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.