According to Joseph Smith, faith is built upon knowledge of three things: (1) the idea of the existence of God; (2) a correct idea of his character, perfections, and attributes; and (3) an actual knowledge that the course in life one is pursuing is according to God’s will (see Lectures on Faith 3:2-5).
The first two prerequisites for faith in God have to do with a knowledge of God. They may be had through studying and searching and pondering the word of the Lord and the testimonies of those who have known him. The third prerequisite has to do with ourselves. A person may have the assurance from the Lord that he is on course only if he is indeed on course!
There exists in the souls of the faithful a constant yearning to improve, to repent, to bring their lives into harmony with the heavens. There also exists in those souls a quiet confidence born of the Spirit a consciousness of increasing victory over self a subtle but certain assurance and peace that the Lord is pleased. Such a knowledge, such a victory, comes only through an unconditional surrender to the will of the Master, only through a willingness to sacrifice all things for the kingdom’s sake (see D&C 97:8; Lectures on Faith 6:7).
“Ye Hope for Things”
There is another facet to faith which is often misunderstood. Faith is not the power of positive thinking. One does not have faith simply because he is positive or optimistic. Faith is based on the truth, the truth as God knows it, the truth as a manifestation of the will and pleasure of the Lord. We do need to be positive, for there is no virtue in being long-faced and dreary.
But faith is another matter entirely. If a priesthood bearer is called upon to heal a dying man, for example, he does not command the sick one to rise from his bed of affliction in the name of faith, when that “faith” is no more than wishful thinking or hope that the man will live. “Working by faith is not the mere speaking of a few well-chosen words,” Elder McConkie wrote.
“Anyone with the power of speech could have commanded the rotting corpse of Lazarus to come forth, but only one whose power was greater than death could bring life again to the brother of Mary and Martha. Nor is working by faith merely a mental desire, however strong, that some eventuality shall occur. There may be those whose mental powers and thought processes are greater than any of the saints, but only persons who are in tune with the Infinite can exercise the spiritual forces and powers that come from him.”