Knowledge

So my heart has been sad as I have seen some good friends of ours start posting things, supporting ideas, and articles from anti-mormons. They still are 'strong' in the faith of Jesus Christ, but it is a dangerous road to go down and it makes me worry about them.

I remember a talk given in General Conference not long ago that warned the rich and the wise. These 2 groups of people will have the hardest time keeping their testimonies strong, and this is what I thought of when my friends started posting these things. They are intellectuals. They are smart people and study a lot with degrees in theology, intellectual history, and political thought. Not that these are bad things, and we are supposed to seek knowledge in all areas, but this warning given in General Conference, stemming from the scripture found in 2 Nephi 9:42 "And whoso knocketh, to him will he open; and the wise, and the learned, and they that are rich, who are puffed up because of their learning, and their wisdom, and their riches-yea, they are they whom he despiseth; and save they shall cast these things away, and consider themselves fools before God, and come down in the depths of humility, he will not open unto them" seems apparent today.

I came across this talk given by Quentin L. Cook and thought it had some great things to say about how we gain knowledge. It is entitled, "Strengthen Faith As You Seek Knowledge. In the article he lists 5 principles he finds essential as you place faith in Jesus Christ at the center of your lives as you diligently seek knowledge.

1. Understand there is truly opposition in all things. The choices you make are critical.

2. Strengthen your own testimony as a foundation for all of the choices you make.

3. Seek knowledge diligently, wisely, and humbly.

4. Follow the prophet's counsel as you make your choices.

5. Live so the Atonement can be fully efficacious in your life.

My favorite of these principles is number 4. We need to support the prophet always. If we are finding ideas that are contrary to truths taught by the prophet, or I believe any called to the Quorum of the Twelve, we need to re-consider this 'new-found knowledge.'

In a Worldwide Leadership Meeting, President Hinckley said,

"No one need tell you that we are living in a very difficult season in the history of the world. Standards are dropping everywhere. Nothing seems to be sacred anymore. ... I do not know that things were worse in the times of Sodom and Gomorrah. ... I think our Father must weep as He looks down upon His wayward sons and daughters. We must not give up. We must not become discouraged. We must never surrender to the forces of evil. ... If it means standing alone, we must do it. But we shall not be alone."

I know that the world is moving in a way to make right seem wrong. If you teach there is a right and a wrong, you are considered judgmental. They insist we need to accept everybody and let them choose for themselves. People are free to choose. But our choices are either to "choose  liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil" (2 Nephi 2:27).

We need to make sure that we are always standing for the right. There will always be opposition, but as we strengthen our testimony in Jesus Christ and use that as a foundation, seek to remain humble, follow the prophet, and utilize the Atonement daily in our lives we will remain strong through Satan's tactics to get us off the path.