Alma 34:17 - What will God grant to us when we exercise faith?

Vs 17 - "Therefore may God grant unto you . . . that ye may begin to exercise your faith unto repentance . . ." What is it that God is going to grant to us? The previous verses talk about the power of mercy over justice, so perhaps verse 17 refer to God's mercy. Perhaps another way to phrase this scripture would be, "Therefore may God grant unto you [His mercy] . . . that ye may begin to exercise your faith unto repentance . . ." Without God's mercy, we would be unable to repent, because justice would take over. But because God is willing to grant unto us mercy, we "may begin to exercise [our] faith unto repentance."

Another interpretation may be that God is granting us the ability to "exercise [our] faith unto repentance" and (continuing on in the scripture) to "call upon his holy name." Using this interpretation, we see that we are incapable of exercising ultimate faith in Him without His help. He must grant unto us the ability to exercise faith in Him and to call upon His name. We were born on this earth with complete agency to act for ourselves, so God allows us the ability to choose to exercise faith in Him, to repent, and to call upon His holy name. He does not force us to choose to follow Him, but He allows us that ability.