Why is Faith the 1st principle?

[Seminarysnoozer]

The following is pure speculation.

In my opinion, the reason faith is so important is because it brings a chance of failing into the equation of being tested in mortality.

In my opinion, the reason faith is so important is because it brings the only chance for real and eternal success.

Faith, by definition, requires reliance on someone else' work. Without faith a person would only rely on their own work which is satanic by definition. God's work is the opposite of Satan's. The most joy occurs when a person can feel the joy from the success of others, not just their own. The least joy occurs when a person can only experience the joy based in their own work and proving things to themselves without any assistance. Distrust and doubt is a tool of satan because it takes away one's ability to love their neighbor as their self and to empathize or actually experience someone else success. This is why the family unit is so important, it teaches this basic truth. This is a basic truth whether in this realm, the one before or the one after. It is not just a truth for this situation.

[CarstenNorgaard]

Faith, by definition, requires reliance on someone else' work.

I agree :)

Without faith a person would only rely on their own work which is satanic by definition.

Jesus Christ certainly had knowledge beyond faith, both as Jehovah in the Old Testament and as Christ in the New Testament, but still supported the work of the Father. In fact, he said that he was not able to do anything except that which he had seen the Father do.

Scientists who do not believe in God still have to stand on the shoulders of giants in their work. The very idea of peer reviewing to distinguish truth from error is a basic scientific method, the implementation of which certainly shows that obtaining truth requires team effort (especially in mortality, which would probably still exist in a universe where knowledge was the 1st principle).

Even with knowledge, one fact remains: The truth existed before you, and it will exist after you. It does not belong to you. It simply is: Intelligence is light, and it was not created. The truth simply consists of things as they really were, as they really are and as they really willy be. That's that.

In my opinion, that is why the unforgivable sin is unforgivable: It is knowing, direct and willful action against the eternal laws of the universe, against intelligence and light.

Actually, following the pattern of opposition in all things, Jesus Christ is the perfect example as to how a perfect knowledge leads one to obey and follow principles that came from someone else, opposed to the nature of Satan.

What do you think? :)

[HEthePrimate]

Faith is often thought of as belief in something without evidence, or even contrary to reason. However, faith also means trust in a person or entity, and I find that definition more useful. According to the scriptures you don't have to take the existence of God, or the truthfulness of the Gospel on blind faith. They say you can ask God in prayer to manifest himself to you, and to let you know if the gospel is true. In other words, you're not just taking somebody else's word for it--you can experience it for yourself.

Faith has to do with the type of relationship God wants to have with us. He wants us to love and trust him, trust that he has our best interest at heart and is faithful to us when he asks us to do difficult things. And he wants to know that he can trust us, so we need to be faithful to him, as well.

It's not about believing whatever we're told by authority figures. It's about building relationships of trust. Children come to trust their parents because their parents take good care of them, feeding them, clothing them, making them do their homework. Kids might not like it all the time, like cleaning their rooms or taking a bath, but with time they come to realize that their parents tell them to do those things because it's best for them. This builds kids' faith and trust in their parents. God wants to have that kind of intimate relationship with us, and to realize that kind of mutual trust.

Faith and reason are not opposed to each other at all. If anything, faith is based on reason. If a child is abused by her parents, it is reasonable that she would not have faith in them. But if she has good parents, her faith in them will be well-founded.

I believe God is trustworthy. But faith is something that doesn't just come automatically, it's built of over time. So we need to give God a chance, work with him, and learn firsthand that he is faithful to us, and we should be faithful to him.

</testimony meeting> LOL

[Seminarysnoozer]

I agree :)

Jesus Christ certainly had knowledge beyond faith, both as Jehovah in the Old Testament and as Christ in the New Testament, but still supported the work of the Father. In fact, he said that he was not able to do anything except that which he had seen the Father do.

Scientists who do not believe in God still have to stand on the shoulders of giants in their work. The very idea of peer reviewing to distinguish truth from error is a basic scientific method, the implementation of which certainly shows that obtaining truth requires team effort (especially in mortality, which would probably still exist in a universe where knowledge was the 1st principle).

Even with knowledge, one fact remains: The truth existed before you, and it will exist after you. It does not belong to you. It simply is: Intelligence is light, and it was not created. The truth simply consists of things as they really were, as they really are and as they really willy be. That's that.

In my opinion, that is why the unforgivable sin is unforgivable: It is knowing, direct and willful action against the eternal laws of the universe, against intelligence and light.

Actually, following the pattern of opposition in all things, Jesus Christ is the perfect example as to how a perfect knowledge leads one to obey and follow principles that came from someone else, opposed to the nature of Satan.

What do you think? :)

I think, I agree with you 100%. Thanks.