Introduction

"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." - Romans 10:17

What is faith? It is nothing more and nothing less than receiving God's word and acting in full belief that it is true. This definition expands our understanding of events as laid out in the scriptures as examples of faith. Moroni teaches us that "it is by faith that miracles are wrought," since without a dispensation of God's word, God's power is not present, and it is God's power that works miracles.¹ He continues by saying that "it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men," "For behold, they are subject unto him, to minister according to the word of his command, showing themselves unto them of strong faith and a firm mind in every form of godliness."² Noah received God's word that a flood was coming. He believed God, and acted on the instructions he received to build the ark.

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. (Hebrews 11:7)

It was by faith that "Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come."³ He knew of those things to come because God had told him, and he believed God that they would actually happen. The miraculous appearance to the brother of Jared came first by God giving him his word and second by the brother of Jared believing it:

And behold, we have seen in this record that one of these was the brother of Jared; for so great was his faith in God, that when God put forth his finger he could not hide it from the sight of the brother of Jared, _because of his word which he had spoken unto him,_ which word he had obtained by faith. (Ether 12:20)

Holy men of all times have worked miracles by faith, first obtaining God's word to them authorizing them to do certain things, and second acting in belief that God was true to his word:

And he knoweth their prayers, that they were in behalf of their brethren. And he knoweth their faith, for in his name could they remove mountains; and in his name could they cause the earth to shake; and by the power of his word did they cause prisons to tumble to the earth; yea, even the fiery furnace could not harm them, neither wild beasts nor poisonous serpents, because of the power of his word. (Mormon 8:24)

Finally, and most important, it is by faith in Christ's name that men are saved and become sons of God.⁴ This is because the pathway to salvation consists of God's word (his commandments or instructions), which the voyager must seek and heed in order to obtain divine sonship and redemption from the fall. To sum up: "Faith comes by hearing the word of God, through the testimony of the servants of God; that testimony is always attended by the Spirit of prophecy and revelation."⁵

What isn't faith? You cannot have faith in something that isn't God's word. As an example of this, in Lecture 2 of "Lectures on Faith," Joseph teaches the difference between Abel's sacrifice, which God accepted, and Cain's sacrifice, which he did not. Both Abel and Cain were taught by God how to make sacrifices (see TPJS, p. 58). However, Cain decided to modify the instructions he received. Instead of sacrificing an animal, he sacrificed crops. God did not accept this sacrifice which he had not ordained. Cain changed the ordinance, and it was not acceptable to God. "Without faith no man pleaseth God;"⁶ Without God's word to you, and your belief in it to heed it, you cannot please God. If any part of that equation is changed, the connection with God is broken. If you do not receive God's word, or if you change what he has told you, or if you don't believe what he has told you, or if you don't do what he told you, you cannot have faith.

It is not possible to have faith in a false principle. You can only obtain a blessing by obeying the law it is predicated upon.⁷ Is there no blessing for those who are zealous about what they have been beguiled to think is God's word, but is truly the word of man? They are always given an opportunity to accept the truth as a result of their zealousness for what they believe is God's word. Consider some proofs from the scriptures. We read of Alma Jr., who went about convincing church members to fight against the church. If the angel of repentance visited Alma Jr. as a result of the prayers of Alma Sr. and the congregation, we would expect this sort of thing to occur anytime a righteous parent and their congregation prays for a wayward soul-after all, God is no respecter of persons. Because we don't see that, we should look for another cause. Alma Jr., like Saul of old, was doing all the wrong things for all the right reasons. Saul (later Paul) boasted that he was perfect with respect to the law of Moses:

Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. (Philippians 3:4-6)

Paul and Alma Jr. were doing the best they could with the light that they had. Still, they could not have faith in false principles. Saul could not have faith in the stoning of Stephen according to the law of Moses, for it was, in that instance, a false principle. Alma Jr. could not have faith in turning his friends away from the gospel of Christ. However, God mercifully recognized their zeal. They were honest men, although wicked. He condescended to provide further light to them, in both cases sending heavenly messengers to provide extra light and truth.

Interestingly, we do not know whether Abel and Cain were taught directly by God how to make sacrifices, or (more likely) if Adam was taught by an angel, and Adam taught Cain and Abel. If this latter arrangement is correct, it gives us an example of how God's revealed word stays in force as long as men follow it. In other words, the sacrifice of Abel was just as recognized as Adam's sacrifice, because he had not changed the ordinance. It was no Cain's lack of authority that invalidated his sacrifice, but his deviation from the revealed ordinance. This is reminiscent of an event that occurs many years later.

God tells Alma,

Blessed art thou, Alma, and blessed are they who were baptized in the waters of Mormon. Thou art blessed because of thy exceeding faith in the words alone of my servant Abinadi. (Mosiah 26:15)

Do you realize what things Alma did based alone on the words (the knowledge he received) from Abinadi? These include extensive teaching, baptizing, and forming a church.

And also that king Noah and his priests had caused the people to commit so many sins and iniquities against God; and they also did mourn for the death of Abinadi; and also for the departure of Alma and the people that went with him, who had formed a church of God through the strength and power of God, and faith on the words which had been spoken by Abinadi. (Mosiah 21:30)

The word of God was revealed to Abinadi and preached to Alma (once). Then Abinadi was killed. Even though Abinadi was dead, God's word which had been given to Alma through Abinadi was just as valid as if Abinadi had been alive. According to God, Abinadi's words delivered to the priests (including Alma) were God's words and the source of all of Alma's preaching, teaching, baptizing, and church formation. It was sufficient and valid. Alma did not need a new dispensation of God's word in order to preach, teach, baptize, or even form a church. What God gave him through Abinadi was enough for all of that. He had faith in God by hearing God's word through Abinadi and believing it. "Behold, I can tell you-did not my father Alma believe in the words which were delivered by the mouth of Abinadi? And was he not a holy prophet? Did he not speak the words of God, and my father Alma believe them?"⁸

Another example of faith on God's word is found in the sons of Helaman, who were miraculously protected from the Lamanite armies. Since a miracle was performed, and since miracles only occur through faith, and since faith is receiving God's word and acting in belief on it, we can search the story for when these boys received God's word. We find the answer in their mothers. The miracle occurred because:

...they did obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness; yea, and even according to their faith it was done unto them; and I did remember the words which they said unto me that their mothers had taught them. (Alma 57:21)

The miracle would not have occurred if the mothers had said whatever they pleased-if they had made up these words. The author would not have cited this as an example of faith unless God's word predicated the event. And so these mothers obtained a promise from God for the protection of their boys, just as King Mosiah had for his sons. Following the commands of Helaman with exactness would not have bought them anything had God not proclaimed this as a precondition for their blessing. The word of God produced faith for the sons of Helaman despite the time and space that separated the young men from the promise that God gave to their mothers.

Faith is not bound by time nor space. Alma attained power from God to baptize and start a church based on the word of God through Abinadi, who was then dead. Likewise, Abel was able to practice sacrifice through the instructions of his father, who wasn't around when he did it (which we assume since he certainly was not around for Cain's sacrifice, as he would have forestalled it).

Additionally, we see that all men who are saved are saved because they believed the words of prophets, most of whom are dead, who prophesied concerning the coming of the Lord:

Behold I say unto you, that whosoever has heard the words of the prophets, yea, all the holy prophets who have prophesied concerning the coming of the Lord-I say unto you, that all those who have hearkened unto their words, and believed that the Lord would redeem his people, and have looked forward to that day for a remission of their sins, I say unto you, that these are his seed, or they are the heirs of the kingdom of God. (Mosiah 15:11)

The validity of the word of God preached through those dead prophets has nothing to do at all with their life or death. It has everything to do with whether their words were from God or not. God's words never fail.⁹ The conditions of salvation never change. A man today who listens to the principles upon which Abraham was saved will find himself with the salvation of Abraham. And, should he choose to remove from, add to, or transfigure the word of God, he will find himself without the salvation of Abraham.