Faith

LDS Quotes on Faith

Faithful Hyrum had a believing heart; he did not have to see everything Joseph saw. For him, hearing the truth from Joseph’s lips and feeling the spiritual promptings whispering that it was true were enough. Faith to believe was the source of Hyrum’s spiritual strength and is the source of the spiritual strength of faithful members of the Church then and today.

We do not need more members who question every detail; we need members who have felt with their hearts, who live close to the Spirit, and who follow its promptings joyfully. We need seeking hearts and minds that welcome gospel truths without argument or complaint and without requiring miraculous manifestation. Oh, how we are blessed when members respond joyfully to counsel from their bishops, stake presidents, quorum or auxiliary leaders, some of whom might be younger than they and less experienced. What great blessings we receive when we follow “that which is right” joyfully and not grudgingly.

Elder M. Russell Ballard  |  “Hyrum Smith: Firm As the Pillars of Heaven,” Ensign, November 1995, p. 8

Topics: ,

“Everyone would like to have stronger faith. By themselves, the scriptures may not strengthen your faith, but being faithful to what they teach, does. In other words, faith cannot be separated from faithfulness.”

John Bytheway  |  When Times Are Tough: 5 Scriptures That Will Help You Get Through Almost Anything

Topics: ,

If our testimonies are strong on this point and if we feel the absolute assurance that God loves us, we will change our questions. We won’t ask, ‘Why did this happen?’ or ‘Why doesn’t God care about me?’ Instead, our questions will become, ‘What can I learn from this experience?’ or ‘How does the Lord want me to handle this?

John Bytheway  |  When Times Are Tough: 5 Scriptures That Will Help You Get Through Almost Anything

Topics: , ,

Elder Jeffery R. Holland of the LDS church

“Every one of us has times when we need to know things will get better. The Book of Mormon speaks of this as “hope for a better world.” For emotional health and spiritual stamina, everyone needs to be able to look forward to some respite, to something pleasant and renewing and hopeful, whether that blessing be near at hand or still some distance ahead. It is enough just to know we can get there, that however measured or far away, there is the promise of “good things to come.”

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland  |  Ensign, November 1999, p. 36

Topics: ,

“Inasmuch as salvation is attainable only through the mediation and atonement of Christ . . . faith in Jesus Christ is indispensable to salvation.”

James E. Talmage  |  Articles of Faith, 96

Topics: , ,

“Though within the reach of all who diligently strive to gain it, faith is nevertheless a divine gift, and can be obtained only from God”

James E. Talmage  |  Jesus the Christ

Topics: ,

“Belief, in one of its accepted senses, may consist in a merely intellectual assent, while faith implies such confidence and conviction as will impel to action.”

James E. Talmage  |  Articles of Faith

Topics: ,

“As I read and ponder the scriptures, I see that developing faith, hope, and charity within ourselves is a step-by-step process. Faith begets hope, and together they foster charity. We read in Moroni, “Wherefore, there must be faith; and if there must be faith there must also be hope; and if there must be hope there must also be charity.” These three virtues may be sequential initially, but once obtained, they become interdependent. Each one is incomplete without the others. They support and reinforce each other.”

Joseph B. Wirthlin  |  “Cultivating Divine Attributes,” Ensign, Nov. 1998

Topics: , ,

“It is not such a difficult thing to learn how to pray. It is not the words we use particularly that constitute prayer. Prayer does not consist of words altogether. True, faithful, earnest prayer consists more in the feeling that rises from the heart and from the inward desire of our spirits to supplicate the Lord in humility and in faith, that we may receive his blessings. It matters not how simple the words may be, if our desires are genuine and we come before the Lord with a broken heart and a contrite spirit to ask Him for that which we need. . . .My brethren and sisters, do not learn to pray with your lips only. Do not learn a prayer by heart, and say it every morning and evening. That is something I dislike very much. It is true that a great many people fall into the rut of saying over a ceremonious prayer. They begin at a certain point, and they touch at all the points along the road until they get to the winding-up scene; and when they have done, I do not know whether the prayer has ascended beyond the ceiling of the room or not.”

Joseph B. Wirthlin  |  Conference Report, October 1899, pp. 69,71-72

Topics: , ,

“Faith exists when absolute confidence in that which we cannot see combines with action that is in absolute conformity to the will of our Heavenly Father. Without all three—first, absolute confidence; second, action; and third, absolute conformity—without these three all we have is a counterfeit, a weak and watered-down faith.”

Joseph B. Wirthlin  |  Shall He Find Faith On The Earth?, October 2002 General Conference

Topics: ,

“Faith is not so much something we believe; faith is something we live.”

Joseph B. Wirthlin  |  Shall He Find Faith on the Earth?

Topics: ,

“You must cultivate a desire to develop the skill of setting worthy and realistic goals. If your goals are righteous, then go for them. When you set a goal and commit yourself to the necessary self-discipline to reach that goal, you will eliminate most of the problems in your life. Spend your energies doing those things that will make a difference.

“We have to have faith. We have to have faith in God. We have to have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. And oh, how desperately we have to have faith in ourselves.”

Elder M. Russell Ballard  |  How Do I Achieve My Goal?

Topics: ,

“As we think about the future, we should be filled with faith and hope. Always remember that Jesus Christ—the Creator of the universe, the architect of our salvation, and the head of this Church—is in control. He will not permit His work to fail. He will be victorious over all darkness and evil.”

Elder M. Russell Ballard  |  Face the Future with Faith and Hope

Topics: , ,

Do not let our faith be shaken by critics who never seem to recognize that knowledge of things divine comes by the power of the Spirit and not of the wisdom of men.

Church News  |  Church News, October 9, 1993

Topics: ,

“Faith, to be faith, must center around something that is not known. Faith, to be faith, must go beyond that for which there is confirming evidence. Faith, to be faith, must go into the unknown. Faith, to be faith, must walk to the edge of the light, and then a few steps into the darkness”

Boyd K. Packer  |  “Faith.” Improvement Era (Nov 1968) 71:60–63.

Topics: ,

The constant exercise of our faith by lofty thinking, prayer, devotion, and acts of righteousness is just as essential to spiritual health as physical exercise is to the health of the body. Like all priceless things, faith, if lost, is hard to regain. Eternal vigilance is the price of our faith. In order to retain our faith we must keep ourselves in tune with our Heavenly Father by living in accordance with the principles and ordinances of the gospel.

O. Leslie Stone  |  Ensign, July 1973, p. 59

Topics: , , , ,

“Indeed, this life is a test. It is a test of many things – of our convictions and priorities, our faith and our faithfulness, our patience and our resilience, and in the end, our ultimate desires.”

Sheri Dew

Topics: ,

Our lives are the only meaningful expression of what we believe and in Whom we believe. And the only real wealth, for any of us, lies in our faith.

Gordon B. Hinckley

Topics: ,

The time has come for us to stand a little taller, to lift our eyes and stretch our minds to a greater comprehension and understanding of the grand millennial mission of this, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Gordon B. Hinckley

Topics:

“Now, remember, my brethren, those who go skating, buggy riding or on excursions on the Sabbath day – and there is a great deal of this practiced – are weak in the faith. Gradually, little by little, the spirit of their religion leaks out of their hearts and their affections, and by and by they begin to see faults in their brethren, faults in the doctrines of the Church, faults in the organization, and at last they leave the Kingdom of God and go to destruction. I really wish you would remember this, and tell it to your neighbors. “

Brigham Young  |  Journal of Discourses, 15:83

Topics: ,

“It is our faith in Jesus Christ that sustains us at the crossroads of life’s journey. It is the first principle of the gospel. Without it we will spin our wheels at the intersection, spending our precious time but getting nowhere. It is Christ who offers the invitation to follow Him, to give Him our burden, and to carry His yoke, “for [His] yoke is easy, and [His] burden is light” (Matthew 11:30). There is no other name under heaven whereby man can be saved (see Acts 4:12). We must take upon us His name and receive His image in our countenance so that when He comes we will be more like Him (see 1 John 3:2; Alma 5:14). When we choose to follow Christ in faith rather than choosing another path out of fear, we are blessed with a consequence that is consistent with our choice (see D&C 6:34–36).”

Elder Quentin L. Cook  |  Live By Faith and Not By Fear, October 2007 General Conference

Topics: , ,

“Our faith is centered in God, our Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. It is bolstered by our knowledge that the fulness of the gospel has been restored to the earth, that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, and that prophets and apostles today hold the keys of the priesthood. We treasure our faith, work to strengthen our faith, pray for increased faith, and do all within our power to protect and defend our faith.”

Elder Neil L. Andersen  |  Trial Of Your Faith, October 2012 General Conference

Topics: , ,

The situation is very pleasant and you would be much pleased to see it. How long we will be permitted to enjoy it I know not; but the Lord knows what is best for us. I feel but little concerned about where I am, if I can but keep my mind staid upon God; for you know, in this, there is perfect peace.

N. Aldin Porter  |  “Sacrifice Brings What?” BYU-Idaho Devotional, February 10, 2004

Topics: ,

Elder Jeffery R. Holland of the LDS church

“I am not asking you to pretend to faith you do not have. I am asking you to be true to the faith you do have.”

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland  |  “Lord, I Believe”

Topics: ,

Elder Jeffery R. Holland of the LDS church

“…Faith is always pointed toward the future. Faith always has to do with blessings and truths and events that will yet be efficacious in our lives.”

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland  |  "Remember Lot's Wife", 13 January 2009 BYU Speech

Topics: , ,

One “biography of faith” Howard W. Hunter mentioned was that of Nephi. “With his parents, he left prosperous circumstances in Jerusalem and then for eight years, in great affliction, journeyed in the wilderness. The family then cross uncharted seas to a new land. During this period, Nephi was assailed, ridiculed, and persecuted by members of his household. Following the death of his father, Nephi and other family members had to separate themselves from his older brothers because they sought his life. Out of his despair, he declared, ‘My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep.’ (2 Ne. 4:20)

Today other biographies of faith are being written – Saints who, like Job, suffer physical pain, emotional sorrow, and even disloyalty from friends – yet remain faithful; Saints who, like Jacob, see sons and daughters not so valiant as they should be, but who bless them for their potential; Saints who, like Paul, endure great ridicule and endure to the end; Saints who, like Nephi, must separate themselves from family because of their commitment to the gospel. There are those who know pain and sorrow because of loss of loved ones; who know spiritual sorrow because children go astray; who experience loss of health, financial reverses, and emotional distress, and yet, like Job, resolve, “When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10).

We recently celebrated the birthday of President Spencer W. Kimball. Most of us are familiar with the fact that great adversity has been his companion for a great portion of his eighty-five years. He spoke from experience when he wrote these words: “Being human, we would expel from our lives physical pain and mental anguish and assure ourselves of continual ease and comfort, but if we were to close the doors upon sorrow and distress, we might be excluding our greatest friends and benefactors. Suffering can make saints of people as they learn patience, long-suffering, and self-mastery” (Faith Precedes the Miracle, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1972, p. 98).

Howard W. Hunter  |  “God Will Have a Tried People,” Ensign, May 1980, p. 24

Topics:

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Hope is one leg of a three-legged stool, together with faith and charity. These three stabilize our lives regardless of the rough or uneven surfaces we might encounter at the time. . . . Hope in our Heavenly Father’s merciful plan of happiness leads to peace, mercy, rejoicing, and gladness. The hope of salvation is like a protective helmet; it is the foundation of our faith and an anchor to our souls.

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf  |  “The Infinite Power of Hope,” Ensign, November 2008, pp. 21-24

Topics: , , ,

“You have to be willing to offend. You have to be willing to take the risk. That’s exactly where the faith comes in. Our commitment is supposed to be a test. It is supposed to be hard. It is supposed to be impractical in the terms of this world.”

Hugh Nibley

Topics: , , ,

Faith in something greater than ourselves enables us to do what we have said we’ll do, to press forward when we are tired or hurt or afraid, to keep going when the challenge seems overwhelming and the course is entirely uncertain.

Gordon B. Hinckley

Topics:

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5). . . .We live in complex times. We deal with serious problems, all of us. There is not any question in my mind that in this congregation today there are those who are deeply concerned about various matters, wonder about them, what to do about them, and how can they handle this and handle that. . . . “Trust in the Lord.”

Gordon B. Hinckley  |  Ogden Regional Conference, Sept. 19, 2004; “Trust the Lord,” Church News, September 25, 2004

Topics:

When we have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, we must have trust in him. We must trust him enough that we are content to accept his will, knowing that he knows what is best for us. . . . When we try to develop faith in the Lord Jesus Christ rather than merely cultivating faith as an abstract principle of power, we understand the meaning of the Savior’s words: “If ye will have faith in me, ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me (Moro. 7:33).”

Elder Dallin H. Oaks  |  “Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ,” Ensign, May 1994, pp. 99-100

Topics: ,