind, but had not yet been convinced in my heart.  So, I began to pray more earnestly.  I looked for understanding of the Savior as I read the scriptures and attended the temple.  An amazing thing happened that parallels the pattern of increasing light I have described in the hike we just took together.

As I prayed, attended the temple, and pondered, I did not hear a loud voice from heaven, have a vision, or receive a visit from an angel.  I did not have any single experience that was dramatic and life altering.  Yet, I have come to feel, through the power of the Holy Ghost, a deep appreciation for the love of the Savior that is manifest in His atoning sacrifice.[1]

I have always found hope in the testimony of prophets and apostles.  For example, in his final conference address, Elder Bruce R. McConkie taught us of the atonement.  He said:[2]

Now, the atonement of Christ is the most basic and fundamental doctrine of the gospel, and it is the least understood of all our revealed truths. … We do not know, we cannot tell, no mortal mind can conceive the full import of what Christ did in Gethsemane.  We know he sweat great gouts of blood from every pore as he drained the dregs of that bitter cup his Father had given him.  We know he suffered, both body and spirit, more than it is possible for man to suffer, except it be unto death.  We know that in some way, incomprehensible to us, his suffering satisfied the demands of justice, ransomed penitent souls from the pains and penalties of sin, and made mercy available to those who believe in his holy name.

This is beautiful doctrine.  I feel that I have been able to read the words and understand the concept that Jesus Christ atoned for my sins and made it possible for me to return to my Father in Heaven.  Yet, as Elder McConkie states, the mechanism is incomprehensible to me.  I have wondered how it is that we can come to love the Savior who suffered for us in a distant time and place.  How can I come to know Him?

Jesus taught us the way.  He invited us to know Him by living His teachings.  He taught us that:[3]

If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

Because,

He that keepeth his commandments receiveth truth and light, until he is glorified in truth and knoweth all things.

I truly feel my knowledge of Jesus Christ growing.  I feel that I am coming to know Him.  I firmly believe that this is the key to our coming unto Christ.  It is how we can know him and experience His love.

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[1] 1 Kings 19: 11-12.

[2] Bruce R. McConkie, “The Purifying Power of Gethsemane,” Ensign, May 1985, 9.

[3] See John 7: 17 and D&C 93: 28.

Do I Know Jesus Christ?

My journey to know Jesus Christ has been very similar to the hike we took together in an earlier post.  I have been blessed with an ever-increasing amount of light from my Father in Heaven.  As the light grows brighter I have been able to appreciate more of the detail and beauty of the gospel message.  But, rather than just tell you of my journey, let me ask a series of questions and share some thoughts that will allow us to walk together towards knowing the Savior.

In all our experiences in life there are the things that we do and then there are the things that we feel.  We learn in our minds by the choices we make about the activities we participate in, the people we associate with, and the study in which we engage.  We learn in our hearts as we contemplate the feelings that accompany our life experience.  It is when the message received in our mind is confirmed by the feelings of the heart that we experience revelation.

For example, do you remember your earliest days of learning the gospel?  It may have been your parents, a friend, or missionaries that introduced you to the gospel message.  What caused you to accept their message?  Were you somehow impressed by the goodness radiating from those who taught you?  Did you see the blessings of obedience in their lives?  Do you remember how you felt as you heard the gospel message?  Did it sound good and uplifting and thrill your soul?  Did you hope that it could be true?  If you answered “yes” to any of these questions then you have experienced the Spirit of Jesus Christ reminding your spirit of what we knew in the premortal world.[1]

After we hear the gospel we begin to have hope of eternal life through the redemption and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  We also come to know that our lives are not in harmony with all of the teachings of the gospel.  So, we begin to repent and call upon God for forgiveness.  Have you ever felt the weight of knowing that something in your life is not in harmony with God’s teachings?  Have you felt that burden lifted as you repented and moved on living in a little better harmony with the gospel?  Repentance and forgiveness bring joy and relief from the burden of sin.

Many of us were baptized at a young age and may not remember that day.  Fortunately, we have the opportunity to attend baptisms of friends and family members.  Once we are twelve years old we have the blessing of doing baptisms for the dead.  Whether it was at your baptism or at any other baptism, have you ever felt the spirit whisper of the cleansing power of the Savior?  Not long ago I had the privilege of going to the temple with the young women from our ward.  One of these young women brought the name of her grandfather to be baptized and confirmed in the temple.  I got to baptize this young woman’s father in behalf of her grandfather as she looked on.  Our eyes filled with tears as we felt the gratitude of her grandfather from the other side of the veil.  The spirit whispered and we were uplifted.

Following faith, repentance and baptism we are promised the gift of the Holy Ghost.  Often we hear in talks of dramatic stories where the Holy Ghost directs someone to leave a dangerous situation.  These are great stories of blessing to those who experienced them.  But, we are not promised that we will be saved from all danger by the Holy Ghost.  Rather, we are promised by Jesus Christ that the Holy Ghost “shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” and “he shall testify of me.”[2]

Have you ever been reading your scriptures and had a verse grab your attention?  Have you ever stopped to ponder that verse and felt it speak to your heart?  Have you ever looked for similar verses and had your understanding of a gospel principle confirmed and expanded?  These are all done by the power of the Holy Ghost.

Do you remember hearing a talk or a lesson and feeling challenged to make a change in something you were doing or not doing?  Did you feel that your life could be brought into better alignment with the teachings of the Gospel?  Did you feel a little closer to God because of that effort to change?  This is part of enduring to the end.

The atonement provides more than just the power to erase the stains of sin.  It also offers us the chance to become better than we currently are.  It is the power of change in our lives.  Once we have forsaken the worst of our sins, Jesus Christ is still the power that allows us to grow and progress toward our Father in Heaven.  It is only through Jesus Christ that we can approach the Father.

In the temple we learn the way back into the presence of our Father in Heaven.  The temple is, itself, a great symbol of Jesus Christ.  If we will approach the temple as if we are approaching the Savior we will be refined and purified through our temple worship.  We will be taught of how we are literally transformed and prepared in all ways to enter the presence of God. 

Have you ever felt a little closer to God in the temple?  Have you ever had a principle of the gospel become clear as you pondered the symbols in the temple?  Have you ever felt the cares of the world left behind and your soul lifted as you participated in temple ordinances?  It is in the priesthood ordinances that we find the key to the knowledge of God.[3]  These flashes of insight are an important part of the Lord’s promise to manifest Himself to His people in mercy in His house.[4]

Would you like to see Jesus Christ?  Have you ever done something kind for someone else and felt your own burdens become easier to bear?  Have ever served another person and felt your love and care for them grow beyond what you expected?  Have you ever put someone else’s needs ahead of your own and been surprised at the deep impact this can have?  When we serve those around us we are in the service of Jesus Christ and we see Him in the service of others.

Jesus said:[5]

He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.  If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

We can be where the Savior is if we will serve Him by serving our brothers and sisters.

Were you able to answer “yes” to any of the questions I asked?  If you did then you have felt the quiet whisperings of the Spirit in those situations I asked about.  In fact, you are much like the Lamanites spoken of by Jesus Christ who “were baptized with fire and with the holy Chost, and they knew it not.”[6]  If in reading this post you have been reminded of past spiritual experiences I would ask Alma’s question, “Can you feel so now?”[7]

Each week as we partake of the sacrament we have the opportunity to turn our minds to Jesus Christ.  I have found a question that is of great help to me.  The question is, “when is the last time I felt the Spirit in my life?”  If I have not felt, and acknowledged feeling, the spirit since the last time I partook of the sacrament then I know there is something out of line with the gospel in my life.  I can prayerfully ask what I need to do and my loving Father in Heaven will bring to my mind that which I need to work on next.  Remember the question, “When is the last time I felt and acknowledged feeling the Spirit?”

Remember that we are, in fact, eternal spirit beings living in mortality in order to become like our Father in Heaven.  We were born into mortality as infants that could not walk, talk, feed ourselves, or even understand the loving language of our parents.  But, over time and with effort we learn and progress to become adults. 

Similarly, when we are born again we are as spiritual infants.  The language of the spirit feels good but we do not yet understand it in full.  The language of the spirit is quiet and is best heard while we are praying, serving others, reading the scriptures or worshiping in the temple.  These are the things we should be doing because they are things that will bring us closer to Jesus Christ.  By following the gospel path we will grow and progress in the things of the Spirit to the end that we may return to live with our Father in Heaven.  Sometimes the path seems difficult.  I believe, though, that there is no challenge that we may face in this life that cannot be overcome through the power of Jesus Christ.[8] 

At the end of the hike I described, we raised our hands in celebration of reaching the summit in the full light of the rising sun. I look forward to the day when, through the Savior’s guidance and mercy, we will raise our hands in the joy of the full light of God’s presence. That is the greatest destination we can work towards. It is only in and through the light of Jesus Christ that we can find our way to our Father in Heaven.

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[1] See D&C 84:

  44 For you shall live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God.

  45 For the word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

  46 And the Spirit giveth light to every man that cometh into the world; and the Spirit enlighteneth every man through the world, that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit.

  47 And every one that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit cometh unto God, even the Father.

[2] See John 14: 26, 15:26

[3] See D&C 84:

  19 And this greater priesthood administereth the gospel and holdeth the key of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God.

  20 Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest.

  21 And without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh;

  22 For without this no man can see the face of God, even the Father, and live.

[4] See D&C 110:

  7 For behold, I have accepted this house, and my name shall be here; and I will manifest myself to my people in mercy in this house.

[5] See John 12: 25-26

[6] See 3 Nephi 9: 20

[7] See Alma 5: 26

[8] See Ether 12:

  27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

Join Me on a Hike

I want to share a journey with you.  It is both a literal journey along a trail to a prominent local landmark as well as a spiritual journey to a greater appreciation of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  My words are far less important than the promptings that our Father sends through the Spirit to each of us.  I hope the verbal picture that I try to paint leads to productive thoughts for you.

Let’s Go on a Hike Together

For more than ten years I have been hiking regularly with several friends.  We get up quite early and hike once or twice a week if we can get away with it.  An early start allows us to hike to interesting destinations and still be back in time to get to work and engage in the activities of life.

One of my favorite hikes begins at the mouth of Rock Canyon just east of the Provo temple and ends at the very top of Squaw Peak.  Join me as we hike up this trail.  Because of our early start time we often begin our hikes in the dark of night.  At that early hour we can just make out the faint outline of the peaks on each side of the canyon against a starry sky.  Dim outlines of trees on each side of the trail are visible as we carefully pick our way into the canyon.  Occasionally we will stumble as we make our way up the rocky trail.  The dramatic beauty of the canyon is hidden from view in the darkness.

As the morning progresses we become aware that we can see our surroundings a little better, with a little more detail.  The sky begins to turn grey in the east.  Leaves on trees and rocks on the trail become visible.  The size of the canyon can be seen as the arrival of dawn opens our range of vision.  Colors are not yet visible, but the world is slowly revealed in a dim black and white outline form. At that point we look up at Squaw Peak and wonder at the elevation and distance still to be traveled.

As this first light of dawn arrives we see the sign marking the left fork and the trail up from the canyon to Squaw Peak.  We hike through trees up a steep drainage to the meadows above.  We can hear birds and animals beginning to stir.  As we work our way up above the canyon we begin to notice a pink and purple glow in the clouds overhead.  The world takes on pastel hues.  At that point I find myself stopping in my tracks to marvel at the beauty of the morning light.

Not long after we experience this burst of color from the first light of day, we walk out of the trees into a beautiful meadow.  The sun is still below the horizon and the full color and detail of our surroundings are still muted.  But we can see that we have arrived in a great place for a break.  It might be tempting to stop here and turn around to go home given the enjoyment of the hike so far, the company of friends, and the beauty we have seen but we would miss the best part of the hike if we were to stop now.  So, we pause for a drink of water, and a snack to restore our energy, and continue on.  It feels as if we should be almost there by now, and yet there is still some distance to go and several hundred feet of elevation to gain as we continue our hike along the ridge towards the summit.

From the meadow we will work our way up the rocky ridgeline and enjoy the light of the sun as it crests Provo Peak and warms us from the morning chill. The world is now well lit.  The scenery around us is vibrant in color and detail.  And, finally, we arrive at the summit of Squaw Peak. Our tradition is to raise our arms in celebration upon arriving at a destination and then to soak in the warmth of the sun and the beauty of the canyon below.  The view is spectacular.  The whole of Utah valley lies before us.  We can look down to the mouth of the canyon and see the little, tiny shape of the car we arrived in. We are impressed by the distance we have come.  And, we feel gratitude for the blessing of this beautiful world God has created for our benefit.

In my next post I will try to use this hike to better understand the process by which we come to know our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Temple and Morning Light

I was walking up to the temple one morning just as the sun was lighting up Rock Canyon in the background.  I stopped and snapped this picture because I love the imagery of light.  The morning light breaking over the temple as I walked up the hill just made me stop and contemplate.  Two verses of scripture come together to give meaning to this image:

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. - John 8: 12

For behold, I have accepted this house, and my name shall be here; and I will manifest myself to my people in mercy in this house. - D&C 110: 7

Because the temple has been a key to my journey to know my Savior, Jesus Christ, I see it as a place where the Light of Christ is visible.  We walk in the light as the Lord is manifest to us in the temple.  I see the temple as a symbol of the Lord being among us.  I see light as a symbol of the learning that is available as we turn to the Lord through scripture study and temple worship.

The Principle of Faith in Jesus Christ

Concluding Thoughts on Faith

Well, this concludes my sequence of thoughts on faith in Jesus Christ as the first principle of the gospel.  Here is the outline:

• Faith as Defined in the Scriptures - setting aside what we think faith might be, this post explores how faith is actually defined in the scriptures.  It requires changing my preconceptions to take the authors of the scriptures at their word.
• Faith and Belief - faith and belief are not the same thing.  We choose to believe and God grants us faith as we believe and act on what he has given us.
• Faith is a Gift - faith comes from God as a gift when we believe and act on the evidences and assurances He has given us.  Faith comes from God rather than being conjured from within ourselves by sheer force of will.
• Examples of Faith - stories of faith in the scriptures take on new richness when viewed through the scriptural definition of faith.  There are implications for how we should live and face life's challenges.
• What Does it Mean? - There are implications for how we should live and face life's challenges.

As best I can glean from the scriptures, the definition of faith is given as:

Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen which are true and that build hope, through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal. 

Recall that the first principle of the gospel is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Expanding this simple statement of the first principle I feel that a more complete statement of the first principle of the gospel is that as we believe, obey, and be true to the Spirit we receive, God will give us many evidences and assurances that will build hope, through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal.

When the Father presented the plan of salvation and we accepted it we knew that He would not put us on this side of the veil and leave us comfortless. We came into this life to be proved, having the assurance that as we hearkened to the light sent from God he would assure us of our destination and give us evidence that we are on the right path. Thus, we may progress from grace to grace until we, following the example and receiving the enabling gifts of the Savior, receive the fulness of the Father.

Clearly, faith is just the starting point. Repentance, Baptism, the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and more will follow. But what a wonderful thing it is to know that God has not left us alone in mortality to blindly find our way. We have His assurance that he will show us the way.  Of course the discussion in these posts is incomplete. They are just my current thoughts based upon scripture study, prayer, pondering, and conversations with friends. My only hope in posting these thoughts is that there will be something in here that gets you to rethink your understanding of faith.  And, in the process, I hope you will come to love your Savior more.  I know that has been the effect this study has had on me.

What Does It Mean?

In the previous posts we have a careful definition of faith as well as a well-delineated distinction between faith and belief. The definition of faith, as discussed in the previous post, is just what the scriptures say faith is. That definition is a little different than the things we often loosely associate with faith. But, is it necessary to be this precise? Is there some additional understanding that becomes clear because of this information? It is to this question that I now turn.

In the first chapter of Moses, God reveals:

    39 For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. 

Clearly, this requires faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Immortality is brought about by the power of His resurrection. The hope of eternal life arises when we receive evidences and assurances of the atonement and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is in the details of how this hope is formed that the definition of faith and the distinction between faith and belief become apparent.

The Lord showed Abraham the intelligences that were organized before the world was. As Abraham looked upon the gathering of intelligences he observed (Abraham 3):

  24 And there stood one among them that was like unto God, and he said unto those who were with him: We will go down, for there is space there, and we will take of these materials, and we will make an earth whereon these may dwell;   

  25 And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them;  

  26 And they who keep their first estate shall be added upon; and they who keep not their first estate shall not have glory in the same kingdom with those who keep their first estate; and they who keep their second estate shall have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever. 

We understand that when we were in the presence of God we made a covenant. We promised to be obedient and to offer sacrifice, as exemplified by the story of Adam and Eve. The Lord promised each and every one of us that we would be given the Spirit of Christ to light our way in mortality and help us gain truth as discussed in another post (D&C 84: 44-47). The implication of this covenant, made in the pre-mortal world, is that we never have to wonder how faith begins in mortality. God has given every person ever born into this world the Spirit of Christ as a guide. Thus, as we look for true messengers from our Father we recognize them by their lives of obedience and the confirming Spirit that accompanies their teaching.

What happens when we hearken to the Spirit of Christ? We receive the servants that are attested by the Spirit of Christ to be true servants of God. Then, as described in section 84, as part of the Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood:

  36 For he that receiveth my servants receiveth me; 

  37 And he that receiveth me receiveth my Father; 

  38 And he that receiveth my Father receiveth my Father’s kingdom; therefore all that my Father hath shall be given unto him. 

  39 And this is according to the oath and covenant which belongeth to the priesthood. 

In his epistle to the Romans, Paul teaches about the need for authorized servants of God to teach the gospel. As we hear, believe and obey, faith is increased. This is taught in chapter 10:

  14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 

  15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 

  16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 

  17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 

In Section 93 of the Doctrine and Covenants, we are taught more about this process of progressing, with the help of the servants of God, to receive the Savior and, through Him, to be brought back into the presence of the Father. Here we learn that the Son of God was born into the world and received not of the fulness at first, but received grace for grace. Jesus received baptism at the hand of John and the Holy Ghost descended upon Him. John testified that ultimately Jesus received of the fulness of the Father. As in all things, Jesus is the example. The Lord says in section 93:

  19 I give unto you these sayings that you may understand and know how to worship, and know what you worship, that you may come unto the Father in my name, and in due time receive of his fulness.  

  20 For if you keep my commandments you shall receive of his fulness, and be glorified in me as I am in the Father; therefore, I say unto you, you shall receive grace for grace. 

It is the essence of worship to progress from grace to grace. We begin with the Spirit of Christ that helps us identify true servants of God. Those servants bring us to Jesus Christ and Christ brings us to the Father so that we may receive all that the Father hath. 

Moroni gives us the key to understanding how we progress from one level of faith to the next. As discussed above, we begin with the light of Christ and progress through spiritual witnesses of the Holy Ghost to Jesus Christ and then to the Father. Moroni teaches in Ether 12:

  6 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. 

Each time we receive more faith there is a trial to see if we will believe, obey and practice according to the faith we have received. If we do, then we receive the witness that we have done well and our faith increases through that witness that is a further evidence or assurance. I call this the inter-temporal dynamics of faith.

The process began when we accepted the plan of salvation in the Father’s presence. At that time we entered into a covenant to obey and to offer sacrifice. God promised the Spirit of Christ to be our guide. Our lives become the evidence of our being true to these covenants and to this witness. 

Next, in mortality, we are tried to see if we will be true to the covenant and spiritual witness we have received. If we hearken to the Spirit of Christ we will recognize true servants of God. They will teach us of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We will begin to recognize ways in which our lives are not in harmony with the gospel. The changes we make as a result of our newfound understanding of the gospel are called repentance. When we are determined to follow Jesus, and live the law of the gospel, we receive baptism as our indication of acceptance of the law of the Gospel. Accompanying baptism will be a spiritual witness similar to the Spirit that we received in our Father’s presence and encouraging us onward.

God has promised the gift of the Holy Ghost to all those who begin to have faith, repent, and be baptized. When we are confirmed members of the Church of Jesus Christ we are told to “receive the Holy Ghost.” Evidence of having received the Holy Ghost is the baptism by fire and of the Spirit. The witness associated with this ordinance and gift is an increase in our testimony of Jesus Christ. The role of the Holy Ghost is to teach and testify of Christ.

Having been baptized of water and of fire, and having our spiritual and physical selves aligned and true, we receive another comforter, or witness of the hope of eternal life. Our spiritual and temporal halves can only be aligned when our spiritual and temporal appetites and desires are kept within the bounds the Lord has set. The promised comforter is described in John 14 and in D&C 88 as follows:

 3 Wherefore, I now send upon you another Comforter, even upon you my friends, that it may abide in your hearts, even the Holy Spirit of promise; which other Comforter is the same that I promised unto my disciples, as is recorded in the testimony of John.  

  4 This Comforter is the promise which I give unto you of eternal life, even the glory of the celestial kingdom; 

This greater witness of Jesus Christ and the promise of eternal life are the ultimate faith that we receive in this life. It is the last step in our preparation to return to our Father’s presence.

Examples of Faith

With a working definition of faith in hand it is interesting to look at examples from the scriptures of things people have done by or through faith. In fact, there are dozens of stories about faith in the scriptures and many statements of what is accomplished by faith. If we work from the stories to the definition we get, at best, an inferential understanding of faith. If we work from the definition to the stories then the stories take on a new richness of insight into faith. 

A few anecdotes will serve as a trial run for approaching a story with the definition in mind. I feel that the stories refine the understanding available from the definition alone. Notice that in each and every example the person with faith is given a reason to believe, chooses to believe, acts on that belief and has that belief confirmed in such a way that hope in Jesus Christ increases.

Noah and Faith

In Hebrews 11 we are given several examples of what has been accomplished by faith. One in particular is of interest because it illustrates something about how things are accomplished by faith. A little more detail is given about Noah:

  7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

Notice the evidence that Noah received that he should build a ship. He was a prophet of God and well versed in communication with God through revelation. He received the revelation that warned him of the destruction of the wicked through a flood and the salvation of the righteous through an ark. He believed in this revelation because it came from the same source through the same process as earlier revelation he had received. So, he was obedient and moved forward. Thus, by faith (evidence or assurance of the unseen flood that built hope in salvation through Jesus Christ) Noah built the ark.

Helaman, Gid, Teomner and Faith

Helaman, Gid and Teomner led an army against the Lamanites during a time when support from the Nephite governor was scarce. They were unable to make any progress against the Lamanites and found themselves outnumbered and their supplies dwindling. They were fearful that they would not be able to retain their cities, lands and possessions. They did not know if this was the judgment of God. At this point they turned to God in prayer (Alma 58):

  10 Therefore we did pour out our souls in prayer to God, that he would strengthen us and deliver us out of the hands of our enemies, yea, and also give us strength that we might retain our cities, and our lands, and our possessions, for the support of our people.

  11 Yea, and it came to pass that the Lord our God did visit us with assurances that he would deliver us; yea, insomuch that he did speak peace to our souls, and did grant unto us great faith, and did cause us that we should hope for our deliverance in him.

Notice that they were filled with fear when they did not know if their hardships were caused by the judgments of God or by other forces. They believed in God’s ability to deliver them and turned to him in prayer. The assurance they received built hope of deliverance through the power of God. This is how they came to have great faith and were able to successfully move against the Lamanites in Manti.

Brother of Jared and Faith

The brother of Jared did not just wake up one day and convince himself that he could see the finger of the Lord. He had a series of experiences wherein he prayed and received answers and direction. He always found himself blessed and drawn closer to God by those experiences. Consider these verses from the first chapter of Ether:

  34 And the brother of Jared being a large and mighty man, and a man highly favored of the Lord, Jared, his brother, said unto him: Cry unto the Lord, that he will not confound us that we may not understand our words.

  35 And it came to pass that the brother of Jared did cry unto the Lord, and the Lord had compassion upon Jared; therefore he did not confound the language of Jared; and Jared and his brother were not confounded.

  36 Then Jared said unto his brother: Cry again unto the Lord, and it may be that he will turn away his anger from them who are our friends, that he confound not their language.

  37 And it came to pass that the brother of Jared did cry unto the Lord, and the Lord had compassion upon their friends and their families also, that they were not confounded.

  38 And it came to pass that Jared spake again unto his brother, saying: Go and inquire of the Lord whether he will drive us out of the land, and if he will drive us out of the land, cry unto him whither we shall go. And who knoweth but the Lord will carry us forth into a land which is choice above all the earth? And if it so be, let us be faithful unto the Lord, that we may receive it for our inheritance.

  39 And it came to pass that the brother of Jared did cry unto the Lord according to that which had been spoken by the mouth of Jared.

  40 And it came to pass that the Lord did hear the brother of Jared, and had compassion upon him, and said unto him:

  41 Go to and gather together thy flocks, both male and female, of every kind; and also of the seed of the earth of every kind; and thy families; and also Jared thy brother and his family; and also thy friends and their families, and the friends of Jared and their families.

Notice that these verses contain four examples of the brother of Jared petitioning the Lord and receiving a response. He was building a foundation of confidence that the Lord would answer his prayers. Importantly, he was learning of the reality of the Lord. Next, the brother of Jared had a particularly forceful evidence of the reality of the Lord and our ability to communicate with him as described in the second chapter of Ether:

  14 And it came to pass at the end of four years that the Lord came again unto the brother of Jared, and stood in a cloud and talked with him. And for the space of three hours did the Lord talk with the brother of Jared, and chastened him because he remembered not to call upon the name of the Lord.

Now, when we get to the most well-know part of this story we see that the brother of Jared approached the Lord filled with past evidence and assurance of the Lord’s existence, nature and plan. There was no doubt in the brother of Jared’s mind that he was communicating through prayer with a real being that would take on a body of flesh and blood in mortality and provide the opportunity of eternal life to us all. Consider this extract from chapter 3 of Ether:

  4 And I know, O Lord, that thou hast all power, and can do whatsoever thou wilt for the benefit of man; therefore touch these stones, O Lord, with thy finger, and prepare them that they may shine forth in darkness; and they shall shine forth unto us in the vessels which we have prepared, that we may have light while we shall cross the sea.

  5 Behold, O Lord, thou canst do this. We know that thou art able to show forth great power, which looks small unto the understanding of men.

  6 And it came to pass that when the brother of Jared had said these words, behold, the Lord stretched forth his hand and touched the stones one by one with his finger. And the veil was taken from off the eyes of the brother of Jared, and he saw the finger of the Lord; and it was as the finger of a man, like unto flesh and blood; and the brother of Jared fell down before the Lord, for he was struck with fear.

  7 And the Lord saw that the brother of Jared had fallen to the earth; and the Lord said unto him: Arise, why hast thou fallen?

  8 And he saith unto the Lord: I saw the finger of the Lord, and I feared lest he should smite me; for I knew not that the Lord had flesh and blood.

  9 And the Lord said unto him: Because of thy faith thou hast seen that I shall take upon me flesh and blood; and never has man come before me with such exceeding faith as thou hast; for were it not so ye could not have seen my finger. Sawest thou more than this?

When the Lord said that it was “because of thy faith thou hast seen …” he was likely referring to the long history of receiving and hearkening to the evidences and assurances that the brother of Jared had previously received.

Wilford Woodruff and Faith

The best example of the Spirit imparting faith to heal that I have found is in the story of Wilford Woodruff healing his wife, Whoebe Whittemore Carter, when she fell very ill. This experience takes place in the winter of 1838, about five months before Wilford Woodruff’s call to the apolsteship. As Brother Woodruff led a group of Saints on a journey to gather with other members of the Church, his wife became very ill. He later recounted:

“On the 23rd of November my wife, Phoebe, was attacked with a severe headache, which terminated in brain fever. She grew more and more distressed daily as we continued our journey. It was a terrible ordeal for a woman to travel in a wagon over rough roads, afflicted as she was. At the same time our child was also very sick.”

In the ensuing days, Sister Woodruff’s condition worsened, even though they had been able to pause on their journey and find places to rest. Brother Woodruff recalled: “December 3rd found my wife very low. I spent the day in taking care of her, and the following day I returned to Eaton [a nearby town] to get some things for her. She seemed to be gradually sinking, and in the evening her spirit apparently left her body, and she was dead.

“The sisters gathered around her body, weeping, while I stood looking at her in sorrow. The Spirit and power of God began to rest upon me until, for the first time during her sickness, faith filled my soul, although she lay before me as one dead.”

Strengthened in his faith, Wilford Woodruff gave his wife a priesthood blessing. “I laid my hands upon her,” he said, “and in the name of Jesus Christ I rebuked the power of death and the destroyer, and commanded the same to depart from her, and the spirit of life to enter her body.

“Her spirit returned to her body, and from that hour she was made whole; and we all felt to praise the name of God, and to trust in him and keep his commandments.

“While this operation was going on with me (as my wife related afterwards) her spirit left her body, and she saw her body lying upon the bed, and the sisters weeping. She looked at them and at me, and upon her babe, and, while gazing upon this scene, two personages came into the room. … One of these messengers informed her that she could have her choice: she might go to rest in the spirit world, or, on one condition she could have the privilege of returning to her tabernacle and continuing her labors upon the earth. The condition was, if she felt that she could stand by her husband, and with him pass through all the cares, trials, tribulations and afflictions of life which he would be called to pass through for the Gospel’s sake unto the end. When she looked at the situation of her husband and child she said: ‘Yes, I will do it!’

“At the moment that decision was made the power of faith rested upon me, and when I administered unto her, her spirit entered her tabernacle. …

“On the morning of the 6th of Dec., the Spirit said to me: ‘Arise, and continue thy journey!’ and through the mercy of God my wife was enabled to arise and dress herself and walk to the wagon, and we went on our way rejoicing.” [1]

At this time Wilford Woodruff was soon to be called as an apostle. He was a man of deep faith and conviction of the truth of the gospel and of Jesus Christ. Yet it was not until the Spirit and power of God began to rest upon him that faith to heal his wife filled his soul. Recall his statement that, “The Spirit and power of God began to rest upon me until, for the first time during her sickness, faith filled my soul, although she lay before me as one dead.” What was lacking was not his belief in the power to heal, rather it was the evidence or assurance that he should exert priesthood power to heal his wife. The power of faith rested upon Wilford Woodruff when he understood that it was the will of both God and Wilford’s wife that she should be healed.

Each of these examples seems to be consistent with, and better understood when considering, the scriptural definition of faith.

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[1] Taken from Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Wilford Woodruff, Chapter 16. The original source is “Leaves from My Journal,” Millennial Star, October 3, 1881, 638–39.

Faith is a Gift

In my previous post I discussed the differences between faith and belief.  Once we acknowledge that we get to choose to believe and to act and that God grants faith, we are better able to understand the idea that faith is a gift.  Faith is one of the gifts of the Spirit.


In D&C 46 we are taught that we are to earnestly seek the best gifts, always remembering for what they are given. They are given to benefit those who love the Lord and keep, or seek to keep, His commandments. We must ask, not for a sign to be consumed upon our lusts but, for the benefit of all that seek or ask of the Lord. The Lord teaches us about these gifts, and their operation, so that we will not be deceived. He also reminds us that we do not all have every gift but that we each have gifts that are for the profit of all (D&C 46: 8-12).

Next, the Lord presents a list of these gifts. The list includes: 

• knowing of Jesus Christ through the Holy Ghost, 
• believing on the testimony of others, 
• knowing by the Holy Ghost the differences of administration and the diversities of operations, 
• knowing by the Spirit of God the word of wisdom, 
• the word of knowledge 
• faith to be healed, 
• faith to heal, 
• speaking with tongues, 
• interpretation of tongues, 
• etc. 

For our purposes here it is interesting to notice that faith is listed as a gift, given by God, for the blessing of all. Faith is not the result of our own mental efforts to imagine a result with sufficient energy to cause the result. We do not conjure faith from within ourselves. Faith is not like The Little Engine That Could.  It is not enough to scrunch up our eyes and chant, "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can ..."


True, we may pray and fast to ask for faith, but it is still a gift from God to us. As described above, we have faith when we are given some evidence or assurance of something that is not yet seen, but is true and builds hope in Jesus Christ. In the next post I will present examples of faith to illustrate the ideas in these recent posts. 

How is Faith related to Belief?

This is a continuation of the previous post on faith as defined in the scriptures.


As suggested in a comment on the previous post, the Greek word translated as "faith" in the KJV means fundamentally "trust." It seems to me that trust develops in a relationship because it is earned. The evidence or assurance discussed relative to the scriptural definition of faith provides the basis of our trust in God relative to those true things that are, as yet, unseen and that build hope through Jesus Christ. The hope that is consistent with faith is based upon trust in Jesus Christ.

Did you notice, though, that the word "belief" was not in the definition of faith in the previous post? If faith is not belief, then what is the relationship between faith and belief?  Brigham Young teaches us of this relationship.  Quoting from the Discourses of Brigham Young on page 153:

Faith is an eternal principle; belief is an admission of the fact.  Faith, to us, is the gift of God; belief is inherent in the children of men, and is the foundation for the reception of faith.  Belief and unbelief are independent in men, the same as other attributes.  Men can acknowledge or reject, turn to the right or to the left, rise up or remain seated, you can say that the Lord and his Gospel are not worthy of notice, or you can bow to them.

Belief is inherent in the creature—implanted within him for his use and benefit—to believe or disbelieve.  Your own experience may satisfy you that faith is not brought into requisition by the presentation of either facts or falsehoods to the external senses, or to the inward perceptions of the mind.  If we speak of faith in the abstract, it is the power of God by which the worlds are and were made, and is a gift of God to those who believe and obey his commandments.  On the other hand, no living, intelligent being, whether serving God or not, acts without belief.  He might as well undertake to live without breathing as to live without the principle of belief.  But he must believe the truth, obey the truth, and practice the truth, to obtain the power of God called faith.  [emphasis added]

This is probably the biggest point of distinction from the common notion of faith.  Brigham Young makes clear that belief is a trait of individuals and that belief is one of those things we choose through our agency.  Brigham teaches, consistent with the definition of faith presented in the previous post, that God is the source of faith.  He says that faith is a gift of God.  The source of the evidences or assurances that we receive is God.  God reveals his truths through the power of the Holy Ghost or through direct revelation from God the Father, Jesus Christ or angels. 

We progress from that original assurance that we all receive in mortality, the light of Christ, to the gift of the Holy Ghost, communion with the Son and, finally, entry into the presence of the Father.  This is taught in D&C 84 in connection with the Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood:

  44 For you shall live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God.

  45 For the word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

  46 And the Spirit giveth light to every man that cometh into the world; and the Spirit enlighteneth every man through the world, that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit.

  47 And every one that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit cometh unto God, even the Father.

Brigham Young’s teaching that belief, obedience and practice precede faith is consistent with verse 46 in that only those who hearken to the voice of the voice of the spirit will receive light (= truth = Word of the Lord = Spirit of Jesus Christ).  It is through the Spirit of Jesus Christ, sometimes called the light of Christ, that we begin to be enlightened by truth with the ultimate end of coming to God the Father.

Another example of the relationship between faith and belief is given in Mark 9:14-29.  A man with a son possessed of a “dumb spirit.”  The man had asked Jesus’ disciples to cast out the spirit and they were not able to do so.  Jesus’ response is:

  19 He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.

When the man asks if Jesus will help them, Jesus’ response and the man’s expression of belief are given as:

  23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

  24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

It seems that belief sufficient to rely upon previously obtained faith is important to unlocking the blessing sought from the Lord.  After the spirit that afflicted the boy was cast out the disciples asked why it was that they could not cast out the spirit previously.  Jesus taught:

29 And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

It would seem that prayer and fasting are necessary to create the faith that was lacking as lamented by Jesus in verse 19.

We can choose to believe, to pray, and to fast, as part of developing faith.  But it is only when we believe and act on truth, given by God, that we have the power of faith.  In the next post I will look at faith as a gift.

Faith as Defined in the Scriptures

I believe the scriptures to be the word of God given through his prophets.  I accept them as the source of established knowledge about doctrine and God’s dealings with man.  So, with that in mind I turn to the scriptures, rather than a dictionary, to understand the first principle of the gospel: faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  In Lectures on Faith, Hebrews 11: 1 is used to define faith.  An alternate translation (see the JST) of the word “substance” in the KJV is used to render the verse as:[1]

  1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Alma adds a further insight into faith when he taught in Alma 32:

  21 And now as I said concerning faith—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.

Just as in Hebrews, Alma points to things hoped for and then adds that the things which are not seen must be true.

Mormon’s teachings on faith, hope and charity shed additional light on the true nature of faith.  Mormon teaches that faith exists if, and only if, a certain type of hope also exists in the individual.  His teachings are found in Moroni 7 where Mormon says:

  40 And again, my beloved brethren, I would speak unto you concerning hope. How is it that ye can attain unto faith, save ye shall have hope?

  41 And what is it that ye shall hope for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise.

  42 Wherefore, if a man have faith he must needs have hope; for without faith there cannot be any hope.

Combining these scriptural and prophetic sources into a single definition, I understand faith to be:

Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen which are true and that build hope, through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal.

This is my working definition of faith. 

To me there are key insights found in this definition.  First, faith is not unsubstantiated belief.  Faith is evidence or assurance.  Clearly, it is evidence or assurance of a specific type, but it is evidence or assurance. 

Second, faith is not hope.  Faith and a certain kind of hope always accompany each other, as we just saw in Moroni 7.  Thus, to have hope implies that you have faith.  Faith must always increase hope.

Third, as for the nature of hope, faith increases the hope of eternal life through the atonement and resurrection of Christ.  This is slightly different than stopping at “faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.”  The supreme importance of Jesus Christ is His offering of eternal life to those that will embrace His gospel.


In the next few posts I will explore the difference between faith and belief, consider the implications of faith being a gift of God, and examine stories of faith that illustrate the importance of the definition in practice.  

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[1] Note that the Greek word translated as “substance” can also be rendered as assurance, basis or foundation.  Lectures on Faith uses the word assurance.