Faith and hope are closely tied. In one sense, a type of hope, what Alma called “a desire to believe” (Alma 32:27), precedes faith. That is to say, before faith in Christ can be firmly established one must begin with some kind of desire to believe. Then as a person gains the quiet assurance that there is a God, gains a correct understanding of the nature and perfections of God, and gains the assurance from the Lord that his course in life is approved, he is on the pathway of faith. When one has faith in Christ- trusts in his almighty power to forgive and lift and lighten and transform the soul- one begins to gain that hope which comes only as a result of believing in and relying upon the merits and mercy of Christ.
Hope in this sense is not a weak and whimpering yearning that lacks even the beginning of assurance. It is not expressed in such thoughts as “I hope I can get to heaven one day,” or “I hope the Lord will forgive my sins,” or “I hope there’s a place for people like me in the celestial kingdom.” Rather, to have hope in Christ is to have the peaceful assurance that one is on course, the quiet confidence that in general terms the Lord is pleased with one’s efforts, the anticipation of happiness here and glory and horror hereafter. Alma encouraged his people to live in such a way as to allow the Spirit of the Lord to cleanse and direct them, “and thus be led by the Holy Spirit, becoming humble, meek, submissive, patient, full of love and all long-suffering; having faith on the Lord; having a hope that ye shall receive eternal life” (Alma 13:28-29, italics added).