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Lectures on Faith

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"Faith."

This small word, I think, is the key to everything, since at some point every religious and irreligious person is backed up to the wall of faith, and there they take their stand. I include irreligious, atheists, and antitheists as being faithful since it has been my experience that unbelief takes as much work as belief. You must close your eves to a lot of truth and say that the sun isn't shining at noon in July, which requires as much work as saying God lives in the face of the 9-11 Attacks, or famine, or dying babies. Indeed, C. S. Lewis observed, "A young man who wishes to remain a sound Atheist cannot be too careful in his reading. There are traps everywhere." (Surprised by Joy, ch.12)

In the Lectures on Faith, Joseph Smith records seven lessons that the early leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were taught in the Temple at Kirtland. These lessons are a peek into Joseph Smith's mind and reveal his rather extensive understanding of faith.

The Lectures are seven and follow this outline:

Lecture 1: The nature of faith is discussed. It is a principle of action and a principle of power in the temporal and in the spiritual realm. In fact, "power" is a perfect synonym for faith. In its most unlimited sense, "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, agreeable to the will of God."

Lecture 2: This lecture show the object upon with our faith exists. Our faith is based on God; and our knowledge of God is reducible to Adam's testimony as recorded in the Bible. Joseph Smith does a complex and sometimes tedious proof to show the internal consistency of the Bible, and that we have an unbroken chain of testimony from Adam to Abraham. In addition to the Adamic testimony, we can get our own person experiences with God, like Abraham, Moses or the Brother of Jared in the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ.

Lecture 3: Discusses the character of God. Now that we know that God exists, we need to know what type of God we are dealing with, and have a correct understanding of God. The seven key characteristics are:
First, that he was God before the world was created, and the same God that he was after it was created.
Second, that he is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abundant in goodness, and that he was so from everlasting, and will be to everlasting.
Third, that he changes not, neither is there variableness with him; but that he is the same from everlasting to everlasting, being the same yesterday today and forever; and that his course is one eternal round, without variation.
Fourth, that he is a God of truth and cannot lie.
Fifth, that he is no respecter of persons, but in every nation he that fears God and works righteousness is accepted of him.
Sixth, that he is love.

Lecture 4: Discusses the attributes of God. These help clarify the correct nature of God. The seven key attributes are: Knowledge; Faith or Power; Justice; Judgment; Mercy; and Truth.

Lecture 5: Continues the discussion on the correct nature of God, and focuses on the nature of the Godhead, and each person's relationship to the members of the Godhead. This lecture is one of the best lectures on theology out there. The focus is on getting "the mind of Christ," which is another way of saying getting the Holy Ghost in our lives.

Lecture 6: Discusses the nature of sacrifice, and how sacrifice is necessary to know God and to have faith, Abraham being the example. "Let us here observe, that a religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things, never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation."

Lecture 7: This lecture covers the effects that flow from faith, being namely Salvation. When we work by faith [see 1Thess. 1:3; 2 Thess. 1:11], we work by mental exertion, and we work by words, not physical labors. We become more like god, and soon become "assimilated" into the likeness of God. So, then, salvation is the product of faith.

I think I have given away half of the book! But buy the book and get some flesh on this skeleton-outline!

Shakespeare observed that brevity was the soul of wit (Hamlet), and that simplicity was oftentimes miscalled simple (Sonnet 66). These lectures are quite easy to follow, but the older I get, the more profound they become. We see that simple faith really isn't something simple, but that it is the mainspring of all things good. With such powerful teaching, comments about "blind faith," or people needing crutches seem to blur into the background.

"Lectures on Faith" is another must for any student of the faith of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. These lectures are on faith--what it is, the object upon which it rests and the effects that flow from faith. We a given a glimpse into the Prophet Joseph Smith's mind, we have the class notes from the School of the Prophets--what Brigham Young, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, Parley and Orson Pratt were taught by Joseph Smith. It is a pearl of great price. It is the beest record of of mid-1830's LDS doctrine.

Along with "Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith," it the floodlight on Joseph Smith's thought.

This current edition had been updated and corrected, with current scriptural versification, and a better typeface than the Bookcraft version of ca. 1948. The cover is also sturdier than the green 1948 edition.

I first read 'Lectures on Faith' while on a mission to Anaheim, California. My Scriptures are filled with hundreds of references from 'Lectures on Faith'. 'Lectures on Faith' stays with me even after 10 years. I prize this book as one of the most scholastic book on Church Doctrine I've ever studied.

In his review here at amazon, David Priest makes clear that he has never read the Lectures on Faith. Instead he used his review as an attack on the LDS faith. Despite the fact that the Lectures on Faith where at one time included in the Doctine and Covenants, they where never considered scripture. There have been many supplements included or removed from LDS standard works over time, such as poems, personal histories, maps, dictionaries, concordances, none of which are considered scripture. The lectures were not revelations but L-E-C-T-U-R-E-S given at the church school, they where considered useful, and are still used by the church today, just not published in the current edition of the Doctrine and Covenants.

"Great reading if you want to see how a religion makes up its doctrines as it wishes." -david

Unlike most of the ever shifting doctrines of modern christianity, the LDS teachings have remarkably remained constant. There have been many accusations that the church is secretly "changing" it's teachings over time, as if no members have access to the old publications, but are only allowed to read the "new and changed" doctrines. Church critics pull a few quotes out of context in an attempt to make it appear as if past leaders taught something different. This only works though on those who have not read the actual writings, or do not know anything about the church past or present. Members don't burn their old books each year, anyone who has read the writings of Orson Pratt, James Talmage, or Joseph Smith, knows that they taught the same things as current leaders do. David is right though that the lectures on faith is a good read, I recommend it to anyone who is interested to learn what the LDS church "really" used to teach.

David also states the fact that there have been 3913 changes to the book of mormon, but he does not mention (or perhaps know) that the changes where almost entirely related to spelling and punctuation. The english language was not as standarized in 1830 as it is today, many words had various accepted spellings, and over time these where corrected (such as "ware sorraful" to "were sorrowful", "plaits" to "plates"). No changes where made which could affect the meaning of the text.

Great book, and nice and short. Read it in a week prior to my talk on faith in Sacrament meeting. Two things (relating to other people's comments):
1-Introduction says it was probably not written by Joseph Smith, but Sidney Rigdon;
2-God is a personage of Spirit. What's wrong with that? He is also a personage of flesh and bone. Don't let it shake you, people!

It amazes me how good this book is. I read it over and over and it just gets better. I would recommend this book to anyone, however it is of particular inportance to the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

This book gives the reader a better understanding, appreciate and thirst of faith. I have read what other denominations have said it leaves you with questions. This book will leave you with questions, but of a different nature. Questions synonomous with my favorite hymn, "If you Could Hie to Kolob".

I bought this wanting to have it but then realized that it comes included with the LDS scripture purchase other "miscellaneous".

Joseph Smith outlines faith in God the Eternal Father, his Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost in seven lectures. His lectures include doctrine on what faith is, how to obtain it, and the blessings that come from it. It is a must read for anyone seeking to increase their faith in God.

This is one of the most inspired and thought provoking books I have ever read. I would highly recommend it to anyone who truly wants to learn about our Savior and our Father in Heaven. Its not an easy read but the principals are basic if prayerfully studied. Wonderful book.

I am a missionary right now and ordered this book mainly because I saw it referenced to in the Bible Dictionary of the Latter-Day Saint edition of the Bible, under the topic of faith.

The book arrived quickly with standard shipping and was packaged well. I am pleased with the purchase and look forward to reading and learning from these wonderful lectures.