The Quest for Further Light and Knowledge

I have always loved the phrase “further light and knowledge” and it’s sacred intent.  Scriptures in the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants describe the connection between light and knowledge and the importance of obtaining it 

Light and knowledge are companions and illuminators of the mind.  One needs further light and knowledge to advance towards the kingdom of God but light and knowledge in and of themselves are not saving attributes.  The mind is only one half of the equation.   The Lord tells us in the Doctrine and Covenants that He requires both the mind and the heart and that the revelatory process comes through both.  

So what of the heart?  Just as the mind needs to be enlightened, the heart must be purified, sanctified and made new.  The heart is to be broken and contrite and in the end become a receptacle for charity, the pure love of Christ.  Without the schooling of the heart further light and knowledge can only leave us looking at the distant shore from across the way.  We can see where we want to go but can’t seem to get there.  

The journey of purification and sanctification is not a day’s hike or a fast sprint.   It is the end result of constant humility, repentance, forgiveness and service to others.  It requires the vigilant elimination of pride and selfishness and the use of covenants that access the atonement.   Its crowning achievement upon this earth is the love of God and of all mankind.   

Light and knowledge once gained need to be acted upon.   If not light and knowledge become hollow without substance and can lead us to possess a false sense of spiritual security.  I wonder if Lucifer’s (Light Bearer, Son of the Morning) downfall was a result of seeking light and knowledge without submissiveness and humility.  He became a law unto himself and taken with his own ideas.  He was missing the broken, obedient and sanctified heart.  

Perhaps this necessary balance is the reason the Lord often couples the heart and mind in the scriptures.  Here are a few to ponder:

34 Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind; and the willing and obedient shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days. 

(Doctrine and Covenants | Section 64:34)

18 And the Lord called his people ZION, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them.

(Pearl of Great Price | Moses 7:18)

65 And with one heart and with one mind, gather up your riches that ye may purchase an inheritance which shall hereafter be appointed unto you.

(Doctrine and Covenants | Section 45:65)

2 Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart.  (It is interesting the heart is the desired dwelling place for the adversary as well.  Mosiah 3:6)

(Doctrine and Covenants | Section 8:2)

(Doctrine and Covenants | Section 4:2) 2 Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day.

15 Behold, when ye shall rend that veil of unbelief which doth cause you to remain in your awful state of wickedness, and hardness of heart, and blindness of mind, then shall the great and marvelous things which have been hid up from the foundation of the world from you—yea, when ye shall call upon the Father in my name, with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, then shall ye know that the Father hath remembered the covenant which he made unto your fathers, O house of Israel.

(Book of Mormon | Ether 4:15)

18 Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death.

(Book of Mormon | Alma 36:18)

33 But if ye will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in him, and serve him with all diligence of mind, if ye do this, he will, according to his own will and pleasure, deliver you out of bondage.

(Book of Mormon | Mosiah 7:33)

1 BUT behold, I, Jacob, would speak unto you that are pure in heart.  Look unto God with firmness of mind, and pray unto him with exceeding faith, and he will console you in your afflictions, and he will plead your cause, and send down justice upon those who seek your destruction.

2 O all ye that are pure in heart, lift up your heads and receive the pleasing word of God, and feast upon his love; for ye may, if your minds are firm, forever.

(Book of Mormon | Jacob 3:1 - 2)

21 And now that my soul might have joy in you, and that my heart might leave this world with gladness because of you, that I might not be brought down with grief and sorrow to the grave, arise from the dust, my sons, and be men, and be determined in one mind and in one heart, united in all things, that ye may not come down into captivity;

(Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 1:21)

9 ¶ And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.

(Old Testament | 1 Chronicles 28:9)

35 And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever.

(Old Testament | 1 Samuel 2:35)

James Talmage - Testimony

"I say stand by your testimony. When you have received it from the Lord, let it be your guide. It will be no handicap to you in your researches, your studies, your explorations and investigations. It will not detract from your reputation for learning, if you deserve any such reputation, provided you stand by the truth." Conference Report, April 1929, p. 48.

Profound truth from Elder Packer's conference talk...

"I wish to share with you those truths which are the most worth knowing, the things that I have learned and experienced in nearly 90 years of life and over 50 years as a General Authority. Much of what I have come to know falls into the category of things which cannot be taught but can be learned.

Like most things of great worth, knowledge which is of eternal value comes only through personal prayer and pondering. These, joined with fasting and scripture study, will invite impressions and revelations and the whisperings of the Holy Spirit. This provides us with instruction from on high as we learn precept upon precept."

Always Before Our Eyes......

I say unto you, my sons, were it not for these things, which have been kept and preserved by the hand of God, that we might read and understand of his mysteries, and have his commandments always before our eyes, that even our fathers would have dwindled in unbelief, and we should have been like unto our brethren, the Lamanites, who know nothing concerning these things, or even do not believe them when they are taught them, because of the traditions of their fathers, which are not correct.  (Mosiah 1:5)

King Benjamin in speaking with his sons before his death emphasizes the importance of those things that are always before our eyes.  He admonishes his sons that the purpose of scripture is to keep before our eyes the commandments of God in order that we might gain an understanding of His mysteries and that we might not dwindle in unbelief.  King Benjamin indicates that without scripture it is impossible to remember the things of God and that dwindling in unbelief an inevitable outcome.

Then King Benjamin says:

6 O my sons, I would that ye should remember that these sayings are true, and also that these records are true.  And behold, also the plates of Nephi, which contain the records and the sayings of our fathers from the time they left Jerusalem until now, and they are true; and we can know of their surety because we have them before our eyes. (Mosiah 1:6)

The Nephites were blessed to have a tangible reminder as a testimony to them that the sayings of their fathers were true.  The brass plates, the plates of Nephi and the Liahona were a physical reality.  In my mind, the Book of Mormon plays that role for us today.  It is physical, real-time evidence of the restoration through Joseph Smith.  It is a tangible presence “before our eyes” and a constant testimony of the surety of the Lord’s work in our day.

From Neal A Maxwell

 Becoming Men and Women of Christ:

We should be:

1. Meek and humble—not self-concerned, dismissive, proud, seeking ascendancy. Blessed are the meek because they are not easily offended. Besides, those who "shine as lights in the world" have no need to seek the spotlight! (See Philippians 2:15.) The world's spotlights are not only fleeting, but they employ inferior light!

2. Patient—not hectic, hurried, pushy.

3. Full of love—not demanding, dominating, manipulative, condescending, or harsh.

4. Gentle—not coarse, brusque, and vindictive.

5. Easily entreated—not unapproachable, inaccessible, and nonlistening.

6. Long-suffering—not impatient, disinterested, curt, easily offended. There are so many people in the Church, brothers and sisters, waiting to be offended. And it doesn't take long. If one has a chip on his or her shoulder, you can't make it through the foyer, so to speak, without getting it knocked off.

7. Submissive to God—not resistant to the Spirit, counsel, and life's lessons.

8. Temperate (self-restrained)—not egoistic, eager for attention and recognition, or too talkative. In your life and mine, the great moments of commendation and correction have come usually in one-liners.

9. Merciful—not judgmental and unforgiving. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall know the caress of causality as their forgiving mercy restores others to wholeness! Though God is perfected in the attributes of justice and mercy, we read that, finally, "Mercy overpowereth justice" (Alma 34:15).

10. Gracious—not tactless, easily irritated, ungenerous.

11. Holy—not worldly. 

Neal A. Maxwell was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when this fireside address was given at Brigham Young University on 31 March 1991.

 

THE BROKEN HEART COMES FROM HELPLESSNESS

The following quote is by Max Skousen

"Alma was delighted because he knew full well that before the goblet can be filled with the pure love and meekness of Christ, it must be drained of the proud and judgmental life of the natural man. But being drained is devastating to the ego. It truly breaks the heart. But the heart that is broken is the vain and foolish heart of self importance, arrogance and vanity.

However,we have nicer names for vanity. We call it a positive self image, self confidence, assertiveness and ambition. We love the good feelings and hate the bad feelings. In our modem day, with our great luxuries, which we call necessities, knowledge, which we call education, distractions, which we call entertainment and abundance, which we call security, we often find it hard to be humble when we are so great!

So what did Alma find in these desperate seekers? In their helplessness, there was a definite sense of not knowing, not understanding, a state of confusion. Actually, believe it or not, being poor in heart can be a very advantageous state of consciousness if one's heart, out of frustration, starts letting go of many of those beliefs and conclusions which held one's world of vanity together."