1. Having shown in the third lecture, that correct ideas of the
character of God are necessary in order to the exercise of faith in
him unto life and salvation, and that without correct ideas of his
character, the minds of men could not have sufficient power with God
to the exercise of faith necessary to the enjoyment of eternal life,
and that correct ideas of his character lay a foundation as far as his
character is concerned, for the exercise of faith, so as to enjoy the
fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Jesus Christ, even that of
eternal glory; we shall now proceed to show the connection there is
between correct ideas of the attributes of God, and the exercise of
faith in him unto eternal life.
2. Let us here observe, that the real design which the God of heaven
had in view in making the human family acquainted with his attributes,
was, that they through the ideas of the existence of his attributes,
might be enabled to exercise faith in him, and through the exercise of
faith in him, might obtain eternal life. For without the idea of the
existence of the attributes which belong to God, the minds of men could
not have power to exercise faith in him so as to lay hold upon eternal
life. The God of heaven understanding most perfectly the constitution
of human nature, and the weakness of men, knew what was necessary to be
revealed, and what ideas must be planted in their minds in order that
they might be enabled to exercise faith in him unto eternal life.
3. Having said so much we shall proceed to examine the attributes of
God, as set forth in his revelations to the human family, and to show
how necessary correct ideas of his attributes are, to enable men to
exercise faith in him. For without these ideas being planted in the
minds of men it would be out of the power of any person or persons to
exercise faith in God so as to obtain eternal life. So that the divine
communications made to men in the first instance, were designed to
establish in their minds the ideas necessary to enable them to exercise
faith in God, and through this means to be partakers of his glory.
4. We have, in the revelations which he has given to the human family,
the following account of his attributes.
5. First, Knowledge. Acts 15:18. Known unto God are all his works from
the beginning of the world. Isaiah 46:9,10. Remember the former things
of old; for I am God and there is none else; I am God, and there is
none like me, _declaring the end from the beginning_, and from ancient
time the things that are not yet done, saying. My counsel shall stand,
and I will do all my pleasure.
6. Secondly, Faith, or power. Heb. 11:3. Through faith we understand
that the worlds were framed by the word of God. Gen. 1:1. In the
beginning God created the heaven and the earth. Isaiah 14:24,27. The
Lord of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought so shall it
come to pass; and as I have purposed so shall it stand. For the Lord
of Hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is
stretched out, and who shall turn it back?
7. Thirdly, Justice. Psalm 89:14. Justice and judgment are the
habitation of thy throne. Isaiah 45:21. Tell ye, and bring them near;
yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from the
ancient time? Have not I the Lord? and there is no God else beside me;
a just God and a Saviour. Zeph. 5:5. The just Lord is in the midst
thereof. Zech. 9:9. Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O
daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just,
and having salvation.
8. Fourthly, Judgment. Ps. 89:14. Justice and judgment are the
habitation of thy throne. Deut. 32:4. He is the Rock, his work is
perfect; for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth, and without
iniquity: just and right is he. Ps. 9:7. But the Lord shall endure for
ever: he has prepared his throne for judgment. Ps. 9:16. The Lord is
known by the judgment which he executeth.
9. Fifthly, Mercy. Ps. 89:15. Mercy and truth shall go before his face.
Exodus 34:6. And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The
Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious. Neh. 9:17.--But you art a
God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful.
10. And Sixthly, Truth. Ps. 89:14. Mercy and truth shall go before thy
face. Exodus 34:6. Long-suffering and abundant in goodness and truth.
Deut. 32:4. He is the Rock, his work is perfect; for all his ways are
judgment. A God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. Ps
31:5. Into thy hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord
God of truth.
11. By a little reflection it will be seen, that the idea of the
existence of these attributes in the Deity, is necessary to enable
any rational being to exercise faith in him. For without the idea
of the existence of these attributes in the Deity, men could not
exercise faith in him for life and salvation; seeing that without the
knowledge of all things God would not be able to save any portion of
his creatures; for it is by reason of the knowledge which he has of
all things, from the beginning to the end, that enables him to give
that understanding to his creatures by which they are made partakers
of eternal life; and if it were not for the idea existing in the minds
of men that God had all knowledge, it would be impossible for them to
exercise faith in him.
12. And it is not less necessary that men should have the idea of
the existence of the attribute power in the Deity. For, unless God
had power over all things, and was able, by his power, to control
all things, and thereby deliver his creatures who put their trust in
him, from the power of all beings that might seek their destruction,
whether in heaven, on earth, or in hell, men could not be saved; but
with the idea of the existence of this attribute planted in the mind,
men feel as though they had nothing to fear who put their trust in God,
believing that he has power to save all who come to him, to the very
uttermost.
13. It is also necessary, in order to the exercise of faith in God,
unto life and salvation, that men should have the idea of the existence
of the attribute justice, in him. For without the idea of the existence
of the attribute Justice, in the Deity, men could not have confidence
sufficient to place themselves under his guidance and direction; for
they would be filled with fear and doubt, lest the Judge of all the
earth would not do right, and thus fear, or doubt, existing in the
mind, would preclude the possibility of the exercise of faith in him
for life and salvation. But, when the idea of the existence of the
attribute justice, in the Deity, is fairly planted in the mind, it
leaves no room for doubt to get into the heart, and the mind is enabled
to cast itself upon the Almighty without fear and without doubt, and
with the most unshaken confidence, believing that the Judge of all the
earth will do right.
14. It is also of equal importance that men should have the idea of the
existence of the attribute judgment, in God, in order that they may
exercise faith in him for life and salvation; for without the idea of
the existence of this attribute in the Deity, it would be impossible
for men to exercise faith in him for life and salvation, seeing that
it is through the exercise of this attribute that the faithful in
Christ Jesus are delivered out of the hands of those who seek their
destruction; for if God were not to come out in swift judgment against
the workers of iniquity and the powers of darkness, his saints could
not be saved; for it is by judgment that the Lord delivers his saints
out of the hands of all their enemies, and those who reject the gospel
of our Lord Jesus Christ. But no sooner is the idea of the existence
of this attribute, planted in the minds of men, than it gives power to
the mind for the exercise of faith and confidence in God, and they are
enabled, by faith, to lay hold on the promises which are set before
them, and wade through all the tribulations and afflictions to which
they are subjected by reason of the persecution from those who know not
God, and obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, believing, that
in due time the Lord will come out in swift judgement against their
enemies, and they shall be cut off from before him, and that, in his
own due time he will bear them off conquerors and more than conquerors
in all things.
15. And again, it is equally important that men should have the idea
of the existence of the attribute mercy, in the Deity, in order to
exercise faith in him for life and salvation. For without the idea
of the existence of this attribute in the Deity, the spirits of the
saints would taint in the midst of the tribulations afflictions, and
persecutions which they have to endure for righteousness' sake; but
when the idea of the existence of this attribute is once established
in the mind it gives life and energy to the spirits of the saints:
believing that the mercy of God will be poured out upon them in the
midst of their afflictions, and that he will compassionate them in
their sufferings, and that the mercy of God will lay hold of them and
secure them in the arms of his love, so that they will receive a full
reward for all their sufferings.
16. And lastly, but not less important to the exercise of faith in
God, is the idea of the existence of the attribute truth, in him. For
without the idea of the existence of this attribute the mind of man
could have nothing upon which it could rest with certainty: all would
be confusion and doubt; but with the idea of the existence of this
attribute in the Deity, in the mind, all the teachings, instructions,
promises, and blessings, become realities, and the mind is enabled
to lay hold of them with certainty and confidence: believing that
these things, and all that the Lord has said, shall be fulfilled in
their time; and that all the cursings, denunciations, and judgments,
pronounced upon the heads of the unrighteous will also be executed in
the due time of the Lord: and, by reason of the truth and veracity of
him, the mind beholds its deliverance and salvation as being certain.
17. Let the mind once reflect sincerely and candidly upon the ideas of
the existence of the before-mentioned attributes in the Deity, and it
will be seen, that as far as his attributes are concerned, there is
a sure foundation laid for the exercise of faith in him for life and
salvation. For inasmuch as God possesses the attribute knowledge he
can make all things known to his saints necessary for their salvation;
and as he possesses the attribute power he is able thereby to deliver
them from the power of all enemies; and seeing also, that justice is an
attribute of the Deity, he will deal with them upon the principles of
righteousness and equity, and a just reward will be granted unto them
for all their afflictions and sufferings for the truth's sake. And as
judgment is an attribute of the Deity also, his saints can have the
most unshaken confidence that they will, in due time, obtain a perfect
deliverance out of the hands of all their enemies, and a complete
victory over all those who have sought their hurt and destruction.
And as mercy is also an attribute of the Deity, his saints can have
confidence that it will be exercised towards them; and through the
exercise of that attribute towards them comfort and consolation will
be administered unto them abundantly, amid all their afflictions and
tribulations. And lastly, realizing that truth is an attribute of the
Deity, the mind is led to rejoice amid all its trials and temptations,
in hope of that glory which is to be brought at the revelation of Jesus
Christ, and in view of that crown which is to be placed upon the heads
of the saints in the day when the Lord shall distribute rewards unto
them, and in prospect of that eternal weight of glory which the Lord
has promised to bestow upon them when he shall bring them into the
midst of his throne to dwell in his presence eternally.
18. In view, then, of the existence of these attributes, the faith of
the saints can become exceedingly strong, abounding in righteousness
unto the praise and glory of God, and can exert its mighty influence
in searching after wisdom and understanding, until it has obtained a
knowledge of all things that pertain to life and salvation.
19. Such, then, is the foundation, which is laid, through the
revelation of the attributes of God, for the exercise of faith in
him for life and salvation; and seeing that these are attributes of
the Deity, they are unchangeable--being the same yesterday, to day,
and forever--which gives to the minds of the Latter Day Saints the
same power and authority to exercise faith in God, which the Former
Day Saints had; so that all the saints, in this respect have been,
are, and will be alike until the end of time; for God never changes,
therefore his attributes and character remain forever the same. And as
it is through the revelation of these that a foundation is laid for
the exercise of faith in God unto life and salvation, the foundation,
therefore, for the exercise of faith was, is, and ever will be the
same. So that all men have had, and will have an equal privilege.
_Question_. What was shown in the third lecture?
_Answer_. It was shown that correct ideas of the character of God are
necessary in order to exercise faith in him unto life and salvation;
and that without correct ideas of his character, men could not have
power to exercise faith in him unto life and salvation, but that
correct ideas of his character, as far as his character was concerned
in the exercise of faith in him, lay a sure foundation for the exercise
of it. [§ IV. ¶ 1.]
Q. What object had the God of Heaven in revealing his attributes to men?
A. That through an acquaintance with his attributes they might be
enabled to exercise faith in him so as to obtain eternal life. [§ IV. ¶
2.]
Q. Could men exercise faith in God without an acquaintance with his
attributes, so as to be enabled to lay hold of eternal life?
A. They could not. [§ IV. ¶ 2,3.]
Q. What account is given of the attributes of God in his revelations?
A. First, Knowledge; secondly, Faith, or power; thirdly, Justice,
fourthly, Judgment, fifthly, Mercy, and sixthly, truth. [§ IV. ¶
4,5,6,7,8,9,10.]
Q. Where are the revelations to be found which give this relation or
the attributes of God?
A. In the Old and New Testaments, and they are quoted in the fourth
lecture, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth paragraphs.*
Q. Is the idea or the existence of these attributes, in the Deity,
necessary in order to enable any rational being to exercise faith in
him unto life and salvation?
A. It is.
Q. How do you prove it?
A. By the eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth, fourteenth, fifteenth and
sixteenth paragraphs in this lecture.*
Q. Does the idea of the existence of these attributes in the Deity,
as far as his attributes are concerned, enable a rational being to
exercise faith in him unto life and salvation?
A. It does.
Q. How do you prove it?
A. By the seventeenth and eighteenth paragraphs.*
Q. Have the Latter Day Saints as much authority given them, through the
revelation of the attributes of God, to exercise faith in him as the
Former Day Saints had?
A. They have.
Q. How do you prove it?
A. By the nineteenth paragraph of this lecture.*
_Note._ Let the student turn and commit these paragraphs to memory.
LECTURE FIFTH.
Of Faith.