We Have all The Spiritual Gifts and Tools

As a Latter-day Saint, it’s all too easy to become a bit complacent in our discipleship, and I would suppose that it has something to do with all the plentiful gospel tools that God has gifted and surround us with. Because we have precious testimonies; because we have prophets, apostles, and temples; because we have been given all the spiritual gifts and tools the Lord has given in any other dispensation of time to bring us into His perfection; it is indeed a challenge not to take it all for granted and to remain hungry for more gospel knowledge and even more pronounced spiritual blessings. As long as we attend church regularly, carry a current temple recommend and use it, listen to and read the words of modern prophets, always try to overcome a number of our sins and weaknesses, it’s easy to believe we are meeting the Lord’s expectations in our individual mortal journeys. But, a nagging question still remains, “have we done all we can?” My questions are not intended to make one feel depressed or hopeless, but instead, to cause each one of us to the sobering question: “Are we taking advantage of the weightier opportunities the FULLNESS of the gospel provides for us? Are we taking the advantages the Lord anticipates for us?” I believe that if we understood more about the gospel, no one would feel hopeless, but rather, it should leave us all feeling a great measure of hope in our salvation and our Savior’s rehabilitating power to change us with a “mighty change.” (Alma 5:12-14)

We Must First Acquire Gospel Knowledge

As we continue these blogs, we will address this cardinally critical subject with much greater detail, but for now, let’s evaluate our individual responsibility (and blessing) to acquiring all the knowledge and understanding we can about God’s plan of salvation. Though we may feel we already have enough to sustain our own testimonies, do we really? What if the brethren made a drastic decision that affects the entire church in a way you don’t agree with? Could you deal with it? From a totally different perspective, does an all-knowing God respect us when we treat lightly the things (Hebrew devarim, meaning words) He has given us to learn from?  Would He give us a “A” or an “F” or something in between for our gospel studies? Do we have enough knowledge of the restored gospel to effectively communicate it to our neighbors, our friends, and other family members who are open-minded, but unfamiliar with our beliefs or why we believe the way we do? Could we compassionately, but boldly, address the many opposing concerns held by ministers or other religious potentates that could actually help them understand our perspectives better? And, a question that’s even much more disturbing, but all too common now days: “Do we have enough knowledge and understanding to help open-minded loved ones find their way back when their testimonies are waning or have failed them altogether?”

Defending our Faith

If the occasion presented itself, could we teach or defend our faith to virtually anyone, particularly the honest in heart? Or, are we often left with one tool only, to bear an honest and sincere testimony? Please don’t get me wrong, a burning testimony is a wonderful and powerful tool and gift from God, but it needs constant nurturing that it may be intensified. It is true that testimonies may carry the power to touch another’s heart; but, just for a moment, consider how valuable and helpful it would be if, coupled with a powerful testimony, we became so familiar with gospel truths, that we are able to articulate doctrinal explanations that address concerns over doctrinal differences with anyone of another faith? Wouldn’t it be helpful to have enough knowledge of the plan of salvation to add to another’s faith, rather than simply leaving them dangling upon our testimonies alone? Bearing pure testimony is indeed a powerful tool often exercised by prophets. But, in order to help educate and fill one’s soul, they almost always include powerful evidences supporting their convictions and beliefs.

What Does God Expect

So, with all this said, what does God expect of us when it comes to obtaining gospel knowledge? Well, for beginners, it goes without debate that knowledge is one of His main attributes. It is obviously part of what makes Him God. But, does He expect us to acquire great knowledge, or is it good enough to simply believe in the gospel and its restoration? Let’s take a look at just a few scriptures that may help answer this question. Nephi acknowledged that man’s tendency is to dismiss much and to “cast many things [words] away which are written and esteem them as things [words] of naught. But I, Nephi, have written what I have written, and I esteem it as of great worth.” (2 Nephi 33:2-3; [Words]: Hebrew definition for “things” added by me; See also 1 Nephi 19:7; 2 Nephi 25:8)

The prophet Joseph Smith taught that a man is saved no faster than he gets knowledge. (TPJS. p 217) In Proverbs we read: “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.” (Proverbs 9:9; bracketed words included by me) Are we eager to mine scriptural knowledge by excavating more gospel ore through the Spirit, or are do we feel to relax where we currently are; wherever our testimonies sit individually? To the church of Corinth, Paul taught: “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit; for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:10-11; bracketed words mine; emphasis added) Did you catch that? The Spirit searcheth ALL THINGS (all words), yes, the DEEP THINGS (deep words) of God. Do we allow the Spirit to take us THERE?

The Lessor Portion of the Word or the Greater Portion of the Word

Why should any Latter-day Saint feel to put off learning the DEEPER words of God for another time or sphere of existence, simply because we have membership in His church? I have a membership at a local fitness center; but, does my membership guarantee that I’m physically fit? Why would we feel to relax around the shallow end of the gospel pool, where only a LESSER portion of the word is found, when so much more is required and available for our enjoyment? Is it because we are afraid of what the Lord may require of us, so we symbolically hide that particular talent deep into the soil? (See Matthew 5:14-25) Why shouldn’t we venture outward towards the boundless waters where the deep things are found; yea, even hidden things which no man knew? (See D&C 101:32-34) The deeper things of God won’t be found in the repetitive ripples of waters at the shallow end of the gospel bay. They will only be found in the depths of the gospel sea, where boundless faith carries us towards spiritually led currents.

The Shallow Gospel Bay or the Expansive Seas of His Mysteries?

To put it short, those who persist in only the lesser portion of the word, those who routinely relax their gospel intellect, as though they are shipwrecked, around the seemingly safer end of the gospel bay, will miss the wide expansive seas of the thought-provoking, deeper things of God—even the hidden mysteries of His kingdom. Nephi laments over this reality and throws caution to us in the latter-days. Revealing his heart’s poignant thoughts, he writes: “I am left to mourn . . . for they will not search knowledge, nor understand great knowledge, when it is given unto them in plainness.” (2 Nephi 32:7) We remain ignorant still when we refuse to search knowledge or try to understand great knowledge. Again, why does Nephi mourn? Because, humanity generally and naturally persists in ignorance or unbelief. This condition causes a lack of faith and a state of wickedness! The Lord’s counsel to hunger and thirst after His righteousness is therefore declined when we become complacent or vain in our individual or collective standing with God! (Matt 5:6)  We refuse to walk with Isaiah, Paul, Abraham, Joseph Smith, and many others who tenaciously sought for greater knowledge; knowledge of the deepest complexities and the broadest understandings; knowledge that would save them and lead them into the presence of God. If our sights are set on exaltation, than we are born to sail!

God Works According to the Measure of our Faith and How Well We Listen

It’s sad, but true, that so many refuse to walk where those with exceedingly great faith have trod. The prototypical Abraham said: “And, finding there was greater happiness and peace for me, I sought for the blessings of THE fathers [not HIS fathers], and the right whereunto I should be ordained to administer the same; having been myself a follower of righteousness, DESIRING also to be one who possessed GREAT KNOWLEDGE, and to be a GREAT follower of righteousness, and to possess A GREATER KNOWLEDGE, . . .” (Abraham 1:2; emphasis added) How well we LISTEN (Hebrew shama) and how much we really hear INTELLIGIBLY really boils down to the strength of our faith and desire to learn more and to obey. Do we want to feast or nibble? It becomes apparent that God expects us to feast upon His words, rather than nibble, and also to understand His words through the tutelage of the Spirit! We have all the needful tools: We have prayer! We have been given the gift of the Holy Ghost! We have the scriptures, particularly the Book of Mormon! And we have the words of modern prophets who inspire and lift us! We have all we need to learn and EXPERIENCE so much more, if we would but put into practice a greater individual effort. How much of our time is spent on our own kingdoms, or relaxation, or  entertainment? Could our knowledge and testimonies be greatly intensified if we worked a little less and sought for a little less entertainment and rest and relaxation? I believe it could … actually … I know it would!

Elder Bruce R. McConkie penned the following:

“And thus, the Lord says to the saints in our day: ‘Your minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief, and because you have treated lightly the things you have received—which vanity and unbelief have brought the whole church under condemnation.’ Is the Lord telling us we are guilty of sin if we do not believe the doctrines he has given us? If we treat lightly—neither reading, nor pondering, nor obeying—the revelations he has given us, are we guiltless? … Is it a sin to have the Book of Mormon and do nothing about it? [T]o use it neither for our own guidance nor as a means of presenting the message of the restoration to the world?

“Is it not a sin to walk in darkness when we have light? Is it not a sin to hold the holy priesthood and do nothing about it? ‘There are many ordained among you,’ the Lord says to his saints, ‘whom I have called but few of them are chosen. They who are not chosen have sinned a very grievous sin, in that they are walking in darkness at noon-day … If you keep not my commandments, the love of the Father shall not continue with you, therefore you shall walk in darkness.’

“Oh, what a grievous thing it is to receive the light of heaven and yet walk in darkness! As Jesus said to certain people in his day: ‘If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.’ (John 9:41)” (A New Witness for the Articles of Faith, pp 226-227; emphasis  added)

Can our Minds be Inflated and our Pursuits Vein?

Isn’t it interesting that the Lord used the word vanity to describe the reason for this condemnation. Vanity explains our disinterest and treating lightly the things (words) He has given, particularly the Book of Mormon and other scriptures. In the 1828 Noah Webster’s Dictionary (the dictionary of the prophet Joseph’s day), the suitable definition for the word vanity is: a fruitless desire or endeavor; trifling labor that produces no good; emptiness; empty pleasure, vain pursuit, idle show; ostentation, arrogance; inflation of mind upon slight grounds, empty pride inspired by an overweening conceit of one’s personal attainments or decorations.” As members of the Lord’s only living church, should we be asking ourselves if the Lord still considers us vain? Are we still under the same condemnation the Lord placed the early saints? Do we STILL treat lightly the things (the words) the Lord has given us? If this is true, than by definition of the word vanity, our desires and endeavors may actually be fruitless when it comes to our salvation; our works may actually be idle, our pursuits vain, our endeavors by-and-large fruitless. From the Lord’s perspective, does He still consider us ostentatious and arrogant? Are our minds inflated upon slight grounds, inspired by an overweening conceit of personal attainments or decorations? These are harsh and depressing questions, but are they fair, appropriate, and needful for every generation of members, especially when so much has been given to us from the Lord? Each individual member must answer this for themselves.

A Cake Half-Baked

One thing is certain: as we feast upon the scriptures and seek for greater knowledge, the Holy Ghost will carry our faith into the depths of God’s salvation—into the FULLNESS of His gospel where His mysteries are revealed. But, when we learn about and accept only a portion of the word, we are like a cake that the prophet Hosea described as being, spiritually “not turned” (Hebrew idiom for “half-baked”). (See Hosea 7:8) Either we play the role of the vigilant bride, learning and understanding His marriage contract, or we don’t. We can either settle only upon our belief that the gospel is true and in the end, having only become a half-baked cake, or we will invite and allow the Spirit to carry us to the depths of learning and, in the end, become a fully- baked cake. The choice is always a personal one that only each bride makes for his or herself.

Joseph said: “The things of God are of deep import; and time, and experience and careful and ponderous and solemn thoughts can only find them out. Thy mind O man! If thou wilt lead a soul into salvation, must stretch as high as the utmost heavens, and search into and contemplate the darkest abyss, and the broad expanse of eternity—thou must commune with God.” (History of the Church Vol. 3, p 295; emphasis mine) If we are to lead ourselves and other souls into the fullness of God’s salvation; to commune with God, we need to be vigilant in searching and researching. We need to be alert, careful, and ponderous. We should have spiritual and solemn thoughts often, that we can develop a great understanding of God’s salvation. We should be willing to contemplate the broad expanse of eternity; which He apparently hides from those who merely frolic around on surface waters. Was Joseph, who was and is the president of this dispensation, misguiding the saints with an unrealistic expectation? Until the day he died, and with a certain measure of encouragement and frustration, he tried to pack greater light and understanding into the hearts and minds of the often complacent, unwilling, or preoccupied saints. (History of the Church, Vol 6:184-185) He encouraged the saints onward, to receiving personal revelation for themselves—even to a sure knowledge of God and His son. (TPJS, p 331)

KNOWLEDGE is POWER

We are told that knowledge is power, and that knowledge keeps us from confusion. Again, said Joseph: “Knowledge does away with darkness, suspense and doubt; for these cannot exist where knowledge is . . . In knowledge there is power. God has more power than all other beings, because He has greater knowledge.” ( TPJS, pp 287-288) We should understand that one of God’s attributes is knowledge. Do we, subconsciously or even consciously, avoid or spurn acquiring all we can of it?

Paul Counsels us to Mature From The Milk and Into The Meat of The Gospel

Rather than a continuous diet of milk only (the foundational and fundamentals—a lessor portion of the word), Paul counsels the church to mature into the meat of the gospel. Accordingly, in his epistle to the Hebrews, Paul boldly pressed the members to mature in the gospel by advancing from the necessary milk to the also necessitating meat. If we fail to do so and focus only on the first principles of the gospel indefinitely (the things we should have learned during our initial conversion), he describes us as being unskillful in the word of righteousness; without maturity, and only a babe in the word. In all reality, we deadlock and stunt our spiritual growth towards Christ. Paul continues: “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles [utterances: The original Greek word (logion) for oracles means: “an utterance of God.” Strong’s, G3051, p 45] of God; and are become  such as have need of milk, not of strong meat. For everyone that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are full of age [mature], even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” (Hebrews 5:12-14; emphasis and racketed words I added) Isaiah asks two pointed questions and answers with a firm response: “Whom shall he teach knowledge? And whom shall he make to understand doctrine? Them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breast.” (Isaiah 28:9 ;Original Italicized) We see, again and again, that the Lord gives more to those who seek it (knock, and it shall be given unto you); to those who reach beyond the fundamentals, or the lesser portion of the word.

On August 27, 1843, the prophet Joseph made the following remark from the pulpit:

“When God offers a blessing or knowledge to a man, and he refuses to receive it, he will be damned.” (HC 5:555; TPJS, p 322)

He also warned that the church’s spiritual development on the whole is gravely slowed down when members refuse to receive more knowledge. He said:

“Ignorance retards the church.” (TPJS, p 138)

It’s one thing to refuse the restored gospel and the only authorized baptism that accompanies it, but it’s altogether another thing to accept this important covenant of baptism, and afterwards, remain largely unacquainted with the doctrines of its salvation. The Lord has said:

“For of him unto whom much is given much is required.” (D&C82:3)

With the Book of Mormon and the other standard works, living prophets, revelation, priesthood, and temples at our disposal, it would not be an understatement to say that we have been given so very much. Again, the Lord gave a warning to the children of Zion, even all, by saying:

“And your minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief, and because you have treated lightly the things you have received.” (D&C 84:54-55; see also vs 56-57)

Again, Joseph Smith:

“When things that are of the greatest importance are passed over by the weak-minded men without even a thought, I want to see truth in all its bearings and hug it to my bosom. I believe all that God ever revealed, and I never hear of a man being damned for believing too much; but they are damned for unbelief.” (TPJS, p 374)

Are we possibly overlooking the greater things and guilty of a crime of ignorance or unbelief?

The Wisdom of King Solomon

In the proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, King of Israel, we read:

“A wise man will HEAR, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: . . . The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction . . . How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? And the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge. Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you . . . But ye have set at naught all my counsel; I have stretched out my hand and no man regarded; . . . For they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord . . . therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.” (Prov. 1:5, 7, 22, 29; Emphasis added)

This man Solomon, to whom God bestowed uncommon wisdom as one of his foremost strengths, tells us that gathering knowledge is the practice of a wise man. Additionally, here the Lord warns that those who despise knowledge; they shall be left to the fruit of their own understanding. Do we hunger for the deeper things of God; or, being unwise, do we hate knowledge and maybe even spurn those who seek for it and try sharing their findings in the hopes of edifying others?

Now for a very poignant question which is not at all intended to offend, but rather, to cause each one of us to honestly look introspectively and appraise our truest motivations in a gospel centered life. Do we shun the mysteries of heaven simply because it bores us to commit so much time towards study; or, is it possibly because we have become complacent—or even smug—towards our individual standing with God? Are we relaxed in our individual discipleship? Are we relaxed in our responsibility to learn, simply because we feel our prophets will teach us everything we need to know? If believing our prophets (who surely lift us and teach us) were all that is required for our salvation, then wouldn’t salvation in God’s kingdom be more of a collective salvation? I believe the scriptures refute that as a possibility and clearly places each individual’s salvation squarely upon the lap of each of us. Just because President Nelson and the brethren know God, that doesn’t mean I know Him. Their experiences with God are not my experiences.

One of the great benefits of frequent scripture study is receiving Holy communion with the Holy Ghost. By doing so frequently, we become more familiar with the voice of the Spirit and His direction. We also become better acquainted with the scriptures and the doctrine becomes so much clearer. Additionally, we hear the Spirit telling us what we can do to improve our discipleship and to draw much closer to the Lord.

The Glory of God is Intelligence

To help us understand the principle of acquiring all the light we can, the Lord said the following through the prophet Joseph Smith:

“He that keepeth his commandments receiveth truth and light, until he is glorified in truth and knoweth all things.

Behold, here is the agency of man, and here is the condemnation of man; because that which was from the beginning is plainly manifest unto them, and they receive not the light.

And every man whose spirit receiveth not the light is under condemnation.

The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth.” (D&C 93:31-32, 36)

Let’s not forget the words of Alma:

“And therefore, he that will harden his heart, the same receiveth the lesser portion of the word; and he that will not harden his heart, to him is given the greater portion of the word, until it is given unto him to know the mysteries of God until he know them in full.

“And they that will harden their hearts, to them is given the lesser portion of the word until they know nothing concerning his mysteries; and then they are taken captive by the devil, and led by his will down to destruction. Now this is what is meant by the chains of hell.” (Alma 12:10-11)

In the previous post (They Will Not Search Knowledge, Nor Will They Understand Great Knowledge, Part 1), we learned that the scriptural definition of a hard heart is the inability to understand the mysteries. Is it possible that even we, as members of the Lord’s only true and living church, can be guilty of Alma’s acquisition?

If the glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth; then how can we ever hope to return to Him if we choose to remain vastly unaware of the greater portion of His word, the things He is so familiar with and centers all His creations around? Do we sometimes suppose all knowledge and wisdom will be miraculously placed into our minds after death, or at the time of the resurrection: without having first learned how to put precepts into practice while in mortality? Through the prophet Hosea, the Lord gravely warns:

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me . . . I will also forget thy children.” (Hosea 4:6)

The Lord Has Given us His Counsel

We have seen in these last two posts that we have received counsel from Joseph and other prophets, but more importantly, we have received counsel from the Lord. Whatever our reason for not searching deeper and becoming individual scholars of the Lord’s gospel, we stand the grave risk of being tethered to the shallow end of the gospel bay and away from the deeper and much richer high-waters of the sea of knowledge.

With everything that has been said here, one thing is painfully certain; the Lord will not force us outward to learn more. Why? Because of agency! As defined in the Doctrine and Covenants, the decision is given to us individually, through our agency, to learn all we can (Behold, here is the agency of man, and this is the condemnation of man; See D&C 93:31-32, 36-37, 39-42, 48-49)

We can choose to search for truth and the deeper things of God; or, we can choose to set up stakes (as Joseph phrased it) and go no further; to rest on our individual spiritual plateaus and think to ourselves that all is well with us; yea, all is well in Zion. (2 Nephi 28:24-25, 29-30)

Burning Testimonies of Our Own

Though we love and sustain our brethren, particularly those in the First Presidency, Quorum of the Twelve, and our local leadership. Though we listen to and obey their inspired counsel and teachings, we need testimonies of our own; testimonies that are born exclusively through personal experiences. Though we eagerly follow their lead, we need to become familiar with spiritual and revelatory experiences with the scriptures of our own. It was Moses that yearned:

“And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them!” (Numbers 11:29)

Though it’s very important to follow the brethren, the Lord requires that we experience Him for ourselves. He longs for a burning relationship with each of us too.

The prophets speak in general terms to the church collectively, which is beneficial to every individual, but only in a collective way. Nonetheless, because salvation is a personal endeavor, and because each of us have our own personal strengths, weaknesses, struggles, thoughts, personalities, and all that comes with the perplexities of an individual mortal experience, each of us need individual tutoring fitted to our individual needs, and through the Holy Spirit, the Lord provides that revelatory experience. Great learning and power comes to those who tap into personal revelation.  In a discourse delivered at the Salt Lake City Tabernacle, on February 20, 1853, President Brigham Young warned members:

“. . . nothing short of the Almighty, nothing short of the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ, can prove to you that this work is the work of God.  . . . Salvation is an individual operation … There are those among this people who are influenced, controlled, and biased in their thoughts, actions, and feelings by some other individual or family, on whom they place their dependence for spiritual and temporal instruction, and for salvation in the end. These persons do not depend upon themselves for salvation, but upon another of their poor, weak, fellow mortals. ‘I do not depend upon any inherent goodness of my own,’ say they, ‘to introduce me into the kingdom of glory, I depend upon you, brother Joseph, upon you, brother Brigham, upon you, brother Heber, or upon you, brother James; I believe your judgement is superior to mine, and consequently I let you judge me; your spirit is better than mine, therefore you can do good for me; I submit myself wholly to you, and place in you all my confidence for life and salvation; where you go I will go, and where you tarry there I will stay; expecting that you will introduce me through the gates into the heavenly Jerusalem.’

“. . .  Now those men, or those women, who know no more about the power of God, and the influences of the Holy Spirit, than to be led entirely by another person, suspending their own understanding, and pinning their faith upon another’s sleeve, will never be capable of entering into the celestial glory, to be crowned as they anticipate; they will never be capable of becoming Gods. They cannot rule themselves, to say nothing of ruling others, but they must be dictated to do in every trifle, like a child. They cannot control themselves in the least, but James, Peter, or somebody else must control them. They never can become Gods, nor be crowned as rulers with glory, immortality, and eternal lives. They never can hold scepters of glory, majesty, and power in the Celestial Kingdom. Who will? Those who are valiant and inspired with the true independence of heaven, who will go forth boldly in the service of their God, leaving others to do as they please, determined to do right, though all mankind besides should take the opposite course. Will this apply to any of us? Our own hearts can answer . . .

“. . . We are organized to progress in the scale of intelligence, and the least Saint by adhering strictly to the order of God, may attain to a full and complete salvation through the grace of God, by his own faithfulness.” (Brigham Young; Journal of Discourses vol. 1, pp 310, 312, 313)

The Veil That Separates us From God

According to Brigham and the scriptures, it’s not in the Lord’s economy for our salvation to be solely based upon our acceptance of the Lord’s prophets. As wonderful and spiritual as they may be, they can only lead us TO the veil. The Lord expects each individual to receive knowledge and revelation through the Holy Ghost for themselves in order to pass through the veil. In fact, passing through the veil is exactly what the Lord anticipates for each of us. This is where we receive even greater knowledge; knowledge which has been hid up because of unbelief. (See Ether Chapter 4; See also Jeffrey R. Holland, Christ And The New Covenant, pp 13-29[1])

We must become acquainted with, and accustomed to, the processes of the Holy Ghost and the various ways the Lord communicates to His children. Personal revelation is a necessary key to every man’s salvation, that we may learn to govern ourselves according to His desire. Again, here is the agency of man, and here is the condemnation of man. We must not only learn to come up to the veil, we must individually learn to pierce that veil; by personal revelation and continual learning. A continual diet of the milk of the gospel, or the first principle only won’t cut it. (Heb. 5:12-14; See also 1 Cor. 3:1-3) Only by consciously partaking also of the meat—and becoming a mature (full of age) bride in the Lord, Jesus Christ.

 

[1] Jeffrey R. Holland, Christ And The New Covenant, Deseret Book Company, Salt Lake City, Utah; 1997, pp13-29

“And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened?” (Mark 8:17)

 

Hard Hearted vs Closed Minded, and the Use of Idioms

In the previous post, we learned that having a hard heart, or being hardhearted, is something more than being closed minded, or one who is heartless, cold, or callous towards a certain truth. It’s more than someone who is unfeeling or incapable of being moved to pity. Rather, this phrase, which is often employed by Book of Mormon writers, is both a Hebrew and Greek idiom, which literally means to fail to understand what you see or hear. It symbolically portrays dryness of heart, destitute of a desire to understand or comprehend more. Also, it’s a concept used to describe one that lacks the desire to understand God’s mysteries. In the Greek Lexicon, the word is: sklerokardia. It’s the feminine noun of the words, hard and heart combined to form a Greek idiom. The meaning of the two together is, hard-heartedness, i.e. specifically a destitution of (spiritual) perception—hardness of heart.^[1] The Greek and the Hebrew idiom for hardness of heart is the same, and Book of Mormon writers often wrote from a Hebraic perspective.[2]

In the New Testament, sklerokardia (Greek, hardhearted), is used to describe one who lacks a desire to understand the mysteries of God; he is destitute of spiritual perception. Can we, as individual members of Christ’s church, also be portrayed as one who is destitute of spiritual perceptions? Obviously, the term hard-hearted can apply to members of the church, as well as a world outside the church. This condition leads to ignorance and a darkened understanding. Completely in line to the truest definition of the word hardhearted, Alma made this paralleling statement to Zeezrom:

“… therefore, he that will harden his heart, the same receiveth the lesser portion of the word; and he that will not harden his heart, to him is given the greater portion of the word, until it is given unto him to know the mysteries of God until he know them in full.

And they that will harden their hearts, to them is given the lesser portion of the word until they know nothing concerning his mysteries; and then they are taken captive by the devil, and led by his will down to destruction. Now this is what is meant by the chains of hell.”^[3]

We see in these verses that having a hard heart completely impairs one from understanding the mysteries of God’s word; and being self-imposed, he continually rests comfortably upon the lesser portion of the word, rather than adoring the depths of God’s mysteries, found only within the depths of the greater portion. Either we routinely (and seemingly safely) sail our individual sea-worthy ships only within the shallow harbor of the lesser portion of the word, or, relying upon the Holy Ghost as our guide, we boldly raise our sails to the top of the masts and set sail upon the vast open waters of the high gospel seas, ever searching for spiritual treasures found only within the depths of the greater portion of the word. The choice is ours, individually.

The Importance of Seeing, Hearing, and Understanding

Even Jesus Christ applied this idiom on at least two separate occasions while reproving certain of His disciples. Let’s single out one of those occasions and put our study tools to use and see if they apply here. Just after the miraculous event of serving and filling the famished bellies of about four-thousand souls with a meager seven loaves of bread and a few small fishes (Mark’s account), Jesus later boards a ship to cross to the other side. The scriptures continue: “Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, neither had they in the ship with them more than one loaf. And he charged them, saying, [t]ake heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod. And they reasoned among themselves, saying, [i]t is because we have no bread. And when Jesus knew it, he said unto them, [w]hy reason ye, because ye have no bread? [P]erceive ye not yet, neither understand? [H]ave ye your heart yet hardened? Having eyes, ye see not? [A]nd having ears, ye hear not? [A]nd do ye not remember? . . . And he said unto them, [h]ow is it that ye do not understand?^[4]

Here the Lord seemed to be a bit dumbfounded, or at least frustrated by their lack of understanding. In this example, a word we want to look at is, to hear. The Hebrew equivalent for the word hear, is Shama, meaning: to HEAR INTELLIGENTLY, with ATTENTION, and OBEDIENCE.  In the Greek, the word is akouo, meaning: to HEAR, to UNDERSTAND.

Having Eyes to See

Another descriptive phrase Jesus employed in the scripture above, and often used throughout the scriptures, is having eyes to see but seeing not. In February of 1831, the Lord said through the Prophet Joseph Smith: “He who hath faith to see shall see. He who hath faith to hear shall hear.”  In the Greek mindset of seeing, and in the context of this phrase, it has little to do with seeing with one’s physical eyes; rather, it’s referring to the heart or inner man; the spiritual eye. In Matthew 13:13 it says: “Therefore speak I unto them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.” As we have learned, when Christ perceived those with hard hearts, He spoke to them in parables. But, what does He mean by saying, because they seeing see not? The Greek word to see (blepo), in the context that it’s being used here, is a verb meaning, observe, discern, perceive, implying special contemplation, and is rendered: mental vision and to perceive; expressing a more intent, earnest, contemplation.

When one has eyes to see, but sees not; and when one has ears to hear, but hears not; the prophets have attributed these conditions to one who has a hard heart. Remember, Alma warns: “and they that will harden their hearts, to them is given the lesser portion of the word until they know nothing concerning his mysteries; and then they are taken captive by the devil, and are led by his will down to destruction. Now this is what is meant by the chains of hell.”^[5]

What is God’s EXPECTATION for each of us?

It becomes very apparent from certain scriptural passages that PERCEIVING, HEARING, acquiring KNOWLEDGE of God’s revealed word is His expectation for each of us individually and collectively, and is an important key to understanding our successful journey back to Him: individually! Shouldn’t we help and encourage each other along the way? The Lord’s valiant disciples will both blepo (see) and shama (hear) as they exercise their spiritual perception lead by the Holy Spirit.

In the next post, we’ll be discussing the importance of acquiring all the knowledge we can pertaining to our salvation. As you will see, the prophet Joseph Smith taught that there is NO salvation without knowledge, and that a man cannot be saved in ignorance. Please look for that post in the next week or so.

 

[1] The New Strong’s Expanded Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible; Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2010; Hebrew and Aramaic Dictionary, Greek Dictionary of the New Testament; Greek p. 228 #4641; (Emphasis added)

[2] Mormon 9:32-33

[3] Alma 12:9-11

[4] Mark 8:14-18, 21 (emphasis mine)

[5] Alma 12:10-11