It's in D&C 121:45
It says:
"Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood; shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven."
I was wondering What is the household of faith?
Also what does this scripture mean to you?
Thanks a million for your input!!!
2007-10-30 05:48:43 · 6 answers · asked by dancingqueen 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The "household of faith" means, to me, someone's lifelong efforts to be faithful and their faith in all good things from God.
This verse is one of the most beautiful in all the scriptures, and is at the end of what is known as the "oath and covenant of the priesthood".
It is guidance for how the priesthood is to be used and how we are to serve one another.
My favorite part is where the Lord promises that if we adhere to this counsel, the "doctrine of the priesthood shall distill upon thy soul as the dews from heaven". This message is repeated throughout the scriptures: Humble yourself and seek God's word, and as you do so, your knowledge and faith will be increased until you have a fulness of knowledge.
When I read verses like these, I wonder how anyone could doubt Joseph's prophetic calling! :-)
2007-10-30 05:57:59 · answer #1 · answered by Open Heart Searchery 7 · 7⤊ 0⤋
"household of faith" means to me the sincere believers in God.
Generally the whole paragraph shows that Joseph Smith was very capable at urging people to be strong in faith, at least in writing, and particularly loving, especially toward their fellows in the church for the sake of unified community [most prized of all thing in my faith]. That is all evident in the believers of the Church of LDS, despite their otherwise controversial view on God and faith. I agree that is some of Smith's better writing.
I'm Baha'i, but the LDS are praised for their efforts toward moral conduct in the Baha'i writings, and family and church unity. At the very least this is generally so by comparison the current society as a whole. Many friends of my family are LDS, and I enjoy speaking with the missionaries, though they usually don't return when I invite them back...
By contrast Jehovah's Witness' are usually frustrated and scared of me from the get go... What do you mean Christ's returned, and in Persia no less!? As if He wasn't to return from the east, veiled in the clouds as the Sun rises in the east... They're usually so dumbfounded they can't even get a sentence out, but leave in haste... The LDS missionaries at least remain cordial for the visit, discussing both faiths, and offer help with physical labor often.
There was one great exception of who did continually return to my house to visit before I became a Baha'i, and his name was [Elder] Porter, whose companion [Elder] Stansfield, also very nice; never but twice before have a met such a genuine, and sweet natured adult as Elder Porter, just as a matter of his innate disposition. The other two were: Chris [don't know last name] 7th Day Adventist, very sincere studious and prayerful young man, and a person, middle aged, whose son my family bought a house from in Washington state named Stankowitz, who spoke of nothing but God whose face was positively radiant, a true believer if there ever was one.
God bless.
2007-10-30 13:57:26 · answer #2 · answered by Gravitar or not... 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I love this passage. I would use the term 'household of faith" on many different levels. To my home, neighborhood, ward, stake the church, the world of believers. It is a term that returns me first the basic unit of the church the home. As I build a home of faith, I radiate outward.
2007-10-31 10:38:12 · answer #3 · answered by Isolde 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
If you look at the footnotes for this scripture you see a reference to 1 Thes. 3: 12 - "And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:..." It appears that the instruction is to love one another, i.e. those who are members of the church or of the household of faith, and also to love all men.
So, it looks to me that "the household of faith," refers to fellow members of the church. Sometimes we are kindest to those outside of our homes, when we need to remember to be kind to one another in our homes, or within our wards or branches.
2007-11-06 15:50:01 · answer #4 · answered by Doctor 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
household of faith = maybe Membership of Zion. All those who follow Christ and or do good to others?
Just an idea
D
2007-11-01 20:01:30 · answer #5 · answered by Dionysus 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ditto to all that BetaFish has said. There isn't anything more I could add.
2007-10-30 13:07:34 · answer #6 · answered by Guitarpicker 7 · 6⤊ 0⤋