Chapter 7: FaithThe Substance of Things Hoped For: Alma 32 and Hebrews 11:1

In brief

Is faith blind belief? Seaich argues that faith is an encounter with God’s Spirit that a person can actually test, “the substance (hypostasis) of things hoped for, the evidence (elegchos) of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Using the “experiment” of Alma 32, he shows how faith can be tested and grow into knowledge. Faith alone does not save; it leads to repentance, baptism, and the gift of the Spirit.

This page summarizes Chapter 7 of Understanding Mormonism: The Restored Gospel of Christ and Its Biblical Foundations in Latter-day Saint Belief by Eugene Seaich (2026 Annotated Edition, edited by Eric Hendrickson). The summary is quoted from the book’s “In brief” and is editorial material, not the author’s words. The full chapter, with its notes and argument, is in the book.

Independent scholarship by Eugene Seaich. Not an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.