Building Our Faith: More Than Just Believing in a God

Fellow disciples, have you ever felt like you *know* you should believe something—that deep, quiet knowing that settles in your spirit—but when someone asks you to articulate *why*? It’s a feeling I know well. It’s the gap between the intellectual assent and the lived, abiding testimony.

It reminded me of a recent study on the Lectures on Faith. If we think about it, many of us are comfortable with the first hurdle: believing that God exists. We’ve seen the evidence, we’ve heard the testimonies, and we know the foundational truth. But the Spirit keeps nudging us toward something deeper, something more robust.

The core message from these lectures, which were prepared under the direction of the Prophet Joseph Smith, is that faith is a principle of power, and it requires three things to be truly perfect and fruitful. It’s not enough to just *know* He exists; we must understand *who* He is, and *what* He wants for us.

The Three Pillars of Perfect Faith

The material highlighted that for any rational being to exercise faith unto life and salvation, three things are necessary. I found this particularly grounding as I was reviewing the material with Davee this week:

1. The Idea That He Exists: This is the foundation, the bedrock.
2. A Correct Idea of His Character, Perfection, and Attributes: This is where most of us, and perhaps even some of us ourselves, need to dig deeper. It’s not enough to just say, "He's good." We need to understand *how* good—His mercy, His long-suffering, His infinite attributes.
3. An Actual Knowledge That the Course of Life is According to His Will: This means understanding the covenant path, the plan, and that our efforts align with His divine purposes.

When we fall short on the second point—understanding *what* God is like—our faith becomes incomplete. We can believe in a God, but if we don't grasp the fullness of His attributes, our trust remains fragile.

This concept of knowing God’s character feels like the ultimate missionary preparation skill. It’s what we bring to the field, whether we are standing in a temple or just sitting across a table from an investigator. We aren't just reciting doctrines; we are sharing the *character* of the Father.

If you’re feeling the pull to deepen your understanding of the divine attributes, I highly recommend diving into the Iron Rod writings. They are goldmines for this kind of study. If you haven't already, check out the Book Club option in HolyPlaces—it’s a wonderful way to tackle these deep theological waters with other disciples.

For those of us who are in the thick of the work, or who are preparing to go, remember that every single day is an opportunity to be an internet missionary. Take five minutes today to ponder: What specific attribute of the Savior—His patience, His Atonement, His kindness—can I focus on and share with someone today?

If you're looking for a practical way to work through these tough questions about faith, I encourage you to utilize Davee. He's trained in the AI Investigator role and can walk you through potential objections to help you feel more ready for those challenging missionary discussions.

What attribute of God has recently deepened *your* testimony? Drop your thoughts below, or better yet, come join us this Sunday for our weekly Bible Study Group. Let's keep building that perfect, fruitful faith together!