GLIMPSES OF THE MEANING OF FAITH

Faith in Jesus Christ is a firm belief that He is the only Begotten Son of God, and that He is our Savior and Redeemer. The word 'savior' means one who rescues from danger. One of the definitions for 'redeemer' is one who pays off debts owed. We therefore exercise faith in Jesus Christ by believing that He rescues us from physical death and has paid the price for our sins through His *Atonement.

Faith in Jesus Christ leads to the conviction that it is only through His(Christ's) grace and mercy that we return to live with Heavenly Father again. 'Grace' is a word that means divine love and protection. Elder Bednar explains 'grace' as the enabling power of the Atonement. My favorite synonym for mercy is kindness. Hence faith in Christ helps us recognize that it is only through His divine love and protection or the enabling power of His Atonement and His kindness that we return to live with our Father in Heaven again.

Truly, we show our faith in Jesus Christ by accepting and applying His Atonement and teachings to our lives.

*Atonement: The event that enables us to be reconciled to God. To
atone is to suffer the penalty for sin, thereby removing the effects
of sin from repentant sinners. Jesus Christ was the only one capable
of making a perfect Atonement for all mankind. His Atonement
included His suffering for our sins, the shedding of His blood, and
His death and Resurrection. Because of the Atonement, everyone
who has lived will be resurrected. The Atonement also provides us
with a way to be forgiven of our sins and to live forever with God.
(Plan of Salvation Pamphlet, Page18)