How do you define faith?

[crytsprospect]

This is great and I am so enjoying reading this discussion. I have faith but for me I have always known the church is true and I always haven't exercised the faith to follow the teachings of it. Answers don't always come overnight but they will come to you. I've been out of the church more than in most of my life but now am in. Noiw I am exercising my faith that what I have been taught annd read are true and the answers I personally seek will come. You guys keep on with this its so enlightening.
DigotalShadow I kNOW you will find the answers you are seeking not in your time or mine but Gods time . Happy Journey

[DigitalShadow]

Originally Posted by the_jason

I'm sure you're familiar with Joseph Smith. His manner of knowing which church to join. Obviously, commonfolk like myself probably won't have heavenly being appear to them, but we can use his method as an example.

First, Joseph and his family were religious. During the religious uprising which took place at that time, Joseph was able to visit and study different churches. He was as confused as you were. He wanted to be part of God's church, but didn't know how he could determine which one that was. Then, he came across a scripture in James (man, I feel like I'm on my mission again).

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
"But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed." -- James 1:5-6

Joseph asked in faith and received his answer. You will receive an answer too, if you ask in faith. All the studying and asking people about their beliefs won't get you your answer. Only through faithful prayer to Heavenly Father and a confirmation of the Holy Ghost.

That is the answer I've been given a couple times, and I've tried to follow it with no luck yet. But what bothers me about that method is this: What if the church that is true, is one that I've never heard of? Of the billions of people on this earth, I would think that a significant percentage of them have asked this question in prayer honestly, yet I've never heard of someone being told by God to seek out a church they've never heard of in a country they've never been to. If anyone can honestly ask god what religion is true and get a straight answer of "Religion X is true" then why don't people from all over the world flock to one religion?

[Moksha]

DigitalShadow, you obviously like to think a lot! Relax.

No need to ever get hung up on Truth with a big T, or any earth shattering sign. Belief is a matter of choice. Not everyone needs to believe, but there are definite benefits for those who choose to believe: Religion gives you comfort when you are old and frail and ministers to you when you are about to die. It helps mourn for you when you have lost a spouse or a child. It celebrates with you the momentous events in your life. It helps you survive adversity.

When you feel love for God, you can feel love in return and neither one can ever be quantified, for it in unnecessary: Love suffices.

[crytsprospect]

Sometimes when you overanalize {sp} you miss whats right in front of you. Take some time listen, read pray. All answers won't be found here. Debating is a great thing but sometimes we have to be quiet to hear the answers.
Blessings to you

[DigitalShadow]

Originally Posted by Moksha

DigitalShadow, you obviously like to think a lot! Relax.

No need to ever get hung up on Truth with a big T, or any earth shattering sign. Belief is a matter of choice. Not everyone needs to believe, but there are definite benefits for those who choose to believe: Religion gives you comfort when you are old and frail and ministers to you when you are about to die. It helps mourn for you when you have lost a spouse or a child. It celebrates with you the momentous events in your life. It helps you survive adversity.

When you feel love for God, you can feel love in return and neither one can ever be quantified, for it in unnecessary: Love suffices.

But what is religion if not the pursuit of the truth? I realize there are many benifets for believers, but that is irrelivant to the question of whether it is true or not. For me, finding the truth is more important than receiving possibly false comfort in times of need. When I face adversity, I look to myself and my own problem solving ability to get myself out of it.

I do appreciate all of the input and positive sentiment I've received so far. I don't mean to sound hostile, I'm just presenting everyone with arguments that my brain has presented to me in trying to rationalize this thing called religion.

[DigitalShadow]

Originally Posted by crytsprospect

Sometimes when you overanalize {sp} you miss whats right in front of you. Take some time listen, read pray. All answers won't be found here. Debating is a great thing but sometimes we have to be quiet to hear the answers.
Blessings to you

I may be new to these forums, but I assure you that I have been pondering these concepts for well over a decade. I'm here because taking time, listening and praying have failed and I would like other people's input on the matter.

[daviddstoker]

I've think you've been fed a lot of food for thought. I approached this issue with a slightly different spin and previously blogged about why, out of all the ways to design this earth-life experience, would God put such a strong emphasis on faith.

What’s on the test? | Thoughts of a Seeker

[the_jason]

DS, I'm not sure you will find the answer you are looking for here. I'm not sure you even know what answer you are looking for. Several people have tried to help you, to which you've responded with many "what if" questions. I think we're spinning our wheels here. If you don't know what you want then it's impossible for us to know what you want. I'd suggest taking the matter to the Lord and then being patient. The Lord doesn't answer our prayers when we want him to, but he does answer. Be patient, and good luck.

[DigitalShadow]

Originally Posted by the_jason

DS, I'm not sure you will find the answer you are looking for here. I'm not sure you even know what answer you are looking for. Several people have tried to help you, to which you've responded with many "what if" questions. I think we're spinning our wheels here. If you don't know what you want then it's impossible for us to know what you want. I'd suggest taking the matter to the Lord and then being patient. The Lord doesn't answer our prayers when we want him to, but he does answer. Be patient, and good luck.

I appreciate all the people who are trying to help me and don't want to sound ungrateful, but I think my questions were straightforward and valid. If they lack clarity, I would be more than happy to clarify, but I would still like answers.

What I want is someone on the religious side who has also thought of these questions and maybe has answers or at least a little more insight into them because they are the same questions that prevent me from believing in a religion.

[the_jason]

Originally Posted by DigitalShadow

I appreciate all the people who are trying to help me and don't want to sound ungrateful, but I think my questions were straightforward and valid. If they lack clarity, I would be more than happy to clarify, but I would still like answers.

What I want is someone on the religious side who has also thought of these questions and maybe has answers or at least a little more insight into them because they are the same questions that prevent me from believing in a religion.

We don't know everything, nor are we supposed to know everything. Heavenly Father has revealed to us all that we need to be exalted. Once we're exalted we'll receive more answers than we ever dreamed existed. A person does not need to know all the answers to have faith. That's what faith is: believing things that you don't completely know. Heavenly Father doesn't give us knowledge and then say 'Now go have faith.' Faith brings us to knowledge, not the other way around.