Most people easily confuse Faith and Hope and use them interchangeably. True it is that faith, and hope are both required but they are not the same, just very close, but those differences make all the difference. I take for a text today Moroni 7 in the Book of Mormon. A great chapter discussing Faith, Hope, and Charity (side note...one of the last things talked about in the Book of Mormon corresponds nicely to the general theme of today's general conferences of Faith, Hope, and Charity. We are indeed in the Latter end of the Last Days). Anyways, what is the definition of Hope. Preach My Gospel gives a simple definition: Hope is the assurance that you will have eternal life. The spirit is the assurance and promise that we have eternal life. We always talk about how to increase faith but lets now discuss increasing hope. First what it is that ye shall hope for? Moroni 7:41. That is the perfect scripture to define hope. Now without a correct idea of faith
(1. Knowledge that there is a God,
2. Correct Knowledge of His attributes,
3. Knowledge that the course of your life is aligned with His will.-Joseph Smith) we can have a correct hope. For without faith there cannot be any hope (verse 42).
Now you can not have faith nor hope unless you are meek and lowly of heart (verse 43). So how do you obtain meekness and lowliness of heart?
Read Moroni 8:26 which gives the answer. The Remission of sins bringeth meekness and lowliness of heart. Well, you may now ask, what brings a Remission of sins?
Quickly Scan verse 25 and we find out that the fulfilling the commandments bringeth remission of sins...and the fulfilling the commandments cometh by baptism which is the first fruits of repentance and cometh only by faith.
So simple and so basic, but so profound! Now read both verses together (Moroni 8:25-26) because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which comforter filleth with hope and perfect love which love endureth by diligence unto prayer until the end shall come, when all the saints shall dwell with God (Celestial Kingdom). Now I ask, can you feel the truth of that? I know am sharing a lot of scriptures but just a few more, read Moroni 7:44-47.
In other words it is simply stating that you can feel everything about faith and hope and yet if you fail to share that same love and knowledge with others you are Nothing! Charity never Faileth and as you have charity for your fellowmen you want them to feel the same assurance and promise of Eternal Life that you have! I can not be more bold. Now you are possessed with Charity and can boldly declare along with Mormon
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