“Faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith he hope for things which are not seen, which are true” (Alma 32:21).
This scripture describes so beautifully what faith is all about. We none of us start out knowing that we are sons and daughters of God. We don’t have a perfect knowledge that God lived and that He will come to earth again. We don’t start out knowing these vital things. Yet something within each of us desires to know. It is in this desire that our faith begins.
The thought that centers around the value of Faith in the Young Women program of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is, “I am a daughter of Heavenly Father, who loves me. I have faith in His eternal plan, which centers on Jesus Christ, my Savior.”
In the book of Alma, which is found in the Book of Mormon – another Testament of Christ, we can read about what happens when this hope, this desire to know the truth begins. In chapter 32 our faith is compared to that of a mustard seed. Have you ever seen a mustard seed? It’s tiny. About the size of those little colored sprinkles you can put on a cake, or perhaps that of the head of a metal pin (not the ones with the colored blobs on the end). This is how big our faith can start out.
“Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me” (Alma 32:28).
You hear the Word of God, and something within you stirs. You want to know if it could possibly be true. So you plant the Word in your hearts. If it’s a good seed, and if you don’t simply cast it out and refuse to listen to the Spirit, it’ll begin to grow within you. You’ll know the seed you’ve planted is a good seed. Your understanding of this thing will be enlightened.
Does the process stop here? Of course not. The seed is beginning to grow, but it hasn’t gone any further. You don’t have a perfect knowledge. What you do have is an increase of your faith.
Be mindful. If the seed (or word) you’ve planted doesn’t grow, if you don’t feel enlightened, then it’s a bad seed and must be tossed away.
My two favorite verses are in 33 and 34, which read:
“And now, behold, because ye have tried the experiment, and planted the seed, and it swelleth and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, ye must needs know that the seed is good. And now, behold, is your knowledge perfect? Yea, your knowledge is perfect in that thing, and your faith is dormant; and this because you know, for ye know that the word hath swelled your souls, and ye also know that it hath sprouted up, that your understanding doth begin to be enlightened, and your mind doth begin to expand.”
I especially love, “Your knowledge is perfect in that thing.” We can be led to a knowledge about everything. We need not stumble around in this life not knowing who we are, where we’ve come from, why we’re here and where we’re going. We can have direction and personal revelation and so many blessings in our lives as we gain more and more knowledge. Our tree will grow, bloom, and flourish as we continually feed it with the Word of God.
As we gain knowledge our faith in that area becomes dormant, but that doesn’t mean we lose our faith. It just means there’s more to explore and learn, more to place our faith in. Why do I love those words so much? Because I’ve lived them.
I was seventeen when I first really put them to the test. Only at that age did I pray to my Heavenly Father to discover if the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was truly His restored church. He answered me that day. My faith is no longer necessary in that area for I know. Yet it doesn’t mean I’m done learning. I still have faith in so many things of this gospel, but I do not yet have a perfect knowledge.
Too many people out there think they know what the “Mormon” Church is all about, and in so doing toss the seed aside. If you want to know, if you really want to know, than come with a humble heart and a contrite spirit. Read the Book of Mormon. In this you will plant the seed. In this you will begin to build your faith.
I can understand why
