In the last General Conference President Russell M. Nelson
shared with us his list of gospel truths found in the Book of Mormon.
That got me thinking about what the Book of Mormon teaches
us about principles of the gospel. I’ve found myself pondering faith lately, so
I decided it was very appropriate to begin this study with what the Book of
Mormon teaches about faith.
First, what is faith? The Guide to the Scriptures tells us
faith is “[c]onfidence in something or someone. As most often used in the scriptures,
faith is confidence and trust in Jesus Christ that lead a person to obey Him.
Faith must be centered in Jesus Christ in order for it to lead a person to
salvation. Latter-day Saints also have faith in God the Father, the Holy Ghost,
priesthood power, and other important aspects of the restored gospel.
Using this definition, let’s begin our study of the Book of
Mormon and faith.
Nephi begins his record sharing Lehi’s vision. In the
vision, he saw the mission of Christ and the twelve apostles. He was given a
book and told to read. This is how he learned about the pending destruction of
Jerusalem.
He went among the people and warned them lest they repent,
Jerusalem would be destroyed. He was rejected by the people.
Within the first few pages of the Book of Mormon, we see a
remarkable act of faith of Lehi’s part. He received another vision.
“And it came to pass that the Lord commanded my father, even
in a dream[1],
that he should take his family and depart into the wilderness.
“And it came to pass that he was obedient unto the word of
the Lord, wherefore he did as the Lord commanded him.
“And it came to pass that he departed into the wilderness.
And he left his house, and the land of his inheritance, and his gold, and his
silver, and his precious things, and took nothing with him, save it were his
family, and provisions, and tents, and departed into the wilderness” (1 Nephi
2:2-4).
Nephi makes sure we understand the family left everything
behind: house, land, money, and possessions. He only took what was necessary to
support his family in the wilderness.
We also see the consequences of a lack of faith through the
actions of Laman and Lemuel. “Now this he spake because of the stiffneckedness
of Laman and Lemuel; for behold they did murmur in many things against their
father, because he was a visionary man, and had led them out of the land of
Jerusalem, to leave the land of their inheritance, and their gold, and their
silver, and their precious things, to perish in the wilderness. And this they
said he had done because of the foolish imaginations of his heart” (2 Nephi
2:11).
Laman and Lemuel’s lack of faith will eventually lead to
their being cut off from the Lord.
“And [the Lord] had caused the cursing to come upon them,
yea, even a sore cursing, because of their iniquity. For behold, they had
hardened their hearts against him, that they had become like unto a flint …
“And thus saith the Lord God: I will cause that they shall
be loathsome unto thy people, save they shall repent of their iniquities…
“And because of their cursing which was upon them they did
become an idle people, full of mischief and subtlety, and did seek in the
wilderness for beasts of prey” (2 Nephi 5:21-22, 24).
Nephi, on the other hand, was a man of faith. He accepted
his father’s words. He inquired of the Lord, having faith he would receive an
answer to his prayers. “I, Nephi … having great desires to know of the
mysteries of God, wherefore, I did cry unto the Lord; and behold he did visit
me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been
spoken by my father; wherefore, I did not rebel against him like unto my
brothers” (1 Nephi 2:16).
“The Lord Himself further explained that Nephi had exercised
faith, sought diligently with lowliness of heart, and kept His commandments … Nephi’s
example of seeking knowledge included (1) a sincere desire, (2) humility, (3)
prayer, (4) trust in the prophet, and an exercise of (5) faith, (6) diligence,
and (7) obedience.”[2]
The Lord would tell Nephi:
“And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto me, saying:
Blessed art thou, Nephi, because of thy faith, for thou hast sought me
diligently, with lowliness of heart.
“And inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall
prosper, and shall be led to a land of promise; yea, even a land which I have
prepared for you; yea, a land which is choice above all other lands” (1 Nephi
2:19-20).
Laman and Lemuel had opportunities to receive their own
witness. Instead, they murmured and rejected the Lord, to their detriment.
[1] Nephi will later clarify what he meant by saying his
father had a dream. “And it came to pass that while my father tarried in the
wilderness he spake unto us, saying: Behold, I have dreamed a dream; or, in
other words, I have seen a vision” (1 Nephi 8:2).
[2] For
Our Spiritual Development and Learning, Elder W. Mark Bassett, October 2016
General Conference.
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