Faith 1/3

I was pondering on the word charity and exactly what it is. I’ve heard so many different definitions and ways of thinking about it and I just wanted to figure it out. In the end there was no circumventing the values of faith and hope and their relation to charity and discovering the end of the matter must be understood from the beginning.

Faith is like a little seed, yaw yaw we know all about faith, or do we? The first thought that jumps to the mind are undoubtedly something along the lines of believing without seeing or knowing or acting without seeing. Some sort of agency exercised without proof of the decision made. But in regards to charity and hope faith has a totally different meaning.

Our good friend Moroni provides his father's definition of faith. He starts by describing the light of Christ and the opposing forces in the world. 

Moroni 7

13 But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God.


A wonderful note on following the spirit. Whatever pushes us to serve God is good.

14 Wherefore, take heed, my beloved brethren, that ye do not judge that which is evil to be of God, or that which is good and of God to be of the devil.

15 For behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to judge, that ye may know good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain, that ye may know with a perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark night.


Judging the two is easy. Choosing the right is another story.

16 For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God...

19 Wherefore, I beseech of you, brethren, that ye should search diligently in the light of Christ that ye may know good from evil; and if ye will lay hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not, ye certainly will be a child of Christ.

An interesting preposition on the first line. Search IN the light of Christ. Not with or by or near or throughout but in. Inside within or bounded. Search IN the light of Christ. Whatever that means. 

20 And now, my brethren, how is it possible that ye can lay hold upon every good thing?

An excellent question by any standard. How are we to find that which is of God and good and obtain them? We can discern by the Light of Christ what that is good but we need things to grab onto somehow. We need a rod, a substance, and a source to exercise judgment. We need every good thing in front of us if we have any hope to grab them. Where do they come from? 

21 And now I come to that faith, of which I said I would speak; and I will tell you the way whereby ye may lay hold on every good thing.

Perfect. He can answer my question. 

22 For behold, God knowing all things, being from everlasting to everlasting, behold, he sent angels to minister unto the children of men, to make manifest concerning the coming of Christ; and in Christ there should come every good thing.


So angels tell us...

23 And God also declared unto prophets, by his own mouth, that Christ should come.


And prophets...

24 And behold, there were divers ways that he did manifest things unto the children of men, which were good; and all things which are good cometh of Christ; otherwise men were fallen, and there could no good thing come unto them.

The answer is startlingly simple. Revelation by its diverse means and possibilities bring all things that are good. And he does not use the word "all" loosely. Every single thing ever from the beginning to the end to the 2/3rd mark that is considered good came from revelation. Everything. There is nothing good that was not revealed someway somehow. Could we think of the Creation as revelation? I don't see what not. 

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.

I like the last verse. It is by faith that we lay hold upon every good thing. Flipping it around we lay hold on good things by faith or we need faith to hold on good things or when we have faith we lay hold on good things or without faith we cannot hold good things or if we have good things then we have faith or if we do not have good things we do not have faith. We could go on and on but I will spare you. To summarize faith is acting on revelation. 

What does revelation bring that we must grab with our faith? 

32 And by so doing, the Lord God prepareth the way that the residue of men may have faith in Christ, that the Holy Ghost may have place in their hearts, according to the power thereof; and after this manner bringeth to pass the Father, the covenants which he hath made unto the children of men.


This verse lays out the steps. Faith in Christ then Holy Ghost then covenants. Covenants are the top and the culmination of what has been revealed. 

I often make the mistake of reading 33 and then ignore the next one. 

33 And Christ hath said: if ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me.

34 And he hath said: repent all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me, and be baptized in my name, and have faith in me, that ye may be saved.

If we have faith we will have power to do anything that we are command to do, and what has he told us to do? He has said "be baptized." I always thought that it meant that I could do anything that was good and righteous. Something along the go and do train of thought. 

Faith is acting without a sure knowledge. Or knowing things that cannot be seen. Choosing to believe. All these are true statements concerning faith. But unless our faith leads us to covenants it is failing. Covenants are the good things that have been revealed and we must grab onto them. Our faith helps us find and recognize covenants for us to grab. Our choice to grab nonetheless but it is our faith that gets us there. 

Takeaways 

The only good things that have ever entered into the world come by revelation.

Covenant are the zenith of revealed truth and what we could call The Best Thing.

Real faith leads us to make real covenants.