Exceedingly Great Faith

Faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things,” wrote Alma in his great discourse on faith. “Therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true” (Alma 32:21).

The Book of Mormon is filled with stories of “exceedingly great faith” (Alma 13:3). Shown here are powerful images, created by Latter-day Saint artists, based on some of these stories.

Moroni taught us how to gain faith and a testimony of the Book of Mormon. He wrote: “Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, … ponder [them] in your hearts. … [Then] ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things” (Moro. 10:3–5).

The artists express their testimonies in the works shown on these pages.

For the Blessings of Liberty (see Alma 46), by Scott M. Snow, oil on canvas, 1999.

Such Great Faith (see Alma 19), by Walter Rane, oil on canvas, 2003.

Moroni and the Title of Liberty (see Alma 46), by Rodolfina and Rosina Ustupo, textile mola, 1967.

Nephi, the Tool Maker (see 1 Ne. 17:9–10, 16), by John Parrish, bronze sculpture, 2002.

A New Light in the Barge (see Ether 2–3), by Trent Gudmundsen, oil on canvas, 2002.

Lehi’s Vision of the Tree of Life (see 1 Ne. 8, 11), by Robert Yellowhair, oil on canvas, 1990.

Nephi Obtains the Plates from Laban (see 1 Ne. 4), by Herman H. Haag, oil on canvas, 1894.

The Third Time (see 3 Ne. 11), by Filiberto Gutiérrez, glazed ceramic sculpture, 2002.

Mormon (see Morm. 1:1–5; Morm. 2:16–19), by Eric Wilson, bronze sculpture, 2002.

Alma the Younger Called to Repentance (see Alma 36:6–10), by James C. Christensen, leaded stained glass, 1977.

Artwork courtesy of Museum of Church History and Art