Someone asked me once if all the struggles my family has endured are worth it—the loss of our infant daughter, failed moves, rejection, and shattered dreams. They wondered if those trials made me question my faith. I didn’t have an answer at the time. Since that conversation, we’ve endured much more. Is it worth the cost? That question deserves a real answer.
What Faith is Not
To understand where I am coming from, a firm grip on what faith is must be established. Faith is not mere belief or hope. The New Testament teaches that demons believe there’s a God.1 If belief was all it took, the demons would be in good shape. We know that’s not right. According to the 1828 Webster’s Dictionary, hope is “A desire of some good, accompanied with at least a slight expectation of obtaining it, or a belief that it is obtainable.” To have hope does not inspire men to move. If someone was hungry and needed food, and all they did was hope that food would appear, they would starve.
What Faith is
What is faith then?
“Faith is the first great governing principle which has power, dominion, and authority over all things…”
Lectures on Faith. Lecture 1:24.
Every aspect of our lives is pushed by it. Faith is not idle or passive. This goes even deeper. Our whole existence is upheld by faith; it can change us or have us remain all according to God’s will. Without faith, there’s no action, no life.
Faith is assurance; it’s surety, and it’s the principle of action in all intelligent beings.2 If a man is hungry, faith pushes him to go out, make money, and purchase the food he needs. Faith pushes a man to prepare a garden, plant seeds, and tend to it because he knows that winter is coming. If a man has faith, it will push him. He will knock because he knows the door will open. Faith is also a mental power that alters the physical world.3 God used it to form creation. God spoke and chaos obeyed.4 Joshua cried out during battle and the Sun stood still. Daniel’s faith stayed the mouths of lions. Even Jesus told His disciples that their faith can move mountains. Our faith paired with God’s will can take the ordinary and make it miraculous.
Faith Makes Heirs
To become heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, faith is required. Look at Noah. The Lord called him to build an ark for a coming flood. He knew he had to obey; he acted. Doing this didn’t just save his family. He became an heir of righteousness.5 Hope or belief doesn’t cause this; strong faith does.
If you’re a priesthood holder, you should take Noah to heart. He stood out in an unrighteous world. He even stood out among others who probably professed they believed in God. To become like Noah takes faith; it changed him. He kept the commandments of the Lord and loved God.
Like Noah, we must conduct ourselves differently from the general populace and even those in Church. The Lord honored us with His Priesthood—the very same priesthood He paired with faith to create the universe.6
The Cost
Opposition must be expected when we have faith. We’ll be tested. The Prophet Joseph Smith wrote a poetic version of D&C 76 that highlights this truth.
“For these overcome, by their faith and their works,
Being tried in their lifetime, as purified gold”
D&C 76:53 Joseph’s Poetic Rewrite
This world we live in is antithetical to faith; it’s seen as weakness or as a crutch. Heavenly Father designed it that way so we can learn to be like Him. Temptations worsen with each generation. We’re tried relentlessly. I’ve even had to cut ties with friends and family. I’m peculiar in a world where status quo reigns supreme. That’s why our path can be lonely.
Is it worth the cost?
Absolutely.
Let us here observe, that a religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has the power to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation…
Lectures on Faith. Lecture 6:7
I’m making the journey homeward. I often picture our Celestial home in my mind. The knowledge I once had was unfathomable. I try to imagine myself sitting with our Heavenly Parents in the Council of the Gods as they created innumerable worlds. That knowledge I had came from observing them. I’m sure I’ve met many of those who became Adam and his wives, Noah, and even the Messiah. I’m sure you did as well.
More to come in Part 2.
- “Thou believest there is one God; thou doest well; the devils also believe and tremble; thou hast made thyself like unto them, not being justified.” James 2:19, Inspired Version. ↩︎
- Faith is the assurance men have of things we cannot see; it’s also the principle of action in all intelligent beings. Lecture 1:9 ↩︎
- Lecture 7:3 ↩︎
- “It was by faith that the worlds were framed–God spoke, chaos heard, and worlds came into order by reason of the faith there was in him.” Lecture 1:22 ↩︎
- “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, Inspired Version. ↩︎
- “…every man that holds the Priesthood has to conduct himself a little bit different. He can’t be the same as others in the world; he can’t even be the same as others in the Church. He can’t be the same…because God has honored us with the Priesthood…the Priesthood is God’s. In the fact that it is the power of God….which created the earth and the universe.” The Writings and Teachings of Jackson Ted Jessop p.16 ↩︎
Traveling Elder 
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