Mosiah 4 - 6

What is faith? Is it more than just believing? To have faith in Christ require more than a verbal confession? To really have faith in Christ require trust and hope in him when faced with trials, tribulation, and challenges. Can one have faith without obeying his commandments and serving others? Can one have faith without sacrifice?

The reaction of the people to the words of King Benjamin regarding the coming of the Christ bring us great insight -

"And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 5:2)

And with that they claim -

"And it is the faith which we have had on the things which our king has spoken unto us that has brought us to this great knowledge, whereby we do rejoice with such exceedingly great joy."
(Book of Mormon Mosiah 5:4)

And then as evidence of their faith -

"...we are willing to enter into a covenant with our God to do his will, and to be obedient to his commandments in all things that he shall command us, all the remainder of our days..." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 5:5)

This obedience would include as King Benjamin taught -

"...ye will not have a mind to injure one another, but to live peaceably, and to render to every man according to that which is his due." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 4:13)

"...ye will not suffer your children that they go hungry, or naked; neither will ye suffer that they transgress the laws of God, and fight and quarrel one with another, and serve the devil, who is the master of sin, or who is the evil spirit which hath been spoken of by our fathers, he being an enemy to all righteousness.
15 But ye will teach them to walk in the ways of truth and soberness; ye will teach them to love one another, and to serve one another." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 4:14 - 15)

"...ye yourselves will succor those that stand in need of your succor; ye will administer of your substance unto him that standeth in need; and ye will not suffer that the beggar putteth up his petition to you in vain, and turn him out to perish." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 4:16)

"...ye should impart of your substance to the poor, every man according to that which he hath, such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and administering to their relief, both spiritually and temporally, according to their wants." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 4:26)

"...ye should remember, that whosoever among you borroweth of his neighbor should return the thing that he borroweth, according as he doth agree, or else thou shalt commit sin; and perhaps thou shalt cause thy neighbor to commit sin also." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 4:28)

And in being obedient the people are counseled -

"And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 4:27)

And as the people made this covenant , King Benjamin taught -

"...because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters.
8 And under this head ye are made free, and there is no other head whereby ye can be made free. There is no other name given whereby salvation cometh; therefore, I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ, all you that have entered into the covenant with God that ye should be obedient unto the end of your lives." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 5:7 - 8)

"I would that ye should remember to retain the name written always in your hearts... but that ye hear and know the voice by which ye shall be called, and also, the name by which he shall call you.
13 For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?" (Book of Mormon Mosiah 5:12 - 13)

This is what I believe is faith in Christ!

"Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, may seal you his, that you may be brought to heaven, that ye may have everlasting salvation and eternal life, through the wisdom, and power, and justice, and mercy of him who created all things, in heaven and in earth, who is God above all. Amen." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 5:15)