Chapter 12—"Three Things Are Necessary"
Having established the essential nature of the doctrine of living faith, we next examine its components.
Another crucial attribute that is often overlooked is that He does not change and cannot tolerate deviance. “He was God before the world was created, and the same God” after it. He “changes not, neither is there variableness with Him” (LF 3:13, 15). Believing He has an unchangeable nature and is no respecter of persons encourages faith.
Even the Savior’s salvation depended on “his being precisely what he is and nothing else; for if it were possible for him to change, in the least degree, so sure he would fail of salvation and lose all his dominion, power, authority, and glory which constitute salvation . . . No being can possess it but himself, or one like him” (LF 7:9). Preparing us for salvation is the purpose of the preparatory gospel and its ordinances, that we might “be assimilated into their likeness [for] to be unlike them is to be destroyed; and on this hinge turns the door of salvation. Who cannot see, then, that salvation is the effect of faith?” (LF 7:16–17).
With “a little reflection it will be seen that the idea of the existence of these attributes in the Deity is necessary to enable any rational being to exercise faith in him. For without the idea of the existence of these attributes in the Deity, men could not exercise faith in him for life and salvation” (LF 4:11). Being “enabled to exercise faith in him unto life and salvation” (LF 6:1) is being supplied with power, knowledge, and ability. “The gospel is the power of God unto salvation unto them that believe . . . Life and immortality were brought to light through the gospel.”
So, we are asked, “What is the difference between a saved man and one who is not saved?” (LF 7:9). “Heirs of salvation work by faith” and have sufficient “faith to enable them to act in the presence of the Lord. And what constitutes the real difference between a saved person and one not saved is the difference in the degree of their faith—one’s faith has become perfect enough to lay hold upon eternal life, and the other’s has not” (LF 7:9). We are enabled as we receive portions of our endowment.
Some “say, If thou wilt show us a sign from heaven, then we shall know of a surety, then we shall believe. Now I ask, is this faith? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for if a man knoweth a thing he hath no cause to believe, for he knoweth it” (Alma 32:17–18). But many first seek a sign to put their faith in. The antichrist Korihor wanted a sign to “be convinced of the truth,” much like Sherem demanded from Jacob. Jesus said, “An evil and wicked generation seeks for a sign” (Matthew 16:4, ESV). “And he that seeketh signs shall see signs, but not unto salvation” (D&C 63:7).
Yet signs have a part in His gospel, a seeming contradiction that is easily remedied if we understand that signs are the result of faithful belief, not the catalyst for it. Signs are not given to produce faith, rather they are evidences and assurances that our faith is founded properly. “Behold, faith cometh not by signs, but signs follow those that believe” (D&C 63:9). “He that believeth shall be blest with signs following, even as it is written” (D&C 68:10).
As we grow in faith, we receive knowledge that the course of life that we are pursuing is according to the will of God. Faith is nothing if it does not lay hold on Christ, for “without faith, it is impossible to please Him” (Hebrews 11:6). Faith’s power frees us from the world and lets us comprehend more correctly the order of heaven. We “labour, that . . . [we] may be accepted of him” (2 Corinthians 5:9). “The real design which the God of heaven had in view of making the human family acquainted with His attributes was that they . . . might obtain eternal life” (LF 4:2).
We must understand His attributes to emulate them. Without an accurate idea of God’s character, “the saints would faint in the midst of the tribulations, afflictions, and persecutions which they have to endure for righteousness’ sake.” When faith is established “it gives life and energy to the spirits of the saints” (LF 4:15). Having understanding of His godly attributes, “the faith of the saints can become exceedingly strong, abounding in righteousness unto the praise and glory of God . . . [Faith] can exert its mighty influence in searching after wisdom and understanding until it has obtained a knowledge of all things that pertain to life and salvation” (LF 4:18). Salvation comes from faithfully believing, trusting, remembering, and knowing Him—the sequence taught in the endowment.
God “laid the foundation for the exercise of their faith, through which they could obtain a knowledge of his character and also of his glory” (LF 2:31), but few seek it. Without being acquainted with faith’s three components, “the faith of every rational being must be imperfect and unproductive; but with this understanding, it can become perfect and fruitful, abounding in righteousness unto the praise and glory of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (LF 3:5). Faith—“the foundation of all righteousness” (LF 1:1)—is not our righteousness but His. His work for us occurs as His Spirit works in us. Faith works on and in the believer. Faith in Christ includes believing all He reveals and faith on Christ builds the foundation of righteousness. Faith in Him lets us have faith on Him. Faith is the means “by which Jehovah works, and through which He exercises power over all temporal as well as eternal things” (LF 1:16).
Through faith holy prophets “subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouth of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight” against foreign armies, and “women received their dead raised to life again” (Hebrews 11:33–35). “All they who wrought miracles wrought them by faith” (Ether 12:16).
Some define miracles as the unexpected or unexplainable, but miracles are expected by the faithful and can be explained through comprehending God’s power and attributes. Miracles and divine gifts are found when priesthood is present. Are marvelous works and miracles abundant today? Do those who claim priesthood raise the dead, heal the lame, give sight to the blind, break walls, or remove mountains like the righteous before? If not, what are we lacking?
Nephi, son of Helaman, ministered “with power and with great authority . . . for so great was his faith on the Lord Jesus Christ that angels did minister unto him daily” (3 Nephi 7:17–18). If angels do not minister to us, our faith is not whole. Lack of miracles and angelic ministrations is a sign of unbelief. Jesus declared, “I could not show unto [the Jews] so great miracles because of their unbelief” (3 Nephi 19:35). When righteousness prevails, miracles abound. Spiritual gifts and miracles cease when we depart from His ways and do not seek Him.
Unbelief prohibited Jesus’s disciples from casting out a devil. When “they could not cure” a possessed man, Jesus called them a “faithless and perverse generation” (Matthew 17:16–17). When Jesus rebuked the devil, the disciples asked, “Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you” (JST Matthew 17:19–20). “If man had the faith of a grain of mustard seed—the ability to assimilate and use the divine powers which are available to him by faith as does a mustard seed in its sphere of life—he could move a mountain through the power of the Spirit.” The brother of Jared “said unto the mountain Zerin, Remove—and it was removed. And if he had not had faith it would not have moved; wherefore [the Lord] workest after men have faith” (Ether 12:30).
Without faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, we cannot truly speak or act in His name. Faith must be built on His word because it is exercised through His word. “The worlds were framed by the word of God” (Hebrews 11:3). “No world has yet been framed that was not framed by faith” (LF 7:2). Faith requires a sure word, so if we do not do what we covenant, our words have no integrity and we cannot work by faith.
Having access to Christ’s gospel offers no assurance of miracles unless we attain its gifts and power. “If the day cometh that the power and gifts of God shall be done away among you, it shall be because of unbelief. And wo be unto the children of men if this be the case; for there shall be none that doeth good among you, no not one. For if there be one among you that doeth good, he shall work by the power and gifts of God” (Moroni 10:24–25). When those who truly have His power and authority are cast out or removed from among them, curses result. “For no man can be saved, according to the words of Christ, save they shall have faith in his name; wherefore, if these things have ceased, then has faith ceased also; and awful is the state of man, for they are as though there had been no redemption made . . . If ye have not faith in him then ye are not fit to be numbered among the people of his church” (Moroni 7:38–39).
Without power generated through faith, we forfeit Zion. “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?” (Romans 10:14). It was prophesied,
For footnotes and references, click HERE.
Let us here observe that 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. (LF 3:2–5)True faith always centers in Christ. Without it, the heavens remain sealed and our faith is only theoretical in nature, not having the power required for salvation. To be exalted, none of these stations can be bypassed so we must realize the sequence as faith develops.
Idea → Correct Idea → Actual KnowledgeFaith becomes knowledge as we obtain “a correct idea of His character, perfections, and attributes” (LF 3:4) and are proven. “As we have been indebted to a revelation which God made of himself to his creatures in the first instance for the idea of his existence, so in like manner we are indebted to the revelations which he has given to us for a correct understanding of his character, perfections, and attributes; because without the revelations which he has given to us, no man by searching could find out God” (LF 3:7). Revelation is required to know Him.
But as it is written, eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love him; but God has revealed them unto us by his Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so, the things of God no man knows but by the Spirit of God. (1 Corinthians 2:9–11)God’s attributes include knowledge, faith, power, justice, judgment, and truth (LF 4:5–10). He is “merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abundant in goodness” and love, and accepts all who “work righteousness” (LF 3:14, 17). God is “long suffering, and of a forgiving disposition, and does forgive iniquity, transgression, and sin. An idea of these facts does away doubt and makes faith exceedingly strong.” Understanding these attributes is “essentially necessary in order that the faith of any rational being can center in Him for life and salvation” (LF 3:20, 19).
Another crucial attribute that is often overlooked is that He does not change and cannot tolerate deviance. “He was God before the world was created, and the same God” after it. He “changes not, neither is there variableness with Him” (LF 3:13, 15). Believing He has an unchangeable nature and is no respecter of persons encourages faith.
It is equally as necessary that men should have the idea that he is a God who changes not, in order to have faith in him, as it is to have the idea that he is gracious and long suffering. For without the idea of unchangeableness in the character of the Deity, doubt would take the place of faith. But with the idea that he changes not, faith lays hold upon the excellencies in his character with unshaken confidence, believing he is the same yesterday, to-day and forever, and that his course is one eternal round. (LF 3:21)“The idea that he is a God of truth and cannot lie is equally as necessary to the exercise of faith in him as the idea of his unchangeableness. For without the idea that he was a God of truth and could not lie, the confidence necessary to be placed in his word in order to the exercise of faith in him could not exist. But having the idea that he is not man, that he cannot lie, it gives power to the minds of men to exercise faith in him” (LF 3:22). If we believe He cannot lie, His ordinances and gospel must remain fixed or penalties will be invoked, according to covenant terms.
Such, then, is the foundation which is laid through the revelation of the attributes of God for the exercise of faith in him for life and salvation; and these attributes of Deity are unchangeable—Him being the same yesterday, today, and forever . . . gives the same power and authority to exercise faith in God which the Former-day Saints had; so that all the saints, in this respect, have been, are, and will be, alike until the end of time; for God never changes . . . The foundation, therefore, for the exercise of faith was, is, and ever will be, the same; so that all men have had, and will have, an equal privilege. (LF 4:19)Only those who “walketh uprightly, worketh righteousness, speaketh the truth in his heart . . . and changeth not shall abide in thy tabernacle . . . in thy holy hill” (Psalm 15:1–2, 4). Properly observing God’s unchanging laws and commandments lets righteousness flow.
Even the Savior’s salvation depended on “his being precisely what he is and nothing else; for if it were possible for him to change, in the least degree, so sure he would fail of salvation and lose all his dominion, power, authority, and glory which constitute salvation . . . No being can possess it but himself, or one like him” (LF 7:9). Preparing us for salvation is the purpose of the preparatory gospel and its ordinances, that we might “be assimilated into their likeness [for] to be unlike them is to be destroyed; and on this hinge turns the door of salvation. Who cannot see, then, that salvation is the effect of faith?” (LF 7:16–17).
With “a little reflection it will be seen that the idea of the existence of these attributes in the Deity is necessary to enable any rational being to exercise faith in him. For without the idea of the existence of these attributes in the Deity, men could not exercise faith in him for life and salvation” (LF 4:11). Being “enabled to exercise faith in him unto life and salvation” (LF 6:1) is being supplied with power, knowledge, and ability. “The gospel is the power of God unto salvation unto them that believe . . . Life and immortality were brought to light through the gospel.”
So, we are asked, “What is the difference between a saved man and one who is not saved?” (LF 7:9). “Heirs of salvation work by faith” and have sufficient “faith to enable them to act in the presence of the Lord. And what constitutes the real difference between a saved person and one not saved is the difference in the degree of their faith—one’s faith has become perfect enough to lay hold upon eternal life, and the other’s has not” (LF 7:9). We are enabled as we receive portions of our endowment.
Your endowment is to receive all those ordinances in the House of the Lord, which . . . enable you to walk to the presence of the Father, passing the angels who stand as sentinels, being enabled to give them the key words, the signs and tokens, pertaining to the Holy Priesthood, and gain your eternal exaltation in spite of earth and hell. Who has received and understands such an endowment in this assembly? You need not answer. Your voices would be few and far between.The righteous “shall pass by the angels and the gods . . . to their exaltation and glory in all things . . . which glory shall be a fulness.” With a full endowment of power, “then shall they be gods” (D&C 132:19–20). “An actual knowledge to any person that the course of life which he pursues is according to the will of God is essentially necessary to enable him to have that confidence in God, without which no person can obtain eternal life” (LF 6:2). Without this witness, salvation is not ours, and “ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith” (Ether 12:6).
Some “say, If thou wilt show us a sign from heaven, then we shall know of a surety, then we shall believe. Now I ask, is this faith? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for if a man knoweth a thing he hath no cause to believe, for he knoweth it” (Alma 32:17–18). But many first seek a sign to put their faith in. The antichrist Korihor wanted a sign to “be convinced of the truth,” much like Sherem demanded from Jacob. Jesus said, “An evil and wicked generation seeks for a sign” (Matthew 16:4, ESV). “And he that seeketh signs shall see signs, but not unto salvation” (D&C 63:7).
Yet signs have a part in His gospel, a seeming contradiction that is easily remedied if we understand that signs are the result of faithful belief, not the catalyst for it. Signs are not given to produce faith, rather they are evidences and assurances that our faith is founded properly. “Behold, faith cometh not by signs, but signs follow those that believe” (D&C 63:9). “He that believeth shall be blest with signs following, even as it is written” (D&C 68:10).
As we grow in faith, we receive knowledge that the course of life that we are pursuing is according to the will of God. Faith is nothing if it does not lay hold on Christ, for “without faith, it is impossible to please Him” (Hebrews 11:6). Faith’s power frees us from the world and lets us comprehend more correctly the order of heaven. We “labour, that . . . [we] may be accepted of him” (2 Corinthians 5:9). “The real design which the God of heaven had in view of making the human family acquainted with His attributes was that they . . . might obtain eternal life” (LF 4:2).
We must understand His attributes to emulate them. Without an accurate idea of God’s character, “the saints would faint in the midst of the tribulations, afflictions, and persecutions which they have to endure for righteousness’ sake.” When faith is established “it gives life and energy to the spirits of the saints” (LF 4:15). Having understanding of His godly attributes, “the faith of the saints can become exceedingly strong, abounding in righteousness unto the praise and glory of God . . . [Faith] can exert its mighty influence in searching after wisdom and understanding until it has obtained a knowledge of all things that pertain to life and salvation” (LF 4:18). Salvation comes from faithfully believing, trusting, remembering, and knowing Him—the sequence taught in the endowment.
When men begin to live by faith they begin to draw near to God; and when faith is perfected, they are like him; and because he is saved, they are saved also; for they will be in the same situation he is in because they have come to him; and when he appears they shall be like him, for they will see him as he is. (LF 7:8)Knowledge of God is eternal life. “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent” (John 17:3). “This knowledge supplies an important place in revealed religion; for it was by reason of it that the ancients were enabled to endure as seeing him who is invisible” (LF 6:2).
God “laid the foundation for the exercise of their faith, through which they could obtain a knowledge of his character and also of his glory” (LF 2:31), but few seek it. Without being acquainted with faith’s three components, “the faith of every rational being must be imperfect and unproductive; but with this understanding, it can become perfect and fruitful, abounding in righteousness unto the praise and glory of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (LF 3:5). Faith—“the foundation of all righteousness” (LF 1:1)—is not our righteousness but His. His work for us occurs as His Spirit works in us. Faith works on and in the believer. Faith in Christ includes believing all He reveals and faith on Christ builds the foundation of righteousness. Faith in Him lets us have faith on Him. Faith is the means “by which Jehovah works, and through which He exercises power over all temporal as well as eternal things” (LF 1:16).
Faith, then, is the first great governing principle which has power, dominion, and authority over all things . . . Without it, there is no power, and without power there could be no creation, nor existence! (LF 1:24)Through faith, Alma and Amulek “caused the prison to tumble to the earth” (Ether 12:13). When “the power of God was upon” them Alma cried, “O Lord, give us strength according to our faith which is in Christ, even unto deliverance. And they broke the cords with which they were bound . . . for the Lord had granted unto them power, according to their faith which was in Christ” (Alma 14:25–26, 28). Joshua had such faith that the moon and “the sun stood still in the midst of heaven” (Joshua 10:12–13). “Elijah commanded and the heavens were stayed for the space of three years and six months so that it did not rain. He again commanded and the heavens gave forth rain. All this was done by faith” (LF 7:3).
Through faith holy prophets “subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouth of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight” against foreign armies, and “women received their dead raised to life again” (Hebrews 11:33–35). “All they who wrought miracles wrought them by faith” (Ether 12:16).
Some define miracles as the unexpected or unexplainable, but miracles are expected by the faithful and can be explained through comprehending God’s power and attributes. Miracles and divine gifts are found when priesthood is present. Are marvelous works and miracles abundant today? Do those who claim priesthood raise the dead, heal the lame, give sight to the blind, break walls, or remove mountains like the righteous before? If not, what are we lacking?
Nephi, son of Helaman, ministered “with power and with great authority . . . for so great was his faith on the Lord Jesus Christ that angels did minister unto him daily” (3 Nephi 7:17–18). If angels do not minister to us, our faith is not whole. Lack of miracles and angelic ministrations is a sign of unbelief. Jesus declared, “I could not show unto [the Jews] so great miracles because of their unbelief” (3 Nephi 19:35). When righteousness prevails, miracles abound. Spiritual gifts and miracles cease when we depart from His ways and do not seek Him.
The reason why he ceaseth to do miracles among the children of men is because that (1) they dwindle in unbelief, and (2) depart from the right way, and (3) know not the God in whom they should trust. (Mormon 9:20, numerals added)Miracles cease when faith ceases. To avoid this, “there must be faith . . . All these gifts of which I have spoken, which are spiritual, never will be done away, even as long as the world shall stand, only according to the unbelief of the children of men. Wherefore, there must be faith” (Moroni 10:20, 19).
Unbelief prohibited Jesus’s disciples from casting out a devil. When “they could not cure” a possessed man, Jesus called them a “faithless and perverse generation” (Matthew 17:16–17). When Jesus rebuked the devil, the disciples asked, “Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you” (JST Matthew 17:19–20). “If man had the faith of a grain of mustard seed—the ability to assimilate and use the divine powers which are available to him by faith as does a mustard seed in its sphere of life—he could move a mountain through the power of the Spirit.” The brother of Jared “said unto the mountain Zerin, Remove—and it was removed. And if he had not had faith it would not have moved; wherefore [the Lord] workest after men have faith” (Ether 12:30).
Without faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, we cannot truly speak or act in His name. Faith must be built on His word because it is exercised through His word. “The worlds were framed by the word of God” (Hebrews 11:3). “No world has yet been framed that was not framed by faith” (LF 7:2). Faith requires a sure word, so if we do not do what we covenant, our words have no integrity and we cannot work by faith.
It is by words, instead of exerting his physical powers, with which every being works when he works by faith. God said, ‘Let there be light: and there was light.’ Joshua spake and the great lights which God had created stood still. Elijah commanded and the heavens were stayed for the space of three years and six months so that it did not rain. He again commanded and the heavens gave forth rain. All this was done by faith. And the Saviour says, ‘If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, say to this mountain, Remove, and it will remove; or say to that sycamine tree, Be ye plucked up, and planted in the midst of the sea, and it shall obey you.’ Faith, then, works by words; and with these its mightiest works have been, and will be, performed. (LF 7:3)The lack of true miracles among us today testifies unbelief prevails. Unbelief has no power. Not “at any time hath any wrought miracles until after their faith; wherefore they first believed in the Son of God” (Ether 12:18). “Had it not been for the faith which was in men, 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!” (LF 1:23). Priesthood power prepares us to enter God’s presence. “If there be no faith among the children of men God can do no miracle among them; wherefore he showed not himself until after their faith” (Ether 12:12).
Having access to Christ’s gospel offers no assurance of miracles unless we attain its gifts and power. “If the day cometh that the power and gifts of God shall be done away among you, it shall be because of unbelief. And wo be unto the children of men if this be the case; for there shall be none that doeth good among you, no not one. For if there be one among you that doeth good, he shall work by the power and gifts of God” (Moroni 10:24–25). When those who truly have His power and authority are cast out or removed from among them, curses result. “For no man can be saved, according to the words of Christ, save they shall have faith in his name; wherefore, if these things have ceased, then has faith ceased also; and awful is the state of man, for they are as though there had been no redemption made . . . If ye have not faith in him then ye are not fit to be numbered among the people of his church” (Moroni 7:38–39).
Without power generated through faith, we forfeit Zion. “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?” (Romans 10:14). It was prophesied,
I saw the time that is to be after us, full of offenses and evils and sins and lying: and the men in that [time] will be crafty, perverse, and depraved, men that know not God and understand not the truth; but a few of them shall understand their God because of His works which they shall behold daily, those which are established in heaven, and those which are brought forth on earth; and they know the Lord . . . And after a time they will seek to perform miracles, in the name of our Lord Jesus, and they will not be able because of their little faith; and they call and are not heard, because they do not call on him with all their hearts. But those who are separated from them, few in number, ask and are heard because their hearts speak the truth, and know God, and understand His beloved Son and do not deny the Spirit. In this way they perform signs and great works of power.Because a church organization remains, the Lord’s withdrawn Spirit and increasing wrath escape their notice until it is too late. A form of the gospel exists but neither faith nor God’s power or gifts are among them.
Because faith is wanting, the fruits are [not found]. No man since the world was ever had faith without having something along with it . . . By faith the worlds were made. A man who has none of the gifts [of the spirit] has no faith. He deceives himself if he supposes it. Faith has been wanting not only among the brethren, but professed Christendom also.
For footnotes and references, click HERE.