1. The document discusses Lecture Six from the Lectures on Faith, which talks about the knowledge that individuals must have that the course of life they are pursuing is according to God's will in order to exercise faith in him. 2. It says this knowledge was important for the ancient saints as it allowed them to endure hardships knowing they had God's approval and a heavenly reward. Having actual knowledge, not just belief, that one's life aligned with God's will enabled confidence in God. 3. It also discusses sacrificing willingly as a way to gain this knowledge of God's will, and mentions the three-tiered altar of sacrifice described in Ezekiel as symbolic of increasing sacrifice and faith.

1. Week 36
Lectures on
Faith
Lecture
Sixth

2. Joseph Smith says this in Lecture Sixth:
"All the saints of whom we have account, in all the revelations of God
which are extant, obtained the knowledge which they had of their
acceptance in his sight through the sacrifice which they offered unto
him; and through the knowledge thus obtained their faith became
sufficiently strong to lay hold upon the promise of eternal life, and to
endure as seeing him who is invisible; and were enabled, through
faith, to combat the powers of darkness, contend against the wiles of
the adversary, overcome the world, and obtain the end of their faith,
even the salvation of their souls."

3. Preliminary Principles – “Course of Life” & Sacrifice
1) The first LAW of the Gospel – obedience to the law of sacrifice
2) The first PRINCIPLE of the Gospel – faith
3) Faith and Sacrifice are counterparts
• There is not one present without the other…
4) Faith is gained by SACRIFICE
5) The ultimate sacrifice is the Sacrifice of Will
6) The three-tiered altar of sacrifice in Ezekiel 21:31

4. The three-tiered altar of sacrifice in Ezekiel 21:31
18 cubits width
16 cubits width
14 cubits width
12 cubits width
4 cubits high
4 cubits high
2 cubits high
1 cubit high
horns
Bottom - foundation
The Lower Ledge
The Greater Ledge
Ezekiel 21:31
31 And these are the measures of the altar after the cubits (the cubit is a cubit and a hand
breadth): even the bottom shall be a cubit and the breadth a cubit, and the border thereof
by the edge thereof round about shall be a span; and this shall be the higher place of the
altar. And from the bottom upon the ground even to the lower ledge shall be two cubits, and
the breadth one cubit; and from the lesser ledge even to the greater ledge shall be four
cubits, and the breadth one cubit. So the altar shall be four cubits. And from the altar and
upward shall be four horns. And the altar shall be twelve cubits long, twelve broad, square in
the four squares thereof. And the ledge shall be fourteen cubits long and fourteen broad in
the four squares thereof; and the border about it shall be half a cubit, and the bottom
thereof shall be a cubit about, and his stairs shall look toward the east.
1 cubit = 1.5 feet
Altar Hearth
“Ari’el”
Altar Hearth
10 cubits
high
S
W E
stairs
N
border =
½ cubit
Rim =
“1 span”

5. LECTURE SIXTH
of FAITH
1 Having treated, in the preceding lectures, of
the ideas of the character, perfections, and
attributes of God, we next proceed to treat of
the knowledge which persons must have that
the course of life which they pursue is according
to the will of God, in order that they may be
enabled to exercise faith in him unto life and
salvation.
…the knowledge which
persons must have that the
course of life which they
pursue is according to the

6. LECTURE SIXTH
of FAITH
2 This knowledge supplies an
important place in revealed
religion, for it was by reason of it
that the ancients were enabled to
endure as seeing him who is
invisible. An actual knowledge to
any person that the course of life
which he pursues is according to
the will of God is essentially
necessary to enable him to have
that confidence in God, without
which no person can obtain eternal
life. It was this that enabled the
ancient saints to endure all their
afflictions and persecutions and to
take joyfully the spoiling of their
goods, knowing (not believing
merely) that they had a more
enduring substance. Heb. 1:34.
Hebrews 1:34
34 But call to remembrance the former days in which, after you were
illuminated, you endured a great fight of afflictions — partly while you were
made a spectacle, both by reproaches and afflictions, and partly while you
became companions of them who were so used; for you had compassion
on me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing
in yourselves that you have in Heaven a better and an enduring substance.
Cast not away therefore your confidence, which has great recompense of
reward, for you have need of patience, that after you have done the will of
God you might receive the promise; for yet a little while, and he that shall
come will come, and will not delay.

7. LECTURE SIXTH
of FAITH
2 This knowledge supplies an
important place in revealed religion,
for it was by reason of it that the
ancients were enabled to endure as
seeing him who is invisible. An actual
knowledge to any person that the
course of life which he pursues is
according to the will of God is
essentially necessary to enable him to
have that confidence in God, without
which no person can obtain eternal
life. It was this that enabled the
ancient saints to endure all their
afflictions and persecutions and to
take joyfully the spoiling of their
goods, knowing (not believing
merely) that they had a more
enduring substance. Heb. 1:34.
Nephi's Courage – The Second Comforter – Nephi’s Walk – Chapter Four
This new communication comes from the Lord, to Lehi, directing Nephi to do something specific. Nephi does not
question, reject, murmur or even hesitate to respond to this new assignment. Rather, he responds, “I will go and do the
things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save
he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he hath commanded them.” [1 Ne. 1:10] This is
one of the great verses in the Book of Mormon. We do not see this kind of faithfulness very often. It is hard to trust God
with no hesitation. Yet that is exactly what Nephi does.
This remarkable response shows Nephi a willingly obedient follower of God who accepts God’s word when it comes in a
form “no more substantial than a dream.” He isn’t complaining or skeptical. He is eager to do the things the Lord asks him
to do. He accepts his father’s revelation/dream as a commandment from God. He has faith God will not require anything
of him He will not help him accomplish. These are important things. Nephi’s faith is being tested. His brothers do not pass
the test. They murmur and complain. They think it hard. Nephi sees the difficulty as a requirement from God, and Nephi
trusts God to help him accomplish it.
When David confronted Goliath, he did not see the conflict as between him, a mere boy, and Goliath, an experienced
warrior and giant of a man. David saw this as a conflict between mere Goliath and God. David puts the conflict in these
terms: “You come to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield; but I come to you in the name of the Lord of
Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day will the Lord deliver you into my hand, and I will
smite you and take your head from you.” [1 Sam. 8:14] To David it is God who is about to fight with Goliath. In those terms,
you can almost be amused at Goliath picking this fight. But without faith, this is a boy without armor and experience,
getting into a fight with a trained, experienced warrior.
How we perceive our challenges determines how we meet them. If we see God as the overriding influence in life’s
challenges, then we can trust God to help us through them. Whether the dilemma is a giant of a warrior, or retrieving a
brass plate book, or dealing with stresses of everyday life, or paying tithing when it will make payment of other necessary
expenses seem unaffordable, the dilemma is never merely physical. It is always a battle between faith and skepticism. Do
you see it as a fight between your own willingness to trust God to deliver you, or in merely physical terms? Does God care
about your life’s dilemmas? Will He help deliver you from your ‘Goliaths?’ Do you trust Him? Do you believe in Him? Do
you believe He is interested and involved in your life? Will you accept the proof of His involvement as His word to you? Do
you feel His proofs are not sufficient or substantial enough to have faith in them?
Faith in a distant and unconcerned God may satisfy some Latter-day Saints. But that is not the God Nephi (or David)
believed in. In Nephi’s example we find a personal God involved in everyday life. We find a God who will give a challenge
to us, and then walk beside us to see we succeed. Nephi is trying to teach us this is the way God operates in all of our
lives. He is not distant. He is a part of each of our daily lives. We can ignore Him, or acknowledge Him. But whether we
accept or reject His involvement, Nephi’s view is that He is present and concerned.

8. LECTURE SIXTH
of FAITH
2 This knowledge supplies an important
place in revealed religion, for it was by
reason of it that the ancients were
enabled to endure as seeing him who is
invisible. An actual knowledge to any
person that the course of life which he
pursues is according to the will of God is
essentially necessary to enable him to
have that confidence in God, without
which no person can obtain eternal life. It
was this that enabled the ancient saints to
endure all their afflictions and
persecutions and to take joyfully the
spoiling of their goods, knowing (not
believing merely) that they had a more
enduring substance. Heb. 1:34.
Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith
Letter to Brethren Abroad pp. 47-68
But that man was not able himself to erect a system, or plan with power sufficient to free him
from a destruction which awaited him is evident from the fact that God, as before remarked,
prepared a sacrifice in the gift of His own Son who should be sent in due time, to prepare a
way, or open a door through which man might enter into the Lord's presence, whence he had
been cast out for disobedience. From time to time these glad tidings were sounded in the
ears of men in different ages of the world down to the time of Messiah's coming. By faith in
this atonement or plan of redemption, Abel offered to God a sacrifice that was accepted,
which was the firstlings of the flock. Cain offered of the fruit of the ground, and was not
accepted, because he could not do it in faith, he could have no faith, or could not exercise
faith contrary to the plan of heaven. It must be shedding the blood of the Only Begotten to
atone for man; for this was the plan of redemption; and without the shedding of blood was
no remission; and as the sacrifice was instituted for a type, by which man was to discern the
great Sacrifice which God had prepared; to offer a sacrifice contrary to that, no faith could be
exercised, because redemption was not purchased in that way, nor the power of atonement
instituted after that order; consequently Cain could have no faith; and whatsoever is not of
faith, is sin. But Abel offered an acceptable sacrifice, by which he obtained witness that he was
righteous, God Himself testifying of his gifts. Certainly, the shedding of the blood of a beast
could be beneficial to no man, except it was done in imitation, or as a type, or explanation of
what was to be offered through the gift of God Himself; and this performance done with an
eye looking forward in faith on the power of that great Sacrifice for a remission of sins. But
however various may have been, and may be at the present time, the opinions of men
respecting the conduct of Abel, and the knowledge which he had on the subject of
atonement, it is evident in our minds, that he was instructed more fully in the plan than what
the Bible speaks of, for how could he offer a sacrifice in faith, looking to God for a remission
of his sins in the power of the great atonement, without having been previously instructed in
that plan? And further, if he was accepted of God, what were the ordinances performed
further than the offering of the firstlings of the flock?
Verse 2 – continued…

9. LECTURE SIXTH
of FAITH
3 Having the assurance that
they were pursuing a course
which was agreeable to the will
of God, they were enabled to
take not only the spoiling of
their goods and the wasting of
their substance joyfully, but also
to suffer death in its most
horrid forms, knowing (not
merely believing) that when this
earthly house of their
tabernacle was dissolved, they
had a building of God, a house
not made with hands, eternal in
the Heavens. 2 Cor. 1:15.
2 Corinthians 1:15
15 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a
building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens. For in this we groan,
earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from Heaven, that being
clothed we shall not be found naked; for we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being
burdened — not that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be
swallowed up of life. Now he that has wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also
has given unto us the earnest payment of the spirit; therefore, we are always confident,
knowing that while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord (for we walk
by faith, not by sight). We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body
and to be present with the Lord.

10. LECTURE SIXTH
of FAITH
4 Such was and always will be the situation of the
saints of God: that unless they have an actual
knowledge that the course that they are pursuing is
according to the will of God, they will grow weary in
their minds and faint, for such has been and always
will be the opposition in the hearts of unbelievers
and those that know not God, against the pure and
unadulterated religion of Heaven (the only thing
which ensures eternal life), that they will persecute to
the uttermost all that worship God according to his
revelations, receive the truth in the love of it, and
submit themselves to be guided and directed by his
will, and drive them to such extremities that nothing
short of an actual knowledge of their being the
favorites of Heaven, and of their having embraced
that order of things which God has established for
the redemption of man, will enable them to exercise
that confidence in him necessary for them to
overcome the world and obtain that crown of glory
which is laid up for them that fear God.
Nephi's Courage – The Second Comforter – Nephi’s Walk – Chapter Four
This example of Nephi’s is not limited to retrieving a book from a hostile cousin. It should apply to any of
life’s challenges. Whatever the difficulties you have with God’s commandments, He is not going to ask you
to do something you cannot do. Whether the challenge is tithing, fasting, Word of Wisdom, faithfulness in
marriage, honesty in dealings with your fellow-man, or any of the other commandments, Nephi’s faith is
that you can, with God’s help, do it. That is how you need to see the challenges you have. No Goliath in
your life will destroy you. Rather, God will destroy the Goliaths for you.
In the end, Goliaths are merely opportunities for you to demonstrate your faith. They will be swept away
when they no longer serve any purpose. They are there only temporarily to provide you with an
opportunity to demonstrate faith.
This life is a time to “prove [you] herewith, to see if [you] will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God
shall command [you].” [T&C 145: Abraham 6:2] Take an inventory of your life. Look again at your
challenges. Those Goliaths you face are opportunities to see if you will proceed in faith to confront them.
They are opportunities and blessings, not difficulties. They are mere illusions; here to test your faith. Face
them with faith and with the confidence ‘the Lord gives you no commandments save he shall prepare a
way for you to accomplish the thing which he hath commanded,’ as Nephi would put it. Until you are
willing to do this, and actually begin to see life’s challenges in this light, you are not ready to proceed
further.
You have to take the proofs, the feelings, the dreams and the insubstantial communications from God
and bring them into the physical and material world in which you live. If you are not willing to bring these
things from the spiritual into the physical realities by your faith, then the veil will remain in place. It draws
aside only as your faith permits it to be drawn aside. It will be you who brings the Second Comforter into
your life by this process. He cannot appear to those who have not broken through the veil by obeying the
spiritual commandments in the physical world.
These things are not optional. They lie at the heart of this process. Faith and trust in God must precede
development into the fully prepared man or woman of faith. “Faith cometh not by signs, but signs follow
those that believe.” [T&C 50:3.] That is, to put it another way: You will need to develop the faith to see first,
before you see. Until your faith allows you to see things in this light, you are not prepared to see beyond
the veil.
Nephi now has an errand to perform. He accepts that errand faithfully and with confidence the Lord is
going to help accomplish it. And he acts in this physical world consistent with faith in the unseen world.
That is how we all need to act.
We all have faith in something. And we act consistent with that faith. Whether faith is in God or in science
or in philosophy, we all act consistent with our beliefs. Since that is invariably true, you may as well accept
Nephi’s view and promise of how things really are and try trusting God in that manner. The alternative is
to stay as you are now, and not progress in spiritual matters.

11. Clearing Off Some Pending Questions
July 14, 2012
What is the “Abrahamic test?”
The Lord adapts the test required to prove a person to their unique
circumstances. The test given to Abraham was adapted perfectly to him. To
understand how great the sacrifice was, the account needed to inform us of the
difficulty encountered by him and Sarah to obtain this child of promise. We
needed to know the promised future inheritance of a posterity as numerous as
the sand or the stars was tied directly to this son’s survival. It was, in the context
of Abraham’s life and promises from God, the sacrifice of everything. All his
hopes, all his promises from God, all his joy with Sarah, all his future descendants
were to be laid on the altar and sacrificed. His heart could only be proven
through this means. The Abrahamic Test, therefore, will ask the same of you. It
will be adapted to what you hope to receive, or have been promised to receive
from God. It will end the work of years, and will require you to sacrifice all to God.
What one person prizes is never the same as another. What would be easy for
one will be nearly impossible for another. The test is adapted to each person. But
it will be equally painful, equally difficult and equally proving of the person. Until
the heart is tried in this manner we can never know we will submit everything to
the Lord. If such a test has not been given you, then it is because the Lord knows
you are not prepared to face it. As soon as you are prepared, you will encounter
it. For most people they will likely be in their 50’s, after having spent many years
preparing to overcome themselves. There are notable examples who were much
younger, namely Samuel or Joseph Smith. Those are exceptions. Abraham was
between 70 and 100, depending on how you reconstruct the chronology. Moses
was 80. Those are not atypical examples. Until you know your own heart is
purified before God, you cannot bear Him nor have the required faith in Him.
This is not an avoidable option, but an essential ingredient in knowing Him. This
is why there are years of preparation generally required, and warnings given
about continuing forward. The recipient must volunteer. And they must be
warned beforehand.
Verses 5 & 6 - continued…
The Sacrifice
March 1, 2010
Abraham’s great test in sacrificing his son Isaac
was all the more difficult when you consider he
was nearly sacrificed when he was younger, by his
father, on an altar, in a false religious practice.
When the true God whom he worshiped asked
him to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac, Abraham
was put in the exact position he knew from his
own past experience to be evil. Despite this,
Abraham complied.
Then God Himself provided a sacrifice. [Gen. 8:5.]
Not the ram found in the thicket on that day, but
a living Son, later-- in a direct corollary to what
had first been asked of Abraham.
Many have stood back in amazement and
considered the task given to Abraham to be
outrageous, inexplicable and offensive. It was. But
it was designed to make us realize how
outrageous, inexplicable and offensive the
sacrifice of God’s Only Begotten was on our
behalf. Abraham was one of the few men whose
experience allowed him to identify with God the
Father.
Come, Let Us Adore Him – Chapter 10
The Rich Young Man
The challenge of the Gospel is that it requires
the same from us all. Whether it is Abraham
asked to sacrifice his beloved son Isaac; or
Stephen being martyred and forfeiting his life;
or Saul asked to repent and join the sect he
was persecuting; or the father of King Lamoni
giving away all his sins, it is always the same. To
obtain the faith necessary for exaltation we are
required to sacrifice all earthly things. What
matters most to one is not what matters most
to another. God will tell any honest soul who
asks: “what lack I yet” the answer that is
individual to them and their life. Although it
may vary from person to person, the result is
always the same. It will require whatever we
value most to be sacrificed. This is the only way
we can develop the faith necessary to save us.
It is the same for everybody, including Christ.
Faith is tied to sacrifice. Sacrifice is giving up
what we value in this world. We must lay it on
the altar.

12. Sacrifice of Isaac
December 29, 2010
There were ancient Jewish traditions which held that Abraham
actually killed Isaac on the mount and the Lord brought Isaac back
to life. The reference in [Hebrews 1:43] seems to be based upon this
earlier tradition; in contrast to the Genesis account [Gen. 8:6]
If Abraham actually slew Isaac, and Isaac was raised from the dead,
the trial of Abraham and the test of Isaac is more analogous to
Christ’s sacrifice than we imagine. Hugh Nibley writes about these
earlier traditions in Abraham in Egypt, pp. 329-344, 372-375.
We imagine the difficulties of the ancients to be less than they were.
Their faith was established through trial, sacrifice, obedience and
consecration. Not to the will of man or men, but to the will of God.
When men attempt to displace obedience to God into submission to
the will of men, then it is not merely an error, it is idolatry. It is an
abomination.
More often than not, obedience to God causes conflict with your
fellow man. It did not get these ancient Saints applause, position,
praise or notice.
Verses 5 & 6 - continued…
Obedience and Sacrifice
December 17, 2015
The first temple covenants are “obedience”
and “sacrifice.” The order places the
obligation for obedience before the
obligation for sacrifice. They belong in that
order.
Obedience requires men to support their
wives [T&C 79:1] and parents to care for their
children [T&C 79:1]. [The first verse of the
Book of Mormon informs us Nephi was
supported by his goodly parents, including
receiving a good education. (1 Ne. 1:1.)] This
principle to care for family must happen
before any sacrifices can be considered.
In other words, before any sacrifice is made
to help the poor, build a temple, support a
community, or any other good and
charitable thing obedience to the
commandment to care for your family
members must be satisfied. Those who fail
to provide for their families are no better
than the faithless. [1 Tim. 1:13] Those who
disobey the obligation to support and care
for their families bring the faith of Christ into
disrepute and cause scorn for His church.

13. LECTURE SIXTH
of FAITH
7 Let us here observe that a religion that does not
require the sacrifice of all things never has power
sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and
salvation. For from the first existence of man, the faith
necessary unto the enjoyment of life and salvation
never could be obtained without the sacrifice of all
earthly things: it was through this sacrifice, and this
only, that God has ordained that men should enjoy
eternal life, and it is through the medium of the
sacrifice of all earthly things that men do actually know
that they are doing the things that are well pleasing in
the sight of God. When a man has offered in sacrifice
all that he has for the truth’s sake, not even
withholding his life, and believing before God that he
has been called to make this sacrifice because he
seeks to do his will, he does know most assuredly that
God does and will accept his sacrifice and offering,
and that he has not nor will not seek his face in vain.
Under these circumstances, then, he can obtain the
faith necessary for him to lay hold on eternal life.
THE LAW of SACRIFICE
Denver stated in the Ten Lectures – Lecture Seven:
I lost friends and was rejected when I converted to
Mormonism. Then I found a new family in the faith
I accepted as a nineteen year old. After forty years
I was rejected by that new family. I have laid
everything on the line for the Lord twice now in a
single lifetime. I cannot tell you what sacrifices He
may ask of you, but whatever He asks of you, that
do you.
The LAW of
SACRIFICE
To attain something of
greater value, one must
give up something of
lesser value

14. LECTURE SIXTH
of FAITH
8 It is in vain for persons to fancy to themselves that they are
heirs with those, or can be heirs with them, who have offered
their all in sacrifice, and by this means obtained faith in God
and favor with him so as to obtain eternal life, unless they in
like manner offer unto him the same sacrifice, and through
that offering obtain the knowledge that they are accepted of
him.
9 It was in offering sacrifices that Abel, the first martyr,
obtained knowledge that he was accepted of God. And from
the days of righteous Abel to the present time, the knowledge
that men have that they are accepted in the sight of God is
obtained by offering sacrifice. And in the last days, before the
Lord comes, he is to gather together his saints who have
made a covenant with him by sacrifice. Ps. 50:1: Our God shall
come and shall not keep silence. A fire shall devour before him
and it shall be very tempestuous round about him. He shall call
to the heavens from above and to the earth that he may judge
his people. Gather my saints together unto me, those that have
made a covenant unto me by sacrifice.
THE LAW of SACRIFICE
Denver stated in the Ten Lectures – Lecture Three:
Some things get asked of you and they require you
to lay even the things you love most on the altar.
You have to choose. Each of you must choose for
yourself the things that you prefer. But if you do
not give primacy to the voice of God speaking to
you, and if all you do is what some man tells you
to do, you will never lay hold upon any key, any
blessing, any right, any priesthood. Until you listen
to God and do what God tells you to do, you will
never lay hold upon anything that gives you the
ability to declare your own rights, keys, honor,
majesty, glory, and power of your own priesthood.

15. LECTURE SIXTH
of FAITH
10 Those, then, who make the sacrifice will have the testimony that
their course is pleasing in the sight of God, and those who have this
testimony will have faith to lay hold on eternal life and will be
enabled, through faith, to endure unto the end and receive the
crown that is laid up for them that love the appearing of our Lord
Jesus Christ. But those who do not make the sacrifice cannot enjoy
this faith because men are dependent upon this sacrifice in order to
obtain this faith, therefore they cannot lay hold upon eternal life
because the revelations of God do not guarantee unto them the
authority so to do, and without this guarantee faith could not exist.
11 All the saints of whom we have account in all the revelations of
God which are extant obtained the knowledge which they had of
their acceptance in his sight through the sacrifice which they offered
unto him, and through the knowledge thus obtained, their faith
became sufficiently strong to lay hold upon the promise of eternal
life, and to endure as seeing him who is invisible, and were enabled
through faith to combat the powers of darkness, contend against the
wiles of the adversary, overcome the world, and obtain the end of
their faith, even the salvation of their souls.
THE LAW of SACRIFICE
Denver stated in the Ten Lectures – Lecture Two:
God will ask of you, whatever he will ask of you.
The only thing I can say is that no price you pay
while tabernacled here is so great that you
should withhold it from the altar. Give what He
asks. Because it is only by giving what he asks of
you, that you can have faith in him unto life and
salvation. You have to know, this is verse 2 of
Lecture 6, you have to have: “An actual
knowledge to any person, that the course of life
which he pursues is according to the will of God,
is essentially necessary to enable him to have
that confidence in God without which no person
can obtain eternal life.”

16. LECTURE SIXTH
of FAITH
12 But those who have not made this sacrifice to God do not know
that the course which they pursue is well-pleasing in his sight, for
whatever may be their belief or their opinion, it is a matter of doubt
and uncertainty in their mind, and where doubt and uncertainty is,
there faith is not, nor can it be. For doubt and faith do not exist in the
same person at the same time. So that persons whose minds are
under doubts and fears cannot have unshaken confidence, and
where unshaken confidence is not, there faith is weak, and where
faith is weak, the persons will not be able to contend against all the
opposition, tribulations, and afflictions which they will have to
encounter in order to be heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ
Jesus, and they will grow weary in their minds, and the adversary will
have power over them and destroy them.
13 This lecture is so plain, and the facts set forth so self-evident, that
it is deemed unnecessary to form a catechism upon it. The student is
therefore instructed to commit the whole to memory.
THE LAW of SACRIFICE
Jacob 3:2
2 Behold, they believed in Christ and worshipped the Father in his name, and
also we worship the Father in his name. And for this intent we keep the law
of Moses, it pointing our souls to him. And for this cause it is sanctified unto
us for righteousness, even as it was accounted unto Abraham in the
wilderness to be obedient unto the commands of God in offering up his son
Isaac, which was a similitude of God and his only begotten Son. Wherefore,
we search the prophets, and we have many revelations and the spirit of
prophecy. And having all these witnesses, we obtain a hope and our faith
becometh unshaken, insomuch that we truly can command in the name of
Jesus and the very trees obey us, or the mountains, or the waves of the sea.
Nevertheless, the Lord God sheweth us our weakness, that we may know that
it is by his grace and his great condescensions unto the children of men that
we have power to do these things.
Jacob explains the pattern to receive
“unshaken confidence”: