Out of Captivity, Part IV

Part I | Part II | Part III

In the Lectures on Faith, Lecture First, we learn that faith is “the principle of action in all intelligent beings…that it is faith, and faith only, which is the moving cause of all action.” We also learn that “faith is not only the principle of action, but of power, also, in all intelligent beings.” While the fact that faith is a principle of power certainly applies to us, as intelligent beings, we know that “it is by reason of this principle of power, existing in the Deity, that all created things exist.” In other words, God is the ultimate source of all power. Not us.

If you combine those things about faith with the idea that “men are free according to the flesh” (2 Nephi 1 [RE]) and that “ye are free to act for yourselves” (2 Nephi 4 [RE]), then it seems apparent that faith, as far as we are concerned, is a principle of our action and also a principle of God’s power. We act according to truth and God empowers the act. But the act necessarily comes before the power is given. Remember that “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 6 [RE]) and “ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith” (Ether 4 [RE]). Denver Snuffer, in his talk on covenants, said:

Only God can, or does, ordain covenants. We do not make covenants. Covenants come as a consequence of God's will, and only as a consequence of God's will. We can accept them, or we can reject them, but we cannot create them. He does. Our participation is limited to, acceptance of, or rejection of, what he offers. The way in which we accept the covenants, is set out in Doctrine and Covenants section 130: 20, which states: “There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated—And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.” Therefore what is important for you to understand and learn is what the relevant law requires of you. Because the way in which you accept the covenant offered to you is by learning the principle or the law upon which the blessing you seek is predicated. Then having learned what the law ordains, you follow through by obeying it…God alone makes the covenant. We accept it by abiding the conditions…God can make a covenant which you can fulfill by your performance. God can offer you something, but it's up to you to accept it. You accept it by what you do. It's not enough to say, “Yea Lord, I'll go out and do as I'm bidden.” Instead you must actually do it. Because it is only through doing that the covenant is kept by you. It is only through doing the covenant is able to be empowered sufficiently to give you the blessing which a law has been established to allow you to lay ahold. You can't get there without God offering you the covenant and you accepting God’s invitation. (emphasis mine)

If you can believe what is being proclaimed these days, later this year there will be an opportunity to accept the Book of Mormon as a covenant. If what I quoted above is true, accepting such a covenant will require going and doing according to the law contained in the Book of Mormon. Of course, there are a lot of things in the Book of Mormon. Allow me to bring up one thing in particular that shows up many times.

In the Book of Mormon, basically every other prophecy says that the Gentiles will someday deliver the Gospel to the Lamanites. If we accept the Book of Mormon as a covenant, I would no longer feel it appropriate to idly look forward to the fulfillment of those prophecies when some Gentiles actually go and do what they need to do. In the same covenants talk I quoted above, Denver also said:

There has to be preparation made [to fulfill the Lord’s covenants]. These things require some effort to be made here, in order to prepare for His return. If there is no one here who is willing to engage in what's necessary to bring this to pass (because everyone looks around and expects someone else to do it), then you're neglecting the duty that's devolving upon you. Those who have been assigned to come down in this day, in order to honor the fathers, and honor the Lord, by allowing the covenants that have been made to be fulfilled, have some responsibility to finish and fulfill the promised work.

We have been reminded numerous times that nothing can be claimed until the work has actually been done. No matter what happens in September; whether we raise our hands in a sustaining vote, sign a document, or bow our heads and say yes; we cannot make any claims if we haven’t done anything. It’s the difference between covenanting to sacrifice and covenanting by sacrifice. When will we go and do? Whenever that day comes, we are assured that that is when the “things hoped for” will be realized and the “things not seen” will be made visible. The witness will come after that trial of faith and the Lord will be able to continue His work to fulfill His covenants.

Part V | Part VI | Part VII

An Invitation to Go to Work