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"Faith... Hope for Things Which Are Not Seen, Which Are True," Alma 32:21

Alma 32:21
...therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true.
In other words: Faith is a hope of things which are true, which are not seen. ( At first I had written "cannot be seen," but that's not correct. )

Why do we need to hope for things that are true? If it's true, then isn't that just a fact of reality. How can faith make of absolute truth (that which is unchangeable), how can it change truth into a variable which requires action? Actually, it's not the truth that is the variable, it is the faith that becomes the variable. The phrase "according to your faith" seems to echo this sentiment. (see Matthew 9:28-29, D & C 8:10-11). Faith is the variable, and Truth is the constant against which we are given to act.

God is the most invariable truth in the universe. Jesus Christ and the reality of His atonement -- these are truths that are unchangeable. In fact, they will not change. The love of God is constant, never failing, never ending! If truth doesn't change and is a universal constant in our day to day lives, why do we have such a difficult time 1) even believing that such a thing exists and 2) accessing it when we need it.

The greatest truths in the universe are required to be kept visually from our sight, so that we can learn how to act by faith. This is a condition of our mortality-- of our probation. This is first so that we will learn to believe in God ( because to see someone is physical proof, but to trust someone is a much deeper form of engagement ).  But then faith is required for us to see ourselves as He sees US. God is truth. Man is the offspring of truth and the potential of truth. Can we see man as God sees him? That indeed is a great test of faith -- to see something as it is not, and yet to believe in its potential to become something more.

Faith is hope for things which are true and for things which can be true, most of which is not seen.

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