Remember the instruction from the scriptures and from Church leaders to study the gospel. It has also been said that we have the Holy Ghost as a constant companion to aid and guide us in our lives, but has anyone come to realize the importance of study to increase our knowledge and understanding?
We have been warned by Church leaders that these days shall become darker all around. This is not a trivial counsel in light of the Biblical prophecies for these latter days. This Church has also instructed us to develop our own connection to the light of God and not to depend on others, because in these latter days, it is the degree of light that is within you that will determine your ability to withstand the darkness before the second coming of Jesus Christ.
How many have experienced challenges by others because you are a Latter-Day Saint? How many have felt flustered, or tongue tied, unable to respond or think of answers to deal with the challenge beset upon you? Is there a reason for this floundering?
Yes, remember what the scripture says,
Seek not to declare my word, but first seek to obtain my word, and then shall your tongue be loosed; then, if you desire, you shall have my Spirit and my word, yea, the power of God unto the convincing of men.
It easier for you to receive a reminder of the truth from God, than it is to learn it in times of challenges or immediate need.
Some may believe that God is all powerful and able to insert answers into the mind and heart at any time and because of this, there is no need to do a lot of study or there is no rush to study the gospel. Well this is a false belief because it sets you into a precarious position that stands weak against the wicked or against dark influences, who attack on their own schedule.
Yes, God is all powerful, but God does not impose his knowledge on anyone. This says that in order to obtain God’s knowledge requires the exercise of free will to learn it. In addition, just because you believe in God the Father and in Jesus Christ, are you able to use the truth, suddenly imparted to you, without misuse, unrighteousness or injustice? The expectation that God will insert knowledge on the fly is falsely believing that God imposes into a persons mind and heart or gives his knowledge indiscriminately.
It is important to realize and understand that to use God’s knowledge, one must be able to use it righteously and justly, else the offender will suffer the consequences of it’s misuse. God’s love is so, that he will not put you into that position, to give something and find that it has been misused, hence what you cannot use rightly, he will not give until you are able. Remember, we all carry the enmity to God, that being the carnal mind of the natural man and this is a real issue in terms of receiving God’s true word by his Holy Spirit. Hence, we are instructed and reminded to study and learn and accept reproof and chastening from God as part of the preparation process.
It takes time to learn God’s knowledge because no matter how much we believe in Jesus Christ, the ground within us still requires preparation before the seed of truth is inserted. This preparation requires the removal of the rocks and thistle, to till the ground and make it fertile for the seed of truth to take root and flourish. In this preparation, the person has an active role and that persons free will be excluded or overruled. Free will and choice is paramount and without the exercise of free will to participate in this inner process, there is no seed of truth for this seed of truth thrives on this freedom. Then once the seed of truth takes root, nurturing of that seed must take place in order that it grow and flourish.
It is a process that God does not short-cut.
It is by this preparation that brings us to the ready to face ongoing challenges or trials in life. Without this preparation, we cannot be ready and able, but once we are ready and able, it is easier to receive the truth by reminder. A flower cannot give its beauty and fragrance without first the seed and growth. Treat the truth in the same way. What appreciation for the truth is there without the preparation to use it?
Think about this. Consider the analogy of a carpenter, who has studied and practiced the knowledge of carpentry. He or she understands the methods, language or references when hearing any suggestion of what to do with any problems faced in carpentry and is able to carry out the answers with skill and respect for the answer.
Now take a layman, who has little or no knowledge of carpentry. For anyone to give suggestions to this person on a carpentry problem takes longer to explain and will likely not assist the layman since the information requires pre-knowledge and skill to exercise it. The result would be less than good for a layman to try to exercise information on carpentry without first having the experience, knowledge and skill. The information would be misused.
It is therefore easier for a person to receive a reminder, than to teach a person something they have not prepared for and learned previously. How is understanding achieved on the fly with truths and principles that are likely beyond our current mortal limitations and scope?
When God gives reminders of certain passages, of certain principles, of certain experiences, it is because we already carry that knowledge in us and God helps through these reminders. If it was not for my own personal study, I would not have understood the needed concepts and ideas God had given in times of need.
I assure you, in times of challenges, assistance comes faster when we have learned God’s word than if we have not. This also says that the help received is of greater benefit, of a greater light and result because we possess the knowledge, experience and skill to use it rightly. How can we receive the greater light if no effort was made to prepare for it?
It is time to study and prepare thyself.
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