Sunday, June 28, 2020

Spiritually Won Knowledge Part 4

From: B S TURNER Owner


Spiritually Won Knowledge Part 4
 
As we continue to study how to achieve spiritually won knowledge I pulled a few more excerpts from the book The Endowment Characteristic #2

As Curry is tying up this characteristic he asks a question that should have all of us thinking…..
“How can the Lord say more than this?  He invites you to share the immense treasures of His intelligence, His wisdom, His truth, His enlightenment.
Some have already enjoyed these things in part.   Others have very much need to receive them. (Characteristic #2)”

There is a great story in the Book of Mormon that makes this very clear…..an Angel asks Nephi a simple question “do you know the meaning of the tree that thy father saw?” and Nephi had a clear understanding not only of what the tree meant but the entire vision…..
64 And I answered him, saying, Yea, it is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore it is the most desirable above all things.
65 And he spake unto me, saying, Yea, and the most joyous to the soul.
66 And after he had said these words, he said unto me, Look! And I looked, and I beheld the Son of God going forth among the children of men:
67 And I saw many fall down at his feet and worship him.
68 And it came to pass that I beheld that the rod of iron, which my father had seen, was the word of God, which led to the fountain of living waters, or to the tree of life; which waters are a representation of the love of God;
69 And I also beheld that the tree of life was a representation of the love of God.
1 Nephi 3

And Curry is correct there are many that have need to share in the wisdom and intelligence of God instead of leaning so much on their own wisdom and understanding.

“He has hope for His people.  Thousands have come together in the center areas of Zionic gathering, yet they are far from being of one heart and one mind.  None among you say that this is Zion as it ought to be. (Characteristic #3)”

Reading this characteristic in conjunction with the other characteristics and the scripture in Nephi has me asking; is it possible that we are holding on to different rods? Maybe….I think that the real answer is that we are holding onto the rod of iron and that is it, we are just holding on. We are not moving towards the tree of life. We have become stationary and are not moving forward but we stand in the midst of darkness waiting for???

Why do I say that? Let’s read a bit further in Characteristic #3
“The great Father would provide for you thru farsighted action and accomplishment on your part.  Yet the years go by, and so little is done, when compared with what ought to be.  You lack wisdom and foresight in these matters, and you scarcely try to find the wisdom that your loving Father would give to you were you to cease trusting so much in your own selves, and were a faithful body of men, deeply concerned about this lack of progress, to come together asking for their eyes to be opened that they might see how to do these things, even under the difficulties of this present hour. (Characteristic #3)”

We have the answer and it lives within us…..
Genesis 6:53 And he also said unto him, If thou wilt, turn unto me and hearken unto my voice, and believe, and repent of all thy transgressions, and be baptized, even in water, in the name of mine Only Begotten Son, who is full of grace and truth, which is Jesus Christ, the only name which shall be given under heaven, whereby salvation shall come unto the children of men; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, asking all things in his name, and whatsoever ye shall ask it shall be given you.

Knowing that this scripture is true we must be missing something that is preventing us from receiving the clarity of wisdom, intelligence and enlightenment. I think that David understood what part of the problem was / is

Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; but fools despise wisdom and instruction

I think there is further insight in this passage from Corinthians….

1 Corinthians 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
We might be receiving the spirit of the world as it is noted here and not the Spirit of God, yes it is possible that we are being deceived. There are some that would doubt this as they are so sure of the path that they are on. I have come to know that the more I learn I am realizing the less that I know.

As I continue to study I find that the scriptures make it so very clear……

Moroni 10:5 And if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost; and by the power of the Holy Ghost, ye may know the truth of all things.
Even as I read The Endowment I can see how Curry was blessed by the promise as noted in the previous scripture.
“Surely, as God lives, every effort that anyone may make or that many may make in this direction of seeking an endowment of special light on difficult problems, and responsibilities and projects will be richly rewarded. (Characteristic #3)”

Asking with a sincere heart with real intent is far different than coming to God with an idea asking him to bless it.
We must approach all difficulties and problems with a wisdom that would tell us to come before God as a child would ask a parent for assistance. Ponder that for a moment….

God Bless
Brian Turner


No comments:

Post a Comment