Faith - A Principle of Action & Power

So here's my talk:

The Apostle Paul, Alma, and Moroni defined faith in similar ways:

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

Our Faith must be centered in the Lord Jesus Christ, just as it was during our pre-mortal lives. In the General Young Women Meeting last month, President Eyring stated the following:

“For each of us, life is a journey. Our journey began in the same place before we were born into this world.

We all were taught by Elohim, the Father of our spirits. We loved Him and wanted to be like Him and to be with Him forever. He told us plainly what it would require for us to have that joy. We would have to receive a physical body, with all of the trials that would bring. We would be subject to illness and have within our bodies the processes which would finally lead to death.

Heavenly Father explained to us what it would take to make the journey from where we were then to be with Him forever and live the life that He lives. We would make the journey through life without a memory of our time with Him in the spirit world. And the only way back to Him would be for us to overcome physical death and the effects of sin which would come from our breaking commandments. He told us that we could not overcome the effects of either death or sin by ourselves — without our having a Savior who would break the bands of death and provide a way for us to be washed clean from the sin which we would surely commit.

You know from the scriptures revealed by God through prophets that there was a rebellion in the spirit world when the plan for our journey was offered to us. Those who rebelled did not want to accept and to depend upon a Savior nor run any risk that they might not return again to Heavenly Father. Every one of you was among the brave, the faithful, and the true in that conflict. You accepted the Savior and the plan for this journey to return to the joy of our Heavenly Father's presence.”

Each of us has already exercised faith – As Ether stated, we hoped for a better world, even a place at the right hand of God (Ether 12:4). Mormon said something similar when he stated we hoped through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal (Moroni 7:41). Because of this hope, we exercised faith – we accepted the plan and accepted Jesus Christ as the Savior of the World.

Faith is more than a passive belief. We express faith through action. We demonstrated our faith in the pre-mortal world by accepting the Savior and His plan for redemption. Faith is always a principle of action. When we work toward a worthy goal, we exercise faith. We show our hope for something that we cannot yet see.

Each of us has exercised faith in various ways and in various degrees as we have continued on our journey. We exercise faith when we attend our Sunday meetings, pay tithing, take care of family or priesthood duties, care for the poor and the needy, attend the temple, and have daily prayer, scripture study, and family home evening.

Those who have been baptized, have exercised faith. The fourth Article of Faith states, “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.”

Faith is a principle of action, but that is not all. Joseph Smith taught that faith is not only a principle of action, but it is also a principle of power. Our faith in Christ leads to righteous action. In turn, our righteous actions increase our spiritual capacity and power. Elder Bednar spoke about this in General Conference earlier this month. He stated, “Understanding that faith is a principle of action and of power inspires us to exercise our moral agency in compliance with gospel truth, invites the redeeming and strengthening powers of the Savior’s Atonement into our lives, and enlarges the power within us.”

Hebrews 11 and Ether 12 have always been two of my favorite chapters of scriptures because they list the actions of the faithful and the power that they received because of their faith and works.

Ether chapter 12, verses 16 & 18 state, “All they who wrought miracles wrought them by faith. . . . And neither at any time hath any wrought miracles until after their faith; wherefore they first believed in the Son of God.” Because they had faith in the Son of God, they acted accordingly, which action brought them power to perform miracles.

What are some of these miracles?

• Ether 12:13 – It was the faith of Alma and Amulek that caused the prison to tumble to the earth.
• Ether 12:14 – It was the faith of Nephi and Lehi that wrought the change upon the Lamanites, that they were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost.
• Ether 12:15 – It was the faith of Ammon and his brethren which wrought so great a miracle among the Lamanites.
• Ether 12:17 – It was by faith that the three disciples obtained a promise that they should not taste of death.
• Ether 12:19 – There were many whose faith was so exceedingly strong, even before Christ came, who could not be kept from within the veil, but truly saw with their eyes the things which they had beheld with an eye of faith, and they were glad.
• Hebrews 11:5 – By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death.
• Hebrews 11:7 – By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, prepared an ark to the saving of his house.
• Hebrews 11:11 – Through faith Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child.
• Hebrews 11:17 – By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son.
• Hebrews 11:24 & 25 – By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God.
• Hebrews 11:29 – By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land.
• Hebrews 11:30 – By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
• Hebrews 11:32-34 – And what shall I more say? For the time would fail me to tell of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight.
  

Those who exercise faith are given power. Those who exercise faith today are given power, just as the faithful in times of old. President Eyring talked about this power in General Conference earlier this month. He stated:

It would be wise to determine to sustain with our faith and our prayers all those who serve us in the kingdom. I am personally aware of the power of the faith of members of the Church to sustain those who have been called. In the last few weeks I have felt in powerful ways the prayers and the faith of people whom I do not know and who know me only as someone called to serve through the keys of the priesthood. President Thomas S. Monson will be blessed by your sustaining faith. His family will likewise have blessings poured out upon them because of your faith and your prayers. All those who were sustained by you today will be sustained by God because of their faith and yours.

The power given to us because of our faith strengthens us as we face the trials of this life. There are some who believe that if they are faithful, they will be blessed by a life absent of trials. This is not the case. While addressing the Young Women, President Eyring stated, "Some of your trials may be severe. You need never be discouraged or afraid. The way through difficulties has always been prepared for you, and you will find it if you exercise faith."

When the Prophet Joseph Smith was a prisoner in Liberty Jail, he received the revelation contained in Doctrine and Covenants, Section 122. His imprisonment was a severe trial, but the Lord counseled Joseph to remain faithful in verses 7-9:

And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good. The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he? Therefore, hold on thy way, and the priesthood shall remain with thee; for their bounds are set, they cannot pass. Thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore, fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever.

I love the phrase, “hold on thy way.” To me it means be faithful – be steadfast. All things will not be well at all times in our lives. We will experience difficulties and challenges, as have the Lord’s Saints since time began. We will be challenged, our faith will be tested, but if we are steadfast, we will have the power to endure our trials. “And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high” (D&C 121:8).