We believe that the first principle of the Gospel is faith in Jesus Christ. In other words this is the very first step that each person must take in order to prepare to return to God. In Helaman 5: 12 it states "...remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation...which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."
Why must we have faith in Jesus Christ? Jesus Christ was sent down to this earth to save mankind from physical death and spiritual death. He conquered both types of death through what we call the Atonement of Jesus Christ which included his suffering on the cross. Through Christ's Atonement, we can receive a forgiveness of our sins so that we can be clean and enter into God's presence. Christ's atonement can also empower us to overcome the struggles and trials that we face in our every day lives. Alma 7:11-12 "...he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy...that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities."
How do we develop faith in Jesus Christ? Faith in Jesus Christ comes in degrees. It is generally not something that is all or nothing. Some people have been blessed to easily accept Jesus Christ and to others it comes as a struggle. Alma 32: 26-30 gives us some insight on how to develop faith "Now, as I said concerning faith--that it is not a perfect knowledge...Ye cannot know of a surety at first...but behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiement upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work within you...Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold if it be a true seed...if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief...it will begin to swell within your breasts...for it beginneth to enlarge your soul, yea, it beginneth to enlighten your understanding..."
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I appreciate how clearly you express gospel principles. I have just connected your site to my blog so that people with questions about our church can read about the plain and precious truths you focus your posts on. (I also look forward to the reminders.) Thank you!
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