Is faith an action that sprouts knowledge? Does the action come first before knowledge is present or created?
Or is faith based upon truth and existing knowledge? Is faith therefore, something that grows out of and comes because of a prior knowledge of the truth?
Answer: Faith is the child of knowledge! It is reserved for those only who first have knowledge; there neither is nor can be any faith until there is knowledge. No one can have faith in a God of whom he knows nothing. No one can have faith unto life and salvation in a false god; no idol ever had power to raise the dead or stop the sun. (McConkie, A New Witness for the Articles of Faith, pg. 166.)
There are three criteria in order to exercise faith in God.
- A belief that God actually exists, He who created all things.
- A correct understanding of His nature and character.
- A knowledge that the life you are pursuing is in harmony with His will.
Faith comes to those who know these truths. Without an acquaintance with these three important facts, faith to exaltation and the glory and praise of God is not possible. (Lectures On Faith 3:2-5)
So, since faith becomes dormant when we obtain a perfect knowledge of a principle/doctrine, would it be fair to say that faith fills the leftover void where knowledge has not yet ventured or become acquainted with said principle/doctrine?
My understanding is that faith becomes dormant in the first sense, the action sense. Faith is still an operating system, but it’s use as a motivating factor or call to action is no longer necessary.