Doctrine and Covenants of the Final Restoration
The Restored Lectures on Faith
Given through Christopher Glenn Marriott at Huntington Beach, California, Fall 2025. Being the restored text of the revelation on faith, which was contained in the original Doctrine and Covenants of the church of Joseph Smith as the Lectures on Faith, and afterward removed from that record in the year 1921 without announcement to the people. These lectures are restored here by commandment, as part of the fullness of the gospel belonging to the Final Restoration. The text is that of the original, with a brief introduction given by revelation.
What follows is the text of the Lectures on Faith as originally prepared, beginning with the first lecture.
On the subject of faith, we shall observe, that faith being the first principle in revealed religion, and the foundation of all righteousness, it is an all important subject for the consideration of every person who is desirous of obtaining salvation; for without faith there is not, nor can there be, either power, godliness, or salvation; for without faith it is impossible to please God; and as faith is the moving cause of all action in temporal concerns, so also in spiritual things.
But faith is not only the principle of action, but of power also, in all intelligent beings, whether in heaven or on earth. Thus says the author of the epistle to the Hebrews, in the eleventh chapter and third verse: through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God. By this we understand that the principle of power which existed in the bosom of God, by which the worlds were framed, was faith; and that it is by reason of this principle of power existing in the Deity, that all created things exist; so that all things in heaven, on earth, or under the earth, exist by reason of faith as it existed in Him.
Had it not been for the principle of faith the worlds would never have been framed, neither would man have been formed of the dust. It is the principle by which Jehovah works, and through which he exercises power over all temporal as well as eternal things. Take this principle or attribute from him, and he would cease to exist.
Who cannot see, that if God framed the worlds by faith, that it is by faith that he exercises power over them, and that faith is the principle of power? And if the principle of power, it must be so in man as well as in the Deity? This is the testimony of all the sacred writers, and the lesson which they have been endeavoring to teach to man.
The Savior says, Matthew 17:19, 20, in explaining the reason why the disciples could not cast out the devil, it was because of their unbelief; for he said unto them, if ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, remove hence to yonder place, and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Mark 11:22, 23, 24: And Jesus answering, saith unto them, have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, that whosoever shall say unto this mountain, be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea, and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass, he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, what things soever ye desire when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
It is by faith that the Deity works. If we were able to possess faith in the same degree as he possesses it, we should be able to do as he does. Faith, then, is the first great governing principle which has power, dominion, and authority over all things.
The remaining lectures are published in the complete edition of the Doctrine and Covenants of the Final Restoration. This section contains the first lecture in full as a witness of the restoration of these teachings to the saints.