“Blessed Are They That Have Not Seen, and Yet Have Believed”
John 20:24–29
24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
President Howard W. Hunter said:
“There is no positive, concrete, tangible evidence that God lives, yet millions have a knowledge that He does through that faith which constitutes the evidence of things unseen. Many say to the missionaries, ‘I would accept baptism if I could believe that Joseph Smith was visited by the Father and the Son.’ For this fact there is no positive, concrete, tangible evidence, but to those who are touched by the Spirit, faith will stand in the place of such evidence of things unseen. Remember the words of the crucified Master as He stood before Thomas:
“‘Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed’ (John 20:29). . . .
“I add my witness to the testimonies of the thousands of missionaries that God does live, that Jesus is the Savior of the world, that those who will believe through faith will be caused to see.”
(Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Howard W. Hunter [2015], 274–75.)
