"It is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance."
Doctrine and Covenants 131:6
Sometimes we just don't want to know some things. I think often, at least with gospel things, it is so we won't be responsible for them. And since God doesn't hold us accountable for things that we don't know, then we think that we're okay avoiding the knowledge. But, oh. This scripture means that isn't really true. In order to be saved, we have to learn. We can go through the motions of doing something, but if we don't understand it and we're not doing it purposefully, then we still have a ways to go before we master it. Remember, God's purpose isn't to make us into obedient slaves, but into fully competent peers. We might not get even close to that in this life, but that's the ultimate goal. So, we need to understand what we are doing, and why. We need to want to do it, and be choosing it freely in order to get the benefit of the lesson. I am not saying we need to get there instantaneously. Sometimes we start out obeying a little bit reluctantly, or we just go through the motions and the heart isn't involved. I think, to start, that can be okay... as long as we are learning and working on it, and eventually get to that wholeness.
Today, let's not be satisfied with relying on someone else's testimony. Let's not settle for taking the sacrament without understanding it. Let's not just believe that the scriptures are true without reading them. Let's do our homework. Let's dive in, and find out. If there is something we don't understand, let's study it. Let's think about the things that we are doing, and let's take the time to learn about and understand them.
Doctrine and Covenants 131:6
Sometimes we just don't want to know some things. I think often, at least with gospel things, it is so we won't be responsible for them. And since God doesn't hold us accountable for things that we don't know, then we think that we're okay avoiding the knowledge. But, oh. This scripture means that isn't really true. In order to be saved, we have to learn. We can go through the motions of doing something, but if we don't understand it and we're not doing it purposefully, then we still have a ways to go before we master it. Remember, God's purpose isn't to make us into obedient slaves, but into fully competent peers. We might not get even close to that in this life, but that's the ultimate goal. So, we need to understand what we are doing, and why. We need to want to do it, and be choosing it freely in order to get the benefit of the lesson. I am not saying we need to get there instantaneously. Sometimes we start out obeying a little bit reluctantly, or we just go through the motions and the heart isn't involved. I think, to start, that can be okay... as long as we are learning and working on it, and eventually get to that wholeness.
Today, let's not be satisfied with relying on someone else's testimony. Let's not settle for taking the sacrament without understanding it. Let's not just believe that the scriptures are true without reading them. Let's do our homework. Let's dive in, and find out. If there is something we don't understand, let's study it. Let's think about the things that we are doing, and let's take the time to learn about and understand them.
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