The Scriptures and Faith

Continuing the theme of developing more faith, another important way that we can increase our faith in the Savior in addition to showing humility and praying is through the study of the word of God.  Paul taught the Romans, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).  In other words, we develop faith by hearing the word of the Lord, and part of that includes “hearing” the word of the Lord in the holy scriptures.  Samuel the Lamanite taught that it was the scriptures that helped to bring many of the Lamanites in his day to faith on the Lord.  He said, “And behold, ye do know of yourselves, for ye have witnessed it, that as many of them as are brought to the knowledge of the truth… and are led to believe the holy scriptures, yea, the prophecies of the holy prophets, which are written, which leadeth them to faith on the Lord, and unto repentance, which faith and repentance bringeth a change of heart unto them” (Helaman 15:7).  The writings of the scriptures led them to develop faith on the Lord.  The Savior described the words of the prophets in these words, “They are they which testify of me” (John 5:39).  That testimony within the scriptures helps the honest seeker of truth to strengthen faith in the Savior.

               Other scriptures affirm the importance of the word of God in helping us develop faith.  For example, it was a proper understanding of the scriptures that allowed the Ethiopian eunuch develop his faith in the Savior.  When Philip found him reading from Isaiah, he asked, “Understandest thou what thou readest?”  The Ethiopian responded no, and Philip “opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus” (Acts 8:30, 35).  The scriptures along with their true explanation brought this man to faith so that when they saw water he asked Philip, “See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? …  I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God” (Acts 8:37).  In the Book of Mormon Jacob wrote of the power of the scriptures in helping his people strengthen faith.  He wrote, “Wherefore, we search the prophets, and we have many revelations and the spirit of prophecy; and having all these witnesses we obtain a hope, and our faith becometh unshaken” (Jacob 4:6).  Unshaken faith was built first by searching the writings of the prophets in the scriptures.  King Benjamin explained what happens to faith without the scriptures to his sons: “I say unto you, my sons, were it not for these [the plates of brass], which have been kept and preserved by the hand of God, that we might read and understand of his mysteries, and have his commandments always before our eyes, that even our fathers would have dwindled in unbelief” (Mosiah 1:5).  In other words, without the scriptures, faith would disappear. 

               Of course, the scriptures help to strengthen faith best when the teachings found there are applied.  The people of Ammon found that living the Law of Moses in the scriptures strengthened their faith: “The law of Moses did serve to strengthen their faith in Christ; and thus they did retain a hope through faith, unto eternal salvation” (Alma 25:16).  Alma also taught the Zoramites to apply the words of the scriptures as he sought to help them develop their faith.  After teaching them to plant the word of God in their hearts like a seed—in other words, put it to action—he said, “Now behold, would not this increase your faith?...  As the seed swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, then you must needs say that the seed is good; for behold it swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow. And now, behold, will not this strengthen your faith? Yea, it will strengthen your faith: for ye will say I know that this is a good seed; for behold it sprouteth and beginneth to grow” (Alma 32:29-30).  Alma’s message was just as valid in his day as it is today: our faith grows as we study the scriptures and then find ways to “plant them” in our hearts through living their teachings.