Lecture 1 Catechism

Intro | Preface | Lecture 1.1 | Lecture 1.2 | Lecture 1.3 | Lecture 1.4 | Lecture 1.5

Most of these lectures had a list of questions, or a "catechism," at the end of the lecture. A catechism is a teaching tool or format where the instructor lists questions relating to the lesson, and then gives the answer directly beneath the questions. To test the student, the teacher would provide the questions, and the student would either recite or write the answers from memory (and if the Lectures' catechisms are any indication, old schools used to require a lot more memorization than they do now).

Because it's a catechism, they're designed to be very, very basic and simple; I'm just going to post them as-is, with a few notes here and there to help with older grammar and wording.

Question 1: What is theology?
It is that revealed science which treats of the being and attributes of God, his relations to us, the dispensations of his providence, his will with respect to our actions and his purposes with respect to our end. (Buck's Theological Dictionary, page 582)

("Dispensations" here has a more broad definition, referring to whenever God's providence is dispensed to His children. While that can apply to the modern LDS definition--a period of time where new truths are dispensed through a prophet of God--it can also apply to God dispensing truth and blessings to you personally, whenever and wherever that happens.)

Question 2: What is the first principle in this revealed science?
Faith. (1:1)

Question 3: Why is faith the first principle in this revealed science?
Because it is the foundation of all righteousness. Hebrews 11:6: Without faith it is impossible to please God. 1 John 3:7: Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness, is righteous, even as he [God] is righteous. (1:1)

Question 4: What arrangement should be followed in presenting the subject of faith?
First, Should be shown what faith is: (1:3)
Secondly, The object upon which it rests; and (1:4)
Thirdly, The effects which flow from it. (1:5)

Question 5: What is faith?
It is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen: Hebrews 11:1. That is, it is the assurance we have of the existence of unseen things. And being the assurance which we have of the existence of unseen things, must be the principle of action in all intelligent beings. Hebrews 11:3: Through faith we understand the worlds were framed by the word of God. (1:8-9)

Question 6: How do you prove that faith is the principle of action in all intelligent beings?
First, By duly considering the operations of my own mind; and secondly, by the direct declaration of scripture. Hebrews 11:7: By faith Noah, being warned of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. Hebrews 11:8: By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out not knowing whither he went. Hebrews 11:9: By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise. Hebrews 11:27: By faith Moses forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. (1:10-11)

(In the past, I've read this as if the reader--the student--is asking the teacher these questions. Just now, though, I'm realizing this could be going the other way: this could be the teacher asking a question of the student, and providing what the student ought to learn. That way, I the student realize that I can prove "faith is the principle of action" through "duly considering the operations of my own mind" and studying "the direct declaration of scripture." It's a slight shift, but it seems powerful to me.)

Question 7: Is not faith the principle of action in spiritual things as well as in temporal?
It is.

Question 8: How do you prove it?
Hebrews 11:6: Without faith it is impossible to please God. Mark 16:16: He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved. Rom. 4:16: Therefore, it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed: not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all. (1:12-13)

(Joseph added to the verse in Romans later on in his life: "Therefore ye are justified of faith and works, through grace, to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to them only who are of the law, but to them also who are of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all. (JST)" So how important are works, if that line had to be re-inserted into the Bible through revelation? And who are they who are "of the faith of Abraham," as opposed to those who are "of the law" of Moses?)

Question 9: Is faith any thing else beside the principle of action?
It is.

Question 10: What is it?
It is the principle of power, also (1:13)

Question 11: How do you prove it?
First, It is the principle of power in the Deity, as well as in man. Hebrews 11:3: Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. (1:14-16)
Secondly, It is the principle of power in man also. Book of Mormon, Alma 14:23-29: Alma and Amulek are delivered from prison. Helaman 5:37-50: Nephi and Lehi, with the Lamanites, are immersed with the Spirit. Ether 12:30: The mountain Zerin, by the faith of the brother of Jared, is removed. Joshua 10:12: Then spake Joshua to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon, and thou Moon, in the valley of Ajalon. Joshua 10:13: And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves of their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day. Matthew 17:19: Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? Matthew 17:20: And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, if ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Hebrews 11:32 and the following verses: And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthah, of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again, and other were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection. (1:16-22)

Question 12: How would you define faith in its most unlimited sense?
It is the first great governing principle, which has power, dominion, and authority over all things. (1:24)


Question 13: How do you convey to the understanding more clearly, that faith is the first great governing principle, which has power, dominion and authority over all things?
By it they exist, by it they are upheld, by it they are changed, or by it they remain, agreeably to the will of God; and without it there is no power; and without power there could be no creation, nor existence! (1:24)

Lectures on Faith 1: 18-24

Intro | Preface
Lecture 1: 1 |  2-9 | 10-11 | 12-17 | 18-24

Here at the end of the lecture, after describing what true Faith is, we finally get to the examples in scripture of those who obtained and exercised this Faith:

"The Savior says, Matthew 17:19-20, in explaining the reason why the disciples could not cast out the devil, that it was because of their unbelief: 'For verily, I say unto you,' said he, 'if ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place! — and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you' " (para. 18).

Back in the intro to this study, I mentioned what the Book of Mormon means by "unbelief." Christ said this caused of His disciples to lack both power and Faith. So, if having Faith in the right things is key to moving mountains, what are those right things? Joseph gets back to that in the next Lectures, so I'll cover that later.

As for moving mountains, look at the wording Joseph used: "If ye have faith . . . ye shall say unto this mountain. . ." Every time I've read this verse, I've seen it as saying "mustard seed-sized faith is all you need to move mountains." That doesn't seem to be what its saying. Rather, it seems to be describing a process. It seems to be saying "if you currently have as much faith as a tiny mustard seed, you will eventually have enough faith to move mounains," since "shall" would here refer to a promise they will later receive (1828 dictionary). In fact, Christ taught this "mustard seed" likeness after His parables about the Kingdom of God (Matthew 13: 31-32); the mustard seed needed to grow into a tree before it could house the Gifts and Hosts of Heaven, as symbolized by the birds (TPJS, pg. 98).

This seems to be a process, then, that necessarily begins as small as a seed sprouting underground, out of sight, until it gains the strength to appear before the world. Here are the examples of mature Faith Joseph gave:

"Moroni, while abridging and compiling the record of his fathers, has given us the following account of faith as the principle of power: he says, in Ether 12, that it was the faith of Alma and Amulek which caused the walls of the prison to be rent, as recorded in Alma 14: 26-29; that it was the faith of Nephi and Lehi which caused a change to be wrought upon the hearts of the Lamanites when they were immersed with the holy spirit and with fire, as seen in Hel. 5: 45-50; and that it was by faith the mountain Zerin was removed when the brother of Jared spake in the name of the Lord. See also Ether 12: 30. In addition to this we are told in Hebrews 11:32-35, that Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets, through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens, and that women received their dead raised to life again, etc. Also, Joshua, in the sight of all Israel, bade the sun and moon to stand still, and it was done. Joshua 10:12" (para. 19-21)

This is quite an impressive list; for us in our Hollywood-focused media, this sounds like something that'd fit right into any superhero movie. However, I came across a question in another discussion on this Lecture that added a new dimension to these powers, and to the phrase "principle of power:"

"Whose power?"

Are these scriptures describing people who wielded their own mystical powers, to the awe and wonder of their onlookers? Were they seeking to fulfill their own wills and desires?

Or are these scriptures describing people who acted on God's errand, did God's will, and received God's power only to fulfill His will? Were they simply declaring God's word and delivering His power?

Look at the wording. It's not Alma and Amulek that destroyed the prison; it was their Faith. It wasn't the Brother of Jared who moved Mt. Zerin; it was his Faith, as he spoke "in the name of the Lord." Read through the scriptures Joseph listed and decide for yourself. But to me, it certainly looks like any power demonstrated by those with true Faith must be demonstrated in conformity to God's will. Even if, technically, a person has received some portion of God's power, they are only borrowing that power, and must use it according to God's will.

Two examples fortify this interpretation for me: Nephi and Moses.

For Moses, after the children of Israel started rioting against Moses for water, God told him to speak to a rock in order to bring forth water (Numbers 20: 2-3, 7-8). However, he had already been entrusted with a portion of God's power. Instead of speaking to the rock, he complained to the people of Israel of how much work they expected of him, and smacked the rock twice with his staff. Water still came forth from the rock, but because Moses didn't do it in the way God directed, he was punished: he would not be allowed to enter the promised land. (vs. 10-12)

On the other hand, Nephi had also received a portion of God's power when he broke his brothers' bands out in the desert. (1 Ne. 7: 16-18) Therefore, when they tied him up again on the boat, they had already seen him break out once before. But this time, Nephi didn't get to break himself free; he was required to stay in those bands for about four days, causing great swelling in his hands and wrists (1 Ne. 18: 9-16). If he had broken out again, instead of submitting patiently, perhaps Laman and Lemuel wouldn't have received the broken hearts necessary for the Liahona to guide them. Whatever would have happened, it wouldn't have been a blessing for Nephi to exercise this power at his own will; it would have proven to be a cursing instead (D&C 41: 1).

Joseph sums up the examples (and the whole Lecture) like this: "We here understand that the sacred writers say that all these things were done by faith. It was by faith that the worlds were framed: God spake, chaos heard, and worlds came into order by reason of the faith there was in him. So with man also: he spake by faith in the name of God and the sun stood still, the moon obeyed, mountains removed, prisons fell, lions’ mouths were closed, the human heart lost its enmity, fire its violence, armies their power, the sword its terror, and death its dominion, and all this by reason of the faith which was in him. Had it not been for the faith which was in man, they might have spoken to the sun, the moon, the mountains, prisons, lions, the human heart, fire, armies, the sword, or to death in vain!" (para. 22-23)

Note the wording: "spake . . . in the name of God," or doing so "in vain." This mirrors the commandment "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain (Mosiah 13: 15)." That's another tie to the idea that these powers must be at the Lord's direction; otherwise, we would appear to others to act "in the name of God," as though we had the Lord's approval, when we did not. That would be taking the Lord's name in vain, in this case.

By these descriptions, it seems clear that these powers are inseparably connected to true Faith in God, tested and tried over time to prove such Faith and obedience is true. A Sioux Holy Man by the name of Frank Fools Crow taught this same thing. He considered himself to simply be a "hollow bone," or someone who cleans himself out (through obedience and sacrifice) to deliver God's power to his people for healing and guidance. "The cleanest bones serve Wakan-Tanka and the Helpers (Sioux names for God the Father and His Angels) the best, and medicine and holy people work the hardest to become clean. The cleaner the bone, the more water you can pour through it, and the faster it will run. It is this way with us and power, and the holy person is the one who becomes the cleanest of all." (Fools Crow: Wisdom and Power, p. 26)

It takes work to clean out a bone, to make it into a pipe; but once it's cleansed, nothing would obstruct or taint the flow of water. It would simply be pure water, unaffected by the bone, to the health and healing of whoever needed it. 

By the looks of it, we can't expect to just pay some guru to teach us how to harness the universe; rather, we have to work at cleansing ourselves, repenting, and holding true to our Faith throughout the tests that will inevitably come. Thankfully, we have these examples in our scriptures to show such things are possible.

There is an ancient Taoist saying that says "The sage is he who has attained the central point of the wheel and proves it without himself participating in the movement and remains bound to the Unvarying Mean." It's pretty tricky grammar--as many ancient Chinese proverbs are when translated into English--but to put it plainer, it says "The sage is he who truly understands where the center of the circle is, and proves it by centering his outward actions around that point, always bound in his movement to that which never varies." The sage's actions reveal God to us, as if God is the center point which the sage draws a perfect circle around. And, as was mentioned in the post on this Lecture's first paragraph, if "religion" means to bind us to God, then the purpose of religion would be to make us all sages, "bound to the Unvarying Mean," or to God. As Moses put it, "Would God that all the Lord's people were prophets, and that the Lord would put His spirit upon them!" (Numbers 11: 26-29)

This teaching can also be found in one of the temple's oft-repeated symbols: the circle within the square.

Like in the Taoist saying above, the circle often symbolizes God, the Highest Power, the Ruler of all things, and the Unity among the Divine (as the Father and the Son are united as one; see John 17: 21-23 and TPJS, pg. 372). Numerically, it's compared to the number 1. The square, like the number 4--which I described in that post on the lightning strike--symbolizes the Earth, or Mortality. In that way, this symbol refers to bringing Heaven to reside on Earth, which temples ideally facilitate.

This is how God's will is done on Earth as it is in Heaven: by a Temple making God's will visible and tangible on this fallen Earth, because Heaven dwells in that Earthly Temple, "which Temple ye are" (1 Cor. 3: 16-17; see also 3 Ne. 24: 1). There's a lot that can be said on this topic, but I believe the topic comes up again in these Lectures, so I'll leave it here. (If not, the topic's worth its own post anyway.)

"Faith, then, is the first great governing principle which has power, dominion, and authority over all things: by it they exist, by it they are upheld, by it they are changed, or by it they remain, agreeably to the will of God. (If it's true Faith, it can't be any other way.) Without it there is no power, and without power there could be no creation, nor existence!" (para. 24, emphasis added)

Faith is the power behind everything that exists, everything that happens, and even everything we think. And as we have Faith in God, all things can be possible, as long as it's according to His will. Seems like this is something important, if not vital, to understand and obtain in our lives.

In the next Lectures, Joseph will show how this saving Faith is obtained.

Intermission: In Response to the Memorial

After writing about the memorial of Hyrum and Joseph's martyrdom on the 27th, I discovered something that happened the day after the memorial:

The Moroni statue at the Nauvoo temple was struck by lightning, with enough force to blacken Moroni's face, trumpet, and right arm (found here).

Now, I realize lightning strikes these statues pretty often, since they're literally designed to catch lightning (as the article points out); however, those strikes either hit the tip of the rod (being the shortest path to ground) or deflect off the rod long enough to leave quarter-sized pockmarks. They don't usually strike the statue itself with enough force to blacken it and leave it smoking. In addition, the temple's dedicatory prayer specifically petitions the Lord to "Preserve this Thy house from the storms of nature and destructive elements of all kinds" (Gordon B. Hinkley, 2002, found here).

Could there be an intended message if (and, in this case, when) God doesn't preserve His temple from the storms of nature?

Just in case there is, I looked a little deeper into this scenario to see if I could find any patterns. I'll explain some things I found here.

*Note: This will get into some number symbolism, just like there is in the Scriptures (such as the Bible and Book of Mormon). It might sound weird at first, but as the disclaimer at the bottom says, don't just take my word for it if this makes sense, and don't just dismiss it out of hand either: Ask God about it.*

First of all, while this happened on the day after the 175th anniversary of the martyrdom, it was still four hours away from being a whole day after, so it technically occurred on the 175th anniversary. 175 is calculated as 7 times 25, or 5 squared.

7 in scripture often refers to perfection and completion (7th day of creation completed the creation, dipping 7 times in the river cured a man's leprosy, 7 wounds completed the Savior's crucifixion, etc.).

5 is often attributed to Christ as the Living Word, or the Holy Ghost as the Spirit of Life, or even Life itself, although that's not as clear from the scriptures themselves. This I've borrowed from this page on Jewish alphabet tradition, and the book A Beginner's Guide to Constructing the Universe--which discusses how numbers are found in nature and creation. For example, just about every edible, life-giving fruit or plant has a 5-petaled blossom, therefore, it's again a symbol of life. In geometry, squaring a number raises it from one dimension into a higher one: instead of a 1-D line, it becomes a 2-D square. As a symbol, that could refer to being raised to a higher level, in this case from life to Eternal Life. Therefore, the anniversary year itself contains two potential symbols of exaltation and perfection. A mark of the strike's source, perhaps?

This also came on the 28th day of the month. 28 is 7 times 4. That's another 7 in this date, so another indicator of the perfection behind this incident. 4 in scripture usually refers to the Earth, or physical creation (4 corners of the earth, the 4 winds of heaven, the 4 directions of the compass, etc). A mark of Whom this strike comes from, and for whom it is meant (all the earth)?

Then comes the Solstice. As mentioned in my martyrdom post, the actual attack came 6 days after the Summer Solstice, which seems to me like a sign toward the author of the attack (6 often representing imperfection and the adversary). Likewise, this strike happening 7 days after the Solstice seems to be another mark toward the author of this strike. In fact, this is the 3rd 7 visible in this strike's date; 3 is often used to refer to the Godhead and to Divinity. On the other hand, 7 days after the Solstice could also refer to an increase of darkness in the world, more than was present at the time of the martyrdom. That certainly is the case, as anyone who watches the news can attest to.

So far, this is potentially showing 3 marks of divine perfection, a sign of Eternal Life, a notice to the whole world, and a reminder that darkness is still growing. Technically, this may only be the preface to the primary message, or God's signature to prove the message's source. Looking at the rest of the story (the location and circumstances of the strike) might shed more light on the substance of the message.

First of all, it was at the Nauvoo temple, the one which never got completed during Joseph Smith's life (according to Wikipedia). He'd been able to dedicate the Kirtland temple (see D&C 109), but not the Nauvoo one; he hadn't even completed the attic in time. This is also the temple closest to the location of the martyrdom, and the one Joseph had worked on the latest, so that's a tie to him and Hyrum.

Also, the statue was reported as "smoking" soon after the strike. I don't know if it was enough smoke to generate a "pillar of smoke," but it certainly brought that image to my mind. In the Bible, the pillar of smoke symbolized God's approval and guidance (such as for the Israelites in the wilderness). At first, I couldn't see how acceptance fit here, but looking at the occasion, it seems like any approval symbolized here would relate to God's approval of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. Any guidance symbolized here would refer to the guidance delivered by these two to all those who heeded their message. And by the way, Hyrum did offer at least one important message that I'm aware of: this talk on marriage and families.

However, the question remains: if this strike symbolizes God's approval of Joseph and Hyrum, why such damage? Moroni statues aren't cheap, after all; replacing one can cost a few thousand dollars (if comparable statue prices online are any indication). So why generate such costly destruction for this occasion?

It occurred to me that, although God certainly honors Joseph and Hyrum, perhaps He's warning us that we're not honoring them properly.

"What do you mean?" you may ask. "We love Joseph Smith! We have the Book of Mormon because of him, and a more accurate translation of the Bible, and other restored scriptures! We have so many truths restored through him which the world doesn't have! We cherish these revelations! And surely Hyrum did great missionary work and supported his brother very well! What do you mean, we're not honoring them?"

This statement is only a theory at this point, going where the evidence currently suggests. An "Act of God" (which is how insurance would view this, at the very least) happening so close in time and location to the martyrdom, seems like a message from God related to Joseph and Hyrum. And if this message comes with a price to pay from the Church--at least a couple thousand dollars--maybe it's given as a reprimand. Taken together, it seems like this message may have to do with something we're not doing, or doing wrong, in relation to what Joseph and Hyrum delivered to us from God.

If that's true, though, there would be something Joseph and Hyrum delivered which we're either not doing correctly, not doing at all, or even completely forgot. What could fit that description?

How about the Lectures on Faith in 1835? How many Latter-day Saints have read that little 70-ish page book (or read it for free here)? How many members remember the high praise Elder McConkie and President Joseph F. Smith offered toward the great teachings in this book? How many members know it embraces "the important doctrine of salvation" (preface to the Lectures on Faith)? How many members know what Joseph taught is required for saving faith? How many members' faith has been weakened because of this loss?

How about Hyrum's general epistle to the church in 1842? How many members know what was once taught by the First Presidency (because Hyrum was co-President with Joseph at this time) about keeping families together despite religious differences? How many members remember it was once taught that keeping families together was more important than even joining the church? How many families, members or not, have unduly struggled because of that loss?

How many members realize Joseph taught it is our privilege "to purify yourselves and come up to the same glory" as the prophets in the scriptures, "and see for yourselves, and know for yourselves"? (Evening and Morning Star, August 1832) And out of those members, how many realize it's okay to talk about this, since Joseph literally put it in a newspaper to spread among the new converts?

How many members realize how important it is that, "if thou wilt lead a soul unto salvation, [thy mind] must stretch as high as the utmost heavens, and search into and contemplate the darkest abyss, and the broad expanse of eternity--thou must commune with God"? (Letter from Liberty Jail--source of sections 121, 122, & 123--emphasis added)

How many members know Joseph's warning to the Relief Society (and the church in general), after reading Ezekiel 14, "that they were depending on the Prophet, hence were darkened in their minds, in consequence of neglecting the duties devolving upon themselves"? (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pg. 238)

How many members know Joseph wished the Saints of his day would finish the temple so they could  baptize for their dead, making use of these seals "while they are on the earth," because they "have not too much time to save and redeem their dead"? (Documentary History of the Church, 6: 183-185)

How many members remember Joseph's comment that "it does not prove that a man is not a good man because he errs in doctrine," and how bringing someone to a High Council just for that didn't make sense to him, because he wanted "the liberty of thinking and believing as I please"? (TPJS, p. 288)

How many members know Joseph Smith's Last Vision, the night before his martyrdom, of a barn under a curse of desolation, where men armed with knives threatened to kill Joseph in order to possess the property? (TPJS, pg. 393-394) And out of those members, how many have any idea what it means?

Basically, like Joseph once said, "How vain and trifling have been our spirits, our conferences, our councils, our meetings, our private as well as public conversations--too low, too mean, too vulgar, too condescending for the dignified characters of the called and chosen of God, according to the purposes of His will, from before the foundation of the world!" (Also from the Liberty Jail Letter)

Outside of the Book of Mormon (which the church is still under condemnation for, for not taking seriously enough), the Inspired Version of the Bible (which we don't even have the full version of in our Standard Works, and most of what we have is largely ignored in the appendix), and Joseph's other revelations (which the Joseph Smith Papers now and then admit have been "adjusted" by others, like D&C 27), what do we remember of Joseph's teachings? What do we remember about Hyrum's teachings (Hyrum being the co-president with Joseph, a prophet in his own right, and the Patriarch--a position like Adam's, as the Head of God's Family on Earth--according to D&C 124)?

Given the above evidence, and seeing how little we the church have looked into or remembered these things, it would appear that the shoe fits: we haven't really honored them like we ought.

By "the church," though, I don't necessarily mean the institution, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I mean "church" in the way the Lord defined in the scriptures: "Whosoever repenteth and cometh unto me, the same is my church" (D&C 10: 67). We the members, literally, are the Church. And we the members (at least in general, not necessarily every individual) have poorly remembered what the founder of our religion gave his life in teaching. We can't build a very tall or stable building if we ignore our foundation, as Nephi points out in his first vision, and Joseph laid an excellent one (even if he could hardly get anything into the minds of the Saints in his day; TPJS, p. 331).

Now, having said all that: What should we do? What will you do? I've got some ideas for what I ought to do, but I want to hear your suggestions as well. This seems like a serious warning, and I'd rather stay on the safe side and work to remember and honor Joseph and Hyrum better after that.

(P.S. I've also found more by looking into ancient calendars and seeing what date this landed on in those calendars, but that's a lot more writing, and this post already became long. For that, I'd refer you to John Pratt's calendar calculator and his numerous articles on religious chronology. They show how many important times in religious history have correlated wonderfully with ancient calendars and planetary cycles [which are given for "times and seasons" in Genesis, after all]. They are a fascinating read for anyone interested in seeing the foreknowledge of God in a new way.)

Lectures on Faith 1: 12-17

Intro | Preface
Lecture 1: 1 |  2-9 | 10-11 | 12-17 | 18-24

So now that Joseph has discussed what Faith is, how vital it is in our daily lives, and gave examples of how we use Faith in mortal aspects, he now turns to the Spiritual side of things.

Verses 12-13: "And as faith is the moving cause of all action in temporal concerns, so it is in spiritual; for the Savior has said, and that truly, that he that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved. (Mark 16:16) 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." Here the example is simple: If you 1) believe in Christ, and 2) act through being baptized, you will receive the result of this Faith, which is Salvation. It works exactly the same as planting a crop or working a job, like Joseph described earlier.

"But faith is not only the principle of action, but of power, also, in all intelligent beings, whether in heaven, or on earth" (v. 13).

That is, Faith doesn't just motivate us to do things; Faith also gives us power to do things, or even create things.

"Thus says the author of the epistle to the Hebrews. (11:3): 'Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God: so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.' By this we understand that the principle of power, which existed in the bosom of God, by which the worlds were framed, was faith; and that it is by reason of this principle of power, existing in the Deity, that all created things exist—so that all things in heaven, on earth, or under the earth, exist by reason of faith, as it existed in HIM" (vs. 13-15).

I've got to say, I'm very grateful for Joseph Smith's explanation of the Bible, because I wouldn't have understood Paul's comment without Joseph's insight. Instead of reading it as "Because of our Faith, we understand this," Joseph rephrases it to say "We understand that the worlds were framed through God's Faith." He believed, acted in the way He knew would lead to His desired outcome, and His desired outcome came to pass: the worlds were created. Therefore, the things we can see around us weren't made by other things we can see; they were made by God's actions through His voice and His Faith--which is otherwise intangible and invisible.

Therefore, "Had it not been for the principle of faith the worlds would never have been framed, neither would man have been formed of the dust—it is the principle by which Jehovah works, and through which he exercises power over all temporal, as well as eternal things. Take this principle or attribute, (for it is an attribute) from the Deity and he would cease to exist" (v. 16)

That is an intense statement: without Faith, God would cease to exist? How could that be?

Well, what is Faith? It's believing in something and acting on what you believe.

Imagine that ability taken away from you.

What would you do, if you literally didn't believe anything would happen? Would you do anything? Would you even think anything, or would you eventually give up that practice too, because it didn't matter?

If you don't act or think, who are you? Would "you" even exist at that point? Or would you be no different than the dust of the Earth, acted upon by everything but never acting? Without anything enticing you one way or another, leading you to choose and act, would you be "as dead, having neither life nor death"? (2 Nephi 2:11)

It seems as though Faith-with the agency to act on your beliefs-is key to your own individuality. Without that, there would be no point to one's creation and existence, because there would be nothing unique about t hem (just as Lehi explained in 2 Nephi 2). But, because we do have Faith and agency, we have individuality and we exist. And that's how God exists, too.

"Who cannot see, that if God framed the worlds by faith, that it is by faith that He exercises power over them, and that faith is the principle of power?" (v. 17)

At first glance, this may seem like a stretch of reasoning, but think it over: If God acted once through Faith, and if He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13: 8; Mormon 9: 9), then He would always act by Faith in exercising any future power over His creation. Therefore, Faith is the principle that generates power, since that's how God generates power.

"And if faith is the principle of power, it must be so in man as well as in the Deity?" (v. 17) We are created in the image and likeness of God (Moses 2: 26), which can mean "copy" or "resemblance" in the 1828 dictionary. If we're physically created to be like Him, would we also be created spiritually like Him, with the potential to develop His spiritual abilities? If it's in the Parents, it must be in Their children. "This is the testimony of all the sacred writers, and the lesson which they have been endeavoring to teach to man" (v. 17).

Apparently, from Adam, to Enoch, to Noah, to Abraham, to Moses, to Jesus Christ, to Peter, to Joseph Smith, and to every other inspired, sacred writer sent by God, this has been the main lesson each has worked so hard to teach: God's power consists of acting in Faith. God created us to be like Him in every way, though in a naturally lesser form. Therefore, we have the ability to act and create in our own lives through Faith as our Father does. While it's a smaller form, it can be exercised to grow more and more like our Father, just like an acorn can grow over the decades into a near copy of its mother tree.

That's a lot to write for now, but in the next verses I'll get to the examples Joseph gave of the spiritual power available through the proper exercise of Faith: to show how it's done.