Gospel Principles
Unit 6: The Gospel of Jesus Christ
Chapter 18: Faith in Jesus Christ
Comments and Resources

'The Prophet Joseph Smith taught:  "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"  (Lectures on Faith, p. 33, 3:2-5).

During the study of this topic we will learn what faith is, some principles upon which it operates, and how you can increase your faith.'

Resources
Gospel Principles, Chapter 18.
The Articles of Faith, Chapter 5.

Scriptures :
1 Nephi 7:11-18; 17
  11 Yea, and how is it that ye have forgotten what great things the Lord hath done for us, in delivering us out of the hands of Laban, and also that we should obtain the record? 
  12 Yea, and how is it that ye have forgotten that the Lord is able to do all things according to his will, for the children of men, if it so be that they exercise faith in him? Wherefore, let us be faithful to him. 
  13 And if it so be that we are faithful to him, we shall obtain the land of promise; and ye shall know at some future period that the word of the Lord shall be fulfilled concerning the destruction of Jerusalem; for all things which the Lord hath spoken concerning the destruction of Jerusalem must be fulfilled. 
  14 For behold, the Spirit of the Lord ceaseth soon to strive with them; for behold, they have rejected the prophets, and Jeremiah have they cast into prison. And they have sought to take away the life of my father, insomuch that they have driven him out of the land. 
  15 Now behold, I say unto you that if ye will return unto Jerusalem ye shall also perish with them. And now, if ye have choice, go up to the land, and remember the words which I speak unto you, that if ye go ye will also perish; for thus the Spirit of the Lord constraineth me that I should speak. 
  16 And it came to pass that when I, Nephi, had spoken these words unto my brethren, they were angry with me. And it came to pass that they did lay their hands upon me, for behold, they were exceedingly wroth, and they did bind me with cords, for they sought to take away my life, that they might leave me in the wilderness to be devoured by wild beasts. 
  17 But it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord, saying: O Lord, according to my faith which is in thee, wilt thou deliver me from the hands of my brethren; yea, even give me strength that I may burst these bands with which I am bound. 
  18 And it came to pass that when I had said these words, behold, the bands were loosed from off my hands and feet, and I stood before my brethren, and I spake unto them again. 1 

1 Nephi 17
Nephi is commanded to build a ship His brethren oppose him He exhorts them by recounting the history of God s dealings with Israel He is filled with the power of God His brethren are forbidden to touch him, lest they whither as a dried reed. About 592 591 B.C. 

Alma 32, 56-57
Alma 32 
Alma teaches the poor whose afflictions had humbled them Faith is a hope in that which is not seen which is true Alma testifies that angels minister to men, women, and children Alma compares the word unto a seed It must be planted and nourished Then it grows into a tree from which the fruit of eternal life is picked. About 74 B.C. 

Alma 56 
Helaman sends an epistle to Moroni recounting the state of the war with the Lamanites Antipus and Helaman gain a great victory over the Lamanites Helaman s two thousand stripling sons fight with miraculous power and none of them are slain. About 66 62 B.C. 

Alma 57 
Helaman recounts the taking of Antiparah and the surrender and later the defense of Cumeni His Ammonite striplings fight valiantly and all are wounded, but none are slain Gid reports the slaying and the escape of the Lamanite prisoners. About 64 63 B.C. 


Ether 12 
The prophet Ether exhorts the people to believe in God Moroni recounts the wonders and marvels done by faith Faith enabled the brother of Jared to see Christ The Lord gives men weaknesses that they may be humble The brother of Jared moved Mount Zerin by faith Faith, hope, and charity are essential to salvation Moroni saw Jesus face to face. 


Moroni 7  
An invitation to enter into the rest of the Lord Pray with real intent The Spirit of Christ enables men to know good from evil Satan persuades men to deny Christ and do evil The prophets manifest the coming of Christ By faith miracles are wrought and angels minister Men should hope for eternal life and cleave unto charity. Between A.D. 400 and 421 

Moses 6-7
Moses 6 
Adam s seed keep a book of remembrance His righteous posterity preach repentance God reveals himself to Enoch Enoch preaches the gospel The plan of salvation was revealed to Adam He received baptism and the priesthood. 

Moses 7  
Enoch teaches, leads the people, moves mountains The City of Zion is established Enoch foresees the coming of the Son of Man, his atoning sacrifice, and the resurrection of the saints He foresees the restoration, the gathering, the Second Coming, and the return of Zion. 

1 Samuel 17 
Israel and the Philistines engage in war Goliath of Gath, a giant, defies Israel, and challenges any Israelite to personal combat David goes against him in the name of the Lord David slays Goliath with a sling and a stone Israel defeats the Philistines. 

Matthew 9 
Jesus forgives sins, heals a paralytic, and calls Matthew He eats with sinners; a woman is healed by touching his garments; and he raises Jairus daughter to life He opens blind eyes, casts out a devil, and preaches the gospel. 

Romans 4,10
Romans 4 
Abraham's faith was imputed to him for righteousness Man is justified by faith, righteous works, and grace. 
Romans 10 
Salvation comes through righteousness to those who believe in Christ Faith comes by hearing the gospel taught by legal administrators sent of God. 

Hebrews 11
By faith we understand the word and work of God Faith of the ancients was centered in Christ By faith men subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, and worked miracles. 

James 2
God hath chosen the poor of this world rich in faith Salvation gained by keeping the whole law Faith without works is dead. 

Articles of Faith 1:4    We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.  


Topical Guide: <http://Scriptures.lds.org/en/tg/contents> 
               Assurance
               Believe
               Confidence
               Doubt, Doubtful
               Faith
               Faithful
               Hope

Bible Dictionary: <http://Scriptures.lds.org/en/bd/contents>
                  Faith
                  Knowledge




Concept 1: What is Faith?

'Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the first principle of the gospel.  It is necessary to our salvation.  King Benjamin declared, "Salvation cometh to none... except it be through repentance and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ" (Mosiah 3:12).

What Is Faith?

Faith is a "hope for things which are not seen, which are true".  (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."; Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.").  The prophet Joseph Smith taught that faith is a principle of power that motivates our day-to-day activities.  

Would we study and learn if we did not believe we could obtain wisdom and knowledge?  Would we work each day if we did not hope that by doing so we could accomplish something?  Would a farmer plant if he did not expect to harvest?  Each day we act upon things we hope for when we cannot see the end result.  This is faith.  (Hebrews 11:13 "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. ")


	Many scriptural stories tell how great things were accomplished through faith.

By faith Noah built an ark and saved his family from the flood (Hebrews 11:7 "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. ").  

Moses parted the waters of the Red Sea (Hebrews 11:29 "By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned. ").  

Elijah called down fire from heaven (see 1 Kings 18:11-40).  

Nephi called for a famine (Helaman 11:3-5 "  3 And it came to pass that in this year Nephi did cry unto the Lord, saying: 
  4 O Lord, do not suffer that this people shall be destroyed by the sword; but O Lord, rather let there be a famine in the land, to stir them up in remembrance of the Lord their God, and perhaps they will repent and turn unto thee. 
  5 And so it was done, according to the words of Nephi. And there was a great famine upon the land, among all the people of Nephi. And thus in the *seventy and fourth year the famine did continue, and the work of destruction did cease by the sword but became sore by famine.").  

He also asked for the Lord to end the famine (Helaman 11:9-17 ).  Seas have been calmed, visions opened and prayer answered, all though the power of faith.
Helaman 11:9-17
  9 And it came to pass that the judges did say unto Nephi, according to the words which had been desired. And it came to pass that when Nephi saw that the people had repented and did humble themselves in sackcloth, he cried again unto the Lord, saying: 
  10 O Lord, behold this people repenteth; and they have swept away the band of Gadianton from amongst them insomuch that they have become extinct, and they have concealed their secret plans in the earth. 
  11 Now, O Lord, because of this their humility wilt thou turn away thine anger, and let thine anger be appeased in the destruction of those wicked men whom thou hast already destroyed. 
  12 O Lord, wilt thou turn away thine anger, yea, thy fierce anger, and cause that this famine may cease in this land. 
  13 O Lord, wilt thou hearken unto me, and cause that it may be done according to my words, and send forth rain upon the face of the earth, that she may bring forth her fruit, and her grain in the season of grain. 
  14 O Lord, thou didst hearken unto my words when I said, Let there be a famine, that the pestilence of the sword might cease; and I know that thou wilt, even at this time, hearken unto my words, for thou saidst that: If this people repent I will spare them. 
  15 Yea, O Lord, and thou seest that they have repented, because of the famine and the pestilence and destruction which has come unto them. 
  16 And now, O Lord, wilt thou turn away thine anger, and try again if they will serve thee? And if so, O Lord, thou canst bless them according to thy words which thou hast said. 
  17 And it came to pass that in the *seventy and sixth year the Lord did turn away his anger from the people, and caused that rain should fall upon the earth, insomuch that it did bring forth her fruit in the season of her fruit. And it came to pass that it did bring forth her grain in the season of her grain. 

As we carefully study the Scriptures , we learn that faith is a strong belief of truth within our souls that motivates us to do good.  This causes us to ask:  In whom should we have faith?

Discussion

Think about your everyday activities.  How does faith move you to action?'



Concept 2: Why Should We Have Faith in Jesus Christ?

'We must center our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

To have faith in Jesus Christ means to have such trust in him that we obey whatever he commands.  There is no faith where there is no obedience.  Likewise, there is true obedience only where there is faith.  As we place our faith in Jesus Christ, becoming his obedient disciples, Heavenly Father will forgive our sins and prepare us to return to him.

The Apostle Peter preached that "there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).  Jacob taught that men must have "perfect faith in the Holy One of Israel [Jesus Christ], or they cannot be saved in the kingdom of God" (2 Nephi 9:23).  Through faith in the Savior and through repentance, we make his atonement fully effective in our lives.  Through faith we can also receive strength to overcome temptations (Alma 37:33 "Preach unto them repentance, and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ; teach them to humble themselves and to be meek and lowly in heart; teach them to withstand every temptation of the devil, with their faith on the Lord Jesus Christ.").

We cannot have faith in Jesus Christ without also having faith in our Heavenly Father.  If we have faith in them, we will also have faith that the Holy Ghost, whom they send, will teach us all truth and will comfort us.

Discussion

Acts 4:10-12 "  10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 
  11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 
  12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

Alma 37:33 "Preach unto them repentance, and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ; teach them to humble themselves and to be meek and lowly in heart; teach them to withstand every temptation of the devil, with their faith on the Lord Jesus Christ."

Why do we need to have faith in Jesus Christ?'


Concept 3: How Can We Increase Our Faith in Jesus Christ? 

'Knowing of the many blessings that come through exercising faith in Jesus Christ, we should seek to increase our faith in him.  The Savior said, "if ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed,... nothing shall be impossible unto you"  (Matthew 17:20).  A mustard seed is very small, but grows into a large tree.

How can we increase our faith?  The same way we increase or develop any other skill.  How do we develop skills in woodcarving, weaving, painting, cooking, making pottery or playing a musical instrument?  We study and practice and work at it.  As we do so, we improve.  So it is with faith.  If we want to increase our faith in Jesus Christ, we must work at it.  The Prophet Alma compared increasing our faith to planting a Seed:

"But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if you can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words. 

"Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea ...

Now behold, would not this increase your faith?" (Alma 32:27-29). 

So we can increase our faith in God by acting on our desire to have faith in him.'


''We can also increase our faith by praying to Heavenly Father about our hopes, desires, and needs (Alma 34:17-25 "  17 Therefore may God grant unto you, my brethren, that ye may begin to exercise your faith unto repentance, that ye begin to call upon his holy name, that he would have mercy upon you; 
  18 Yea, cry unto him for mercy; for he is mighty to save. 
  19 Yea, humble yourselves, and continue in prayer unto him. 
  20 Cry unto him when ye are in your fields, yea, over all your flocks. 
  21 Cry unto him in your houses, yea, over all your household, both morning, mid-day, and evening. 
  22 Yea, cry unto him against the power of your enemies. 
  23 Yea, cry unto him against the devil, who is an enemy to all righteousness. 
  24 Cry unto him over the crops of your fields, that ye may prosper in them. 
  25 Cry over the flocks of your fields, that they may increase."

But we must not suppose that all we have to do is ask.  We are told in the Scriptures  that "faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone" (James 2:17).  The following story is about a man whose faith was shown by his works.

This man wanted to study the Scriptures , but he could not read.  He prayed for Heavenly Father to help him learn to read.  In time a teacher came to his village, and he asked the teacher to help him.  He learned the alphabet.  He studied sounds and learned to put the letters together to make words.  Soon he was reading simple words.  The more he practiced, the more he learned.   He thanked the Lord for sending the teacher and for helping him learn to read.  The man has increased his faith, humility, and knowledge to such a degree that he has served as a branch president in the Church.

President Spencer W. Kimball explained:  "There must be works with faith.  How foolish it would be to ask the Lord to give us knowledge, but how wise to ask the Lord's help to acquire knowledge, to study constructively, to think clearly, and to retain things that we have learned"  (Faith Proceeds the Miracle, p. 205).

Faith involves doing all we can to bring about the things we hope and pray for.  President Kimball said: "In faith we plant the seed, and soon we see the miracle of the blossoming.  Men have often misunderstood and have reversed the process".  He continued by explaining that many of us want to have health and strength with out keeping the health laws.  We want to have prosperity without paying our tithes.  We want to be close to the Lord but don't want to fast and pray.  We want to have rain in due season and to have peace in the land without observing the Sabbath as a holy day and without keeping the other commandments of the Lord.  (See Faith Precedes the Miracle, p. 4.)

An important way to increase our faith is to hear and study the word of the Lord.  We hear the word of the Lord at our Church meetings.  We can study his word in Scriptures .

"And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith." (D&C 88:118).

Discussion

James 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 

Why do you think President Kimball said, "faith involves doing everything we can"?  How can we strengthen our faith?   (Pray, fast, study the Scriptures , obey commandments.)

Will you do these things to strengthen your faith?'



Concept 4: What Are Some Blessings That Follow Faith? 

'By faith, miracles are wrought, angels appear, the gifts of the Spirit are Given, prayers are answered, and men become the sons of God (Moroni 7:25-26 
  25 Wherefore, 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; and thus by faith, they did lay hold upon every good thing; and thus it was until the coming of Christ. 
  26 And after that he came men also were saved by faith in his name; and by faith, they become the sons of God. And as surely as Christ liveth he spake these words unto our fathers, saying: Whatsoever thing ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is good, in faith believing that ye shall receive, behold, it shall be done unto you.", 
7:36-37 "  36 Or have angels ceased to appear unto the children of men? Or has he withheld the power of the Holy Ghost from them? Or will he, so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man upon the face thereof to be saved? 
  37 Behold I say unto you, Nay; for it is by faith that miracles are wrought; and it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men; wherefore, if these things have ceased wo be unto the children of men, for it is because of unbelief, and all is vain.").  
The Prophet Joseph Smith taught:

"When faith comes it brings...apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers, gifts, wisdom, knowledge, miracles, healings, tongues, interpretations of tongues, etc.  All these appear when faith appears on earth, and disappear when it disappears from the earth; for these are the effects of faith...  And he who possesses it will, through it, obtain all necessary knowledge and wisdom, until he shall know God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, whom he has sent -- whom to know is eternal life.  Amen." (Lectures on Faith, p69).

Additional Scriptures

Hebrews 11; Alma 32 (nature of faith explained)
<http://Scriptures.lds.org/en/heb/11>
By faith we understand the word and work of God Faith of the ancients was centered in Christ By faith men subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, and worked miracles. 
<http://Scriptures.lds.org/en/alma/32>
Alma teaches the poor whose afflictions had humbled them Faith is a hope in that which is not seen which is true Alma testifies that angels minister to men, women, and children Alma compares the word unto a seed It must be planted and nourished Then it grows into a tree from which the fruit of eternal life is picked. About 74 B.C. 


Exodus 14:19-22  (parting the waters of the Red Sea)
  19  And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them: 
  20 And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night. 
  21 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. 
  22 And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. 
 

Genesis 6-8 (Noah and the flood)
<http://Scriptures.lds.org/en/gen/6> Genesis 6
Sons of God marry daughters of men Men turn to wickedness; earth is filled with violence; all flesh is corrupted The flood promised God establishes his covenant with Noah, who builds an ark to save his family and divers living things. 

<http://Scriptures.lds.org/en/gen/7> Genesis 7
Noah's family and various beasts and fowls enter the ark The flood comes and water covers the whole earth All other life that breathes is destroyed. 

<http://Scriptures.lds.org/en/gen/8> Genesis 8
The flood ceases Noah sends forth a dove, which returns with an olive leaf He releases all living things from the ark He offers sacrifices Seedtime and harvest and seasons assured. 

Matthew 8:5-33 (sick healed, tempest, miracles of faith)
<http://Scriptures.lds.org/en/matt/8/5-33#5>

Mark 5:25-34  (healed by faith)'
  25 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, 
  26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, 
  27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. 
  28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. 
  29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. 
  30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? 
  31 And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? 
  32 And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. 
  33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. 
  34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague. 



-----------------
Moroni 10:4-5
"4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. 
  5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things."

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