We extinguish the fire of faith with the cold rains of unbelief

"We extinguish the fire of faith with the cold rains of unbelief. The Lord told Moroni:

7 And in that day that they [the latter-day gentiles] shall exercise faith in me, saith the Lord, even as the brother of Jared did, that they may become sanctified in me, then will I manifest unto them the things which the brother of Jared saw, even to the unfolding unto them all my revelations, saith Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of the heavens and of the earth, and all things that in them are. (Ether 4:7; bracketed comment added)

This verse contains one of the most incredible pronouncements of promise this dispensation has ever been given. It is saying that when—notice it doesn't say if, it implies when—we rend the veil of unbelief and develop faith like unto the brother of Jared's, God will unfold unto us all of His revelations, which means that we will know all things, which would enable us to part the veil in many places and lay hold upon all promised blessings. This promise isn't being made just to the Quorum of the Twelve. This is a promise that is held out to every person who chooses to seek and obtain it. We have access to the same gifts in this day, in this priesthood, in this Church, as the brother of Jared used to rend the heavens in his day, which lit up his sixteen stones and his eternity.

So why aren't we doing so? Mormon's analysis of this incredible promise and why we fail to lay hold upon these vast things is illuminating:

13 Come unto me, O ye Gentiles, and I will show unto you the greater things, the knowledge which is hid up because of unbelief. (Ether 4:13)

So it is unbelief, not necessarily a lack of faith, but unbelief that keeps us captive in a state of wickedness. Does it seem harsh to characterize unbelief as wickedness? What is wickedness if not something that destroys our faith? False beliefs always send us off in pursuit of some path other than one that leads to exaltation. And pursuing a forbidden path is always the result of failure to heed His voice.

52 And whoso receiveth not my voice is not acquainted with my voice, and is not of me.

53 And by this [that they receive not my voice] you may know the righteous from the wicked, and that the whole world groaneth under sin and darkness even now.

54 And your minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief, and because you have treated lightly the things you have received—

55 Which vanity and unbelief have brought the whole church under condemnation. (D&C 84:52–55; bracketed comment added)

The Lord here defines not receiving (not hearing and obeying) His voice, unbelief, and wickedness as the same spiritual malady. Furthermore, He states that our minds have been darkened because of unbelief—not sin or a lack of faith—but unbelief! "Darkened" implies a prior or even continuing presence of light that is being ignored or dimmed because of unbelief. Our minds are robbed of the light of our own faith through our inability to believe the truths that surround us. Further, we stand in darkness because we have treated lightly the things we have received."

John Pontius, "The Triumph of Zion", p. 242-243