Knowledge

[Traveler]

In fast and testimony meeting a good brother, in his testimony, referenced a discussion with an atheist that that asked him how he knew that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was the one "true" church and taught the true gospel?  I often think that many of the terms we use are ambiguous - meaning that we may not be communicating what we are trying to say and we may not even have a clear understanding ourselves.  I find many terms ambiguous - terms such as Love, Truth, Faith and Knowledge.  I think such terms get confusing over absolute meanings and intended symbolism.  But there is another problem or advantage that permeates communication.  We are instructed both by scripture and revelation that truth cannot be spoken except by the power of the Holy Ghost.  In addition we are instructed both by scripture and revelation that truth cannot be heard (received or accepted) except through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Tightly coupled to truth is the power of knowledge.  It is obvious to me that truth has no impact without knowledge of that truth.  I am impressed that knowledge is a gift - a divine gift from G-d.  But I am also impressed that knowledge and our ability to possess it is far more illusive than we (or at least me) seems to comprehend.  Scripture talks about ever learning but never coming to a "knowledge" of the truth.  Often in Church (especially testimony meeting or anytime we express our testimony) we say we know something.  Usually we say we know the Church to be true or that we "know" our prophet is called of G-d or is a prophet of G-d.  Sometimes we hear these expressions of knowledge from youth and even young children.

Going back to my initial idea or question of the atheist - who do we know that the church is true.  But I would ask two different questions about knowledge.  The first is: What knowledge has anyone sought for that you have either obtained or what knowledge have you sought for but have never received?  The second question is: What were you doing (or pursuing) when you came to the knowledge of whatever it is that you know?

 

I am impressed to give an example of knowledge that I received.  While on my mission I read in 3Nephi about Jesus blessing the children and that there were things said and done that could not be written or explained.   I prayed to understand what could not be written but never received an answer.  Later, while living in the Seattle area, I had the opportunity to contribute (mostly $) to the building of the temple.  When the temple was completed I was asked to sing in a choir at a dedication of the temple.  I have an okay voice but I do not have very good pitch nor can I read music but I can harmonize well when I am unsure of the exact note.   Practice does not guarantee that I will sing any particular hymn correctly or the same as I practiced.   I accepted to sing in the choir so I could be in the Celestial room for the dedication.  One of the hymns was an arrangement of "Oh My Father", a hymn that has special spiritual meaning to me personally.

During the dedication of the Temple, when it came time to sing "Oh My Father" I was overcome by the spirit and heard the hymn being sung by a unseen, to me, choir.  And then there was a noise that at first I thought was the heater or air conditioner that was like a wind but not like anything I had heard before.  And then the walls and ceiling of the temple became transparent and I looked out into what appeared to be the universe.  At that moment the spirit whispered to me that this was the answer to my prayers when on my mission.  What I saw and heard cannot be expressed without loosing the essence of the experience.  I cannot, nor have I ever been able to express what happened in any way that someone can understand.  The knowledge given to me in that experience was something I will never be able to express.  On the rare occasions I have attempted to express this knowledge - the truth of it is never communicated.  I know that Jesus is the Christ - the promised Messiah and that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is his restored "church" which was given to the world in these latter-days in preparation for his return.

 

The Traveler

[Still_Small_Voice]

The LORD is full of grace and will give knowledge as we are able and ready to receive it.  I have been given several dreams while I was asleep where the LORD gave me intelligence.  But one came to me when I was in a Sacrament meeting during a testimony.

Most of my testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is centered in the scriptures and the spiritual knowledge I gain as I continually study them.  I am in Exodus chapter 35 now in my reading of the  Old Testament with Moses going up into Sinai the mountain to commune with the LORD and receive revelation from Him.

[laronius]

When I was younger, I think pre- to early teens, I would from time to time try to comprehend the concept of eternity. I did this by envisioning myself ascending into the sky, through the clouds and breaking through into the sunlight in hopes of imagining that onward ascent forever. And right when I felt I was about to grasp something my vision would fail me like a bungee cord was attached to my waist and snapped me back  and that comprehension slipped away. I felt that was knowledge beyond my present state. 

Another experience. I remember a time after my mission that I had been diligently studying the fall. After some days of trying to understand the how's and why's of it all, all of a sudden it was like sudden comprehension filled my mind and I was blown away by the beauty, the importance but also simplicity of this part of God's plan. And then just like that the window of understanding closed and that level of comprehension was gone and I was left with only how I felt about it, which I still remember. 

So I get what you're saying @Traveler about the elusivity of knowledge. I also appreciate your telling of your experience in the temple. It's further evidence that the Lord is willing to reveal a great many things to us if we diligently and patiently seek it.