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KIRK - Does Faith have an end??? or Do we still need to exercise faith even after reaching the state of exaltation. scriptural references can be of great help and very much appreciated.
JOEL - Faith is an eternal principle. It is not just a belief in something not seen(Heb 11:11); it is also a real power that can be called upon to perform miracles and create universes.
Elder Bruce R. McConkie, quoting the Prophet Joseph Smith said, "that the effects of faith "embrace all things in heaven and on earth, and encompass all the creations of God, with all their endless varieties. No world has yet been framed that was not framed by faith, neither has there been an intelligent being on any of God's creations who did not get there by reason of faith as it existed in himself or in some other being"—worlds are
created and men are saved by faith!—"nor has there been a change or a revolution in any of the creations of God, but it has been effected by faith; neither will there be a change or a revolution, unless it is effected in the same way, in any of the vast creations of the Almighty, for it is by faith that the Deity works." (McConkie, New Witness for the Articles of Faith)
Paul wrote, "Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God." (Heb. 11:3.)
Joseph Smith said: "Faith [is] the first principle in revealed religion, and the foundation of all righteousness." "Faith . . . is the first great governing principle which has power, dominion, and authority over all things; by it they exist, by it they are upheld, by it they are changed, or by it they remain, agreeable to the will of God. Without it there is no power, and without power there could be no creation nor existence!" (Lectures on Faith 1:1, 22-24.)
Some people think that the Lord does not operate by faith because he has all knowledge. In a sense this is true. However, Joseph Smith is talking about faith as power. If God ceased to have faith, he would cease to have power. Faith, or power, is an eternal attribute of God.
By the time we reach exaltation and become all-knowing and omnipotent like God, we may not need faith in the sense of believing things not seen, but we will still call on the power of faith to perform all the miracles and creative activities associated with a God.
Victor L. Ludlow said:
"In premortality, we were not called upon to exercise our faith in God until we agreed both to leave behind our intimate knowledge of his existence and also to develop faith in his power to bring us back to him. The bulk of our development of faith must then take place here on earth, away from him. If we regain his presence, our knowledge will be perfect, supplanting faith; the eternal cycle will be complete for us as our faith is
transformed into divine power. Therefore, faith remains throughout our progression as "the first great governing principle which has power, dominion, and authority over all things." (Lectures on Faith 1:24) Once we transform our faith into power, we can assist in beginning a new cycle by organizing intelligences into spirits and creating worlds on which they can develop their faith." (Ludlow, Principles and Practices of the Restored Gospel)
Even though faith, in one sense, ''is not to have a perfect knowledge of things'' (Alma 32:21), God and Jesus Christ, who know all things, are nonetheless perfect in faith. In fact, two of the names of Christ are ''Faithful and True'' (Rev. 19:11; see also 1 Cor. 10:13; Heb. 2:17.)
Thus, any exalted person who also has perfect knowledge, will still call upon the power of faith when they become as God. This is why it is so important to first exercize and experience faith in this life so that we might turn it into a great power that we will use into the eternities.
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