Before he died, Larry Barkdull had written a substantial part of an unfinished manuscript about the extraordinary power of faith, particularly as a power that causes things to happen. This is faith on a higher level than we usually practice and understand it. With the permission of his wife, Buffie, Meridian will be running an excerpt from this new book every week. See earlier articles in this series by clicking on the author’s name.
The Doctrine of Christ increases Our Faith in Christ
One who has faith in Jesus Christ “believes him to be the living Son of God, trusts in his goodness and power, repents of one’s sins, and follows his guidance.”[1] True faith in Jesus Christ always leads to repentance and covenant-making. We recognize our precarious situation caused by our mortal weakness and by our transgressing God’s commandments. Then, like a convicted criminal, we urgently look for a way out; we look for someone with the capability and motivation to liberate and save us.
The Savior’s conditions for saving us are repentance and baptism: “And he commandeth all men that they must repent, and be baptized in his name, having perfect faith in the Holy One of Israel, or they cannot be saved in the kingdom of God.”[2] In exchange for receiving his help, the Savior asks us to change the behavior or circumstance that got us into the problem, and to make a covenant with him not to make that sinful choice again. When we do so, he interrupts the natural demands of justice by applying his mercy. He pays the debt.
And thus he shall bring salvation to all those who shall believe on his name; this being the intent of this last sacrifice, to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice, and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance.
And thus mercy can satisfy the demands of justice, and encircles them in the arms of safety, while he that exercises no faith unto repentance is exposed to the whole law of the demands of justice; therefore only unto him that has faith unto repentance is brought about the great and eternal plan of redemption.[3]
Imagine that you committed a crime and were thrown into prison for being unable to cover a $1,000,000 fine. Pay the money or languish behind bars—those are your choices. You cannot free yourself from such an onerous sum, so you search your contacts for someone who is capable and loves you enough to step forward and help. Your only choice is a billionaire friend. When he visits you, he expresses his willingness to help, but only on condition: 1) Will you change your behavior so you never make such a mistake again? 2) Will you covenant with him to live a different life?
Your friend’s requirements are easy, loving and logical. Who wouldn’t agree to such terms? When you commit to him, he does something astonishing: he overpays the debt! He pays more than you owe so your creditors are fully satisfied and justice can make no more demands of you. He stands with you to renew your character and heals you across the board. He brings you into his home, adopts you into his family and gives you his name, offers you an inheritance—his mercy knows no bounds! “And thus mercy can satisfy the demands of justice, and encircles them in the arms of safety.”[4]
Faith in Jesus Christ is faith in the doctrine of Christ, faith in his mercy, faith in his power to rescue us from anything, and faith that he can raise us from prisoner to prince or princess. We are “saved through faith”[5] and become “alive in Christ because of our faith.”[6] Thus Alma asked, “Do ye exercise faith in the redemption of him who created you?”[7] Either we center our faith in Jesus Christ or we perish, for Mormon said, “In Christ there should come every good thing.”[8] We can trace the origin of every good thing in our life back to Christ; that is our faith.
Faith in Jesus Christ is a Gift of the Spirit
How do we attain to great faith in Jesus Christ? In a mortal, telestial setting, the task is nigh unto impossible without divine intervention. Faith in Jesus Christ is always delivered to us, typically by testimony. “Faith comes by hearing…the word of God.”[9] Oliver Cowdrey explained, “The minds of men are so constructed that they will not believe, without a testimony of seeing or hearing.” [10]
It is testimony, said Joseph Smith, that forms the foundation of faith in the Father and the Son: Hearing testimonies “excited the inquiry and diligent search of the ancient saints to seek after and obtain a knowledge of the glory of God; and we have seen that it was human testimony, and human testimony only, that excited this inquiry, in the first instance, in their minds. It was the credence they gave to the testimony of their fathers, this testimony having aroused their minds to inquire after the knowledge of God; the inquiry frequently terminated, indeed always terminated when rightly pursued, in the most glorious discoveries and eternal certainty.”[11]
Two things are certain about our fallen state: 1) the human mind resists believing unless it is infused with light; 2) the human body is not constructed to retain light. The resurrection will change the body so that it is a source of light, but for now, we must continually infuse the body with light through hearing and bearing testimony, prayer, scripture study, partaking of the sacrament, praying for the Holy Ghost, temple attendance, service, and other things that invite the Spirit.
Faith is a manifestation of light, and it is given to us by God as a spiritual gift. Of those who receive the gift of faith, Moroni wrote: “And to another, exceeding great faith;…and all these gifts come by the Spirit of Christ.”[12] The gift of faith, like other gifts of the Spirit, is available to anyone who earnestly seeks it: “Seek ye earnestly the best gifts, always remembering for what they are given.”[13]
Center our faith in the Father until we become independent in faith.
The Effects and Fruits of Faith
A constant flow of blessings accompanies faith. “Miracles are the fruits of faith,” said Joseph Smith. “If a man has not faith enough to do one thing, he may have faith to do another: if he cannot remove a mountain, he may heal the sick. Where faith is there will be some of the fruits: all gifts and power which were sent from heaven, were poured out on the heads of those who had faith.”[14]
Elder McConkie explained that the blessings that follow faith are also called the “effects of faith,” that is, “miracles, signs, the gifts of the Spirit, and every conceivable good thing…all of these come because faith has become the ruling force in the lives of the saints.”[15] Typically, these miracles, signs, gifts of the Spirit and other good things follow rather than precede faith. When they manifest in our lives, they validate and enhance faith. Moroni noted, “And neither at any time hath any wrought miracles until after their faith; wherefore they first believed in the Son of God.”[16]
How do we lay hold on these fruits or effects of faith? Moroni answered, “Wherefore, by the ministering of angels, and by every word which proceeded forth out of the mouth of God, men began to exercise faith in Christ; and thus by faith, they did lay hold upon every good thing; and thus it was until the coming of Christ.”[17] To us this would mean that angels, prophets and the words of God convey and enhance faith then fruits and effects of faith follow until we lay hold of every good thing, including the knowledge of God. “For where faith is,” said Joseph Smith, “there will the knowledge of God be, also, with all things which pertain thereto: revelations, visions, and dreams, as well as every other necessary thing, so the possessors of faith may be perfected and obtain salvation… And he who possesses it will, through it, obtain all necessary knowledge and wisdom, until he shall know God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, whom he has sent– whom to know is eternal life.”[18]
Faith in Christ is cancelled by Doubt and Fear
Of course, where there are no miracles, angelic ministrations, signs and gifts of the Spirit, there is little to no faith. Moroni explained that the reason God “ceaseth to do miracles is because they dwindle in unbelief.”[19]
During trials of faith, we often default to doubt and fear, and suddenly power leaves us. Faith cannot coexist with doubt and fear. Speaking of man’s innate frailties and weakness, Joseph Smith said, “…if God were not long-suffering, and full of compassion, gracious and merciful, and of a forgiving disposition, man would be cut off from before him, in consequence of which he would be in continual doubt and could not exercise faith; for where doubt is, there faith has no power; but by man’s believing that God is full of compassion and forgiveness, long-suffering and slow to anger, he can exercise faith in him and overcome doubt, so as to be exceedingly strong.”[20]
Consequently, the Lord and the prophets constantly encourage us to resist our natural tendency to doubt and fear. James discussed this idea in the context of prayer: “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”[21]
When we doubt and fear, we are left powerless. And the opposite is true: “For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”[22]The Lord instructs us: “Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.”[23]
Jairus was a Jewish ruler, whose twelve-year-old daughter was at the point of death. When all hope seemed lost, Jairus heard that Jesus was coming. He left the bedside of his daughter and made his way to the seashore where Jesus would land. Evidently he waited there all night anticipating the Lord’s arrival.
When Jairus saw Jesus, he rushed to Him and “fell at his feet, and besought him greatly.” No time for introductions, Jairus cried, “My little daughter lieth at the point of death; I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.” Of the father’s distress, Ted Gibbons wrote,
We feel this father’s great faith and confidence in this appeal. His girl was dying. Jesus could heal her if He would. He had healed others . . . had [even] done so from a distance.
[But] their journey was interrupted by the touch of the woman with the issue of blood, and as the Savior finished speaking with her, someone from the bedside of the child came looking for her father and said to him, “Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?” (Mark 5:35).
Imagine the pain caused by those words. Christ had healed the sick. . . . But this was no longer a matter of sickness; the child was dead. “Why troublest thou the master any further?”[24]
Jairus must have buckled under the weight of the news. But notice what Jesus did: “As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue [Jairus], Be not afraid, only believe.” Jesus would not allow a negative, alternative voice to damage Jairus’s faith. In effect, Jesus said to him, “Don’t listen to that voice. What the voice is saying is not true. It is not too late. Focus on me.” Jesus intervened to throw Jairus a safety net, salvage the man’s faltering faith, and guide him through to a miracle. Jesus took the child by the hand and commanded, “Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. And straightway the damsel arose, and walked.”[25]
Jesus gave the same “do not doubt and fear” message to grieving Martha at the death of her brother, Lazarus: “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” Even now, even when Lazarus had lain in the grave four days, when all evidence pointed to his complete and unalterable demise, though he were dead, yet would he live! Although Martha was distraught, she responded to the Savior, regrouped around her faith in remained him, rejected doubt and fear by focusing on Jesus’ saving power, and bore an impassioned testimony: “But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.” Jesus confirmed her faith in Him with a promise: “Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.”
And Lazarus did rise. Jesus “cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.”[26]
These stories demonstrate faith’s inability to mix with doubt and fear. We must never listen to the alternative voices or imagine that it is too late or that something is too hard for the Lord. “Whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God.”[27] A better situation, a place next to God, anchored hope, remaining sure and steadfast, abounding in good works, glorifying God—these are some of the fruits of faith for not succumbing to doubt and fear. Moroni taught, “Whatsoever thing ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is good, in faith believing that ye shall receive, behold, it shall be done unto you.”[28]
Faith in Christ is cancelled by Sin
Sin is even more detrimental to faith than doubt and fear. Whether or not we consciously break the laws of God and defy him, we unplug from the intelligent force that emanates from him. The laws of God are not arbitrary rules to keep us in check; rather, they define a celestial life that can only be maintained by strict adherence. Elder Orson F. Whitney referred to the laws of God as “sacred patterns,” or, in other words, revelations of God’s way of life.[29]
The Lord revealed to Joseph Smith the power of obedience to divine law: “And again, verily I say unto you, that which is governed by law is also preserved by law and perfected and sanctified by the same. That which breaketh a law, and abideth not by law, but seeketh to become a law unto itself, and willeth to abide in sin, and altogether abideth in sin, cannot be sanctified by law, neither by mercy, justice, nor judgment. Therefore, they must remain filthy still.”[30] If a person insists on becoming a law unto himself, he will severely limit his access to the full power of faith and earn the telestial kingdom, where he can never hope to be preserved by the celestial law. Prisons are filled with people who rejected the law and became laws unto themselves, and the telestial kingdom will be populated by similar sorts who were by and large faithless.
As an example, the ancient Israelites complained against God, and he responded by sending a plague of fiery serpents to humble them. Suddenly, the entire population was afflicted and dying. Now they pled to Moses to rescue them, and although their distress was not repentance, he nevertheless prayed, and the Lord revealed a metaphorical solution that would provide a quick way to plug back into the force of faith. Moses was to make a brass serpent and raise it up in similitude of Christ’s being raised up one day to rescue and heal. If the people would look up at the symbol, they would be healed; if they would not, they would die. The door that opens to faith swings on small hinges.
In Alma’s great sermon on faith, he referenced this incident: “[Moses] raised up [a type] in the wilderness, that whosoever would look upon it might live. And many did look and live. But few understood the meaning of those things, and this because of the hardness of their hearts. But there were many who were so hardened that they would not look, therefore they perished. Now the reason they would not look is because they did not believe that it would heal them.[31]
They had unplugged from faith through sin, and because they continued to stubbornly cling to sin, the energy of faith drained out of them until they died without power. They were like a light bulb that instantly goes dark with the throw of a switch, and yet they would not reconnect through repentance. The Israelites’ seriousness situation, which had severed them from the energy of faith, caused Alma to plead, “O my brethren, if ye could be healed by merely casting about your eyes that ye might be healed, would ye not behold quickly, or would ye rather harden your hearts in unbelief, and be slothful, that ye would not cast about your eyes, that ye might perish? If so, wo shall come upon you….”[32] Look! For goodness sake, look! Repent immediately so that you can reconnect to the intelligent force of faith before you perish!
It is a lesson worth considering about sinning and being unwilling to plug back in.
[1] Encyclopedia of Mormonism, “Faith in Jesus Christ,” 483.
[2] 2 Nephi 9:23.
[3] Alma 34:15-16.
[4] Alma 34:16.
[5] Ephesians 2:8.
[6] 2 Nephi 25:25.
[7] Alma 5:15.
[8] Moroni 7:22.
[9] Romans 10:17.
[10] History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2:194- 95.
[11] Lectures on Faith 2:56, emphasis added.
[12] Moroni 10:11.
[13] D&C 46:8.
[14] History of the Church, 5:355.
[15] McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 264.
[16] Ether 12:18, emphasis added.
[17] Moroni 7:25.
[18] Lectures on Faith 7:19.
[19] Mormon 9:20.
[20] Lectures on Faith 3:20, emphasis added.
[21] James 1:6-8, emphasis added.
[22] Mark 11:23-24, emphasis added.
[23] D&C 6:36.
[24] Gibbons, Ted, Nowhere Else to Go, 8.
[25] Mark 5:35-42.
[26] John 11:17-44.
[27] Ether 12:4.
[28] Moroni 7:26, emphasis added.
[29] Orson F. Whitney, Gospel Themes, 115.
[30] D&C 88:34-35.
[31] Alma 33:19-20.
[32] Alma 33:21-22.
