Of Faith

The word "faith" is almost universally understood as a religious term. The athiest and secularist alike hear the word faith and think of the individual who believes in an unseen power, with little consideration to the application of the word in their own life. Among the religious, faith itself is defined in as many ways as there are religions.

Early in his ministry, Joseph Smith taught a class titled, "Of Faith," and while it is no longer studied closely in the LDS church, it provided the foundation for what was and continues to be a revolutionary approach to the concept of faith.

Seven lectures delivered in Kirtland, Ohio in the winter of 1834-35 are compiled in a book that is now titled Lectures on Faith. The lectures defined what faith is, the object on which faith rests, and the effects which flow from faith.

The first lecture begins with the scripture from Hebrews 11:1, "Now faith is the substance [assurance] of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." He then calls faith the "principle of action in all intelligent beings." The secularist, the self-classified athiest, or the unbeliever is taught first that faith applies to all, and is better understood when viewed in that light. He teaches:

If men were duly to consider themselves, and turn their thoughts and reflections to the operations of their own minds, they would readily discover that it is faith, and faith only, which is the moving cause of all action in them; that without it both mind and body would be in a state of inactivity, and all their exertions would cease, both physical and mental.

Were this class to go back and reflect upon the history of their lives, from the period of their first recollection, and ask themselves what principle excited them to action, or what gave them energy and activity in all their lawful avocations, callings, and pursuits, what would be the answer? Would it not be that it was the assurance which they had of the existence of things which they had not seen as yet? Was it not the hope which you had, in consequence of your belief in the existence of unseen things, which stimulated you to action and exertion in order to obtain them? Are you not dependent on your faith, or belief, for the acquisition of all knowledge, wisdom, and intelligence? Would you exert yourselves to obtain wisdom and intelligence, unless you did believe that you could obtain them?...In a word, is there anything that you would have done, either physical or mental, if you had not previously believed? Are not all your exertions of every kind, dependent on your faith? Or, may we not ask, what have you, or what do you posess, which you have not obtained by reason of your faith? Your food, your raiment, your lodgings, are they not all by reason of your faith? Reflect, and ask yourselves if these things are not so. Turn your thoughts on your own minds, and see if faith is not the moving cause of all action in yourselves; and, if the moving case in you, is it not in all other intelligent beings?

And as faith is the moving cause of all action in temporal concerns, so it is in spiritual...

As we receive by faith all temporal blessings that we do receive, so we in like manner receive by faith all spiritual blessings that we do receive.
(Lectures on Faith, by Joseph Smith, Deseret Book Company, 1985, pgs 1-3.)

It is faith in the spiritual, or the unseen, that is the focus of the remaining lectures. The lectures are a great read for those who do not believe but want to better understand those who do, and it is also a wonderful introduction to the first principle of the Gospel as believed and practiced by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

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See also: BYU series on the Lectures on Faith