The Fourth Article of Faith states that “We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ… ”[1] Faith is the most essential and important element in our gospel. Without faith, we can not return to our Heavenly Father and live with Him again. But what is faith? What does it mean to have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ?
There are two parts included in the word “faith.” The first part is to believe. Hebrews 11:1 reads, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”[2] We study and read Book of Mormon every day because we believe it is another testament of Jesus Christ. We pray because we believe that, through prayer, we could communicate with our Heavenly Father. Without faith, both of these acts are meaningless. They are just everyday actions that we could forget the next day or after a few hours. Many events happen in our lives. To some people, being able to catch a bus to visit sick family members on a busy Friday afternoon would just be luck but to other people, it is a miracle that happened because they said a prayer before they left home.
The second part is to act upon what we have faith in. James 2:18 reads, “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.”[3] There is a jar of chocolate on the kitchen table. We know that chocolate inside is delicious. Because we know and believe that it is a candy with fantastic flavor, are we not going to have the chocolate and just be with that fact? No. We want to experience the delicious flavor of the chocolate by opening the jar, taking it out, and eating it. Believing is not enough. We need to live by our faith. Jesus Christ Himself is a great example of this. He taught us to praise the Lord and serve thy neighbors. He did not just teach but actually lived the life that He taught. He healed the sick, comforted the poor, loved the children, and reached out his hands to whoever needed His help. We are taught to follow His example. On the other hand, sometimes we need to go under challenges and trials to act upon faith. Even though Job had strong faith, he wasn’t always happy. He lost his house, sheep, servants, friends, and even his loving family. However, he did not blame the Lord like others did. He acted upon what he believed in. Stay firm and endure to the end. Until the very last moment, depend on the Lord and ask for His mercy and love. Prophet Joseph Smith also went through trials. As a fourteen-year-old boy, he was asked to deny what he had seen in the Sacred Grove. Many people wanted him to deny the fact that he had seen the Lord and His son Jesus Christ. However, he never denied what he experienced but instead became a strong witness. “It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!”[4]
Having faith is just like planting a little seed in the soil. We know that if seed grows well and become a tree, it will bear precious fruit. Just knowing the fact doesn’t do anything. To actually have that fruit in our hands, we need to check the soil, fertilize it and water the seed. We also need to get rid of weeds. The result doesn’t show instantly; it takes time and effort.
In the year of 2001, my mother converted and got baptized. She felt the spirit but still, she wasn’t sure. She wanted an assurance that would make her stay firm in the gospel. She read Doctrine and Covenants 63:8-11, which states, “Verily, I say unto you, there are those among you who seek signs, and there have been such even from the beginning; But, behold, faith cometh not by signs, but signs follow those that believe. Yea, signs come by faith, not by the will of men, nor as they please, but by the will of God. Yea, signs come by faith, unto mighty works, for without faith no man pleaseth God..”[5] She decided to have faith in Jesus Christ and try to live by the gospel that she just learned about instead of just waiting for a sign to magically appear. She tried so hard and the result was amazing. The faith she had and performed changed her life completely. It affected not just her but all of us in the family. We feel the warmth and strong bond of love that we never really experienced before. We are happier than ever because of her great example living by the faith in Jesus Christ and this church. Faith is not just an essential element of the gospel, but it changes people to be more like Jesus Christ.
This shows a really mature understanding of the doctrine of faith. I'm impressed by the clarity with which you dissect this principle. I especially liked the chocolate analogy. That kind of thing can be really useful to explain principles, I think.
I like the triad of Jesus, Job, and Job as examples of faith. You write well. Some of the sections could use logical transitions to link them together. Other than that, the ideas flow well.
Thank you for sharing something so sacred and special as the story of your mom and her conversion story. I really liked your your definitons and the clarity of your paper. It was very easy to understand and to read.
And upon these I write the things of my soul, and many of the scriptures which are engraven upon the plates of brass. For my soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them, and writeth them for the learning and the profit of my children.
6 comments:
This shows a really mature understanding of the doctrine of faith. I'm impressed by the clarity with which you dissect this principle. I especially liked the chocolate analogy. That kind of thing can be really useful to explain principles, I think.
I like the triad of Jesus, Job, and Job as examples of faith. You write well. Some of the sections could use logical transitions to link them together. Other than that, the ideas flow well.
Great job in using the post to define faith, as it is a tough subject to understand at times.
I really loved your sharing of the story of your mother, it was especially touching.
I think your essay on faith was very effective. It really open my eyes to things I had not payed attention to before. I really enjoyed reading it.
Thank you for sharing something so sacred and special as the story of your mom and her conversion story. I really liked your your definitons and the clarity of your paper. It was very easy to understand and to read.
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