Believe

What is the difference between belief and knowledge? And does belief come before knowledge? These are questions I asked myself while reading in Alma 32. In this chapter, Alma is teaching a group of people were in some pretty humble circumstances. He taught them about faith and how to obtain it. He began by explaining the blessings that come from being humble and repenting of sin. There are some who are compelled to be humble and there are some who choose to be humble. They will all recieve blessings according to their obedience, but those who choose to be humble are given even greater blessings because of their desire to follow God.


Alma speaks of those who are always searching for signs. They've convinced themselves that the only way they'll believe is if they see a sign from the heavens. If they just see a sign then they'll know that God is real. But Alma asks "Is this faith?" No! Because when you know of something, belief is no longer an issue, because you know.  In verse 21 he says "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."


Okay, now back to the questions- What is the difference between belief and knowledge? Does belief come before knowlege?


The dictionary definitions are this:
Belief- faith; trust; an expectation
Believe- to have trust; to accept as true
Know- to possess information and understanding
Knowledge- awarness or information from study (2 Nephi 32:3) and experience (Alma 5:45-46)


So pretty much belief is having faith. Mark 5:36 says "As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only ^abelieve." Footnote for believe is "exercise faith"


Now, does belief come before knowledge? I think is does. Belief (faith) is a seed. When we plant that seed it and nourish it, it will eventually grow into knowledge. And that's exactly what Alma instructs us to do in chapter 32. Beginning with verse 27 and continuing to the end of the chapter, Alama speaks of a desire to believe and exercising that desire to believe until it grows into faith and then exercising that faith until it grows into knowledge.

I am so grateful for both belief and knowledge. I know that through diligent prayer and scripture study that our knowlege of the gospel will grow. I have experienced that in my own life. The Holy Ghost is here for us to enlighten our minds and bring us to greater understanding. Knowledge is a gift from God that we should always seek to develop. It's a great gift that begins by believing.