A few weeks ago I was talking with a friend and the subject of God and faith came up. My friend said he didn't believe in God, but only believed in science and in things that could be proven. I shared my belief that "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 32:21). He then said he hoped he was wrong, because he thought that there was something "greater out there."

I also believe in science, but I believe science is faith. The discovery of scientific things is based on an act of faith. Before a scientific truth is proven it starts as a theory because someone believed in something they couldn't see, which was true, and worked to prove it- to discover and understand it.

For example, before the discovery of electricity, people did not "know" it existed, or more accurately they didn't understand the manifestations of it (lightning, etc). But Benjamin Franklin acted (with faith) upon his hope of something "not seen, which [is] true" to prove it- to understand it- and through time and experiments people began to learn the truth about electricity.

Electricity has always been around, it has always existed. People understood the powerful effect of lightning (to burn, start fires, and to kill), but they didn't understand the power of electricity, or how to harness it and use it, until its natural laws were discovered and understood.

"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" (Ether 12:6).

Faith in God is the same. One must act in faith (believing in that which is true but can't be seen) to be able to know and understand God's true nature. As one acts in faith (such as praying to God with sincerity and real intent) the Holy Ghost will witness to the truth of all things.

"Now, as I said concerning faith--that it was not a perfect knowledge--even so it is with my words. Ye cannot know of their surety at first, unto perfection, any more than faith is a perfect knowledge.

"But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words" (Alma 32:26-27).

In my previous blog entry I wrote how "All Things Denote There Is a God," but to understand God's true nature a man must come unto Him in faith and "experiment upon the word" to know for himself that God exists.

How have you "experimented upon the word"? Continue reading Alma chapter 32 to learn how the prophet Alma compares faith (and his words) to a seed.

Today while taking a walk, I reflected upon the beauty of the earth, the trees, birds, the sky, etc and pondered the phrase, "All things denote there is a God." This scripture is from The Book of Mormon when the Anti-Christ, Korihor, was contending with the Prophet Alma:

"And now Korihor said unto Alma: If thou wilt show me a sign, that I may be convinced that there is a God, yea, show unto me that he hath power, and then will I be convinced of the truth of thy words.

"But Alma said unto him: Thou hast had signs enough; will ye tempt your God? Will ye say, Show unto me a sign, when ye have the testimony of all these thy brethren, and also all the holy prophets? The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator" (Alma 30:43-44).

Korihor continued to deny the existence of God and Christ, and demanded a sign- which he received. Korihor was "struck dumb" and could not speak nor could he hear. Then Korihor admitted the truth:

"And Korihor put forth his hand and wrote, saying: I know that I am dumb, for I cannot speak; and I know that nothing save it were the power of God could bring this upon me; yea, and I always knew that there was a God.

"But behold, the devil hath deceived me; for he appeared unto me in the form of an angel, and said unto me: Go and reclaim this people, for they have all gone astray after an unknown God. And he said unto me: There is no God; yea, and he taught me that which I should say. And I have taught his words; and I taught them because they were pleasing unto the carnal mind; and I taught them, even until I had much success, insomuch that I verily believed that they were true; and for this cause I withstood the truth, even until I have brought this great curse upon me" (Alma 30:52-53).

Unfortunately for Korihor, he remained cursed and went from house to house begging for food, until a wicked group of people killed him. I really like the last verse of Alma chapter 30 and think it is very profound:

"And thus we see the end of him who perverteth the ways of the Lord; and thus we see that the devil will not support his children at the last day, but doth speedily drag them down to hell" (vs 60).

The "carnal" or natural man wants to reject God and rely upon his own intelligence, but "all things denote there is a God" no matter how one tries to deny it.

How do you know there is a God? How has the Spirit witnessed this truth to you?

Original sin is the belief that because Adam and Eve partook of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil (called 'the fall'), all infants born thereafter are tainted by Adam and Eve's sin. To become pure again all infants must be baptized.

Do Mormons (members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) believe in original sin? Find out what we believe about the fall of Adam and Eve and how it affects us.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is often known for its young missionaries who travel door-to-door and are throughout the world, but did you know that senior couples also serve missions?

The Church has created a great new website for senior missionaries with resources and opportunities for serving full-time missions, or other church related missions. Find what opportunities are currently available for senior missionaries, the estimated monthly mission costs, and application instructions. There are several excellent videos and a list of FAQs.

If you've considered serving a mission with your spouse, now's the time to prepare by learning more.