What Is Faith in Jesus Christ?

 My Come, Follow Me studies for this week took me to Hebrews 7-13 in a lesson titled “An High Priest of Good Things to Come.” This counsel preceded the lesson: “As you read Hebrews 7-13, you may receive impressions through the Holy Ghost. Consider ways you can record them; for example, you could record them in this outline, in the margins of your scriptures, or in a notebook or journal.” The lesson was introduced by the following information. 

Even faithful Saints at times suffer “reproaches and afflictions” that can shake their confidence (see Hebrews 10:32-38). Paul knew that Jewish converts to Christianity were experiencing severe persecution because of their new faith. To encourage them to stay true to their testimonies, he reminded them of the long tradition of faithful believers from their own history: Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sara, Joseph, Moses – “a cloud of witnesses” that God’s promises are real and worth waiting for (see Hebrews 1; 12:1). This tradition is yours too. It’s a heritage of faith shared by all those who look “unto Jesus [as] the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). Because of Him, whenever adversity makes us want to “draw back,” we can instead “draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith” (Hebrews 10:22, 38). For us, as for the ancient Saints, Jesus Christ is our “high priest of good things to come” (Hebrews 9:11).

I feel prompted to discuss the following principle found in Hebrews 11: “Faith requires trusting in God’s promises.” How would you describe faith?

Paul, the assumed writer of the letter to the Hebrews described faith as “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).

Alma, an ancient American prophet, described faith as “not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true” (Alma 32:21).

Sister Anne C. Pingree gave this definition for faith by drawing on the language of Hebrews: “The spiritual ability to be persuaded of promises that are seen ‘afar off’ but that may not be attained in this life” (“Seeing the Promises Afar Off,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2003, 14).

Moroni, another ancient American prophet, described faith as “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” (Ether 12:6) Moroni then proceeded to give numerous examples of men walking by faith.

For it was by faith that Christ showed himself unto our fathers, after he had risen from the dead; and he showed not himself unto them until after they had faith in him… (Ether 12:7).

Behold it was by faith that they of old were called after the holy order of God (Ether 12:10).

Wherefore, by faith was the law of Moses given. But in the gift of his Son hath God prepared a more excellent way; and it is by faith that it hath been fulfilled (Ether 12:12).

Behold, it was the faith of Alma and Amulek that caused the prison to tumble to the earth (Ether 12:13).

Behold, 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 12:14).

Behold, it was the faith of Ammon and his brethren which wrought so great a miracle among the Lamanites (Ether 12:15).

Yea, and even all they who wrought miracles wrought them by faith, even those who were before Christ and also those who were after (Ether 12:16).

And it was by faith that the three disciples obtained a promise that they should not taste of death; and they obtained not the promise until after their faith (Ether 12:17).

Moroni taught a little more about how faith works as pertaining to miracles: “For 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). He continued the same thought a little later in the chapter:

And neither at any time hath any wrought miracles until after their faith; wherefore they first believed in the Son of God.

And there were many whose faith was so exceedingly strong, even before Christ came, who could not be kept from within the veil, and truly saw with their eyes the things which they had beheld with an eye of faith and they were glad (Ether 12:18-19).

Moroni explained that one of the people “who could not be kept from within the veil” was another ancient American prophet known as the brother of Jared.

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.

And after the brother of Jared had beheld the finger of the Lord, because of the promise which the brother of Jared had obtained by faith, the Lord could not withhold anything from his sight; wherefore he showed him all things, for he could no longer be kept without the veil (Ether 12:20-21).

How do you define faith? Have the above scriptural examples helped in your understanding of faith? What promises do you see in your future whose fulfillment depends on your faith? How can you show the Lord that your faith is strong enough to see miracles?