LECTURES ON FAITH

Section 110

A preface to the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants written 17 February 1835, and signed by all four members of the committee who compiled the volume.

To the members of the church of the Latter Day Saints —

Dear Brethren:

We deem it to be unnecessary to entertain you with a lengthy preface to the following volume, but merely to say that it contains, in short, the leading items...

THEOLOGY

Of Faith

Faith, being the first principle in revealed religion, and the foundation of all righteousness, necessarily claims the first place in a course of lectures which are designed to unfold to the understanding the doctrine of Jesus Christ.

In presenting the subject of faith, we shall observe the following order:

First, faith itself — what it is,

Secondly, the object on which it rests, and

T

Of Faith

Having shown in our previous lecture faith itself — what it is, we shall proceed to show secondly the object on which it rests.

We here observe that God is the only supreme governor and independent being in whom all fullness and perfection dwells; who is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient, without beginning of days or end of life, and that in him every good gift and every good...

Of Faith

In the second lecture it was shown how it was that the knowledge of the existence of God came into the world, and by what means the first thoughts were suggested to the minds of men that such a being did actually exist. And that it was by reason of the knowledge of his existence that there was a foundation laid for the exercise of faith in him as the only being in whom faith could center...

Of Faith

Having shown in the third lecture that correct ideas of the character of God are necessary in order to the exercise of faith in him unto life and salvation, and that without correct ideas of his character, the minds of men could not have sufficient power with God to the exercise of faith necessary to the enjoyment of eternal life, and that correct ideas of his character lay a foundation,...

Of Faith

In our former lectures we treated of the being, character, perfections, and attributes of God. What we mean by perfections is: the perfections which belong to all the attributes of his nature. We shall, in this lecture, speak of the Godhead: we mean the Father, Son, and holy spirit.

There are two personages who constitute the great matchless, governing, and supreme power over all things —...

Of Faith

Having treated, in the preceding lectures, of the ideas of the character, perfections, and attributes of God, we next proceed to treat of the knowledge which persons must have that the course of life which they pursue is according to the will of God, in order that they may be enabled to exercise faith in him unto life and salvation.

This knowledge supplies an important place in revealed...

Of Faith

In the preceding lectures we treated of what faith was and of the object on which it rested; agreeably to our plan we now proceed to speak of its effects:

As we have seen in our former lectures, that faith was the principle of action and of power in all intelligent beings, both in Heaven and on earth, it will not be expected that we will, in a lecture of this description, attempt to unfold...