Looking for the Climb of Faith

These are a series of e-mails that I had with a person(known as Chris below) seeking more about the subject of faith. That gave me the idea to start a blog so that everyone could benefit from each other. With her permission I have republished parts of the correspondence.

From Chris

Hi. My girlfriend bought The Climb of Faith several years ago (I believe) for a friend. We are from the San Francisco bay area, so she probably bought it around here. She just taught a class yesterday in relief society on Faith, and used your book as a main resource for part of her presentation. FYI -- Several people seemed interested in it.

I will check our local bookstore. I did try Deseret Book online and didn't find it, so thanks for letting me know that I wouldn't find it there. I also did a search online for the title and didn't find
anything. If I can't get it locally, I'll send you another email.

It was late last night when I was looking for the book, so I didn't really read anything about your new book. I'll go back and check that out. . . .I like the title a lot.

Thanks for the email and good luck with your venture.

Chris

From Don-Alan

Hi Chris,

Thanks for your inquiry. The Climb of Faith was my first book that I wrote directed to an LDS audinece. It can be found in many LDS bookstores (not including Deseret Book) or it can be purchased online. I have been working through setting up several websites and don't quite have them totally functional but can arrange for an individual purchase if you prefer. If the book is not exactly what you had in mind, I am finishing the book that directed to a general audience. It is called, There Is No Power In Chaos.
It will also soon be for sale.

The webstore will be www.sabermountainonlinestore.com . Since right now I am doing most everything by myself including taking out the garbage (lol) it is taking me longer than I wanted to have everything done.

By the way, out of marketing curiosity, do you mind if I ask where you found out about The Climb of Faith?

Thanks again for your interest, and feel free to send inquries or e-mail me when you like.

Don-Alan

FROM CHRIS

Hi. Thanks for following up. No, I have not been able to locate the book. I did go to our local LDS bookstore and it wasn't there.

I am really interested in the subject of faith. I have my own theories about it and about it's power. I'm thinking I might want to share with you what this theory is and see what you think of it. I hesitate to put this in an email, because it may not read well, but here goes...

I believe that there is an aspect of faith that is a tangible, measurable entity. Not measurable or tangible by us, but by our Father in Heaven. I suspect you are or at least were LDS, because your bio said you grew up in Idaho and served a two year mission, so I'll use a Book of Mormon example. When Lehi and Nephi found and used the Liahona, they found that it worked by faith. If they had faith, it pointed to where they should go, and if their faith was lacking, the Liahona didn't have what it needed to work. I think that Nephi and Lehi's faith worked like the invisible magnetic north works on a regular compass--an energy affects the mechanism of the compass. I think that's why faith can't be faked and why combined faith might make things work that might not otherwise have worked. . . .like when a significant portion of the world prayed for the Apollo 13 astronauts to return safely to earth. I think that's why additional faith can be given to us by our Father in Heaven. . .as a reward for obedience. It's something tangible to Him. It's more than things that are hoped for and not seen. It makes things happen. I also believe the lack of it can tie the hands of our Father in Heaven when certain happenings or blessings are contingent upon faith being present. It's powerful.

...basically that's my theory in a nutshell. What do you think? I haven't read a lot of your stuff yet. I'm anxious to get your book.

Thanks again for following up on this.

Chris

From Don-Alan

Yes I am LDS and completely active, I served as branch president here in Girona for 10 years and am currently the number 2 man on the Barcelona StakeHigh Council which now has been about 4 years. I am an avid studier of thesubject of faith and with my next book will position myself in the non-LDSmarket as an expert on the subject. In 1986 as a result of a personal
revelation on the subject I was inspired with the model of faith that is found in the book. I don't mean to overshadow any understanding that you or anyone else may have concerning the subject rather provide you with the evidence that you may need to reinforce your own theories.

I absolutely detest the standard definition that literally is assumed by most people*.(see below)

It then is put on a back burner and faith becomes idle or dormant. I can pretty much say that I have chosen to dedicate my life to the study and understanding of faith. Six years ago I began SAbER Mountain Publishers with the intention of it being the principle promoter behind COnCEPT Q. SAbER stands for Spiritual Awareness beginsby Earnestly Reading and Mountain of course refers to the amount of knowledge that we can gain through study and faith.

The model of faith is called
Concept OnQ; a Coherent & Extensive Philosophy of Thought.

My intention is to gain the nickname "Mr. Faith."


Thank you very much for your insight. I could use more people like you who give more thought to the subject than a quick "Yeah I got faith" and that is it. I will respond to the following in text below:


Chris writes: I believe that there is an aspect of faith that is a tangible, measurable entity.


All of faith is a tangible, measurable entity, not just an aspect of it.

In Isaiah 55:8-9 the Lord states that His ways are higher than ours and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. Thoughts are energy and energy is measurable, even when it is next to inexistent. If faith does not exist it simple will not show up on the instrument that can measure it.



Chris writes: Not measurable or tangible by us, but by our Father in Heaven.



I think that it is also measurable by us, it is just that we tend to ignore things of a spiritual nature and are not used to being able to detect levels of faith by the method that our Father in Heaven uses. We depend a lot on physical instruments to show us what measurements are. COnCEPT Q is a gauge to be able to measure faith.



Chris writes: I suspect you are or at least were LDS, because your bio said you grew up in Idaho and served a two year mission, so I'll use a Book of Mormon example. When Lehi and Nephi found and used the Liahona, they found that it worked by faith. If they had faith, it pointed to where they should go, and if their faith was lacking, the Liahona didn't have what it needed to work.



The Liahona basically was a faith-powered compass. It is similar to a potato-powered light. Have you ever seen the experiment that a light bulb was plugged into potatoes? The Liahona would be an interesting gadget to have. It basically would pick up on the positive energy that was radiated
by the people around it. The energy from one person wasn't sufficient to make it run. It evidently required the collective energy from the group. So if they were negative and low energy it could not pick up enough vibes to operate. But when they were a positive happy and "faithful" group there was ample energy to make it work.



Chris writes: I think that Nephi and Lehi's faith worked like the invisible magnetic north works on a regular compass--an energy affects the mechanism of the compass. I think that's why faith can't be faked and why combined faith might make things work that might not
otherwise have worked. . . .like when a significant portion of the world prayed for the Apollo 13 astronauts to return safely to earth.



You are hitting the nail on the head. Faith is energy. But is not just any energy, it is an energy that must be centered in truth.



Chris writes: I think that's why additional faith can be given to us by our Father in Heaven...as a reward for obedience.


It's something tangible to Him. It'smore than things that are hoped for and not seen. It makes things happen.


Chris writes: I also believe the lack of it can tie the hands of our Father in Heaven when certain happenings or blessings are contingent upon faith being present. It's powerful.



Faith is misunderstood. That is what my mission is here on earth: To take what small understanding that we do have and expand it to encompass thereal power of faith. You are closer to core understanding of how faith really works that you think. Keep up the good work!



Chris writes: ...basically that's my theory in a nutshell. What do you think? I haven't read a lot of your stuff yet. I'm anxious to get your book. Thanks again for following up on this.



We'll keep in touch! And thank you Chris for taking the time to send this e-mail. I could use good feedback. I'll write again soon and would like additional comments, thoughts and theories. It only helps me solidify what I am doing. Well there is a short answer to your e-mail. I'd love to make this part of a blog, with your permission. I think others can benefit from insights like yours. Let me know what you think.



Take care.



And may the faith be with you!



Don-Alan







*Most people confuse the term belief and faith. Belief is a passive term whereas faith is an active term. Too many think that a simple "I believe" is sufficient to let go and let God do the rest. Sorry Charlie itdoesn't work that way!

In an additional e-mail there was one other thought worth considering:



There was one point in your last e-mail that I wanted to give you a little further clarification regarding the subject of faith and why the G.A.s don't get into it more. You wrote:


I've never really been able to figure out why the general authorities talk about it in such generic terms.

There are a couple things here worth mentioning;

Once you understand the pattern that is laid out in The Climb of Faith you will see that they remakably follow the pattern in all their comments.

Secondly, they are talking to a general audience and basically must stick to fundamentals. In his day, Joseph Smith told the Apostles "to stay close to the trunk of the tree and not wander out into the branches."

That is understandable then when you consider the fullness of the gospel is contained in the Book of Mormon, the fullness being the doctrine of Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Repentance, Baptism and the Gift of the Holy Ghost.

These are all very important concepts in understanding faith. As you get to know me and listen to what I teach it follows the same pattern, just that I get a little more detailed about the basic principles.

The last point comes from Alma. In chapter 12 verses 9 - 11 it states some pretty powerful stuff, especially for those that have gained divine understanding. It states:

9....It is given unto many to know the mysteries of God; nevertheless they are laid under a strict command that they shall not impart only according to the portion of his word which he doth grant unto the children of men, according to the heed and diligence which they give unto him.

The portion of the word granted unto the children of men, (all children of men) those that listen to conference, is the basic principles of the gospel, Faith, Repentance, Baptism and G of HG.

Verses 10 and 11 go on to say that the mysteries are then revealed according to personal diligence. And that is why we must learn not only by study but by faith as well.

Boyd K Packer said, "Faith is a subject that could occupy all our life learning about it" That is precisely what I have done if you consider that it has been my main focus of study for the last 30 years if you include seminary.

There is definitely a lot to learn about faith.

I love the subject and could talk and wrtie about it all day, hey!!...that is what I do many times. Just joking!

Thanks for your comments, I really enjoy them.

And have a GREAT day!!