The prophet Ether exhorts the people to believe in God—Moroni recounts the wonders and marvels done by faith—Faith enabled the brother of Jared to see Christ—The Lord gives men weakness that they may be humble—The brother of Jared moved Mount Zerin by faith—Faith, hope, and charity are essential to salvation—Moroni saw Jesus face to face.
"And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.
"For it was by faith that Christ showed himself unto our fathers, after he had risen from the dead; and he showed not himself unto them until after they had faith in him; wherefore, it must needs be that some had faith in him, for he showed himself not unto the world.
"But because of the faith of men he has shown himself unto the world, and glorified the name of the Father, and prepared a way that thereby others might be partakers of the heavenly gift, that they might hope for those things which they have not seen."
What Is Faith?
A Devotional Dissection of Ether 12:6–8
Ether 12 invites us into a living definition of faith—not as an abstract idea, but as a covenantal way of walking with God. Moroni teaches us that faith is tied to hope, unseen truth, witness, and the trials that refine us. As we go through cross‑references selected, a unified picture emerges: faith is trusting God before the evidence, before the miracle, before the clarity.
We as a people learning together, because faith is always communal as well as personal.
Ether 12:6 — “Faith is things which are hoped for and not seen… ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.”
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
1. Faith Is “Things Which Are Hoped For”
Hope Anchored in What We Do Not Yet See:
"For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
Paul teaches that hope only exists where sight has not yet come.
We hope because we do not yet see the full redemption God has promised.
We wait with patience, trusting that God is already moving.
Together, these verses teach us:
Faith is our willingness to hope in God’s promises before they unfold.
2. Faith Is “Not Seen”
The Substance and Evidence of the Unseen:
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
Paul’s definition aligns perfectly with Moroni:
Faith is the substance (foundation, assurance) of what we hope for,
and the evidence (inner witness) of realities we cannot yet see.
Hope for Things Which Are True
"And now as I said concerning faith—faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true."
Alma adds a crucial layer:
We hope for things that are not seen,
but they are true.
Faith is not blind—it is trust in a true God whose works we have not yet witnessed.
3. “Ye Receive No Witness Until After the
Trial of Your Faith”
"And Moses said, This is the thing which the Lord commanded that ye should do: and the glory of the Lord shall appear unto you."
Moroni teaches that witness follows trial, not the other way around.
This is not punishment—it is formation.
God shapes us into people who can receive, recognize, and carry His witness.
"And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the people."
Witness:
▪︎ In Leviticus, the glory of the Lord appears
after obedience and offering.
Witness comes to those who walk with God long enough to see His hand revealed.
"But behold, the Lord hath redeemed my soul from hell; I have beheld his glory, and I am encircled about eternally in the arms of his love."
Witness:
▪︎ In 2 Nephi, Lehi testifies that the Lord
redeemed his soul and encircled him—a
witness born from a lifetime of trust.
Witness: Principle — “Sign Seekers”
Faith precedes signs; signs never produce faith.
Below are the strongest passages from the Topical Guide list—those that most clearly reinforce Moroni’s teaching that witness follows faith, not the other way around.
Why this verse
▪︎ Jesus directly identifies sign‑seeking as a
symptom of spiritual unfaithfulness.
▪︎ It shows that demanding signs is not neutral
—it reveals a heart unwilling to trust God
without spectacle.
▪︎ This verse pairs perfectly with Ether 12:6
because both teach that faith is the
prerequisite, not the sign.
How it supports the principle
It draws a sharp line:
Faith is covenantal trust; sign‑seeking is spiritual avoidance.
John 4:48 — “Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.”
Why this verse
▪︎ Jesus exposes the human tendency to
withhold belief until God performs.
▪︎ This is the exact opposite of Moroni’s
pattern: witness comes after the trial of
faith, not before.
How it supports the principle
It reveals the flaw in sign‑seeking:
Those who demand signs never arrive at real belief.
Alma 30:43 — Korihor’s demand: “If thou wilt show me a sign…”
Why this verse
▪︎ Korihor is the Book of Mormon’s clearest
example of a sign‑seeker.
▪︎ His demand for a sign is rooted in pride, not
inquiry.
▪︎ His story ends with a sobering truth:
signs do not convert the unbelieving heart.
How it supports the principle
Korihor embodies the danger Moroni warns about: signs without faith lead to
condemnation, not conversion.
Alma 32:17 — “If thou wilt show unto us a sign…”
Why this verse
▪︎ This verse appears in the same chapter that
gives the Book of Mormon’s most complete
teaching on faith.
▪︎ Alma identifies sign‑seeking as a lesser,
spiritually immature desire.
▪︎ He contrasts it with the true seed of faith
that grows through humility and experiment.
How it supports the principle
It shows that sign‑seeking is the opposite of the faith‑experiment Alma invites us into.
D&C 63:7 — “He that seeketh signs shall see signs, but not unto salvation.”
Why this verse
▪︎ This is the clearest doctrinal statement in
the Restoration on the subject.
▪︎ It teaches that God may allow signs—but
they do not save, and they do not create
faith.
▪︎ It reinforces the spiritual law Moroni
teaches: witness without faith does not
sanctify.
How it supports the principle
It draws the doctrinal boundary:
Signs may come, but they cannot replace faith, covenant, or obedience.
Ether 12:6 — “Ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.” (Already in section, but essential to this principle)
Why this verse
▪︎ This is the anchor verse for the entire
principle.
▪︎ It establishes the divine order:
faith » trial » witness, never sign » belief.
How it supports the principle
It is the doctrinal foundation for rejecting sign‑seeking altogether.
Principle: “Sign Seekers” — Why Signs
Cannot Produce Faith
The scriptures teach a consistent pattern:
those who demand signs are not seeking God—they are avoiding trust.
▪︎ Jesus warns that a sign‑seeking heart is
spiritually unfaithful (Matt. 12:39).
▪︎ He laments that some will not believe
unless they see miracles (John 4:48).
▪︎ Korihor and others demand signs,
but their hearts remain unchanged
(Alma 30:43; 32:17).
▪︎ The Lord declares that sign‑seekers may
see signs, but “not unto salvation”
(D&C 63:7).
▪︎ Moroni teaches the true order: witness
comes only after the trial of our faith
(Ether 12:6).
Together, these passages reveal a single truth:
Faith is born in trust, not spectacle.
Signs may follow faith, but they can never create it.
Trial
"Behold, I was about to write them, all which were engraven upon the plates of Nephi, but the Lord forbade it, saying: I will try the faith of my people."
Christ teaches that He withholds greater things until we believe.
Our trials become the proving ground where our trust matures.
Trial — Principle: “Test, Try, Prove”
God refines us through trials so our faith can mature.
These are the strongest passages from list—those that most clearly reinforce the pattern Christ teaches in 3 Nephi 26:11:
Greater things are withheld until our faith is tried.
Job 23:10 — “When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.”
Why this verse
▪︎ This is the clearest Old Testament
statement of refining‑through‑trial.
▪︎ Job understands that God’s testing is not
punitive—it is purifying.
▪︎ It pairs beautifully with Ether 12:6:
trial » refinement » witness.
How it supports the principle
It teaches that God’s trials are transformative, not destructive.
Zechariah 13:9 — “I will… try them as gold is tried.”
Why this verse
▪︎ This verse gives the divine voice explaining
the purpose of trials.
▪︎ It uses the same refining imagery as Job,
but from God’s perspective.
▪︎ It emphasizes covenant relationship:
“They shall call on my name… I will say, It is
my people.”
How it supports the principle
It shows that God’s testing is an act of covenantal belonging.
James 1:3 — “The trying of your faith worketh patience.”
Why this verse
▪︎ James gives the New Testament’s most
direct doctrinal statement on the purpose
of trials.
▪︎ Trials produce endurance, which is
essential for discipleship.
▪︎ This verse aligns perfectly with Moroni’s
teaching that witness comes after the trial.
How it supports the principle
It shows that trials grow something in us—they are not arbitrary.
1 Peter 1:7 — “The trial of your faith… be found unto praise.”
Why this verse
▪︎ Peter teaches that trials reveal the
genuineness of our faith.
▪︎ He compares faith to gold, but says faith is
more precious.
▪︎ The outcome of trial is praise, honor, and
glory in Christ.
How it supports the principle
It shows that trials elevate and honor the faithful disciple.
D&C 98:14 — “I will prove you in all things.”
Why this verse
▪︎ This is the Restoration’s clearest statement
of God’s intent to prove His people.
▪︎ It frames proving as part of discipleship, not
punishment.
▪︎ It connects directly to Abraham’s pattern
(which appears later in the list).
How it supports the principle
It teaches that proving is a divine pattern, not an exception.
D&C 101:4 — “They must needs be chastened and tried.”
Why this verse
▪︎ This verse explains that trials are part of
God’s covenantal shaping.
▪︎ “Needs be” shows that trials are necessary,
not accidental.
▪︎ It reinforces the idea that God is forming a
people capable of receiving greater things.
How it supports the principle
It shows that trials are part of God’s loving discipline.
Abraham 3:25 — “We will prove them herewith.”
Why this verse
▪︎ This is the cosmic, premortal statement of
the principle.
▪︎ It reveals the eternal purpose of mortality:
to be proved, to see if we will do all things
God commands.
▪︎ It ties directly to Ether 12’s theme of faith
being tested before witness.
How it supports the principle
It places all earthly trials within an eternal framework.
Principle: “Test, Try, Prove” — Why God
Allows Trials
Scripture reveals a consistent pattern:
God tests, tries, and proves His people—not to harm us, but to refine us.
▪︎ Job teaches that when God tries us, we
“come forth as gold” (Job 23:10).
▪︎ Zechariah shows God refining His covenant
people as a sign of belonging (Zech. 13:9).
▪︎ James teaches that the trying of our faith
produces endurance (James 1:3).
▪︎ Peter teaches that the trial of faith leads to
praise and glory in Christ (1 Pet. 1:7).
▪︎ The Lord declares that He will “prove” us in
all things (D&C 98:14).
▪︎ He teaches that His people “must needs be…
tried” to be prepared (D&C 101:4).
▪︎ Abraham reveals the eternal purpose of
mortality: to be proved (Abr. 3:25).
Together, these passages reveal a single truth:
Trials are the sacred spaces where God shapes us, strengthens us, and prepares us to receive greater things.
Ether 12:7 — “For he showed himself not unto the world.”
4. Faith Determines Who Sees Christ
"Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead."
Peter testifies that the resurrected Christ appeared not to everyone,
but to chosen witnesses—those prepared by faith, covenant, and discipleship.
"Not to all the people" — Acts 10:41
Moroni’s point becomes clear:
Faith opens our eyes to Christ.
Unbelief closes them.
This is not exclusion—it is invitation.
Christ reveals Himself to those who are willing to trust Him before they see Him.
Modern prophets echo this pattern:
▪︎ Elder Holland teaches that God often asks
▪︎ Elder Bednar teaches that spiritual
knowledge comes “line upon line,” often
after we act in faith.
▪︎ President Nelson teaches that revelation
flows to those who “seek, ask, and knock”
with real intent.
Faith is the condition of revelation.
Faith is the lens through which Christ becomes visible.
Ether 12:8 — “Because of the faith of men he has shown himself unto the world…”
5. Faith Opens the Way for Others
Moroni shifts from personal faith to communal blessing:
Because some exercised faith, Christ showed Himself, glorified the Father, and prepared a way for others to receive the heavenly gift.
Faith is never private.
Our trust in Christ becomes a blessing to others—our children, our community, our world.
Modern prophets echo this pattern:
▪︎ President Eyring teaches that our faith can
“open channels of revelation” for our
families.
▪︎ Elder Maxwell reminds us that faith is “not a
single act, but a state of being,” shaping the
world around us.
▪︎ Elder Uchtdorf teaches that faith in Christ
“always leads to action,” and that action
becomes a blessing to others.
Faith is a gift we receive,
a path we walk,
and a blessing we extend.
Unified Answer to the Question:
“What Is Faith?”
Drawing Ether 12:6–8 together
Faith is our covenantal trust in God:
▪︎ A trust that hopes before it sees
▪︎ Acts before it understands
▪︎ Endures before it receives
▪︎ Blesses others as it grows
Faith is not certainty.
Faith is not proof.
Faith is not spectacle.
Faith is choosing to trust Jesus Christ:
▪︎ In the unseen
▪︎ In the waiting
▪︎ In the trial
▪︎ In the promise that He will reveal Himself
▪︎ In His own time.
When we walk this path together,
We become a people who see Christ, and through our faith, others learn to see Him too.
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