Lectures on Faith

Helpful in understanding the mechanics of faith. Study with Alma 32; Ether 12; D&C 29 and 93.

This volume was an early effort of a newly formed church's leaders to provide a standardized doctrinal foundation for a religious organization whose members were all new converts.This seven-lecture series explores the foundations of faith in God, how it's developed, and ways it is practiced to benefit those having faith and those whom they serve. Although this first work served the church well for decades, it was meant originally to be one of many such efforts on many doctrinal topics. Though originating in the early 1830s, the work's official publication and use ended in the early 1900s because more comprehensive learning tools became available. Nevertheless, the book offers unique insights into faith as both principles of action and power. It advocates that faith in God grows on three successive steps: first by gaining the idea that God exist from sources believed authoritative by the believer, such as the Bible; second by understanding who God is and what His attributes, character, and actions are; and, third from gaining a personal witness that the beliver's life and actions are consistent with those of God.An interesting read for historical, religious, or gospel scholars, it is also an inspirational and motivational read for believers. Some parts are repetitive and pedantic, consistent with learning tools of the early 1800s.

After Joseph Smith formed the Mormon church he commissioned and co-authored these lectures on the nature of faith and the Godhead, which were then used as the text for the School of the Prophets to teach the original leaders and missionaries of the LDS church. Why? The lectures explain that one cannot have faith in God unless one knows the nature of the Godhead. The surprise is how completely the lectures are at odds with modern Mormon doctrine. Modernly mormons teach as seminal and defining doctrine that God, Jesus christ and the Holy Ghost are three separate and distinct divine personages. That God and Jesus Christ have bodies of flesh and bone. That the Holy Ghost has a body of spirit and will someday have a body of flesh and bone also. Surprisingly, Joseph Smith, Jr., The Prophet, the Moses-like authority who met God face to face, teaches in the lectures that God is a spirit without a physical body, that of the three divine personages only Jesus Christ has a physical body, and that the Holy Ghost is some kind of ethereal medium through which God communicated with the mortal Jesus and not a personage at all. All Mormons should read this original work. It provides reliable information no one interested in studying religion and Mormonism should miss. Instead of depending on modern purveyors of history, read this source material.

I loved the parts that said God is the only supreme governor & independent being in whom all fullness & perfection dwells.He is the object in whom the Faith of all other rational & accountable beings center for life & Salvation. I haven't read it all yet, but what I have read keeps me wanting to read more & more. It talks about alot God & Jesus Christ, I love both of them so very much, also about, just alot about the Bible Prophets. They are in my life & my Soul everyday along w/ the Book of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants, & Pearl of Great Price, & I can't wait til it is my time to return to his house in the Celestrial KindomI Love reading the Bible & the Scriptures every day too! For all of you that get to read this enjoy it to the fullest. God Bless You All Always, Love Sister Janine Matney ( New Convert of 2 1/2 yr.s now & loving it emensely). I'm Mormon, I Know it, I Live it, I Love it, & so very Proud of it

Blessed is the state of the man who can perceive the power and excellence that lies behind the principles of this book. This and the Celestial world operate by faith and only until man can see and employ that power, can he begin to grow and excel beyond himself.Though there is so much to discover in these 7 chapters, I found this one principle most powerful in this current reading:"How do men obtain a knowledge of the glory of God, his perfections and attributes? By devoting themselves to his service, through prayer and supplication incessantly strengthening their faith in him, until, like Enoch, the brother of Jared, and Moses, they obtain a manifestation of God to themselves. (Lecture 2:55.)"The answer to my question of how: devotion to his service through prayer and supplication incessantly strengthening faith in Him.

The product came new and well packaged. No complaints here.

Even though I've been LDS my entire life I've never read the Lectures on Faith all the way through. In my opinion these give a good overview of the "mechanics" of faith. It was also of interest to me that the Bible was used extensively in these. The only complaint I have in reading these is that some of the question and answer sections in the book become redundant. I would recommend this book to any student of LDS history as well as those seeking a greater understanding of faith.

This was the “original “ doctrine in “Doctrine & Covenants”

An outstanding work, which stimulates the intellect as well as nourishing the soul. I highly recommend that you read it.

This has helped to clarify my thinking on what it means to have faith.

When a Prophet of God speaks of Faith and teaches all the world what God wants his children to know. A proof that the Bible and the Book of Mormon are scripture and that God LOVES his children if only they would have faith to pray and faithfully ask for guidance.

the book is good but it arrived damaged.

I know the things contained in this book are true because I have experience of the things that Joseph Smith is expounding.