"And he said unto me: Knowest thou the condescension of God?
And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things."
1 Nephi 11:16-17
The message that God loves us was core to Nephi's understanding of God. He didn't understand everything else that was presented to him, but he knew that. It seems similar to Adam's declaration "I know not, save the Lord commanded me."
We all have a core of knowledge about God. Maybe it is his love, maybe it is obedience, or repentance, or tithing, or temples, or family, or church attendance, or fasting, or faith, or prophecy, or mercy, or justice, or the scriptures, or Christ's atonement. And that core is good to hold on to. It is what keeps us coming back to him, and what brings us here today, studying his word.
Nephi was asked a question in order to get him thinking, and so that he could expand this core belief and build on it. Similarly, when we have questions about God and the gospel, especially when we can't find an immediate answer, it gives us an opportunity to learn more about God and expand that foundation of our testimony.
Today, if we have questions, let's remember the core of our testimony and remember that new information isn't meant to shake that foundation, but to build on it. God welcomes our sincere and heartfelt questions, and he will help us learn more and come unto him. He loves us. He wants us to learn. Let's go to him and seek our answers, and further instruction.
And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things."
1 Nephi 11:16-17
The message that God loves us was core to Nephi's understanding of God. He didn't understand everything else that was presented to him, but he knew that. It seems similar to Adam's declaration "I know not, save the Lord commanded me."
We all have a core of knowledge about God. Maybe it is his love, maybe it is obedience, or repentance, or tithing, or temples, or family, or church attendance, or fasting, or faith, or prophecy, or mercy, or justice, or the scriptures, or Christ's atonement. And that core is good to hold on to. It is what keeps us coming back to him, and what brings us here today, studying his word.
Nephi was asked a question in order to get him thinking, and so that he could expand this core belief and build on it. Similarly, when we have questions about God and the gospel, especially when we can't find an immediate answer, it gives us an opportunity to learn more about God and expand that foundation of our testimony.
Today, if we have questions, let's remember the core of our testimony and remember that new information isn't meant to shake that foundation, but to build on it. God welcomes our sincere and heartfelt questions, and he will help us learn more and come unto him. He loves us. He wants us to learn. Let's go to him and seek our answers, and further instruction.
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