Alma 30 - 32

Alma gave the Zoramites a great definition of faith -

"...faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true." (Book of Mormon Alma 32:21)

Alma suggests several conditions of faith -

1. It is not to have perfect knowledge.
2. Ye hope for things not seen.
3. It must be true!

You can't have faith if it isn't true. It would only be then a belief.

So how do you know where to exhibit your faith without knowledge of its truth?

Alma answers that question with an analogy to the Zoramites. First he teaches -

"...Ye cannot know of their surety at first, unto perfection, any more than faith is a perfect knowledge." (Book of Mormon Alma 32:26)

But -

"...if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words." (Book of Mormon Alma 32:27)

And to do explain this experiment, he says -

"...we will compare the word unto a seed. " (Book of Mormon Alma 32:28)

"...Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me." (Book of Mormon Alma 32:28)

Alma suggests that by planting hope in the words of Christ in your heart, that is exerting a sufficient leve of belief obeying those words, if it be true, something will happen. You will sense something wonderful and joyful growing within you - if it is true! And if this be the case, Alma asks -

"...would not this increase your faith?" (Book of Mormon Alma 32:29)

He answers "Yea", but -

"...it hath not grown up to a perfect knowledge." (Book of Mormon Alma 32:29)

"...but if it groweth not, behold it is not good, therefore it is cast away." (Book of Mormon Alma 32:32)

But if -

...the seed swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, then you must needs say that the seed is good; for behold it swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow. And ...ye will say I know that this is a good seed; for behold it sprouteth and beginneth to grow...And now, behold, because ye have tried the experiment, and planted the seed, and it swelleth and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, ye must needs know that the seed is good. (Book of Mormon Alma 32:30 - 33)

This is faith in that you now have hope in that which you know is true for -

"...every seed bringeth forth unto its own likeness." (Book of Mormon Alma 32:31)

And the more you excercise faith in a few of his words, Alma asks -

"...behold, is your knowledge perfect? Yea, your knowledge is perfect in that thing, and your faith is dormant; and this because you know, for ye know that the word hath swelled your souls, and ye also know that it hath sprouted up, that your understanding doth begin to be enlightened, and your mind doth begin to expand." (Book of Mormon Alma 32:34)

In that way you can say you "know" that it is true but still exhibit faith or hope in that which is unseen.

"...because it is light; and whatsoever is light, is good, because it is discernible, therefore ye must know that it is good..."(Book of Mormon Alma 32:35)

But the fact you know it is true, is your knowledge perfect requiring no more faith?

"...Nay; neither must ye lay aside your faith, for ye have only exercised your faith to plant the seed that ye might try the experiment to know if the seed was good." (Book of Mormon Alma 32:36)

But as the seed or tree beginneth to grow you must -

"...nourish it with great care, that it may get root, that it may grow up, and bring forth fruit..." (Book of Mormon Alma 32:37)

Because even though you may know it is true or a good seed -

"...if ye neglect the tree, and take no thought for its nourishment, behold it will not get any root; and when the heat of the sun cometh and scorcheth it, because it hath no root it withers away, and ye pluck it up and cast it out.
39 Now, this is not because the seed was not good, neither is it because the fruit thereof would not be desirable; but it is because your ground is barren, and ye will not nourish the tree, therefore ye cannot have the fruit thereof." (Book of Mormon Alma 32:38 - 39)

I know that -

"...if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root...and because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst..." (Book of Mormon Alma 32:41 - 43)