From Adam to Noah

Reading:   Lectures on Faith: Lecture Second 31-56

The lectures on Faith were classes of instruction given "... On the Doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, originally delivered before a Class of the Elders, in Kirtland, Ohio."

The verses today went through the descendants of Adam down to Noah (continuing on with direct reading from the book of Genesis).  Then from Noah down to Abraham and a bit further...the thing of importance to note is the presence of personal knowledge being handed down from generation to generation.  Personal knowledge meaning direct interaction with God - remember that these first beings were living 800+ years on average.  So, for the first 2000 years of existence there was always someone around with personal, direct, knowledge of God's existence and therefore a personal, direct, object of faith.

LECTURE SECOND (44, 55)

44. From the foregoing it is easily to be seen, not only how the knowledge of God came into the world, but upon what principle it was preserved; that from the time it was first communicated, it was retained in the minds of righteous men, who taught not only their own posterity but the world; so that there was no need of a new revelation to man, after Adam's creation to Noah, to give them the first idea or notion of the existence of a God; and not only of a God, but the true and living God.  

55. Let us here observe, that after any portion of the human family are made acquainted with the important fact that there is a God, who has created and does uphold all things, the extent of their knowledge respecting his character and glory will depend upon their diligence and faithfulness in seeking after him, until, like Enoch, the brother of Jared, and Moses, they shall obtain faith in God, and power with him to behold him face to face. 

A notion of God's existence is a building block for faith but in no way complete in itself.  After an awareness of God touches us (or our friends), it is vitally important to build upon that knowledge, to diligently seek after more so that our understanding of His divine character and attributes might strengthen our burgeoning faith.  We have to increase our faith through incremental advances, never ceasing our work, searching for the power (and remember faith is the first principle of power) to behold Him face to face.  It is a reachable endeavor but there is a lot of work to be done!  

~Kipling