Lectures on Faith I, circa Winter 1834–1835

2 In presenting the subject of faith, we shall observe  the following order:

3 First, Faith itself—what it is:

4 Second, The object on which it rests; and

5 Third, The effects which flow from it.

6 Agreeably to this order we have first to show what  faith is.

7 The author of the epistle to the Hebrews, in the  eleventh chapter of that epistle, and first verse, gives  the following definition of the word faith:

8 Now faith is the substance {assurance} of things  hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

9 From this we learn, that faith is the assurance  which men have of the existence of things which they  have not seen—that is, with their natural eyes—and  the principle of action in all intelligent beings.

10 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.

11 Were this class to go back and reflect upon the  history of th[eir] l[i]ves, f[ro]m the period of their first rec ollection, and ask themselves, what principle excited  them to action, or what gave them energy and activi ty, in all their different avocations, callings, and  pursuits, what would be the answer? Would it not  be that it was the assurance which we had of the ex istence of things which we had not seen, as yet?— Was it not the hope which you had, in consequence of  your belief, in the existence of unseen things, which  stimulated you to action and exertion, in order to ob tain them? Are you not dependant on your faith, or  belief, for the acquisition of all knowledge, wisdom,  and intelligence? Would you exert yourselves to obtain  wisdom and intelligence, unless you did believe that  you could obtain them? Would you have ever sown  if you had not believed that you would reap? Would  you have ever planted if you had not believed that you  would gather? Would you have ever asked unless you  had believed that you would receive? Would you have  ever sought unless you had believed that you would have  found? Or would you have ever knocked unless you  had believed that it would have been opened unto you?  In a word, is there any thing that you would have  done, either physical or mental, if you had not previ ously believed? Are not all your exertions, of every  kind, dependant on your faith? Or may we not ask,  what have you got, or what do you possess, which you  have not obtained by reason of your faith? Your  food, your raiment, your lodgings, are they not all by  reason of your faith? Reflect, and ask yourselves,  if these things are not so. Turn your thoughts on  your own minds, and see if faith is not the moving  cause of all action in yourselves; and if the moving  cause in you, is it not in all other intelligent beings?

12 And as faith is the moving cause of all action in  temporal concerns, so it is in spiritual; for the Savior  has said, and that truly, that he that believeth and  is baptized

An ordinance in which an individual is immersed in water for the remission of sins. The Book of Mormon explained that those with necessary authority were to baptize individuals who had repented of their sins. Baptized individuals also received the gift of...

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, shall be saved. Mark 16:16.

13 As we receive all temporal blessings by faith, so  we, in like manner, receive all spiritual blessings.— But faith is not only the principle of action, but of  power, also, in all intelligent beings, whether in heav en, or on earth. Thus says the author of the epistle  to the Hebrews, 11:3:

14 Through faith we understand that the worlds were  framed by the word of God: so that things which are  seen were not made of things which do appear.

15 By this we understand that the principle of power,  which existed in the bosom of God, by which the  worlds were framed, was faith; and that it is by rea son of this principle of power, existing in the Deity  that all created things exist—so that all things in heav en, on earth, or under the earth, exist by reason of  faith, as it existed in him.

16 Had it not been for the principle of faith the  worlds would never have been framed, neither would  man have been formed of the dust—it is the principle  by which Jehovah works, and through which he exer cises power over all temporal, as well as eternal  things. Take this principle or attribate, (for it is an  attribute) from the Deity and he would cease to ex ist.

17 Who cannot see, that if God framed the worlds by  faith, that it is by faith that he exercises power over  them, and that faith is the principle of power? And  that if the principle of power, it must be so in man  as well as in the Deity? This is the testimony of all  the sacred writers, and the lesson which they have  been endeavoring to teach to man.

18 The Savior says, Matthew 17:19,20, in explaining  the reason why the disciples could not cast out the  devil, that it was because of their unbelief: “For ve rily, I say unto you,” said he, “if ye have faith as a  grain of mustard-seed, ye shall say unto this mountain,  Remove hence to yonder place! and it shall remove:  and nothing shall be impossible unto you.”

19 Moroni, while abridging and compiling the record  of his fathers, has given us the following account of  faith as the principle of power: He says, page 563,  that it was the faith of Alma and Amulek which caus ed the walls of the prison to be wrent, as recorded on  the 264th page; that it was the faith of Nephi and Le hi which caused a change to be wrought upon the  hearts of the Lamanites

A name used in the Book of Mormon to refer to the descendants or followers of Laman, one of the sons of Lehi. The Book of Mormon explained that Lehi and his Israelite family migrated from Jerusalem to America around 600 BC. After Lehi’s death, his family ...

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, when they were immersed  with the Holy Spirit, and with fire, as seen on the 421st  page, and that it was by faith that the mountain Ze rin was removed, when the brother of Jared spake in  the name of the Lord. See also 565th page.

20 In addition to this we are told in Hebrews, 11:32, 33,34,35, that Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah,  David, Samuel, and the prophets, through faith subdu ed kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained prom ises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the vio lence 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; and that wo men received their dead raised to life again, &c. &c.

21 Also, Joshua, in the sight of all Israel, bade the  sun and moon to stand still, and it was done. Josh. 10:12.

22 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 en mity, fire its violence, armies their power, the sword  its terror, and death its dominion; and all this by rea son of the faith which was in them.

23 Had it not been for the faith which was in  man, they might have spoken to the sun, the moon,  the mountains, prisons, lions, the human heart, fire,  armies, the sword, or to death in vain!

24 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, agreeably to  the will of God. Without it, there is no power,  and without power there could be no creation, nor  existence!

Question.—What is theology?

Answer.—It is that revealed science which treats of the be ing and attributes of God—his relations to us—the dispensa tions of his providence—his will with respect to our actions— and his purposes with respect to our end. {Buck’s Theologi cal Dictionary, page 582.}

Q. What is the first principle in this revealed science?

A. Faith. {§ i. ¶ 1.}

Q. Why is faith the first principle in this revealed science?

A. Because it is the foundation of all righteousness. Heb.  11:6. Without faith it is impossible to please God. 1st. John,  3:7. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth  righteousness, is righteous, even as he {God} is righteous. {§ i.  ¶ 1.}

Q. What arrangement should be followed in presenting the  subject of faith?

A. First, Should be shown what faith is: {§ i. ¶ 3.}

Second, The subject upon which it rests; and {§ i. ¶ 4.}

Third, The effects which flow from it. {§ i. ¶ 5.}

Q. What is faith?

A. It is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of  things not seen: Heb. 11:1. That is, it is the assurance we  have of the existence of unseen things. And being the assu rance which we have of the existence of unseen things, must  be the principle of action in all intelligent beings. Heb. 11:3.  By faith we understand the worlds were framed by the word  of God. {§ i. ¶ 8,9.}

Q. How do you prove that faith is the principle of action in  all intelligent beings?

A. First, By duly considering the operations of my own  mind; and secondly, by the direct declaration of scripture.— Heb. 11:7. By faith Noah, being warned 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. Heb. 11:8. By  faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place  which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and  he went out not knowing whither he went. Heb. 11:9. By  faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange coun try, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs  with him of the same promise. Heb. 11:27. By faith Moses  forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he en dured as seeing him who is invisible. {§ i. ¶ 10,11.}

Q. Is not faith the principle of action in spiritual things  as well as in temporal?

A. It is.

Q. How do you prove it?

A. Heb. 11:6. Without faith it is impossible to please  God. Mark 16:16. He that believeth and is baptized, shall  be saved. Rom. 4:16. Therefore, it is of faith, that it might  be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the  seed: not to that only which is of the law, but to that also  which i[s] of the faith of Abraham, [who is the father] of us [all.]—  {§ i. ¶ 12,13.}

Q. Is faith any thing else beside the principle of action?

A. It is.

Q. What is it?

A. It is the principle of power, also. {§ i. ¶ 13.}

Q. How do you prove it?

A. First, it is the principle of power in the Deity, as well  as in man. Heb. 11:3. Through faith we understand that  the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things  which are seen were not made of things which do appear.—  {§ i. ¶ 14,15,16.}

Q. How would you define faith in its most unlimited sense?

A. It is the first great governing principle, which has pow er, dominion and authority over all things. {§ i. ¶ 23.}

Q. How do you convey to the understanding more clearly,  that faith is the first great governing principle, which has pow er, dominion, and authority over all things?

A. By it they exist, by it they are upheld, by it they are  changed, or by it they remain, agreeably to the will of God;  and without it there is no power; and without power there  could be no creation, nor existence! {§ i. ¶ 23.} [p. [1]]