2 Nephi 15
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To me this chapter is about knowledge. The early House of Israel were not good stewards of the knowledge that had been given them, thus over time it was taken away. Verse 13 speaks of that: Therefore, my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge...
We've all heard it said that 'Ignorance is bliss.' But it is clear here that it is not.
Joseph Smith said: A man is saved no faster than he has knowledge.
That tells me that my salvation is dependent upon the knowledge I obtain. Obviously, faith, testimony, obedience, are all included, because, really what it knowledge? Knowing something without the least degree of doubt. Knowledge is the solidity of our testimony, the reward of our faith. And withouth it, we cannot be saved.
Wicked men try to take the knowledge they use it for evil (vs 20) as they try to pervert the truth. Gratefully, we have the gospel, the plan of salvation, modern day revelation, and the gift of the Holy Ghost to help guide us to the perfect knowledge we seek.
PS- At a writer's conference in Arizona today. Having so much fun!
To me this chapter is about knowledge. The early House of Israel were not good stewards of the knowledge that had been given them, thus over time it was taken away. Verse 13 speaks of that: Therefore, my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge...
We've all heard it said that 'Ignorance is bliss.' But it is clear here that it is not.
Joseph Smith said: A man is saved no faster than he has knowledge.
That tells me that my salvation is dependent upon the knowledge I obtain. Obviously, faith, testimony, obedience, are all included, because, really what it knowledge? Knowing something without the least degree of doubt. Knowledge is the solidity of our testimony, the reward of our faith. And withouth it, we cannot be saved.
Wicked men try to take the knowledge they use it for evil (vs 20) as they try to pervert the truth. Gratefully, we have the gospel, the plan of salvation, modern day revelation, and the gift of the Holy Ghost to help guide us to the perfect knowledge we seek.
PS- At a writer's conference in Arizona today. Having so much fun!
I am glad you are feeling better!
ReplyDeleteI favor vs 19... things are spinning out of control so fast right now, and nothing we can do to stop it. So I have reached the point of praying that the Lord will come back soon and my family will be protected from the worst of it. It is obvious that His work IS hastening, so this is a good thing.
And vs 20... this is such a true statement. You can't read, watch or listen to any news or commentary without having to filtering it. Upside down is right side up. Good is bad and Bad is good. It actually amazes me at times at how switched around things are and are becoming.
The thing I am grateful for is knowing the upside down crazy world I live in is in God's hands. Things are as they are supposed to be. Because I know this, because I try so hard to believe it, I don't fear. Most of the time. =)
This weekend I had a house guest who is LDS but is having a hard time with her beliefs. v23 stuck out to me for this reason. it seemed that I was bombarded by justification of wicked and judged for my pursuit of righteous living. apparently I'm not the first to encounter this :)
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you had a great time at your conference! I hope you'll share details soon!