Joseph Smith saw a pillar of light. Most of the time, we receive revelation in less spectacular ways. Elder Alexander Dushku called these "rays." Many small experiences of receiving personal revelation can combine into a powerful testimony of the gospel.
Strengthening the Foundation of Our Faith
Moroni, Alma, and Paul all indicate that faith involves hoping for something which you can't see. Paul adds that faith is the foundation or evidence for that hope. We build faith by having more experiences with God and by doing things which require faith.
Faith Comes First
Moroni wasn't impressed with Ether's people. They refused to believe anything they couldn't see. What's admirable about that? Faith is admirable. It's a choice to believe in an environment of uncertainty. It's the patience to wait for promised blessings.
On Seeing and Believing
The old adage "Seeing is believing" isn't always true. We are very good at rationalizing away inconvenient facts. We need to follow the example of the five Nephites who ran to the judgment seat to test Nephi's prophecy, and "when they saw they believed."
Received or Cast Out
In the next life, we will either be received into a state of peace and joy called paradise, or we will be cast out into a state of sorrow and pain. To enter that state of paradise, we must be changed by the grace of God.
Faith and Unforced Humility
Alma taught the Zoramites that it's better to humble yourself than to be compelled to be humble. He also said that choosing to have faith is better than waiting for knowledge. Spiritual growth depends upon personal initiative. We grow by exercising agency
You Can Do This!
Alma taught the humble Zoramites how to turn to God, and he expressed faith in their ability to do so with God's help. "All this can ye do if ye will," he said. Modern church leaders have expressed the same sentiment: You can do this!
Poor in Heart
Mormon characterized a group of people who were receptive to Alma's teaching as "poor in heart" because of temporal poverty. We don't have to be poor to be humble, but we can be grateful when challenging circumstances make us receptive to God's grace.
Looking Forward with An Eye of Faith
Alma invited the people of Zarahemla to "look forward with the eye of faith" to the resurrection and the Final Judgment. First, we visualize. Then, we act. Finally, with God's help, we see with our eyes what we had previously seen with "the eye of faith."
Where Is He?
What did the wise men know? They knew they had seen a star, which indicated that the Messiah had been born. They didn't know exactly where to find him. But they were willing to exercise faith, acting on the knowledge they had and trusting God to send more