HEBREWS
CHAPTER 11
By faith we understand the word and work of God—Faith of the ancients was centered in Christ—By faith men subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, and worked miracles.
3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, [ "It is said by Paul in his letter to the Hebrew brethren, that Abel obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts. To whom did God testify of the gifts of Abel, was it to Paul? We have very little on this important subject in the forepart of the Bible. But it is said that Abel himself obtained witness that he was righteous. Then certainly God spoke to him: indeed, it is said that God talked with him; and if He did, would He not, seeing that Able was righteous deliver to him the whole plan of the Gospel? And is not the Gospel the news of the redemption? How could Abel offer a sacrifice and look forward with faith on the son of God for a remission of his sins, and not understand the Gospel? The mere shedding of the blood of beasts or offering anything else in sacrifice, could not procure a remission of sins, except it were performed in faith of something to come; if it could, Cain’s offering must have been as good as Abel’s. And if Abel was taught of the coming of the son of God, was he not taught also of His ordinances? We all admit that the Gospel has ordinances, and if so, had it not always ordinances, and were not its ordinances always the same? " Teachings Of The Prophet Joseph Smith pg 59 ] God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
7 By faith Noah, [ Faith is the stubborn resolve to see God blessing us in all circumstances. Even in our struggles and disappointments, faith requires us to believe God is ministering to us. ] being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
9 By faith he [ Abraham. ] sojourned [ The Greek word translated as “sojourned” means “to dwell beside” or “to live as a stranger or foreigner”. ] in the land of promise, as in a strange [ The word translated as “strange” means “foreign,” ] country, dwelling in tabernacles [ The word translated as “tabernacles” means “tents.” ] with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
10 For he [ Abraham. ] looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
[ The similarity in description between this city and the one mentioned in certain Jewish and Christian apocryphal texts.107 In the book of Revelation, when the Apostle John sees "that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God," he sees that it has twelve foundations adorned with precious stones (Rev. 21:10, 14, 19).
It is the same city mentioned in 4 Ezra when the prophet Ezra sees in vision "an established city, and a place of huge foundations'"108 and hears the Lord explain that "in the last days" 109 "Zion will come and be made manifest to everybody, prepared and built." ]
11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. [ Or in other words Isaac was not duped, but rather gave the blessing to the person (Jacob) whom the Lord wanted to have the blessing. When Isaac is giving that blessing, he's not doing it with his physical senses. It's not his sight, it's not his smell, it's not his taste that's telling him about this. He's getting this. He thinks... There's something in here that this could be Esau, but he gives the blessing that the Lord gives to him to give to that son by faith, by the spirit. It's the Lord. ]
21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.
22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.
24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;
[ In Egypt, to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter meant one had the right to become Pharaoh. The authority or the right to reign in Egypt depended on who the mother and the wife were. sometimes, after a father’s death, the sons would marry their sisters in order to legitimize their right to their father's throne. This practice was also matrilineal in scope, just like we have seen in the Old Testament examples. When we see in our scriptures that Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, it means that Moses gave up the kingship, or the right to become Pharaoh in Egypt. Pharaoh's daughter had the right to place her children on the throne. So for the first 40 years in the life of Moses, he was raised in Egypt, he was taught how to speak Egyptian, he was educated at the world's religious and educational center. The mother of Moses nursed him, as we know, but for all intents and purposes he was raised as an Egyptian. Josephus adds this tidbit from the life of Moses that our Bible does not include. He tells us that Moses became a great general in the armies of Pharaoh and conquered Ethiopia. At that time, the narrow neck of land leading into Ethiopia was infested with deadly, poisonous snakes. Whenever any invaders tried to enter Ethiopia by that narrow neck, these snakes would bite the soldiers. What Moses did was capture numerous birds that were natural predators of these snakes. The bird's wings were cut so that they could not fly away, and these birds were then set around their camps at night. If any poisonous snake came too close, these birds would kill the snakes, thus allowing the troops of Moses to march through the narrow neck of land and conquer Ethiopia.
As was the custom, the conquering general was to marry the conquered king's daughter in order to legitimize the political alliance; hence Moses married an Ethiopian woman. This comes up later on when Aaron & Miriam speak against Moses for marrying the Ethiopian. ]
25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
31 By faith the harlot Rahab [ "Rahab" literally means “pride” or “arrogance”. ] perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;