One may ask, “What is faith?” Perfect faith is another condition of Salvation. The Apostle Paul (Hab. 2-4; “The just shall live by faith,” explains what faith is: “The substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” The word substance means that which stands under, or, the underlying reality of things. It is that which sustains the creations of the mind, or the physical world (including all created existences). It is that which makes matter perceptible to us. For instance: here is an object. We examine it, and find that it has a certain weight. It has a peculiar color, and also that it is impervious to most acids. It readily amalgamates with mercury, and that for practical purposes, it forms valuable alloys with silver, or copper, etc., etc. We call it gold. Another object, with a different combination of qualities, we call silver, another we call copper. That which sustains all matter is its substance. What substance is in the material world, faith is in the spiritual world. It is the very foundation of the qualities—love, humility, peace, joy, benevolence, etc.—which are essential characteristics of the Christian character.
St. Paul further explains that “through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things that are seen were not made of things which do appear;” for no matter what scientists may assert, the beginning of things, their origins, being outside our sphere of experience or observation, can nevertheless be known through faith. Only through faith do we comprehend that the universe of which we are part is the Divine idea which received form in a material creation. Abel, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Samuel, and many others, are mentioned as examples of what mortals can accomplish if they have the power that comes from faith in God. (See pp. 302 and 303, Vol. 1, Commentary on the Book of Mormon
It is important to remember that faith means not only the conviction of the mind, but also that which is believed. That is, the Gospel or the creed, which in the mind of the Apostle is a long step in advance of the Law of Moses. (See Gal. 3, it is not maintained that a Christian is without works of righteousness, but that it is the Gospel and not the Law of Moses that has saved him, and made him capable of living a righteous life.
When we left our Celestial Abode to dwell with mortals on the Earth, we left behind all memory of that happy, holy, home. There, it has been revealed to us, God was indeed our Father, and all men are our brothers. To the unenlightened and those who refuse to believe the Lord’s words when He speaks through His Holy Prophets, such an abiding place is entirely within the realm of fantasy. Every suggestion of the reality of that pre-existent home has become obscure to the unbeliever in a maze of human denials, personal opinions, and selfish irresponsibilities. All such individuals, it may be said, have been drawn into a labyrinth of inconsistent and opposing doctrine. Some students when considering the philosophy of life, reject the guidance offered them by the Word of the Lord and therefore sink deeper and deeper into the muck of unbelief where ignorance and superstition lead them to deny that which faith and good works impart to those who love the truth.
As we have stated faith is a Gospel requirement. Also we have pointed out that some men refuse to believe His Holy Word; they, in their peremptory manner, demand that they be given a sign which will dispel all uncertainty from their minds regarding God and His relationship to the human family. But, as Alma said to the Zoramites that if a man knoweth a thing “he hath no cause to believe, for he knoweth it.” (v. 18) Belief in God is a motivating power which causes obedience to His laws, and it is easily understood when we consider the same incentive applied to other activities. Again, we quote from Elder Morgan, “To enable a man to perform any work whatever requires that he have faith in the ultimate result of his work. No farmer would plant unless he expected to reap; no builder build, unless he expected to inhabit; no speculator invest, unless he expected to increase his means; no journey would be attempted unless there existed the hope of reaching the destination. So, likewise, no commandment of God would be obeyed unless there existed faith that certain blessings would follow obedience. With this idea plainly before us we can comprehend the assertion of the Apostle Paul to the Hebrews: ”But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." (Heb. 11:6)
To impress upon the minds of his hearers that God is just and merciful, and that He requires no more than He provides for, Alma stressed the vast difference in responsibility between one who through faith alone—one who only believes in God—keeps the Lord’s commandments, and one who notwithstanding greater knowledge, nevertheless “doeth it not.” The one who knoweth the will of God and does not abide it is more cursed than he who merely has faith, or belief, and “falleth into transgression.” “It,” meaning the justice meted out, Alma said, “shall be unto every man according to his work.” By the word abide we understand its meaning is to face or submit to a thing without shrinking.