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Scripture Story Sketch Notes · Hebrews 11–12

Heroes
of Faith

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1

Hebrews 11 is a gallery of men and women who trusted God before they could see the outcome. It ends by pointing us to the greatest example of all: Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.

Walk the gallery ↓ Read Hebrews 11:1–16 first
Hand-drawn doodle map of a winding path: a person looking toward a distant hill, a shepherd offering a lamb on an altar, a man walking up into soft light, a family building an ark, an old couple leading a camel along a road, a man leading people out of Egypt past pyramids, a woman lowering a scarlet cord from a city wall, and everyone standing on a hill looking toward a distant sunrise.

Before you begin

The story in brief

To Saints who were tempted to give up, Hebrews explained what faith is: “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Then it walked through a gallery of heroes. “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice.” Enoch “pleased God.” Noah, “warned of God of things not seen as yet,” built an ark. Abraham “went out, not knowing whither he went.”

Moses “forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king.” Rahab “perished not with them that believed not.” Many of them “died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off.” Then Hebrews turns to us: “Let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.”

Who’s who

  • Abel, Enoch and Noah: early heroes of faith
  • Abraham, Sara, Moses and Rahab: who trusted God’s promises
  • Jesus Christ: the author and finisher of our faith

Where and when

A letter to Hebrew Christians, recalling heroes from Genesis to Joshua.

Watch for the Savior

Watch how each hero acted before they could see the outcome.

Read it yourself: Hebrews 11:1–16

Part 1 of 7

The gallery, mapped

Eight stops from what faith is to promises seen afar off. Scroll, or tap a number on the map.

    Part 2 of 7

    The story, plainly

    Four scenes: Abel, Noah, Abraham and Rahab. Look for the Savior in each one.

    Read it plainly

    The words that trip people up

    Tap any dotted word for its meaning. The scripture stays exactly as written.1

    1. Hebrews 11:1“the of things hoped for”
    2. Hebrews 11:5“Enoch was ”
    3. Hebrews 11:9“he in the land of promise”
    4. Hebrews 11:13“strangers and ”
    5. Hebrews 11:31“the Rahab”
    6. Hebrews 12:1“so great a cloud of ”

    Part 3 of 7

    Look closer

    Small details tell the story. Some cards are details in the text; others share insights from Church leaders or Church resources. Each card says which.

    0 of 9 turned

    Part 4 of 7

    Where are you?

    Into the fog, still waiting, standing alone, or seeing the light. Which feels most like you right now?

    Try it

    Who did it by faith?

    Hebrews 11 is a gallery of heroes. Tap a name on the left, then find what that person did by faith on the right.

    “By faith …” Hebrews 11

    Part 5 of 7

    Their world, their words

    A little background helps us see who these heroes were and why Hebrews lists them. Outside sources are labeled.

    Church resource · Student manual

    Assurance

    “Joseph Smith Translation, Hebrews 11:1 replaces the word substance with assurance.”6

    Faith is a sure trust.

    Church resource · Student manual

    Why the list?

    Hebrews 11 recalls faithful people “to give readers assurance and confidence to endure in faith.”6

    Written to Saints tempted to quit.

    Church resource · Student manual

    A cloud of witnesses

    The faithful of old are pictured “as the crowd of onlookers cheering on the runners.”6

    They cheer us on.

    Scripture · Ether 12

    After the trial

    Moroni adds: “Ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.”3

    Faith first, then the witness.

    Word study · Greek

    pistis πίστις · “faith” (Hebrews 11:1)

    Bible Hub: “faith, faithfulness.”9 Outside · lexicon

    Every “By faith” in this chapter is this word.1

    Word study · Greek

    hupostasis ὑπόστασις · “substance” (Hebrews 11:1)

    Bible Hub: “a support, substance, steadiness, hence assurance.”8 Outside · lexicon

    Something solid to stand on, matching the Joseph Smith Translation’s “assurance.”6

    What the text does not say

    The story does not say these heroes saw every promise fulfilled. “These all died in faith, not having received the promises.” They trusted God anyway, and some of His greatest promises are kept after this life.1

    Part 6 of 7

    Look to Him

    He is the author and finisher of our faith, the One every hero trusted and the One we look to as we run.

    “Hold fast to what you already know and stand strong until additional knowledge comes.”

    Elder Jeffrey R. Holland5
    “Faith as the evidence of things not seen looks to the past and confirms our trust in God.”
    Elder David A. Bednar, quoted in the student manual6
    “Important components of faith are patience, long-suffering, and enduring to the end.”
    Elder Spencer J. Condie, quoted in the student manual6
    “If your faith is a little tested in this or any season, I invite you to lean on mine.”
    Elder Jeffrey R. Holland5

    Moroni (Ether)

    After the trial

    “Faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.” Ether 12:6

    Paul

    Looking unto Jesus

    “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross.” Hebrews 12:2

    Part 7 of 7

    Seek Him today

    A question to ask in prayer

    What step of faith is Heavenly Father asking me to take, even before I can see how it ends? Hebrews 11:8

    Ask Him which hero’s story fits your life right now. Then take the next step, looking to Jesus.

    Try it today

    One step of faith each day. It saves on this device, one day at a time.

    0 of 7 today

    This week:0 of 7 days

    A quiet moment

    “Looking unto Jesus.”

    Read Hebrews 12:1–2 slowly. Picture the heroes of faith cheering you on. Then look to the Savior, who finished the race first. Hebrews 12:1–2

    A verse to hold

    Talk about it

    1. What did Noah do before he ever saw rain?
    2. Why did Abraham leave home without knowing where he was going?
    3. How did Rahab show her faith?
    4. Who does Hebrews 12:2 tell us to look to as we run our race?
    Open

    For adults and deeper study

    Go deeper

    Longer readings, harder questions, and where to study next. Each one says what it is before you click.
    Apostle

    Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, “Lord, I Believe” (2013)

    When faith is tested, hold fast to what you already know, and lean on the faith of others.5

    Read the talk →
    Church resource

    New Testament Student Manual: Hebrews 7–13

    Faith as assurance, evidence and action, the city of God, and the cloud of witnesses.6

    Read the chapter →
    Church resource

    Come, Follow Me (2023): Hebrews 7–13

    A heritage of faith shared by all who look to Jesus, with Sister Pingree’s definition of faith.7

    Read the lesson →
    Scripture

    Ether 12: Moroni’s heroes of faith

    Moroni’s own gallery of faith: Alma and Amulek, Nephi and Lehi, Ammon, and the brother of Jared.3

    Ether 12 →
    To ponder

    Harder questions

    • Why might Hebrews include Rahab, an outsider, in a list of heroes?
    • Which promises in your life might be “afar off”?
    • How is Jesus the “author and finisher” of your faith?

    Sources

    Every quotation, gloss, and piece of background on this page is listed here: scripture first, then Church sources, then outside scholarship (labeled).

    Scripture

    1. Hebrews 11: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
    2. Hebrews 12:1–2: “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.”
    3. Ether 12:6: “Ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.”
    4. Joshua Hebrews 2:18–21: “She bound the scarlet line in the window.”

    Church leaders and Church resources

    1. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, “Lord, I Believe”, general conference, April 2013.
    2. New Testament Student Manual, “Hebrews 7–13”, Gospel Library (quoting Elder David A. Bednar and Elder Spencer J. Condie).
    3. Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: New Testament 2023, “Hebrews 7–13” (quoting Sister Anne C. Pingree).

    Outside sources (labeled on the page)

    1. Strong’s 5287, hupostasis, Bible Hub lexicon.
    2. Strong’s 4102, pistis, Bible Hub lexicon.

    Quotations checked against the linked pages on October 11, 2026. Scripture is quoted from the King James Version as published in the Gospel Library.

    “Looking unto Jesus”

    Run your race with faith. The Savior finished His, and He will help you finish yours. Hebrews 12:2

    Back to this week: November 1–7 Earlier: The Tabernacle and the Veil Next story: James 1:5 and the Sacred Grove All New Testament Story Sketch Notes
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    Everything on this page as a 11-page letter-size PDF: the map, scenes, cards, activity, word studies, tracker, Go deeper and sources. For home, class or a quiet Sunday.

    See the printable · $3.99All New Testament sketch notes

    Independent study notes from Weak Things, not an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Scripture quotations are from the King James Version. The teachings are in Hebrews 11–12; the insights in “Look closer” are labeled by source.