IMPORTANCE OF GOSPEL KNOWLEDGE PART 2

Gospel Knowledge.

Gospel knowledge deals with the clear understanding of the truth about God, Our Eternal Father and His eternal laws which govern us, His children on earth, which if we obey we will gain salvation in His presence.

Gospel knowledge also deals with all truth that comes from Him.

Knowledge is an attribute of Deity and He possesses it in the fullness. 

We, His spirit children, have that spark of Deity within us also.

Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith p.354.

The relationship we have with God places us in a situation to advance in knowledge. He has power to institute laws to instruct the weaker intelligences, that they may be exalted with himself, so that they might have one glory upon another, and all that knowledge, power, glory, and intelligence, which is requisite in order to save them in the world of spirits.

Acts 15: 18

18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

An understanding that God knows all things is necessary for man to exercise faith in Him so as to obtain salvation in His kingdom.

Doctrine and Covenants 38: 1-2

1 Thus saith the Lord your God, even Jesus Christ, the Great I Am, Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the same which looked upon the wide expanse of eternity, and all the seraphic hosts of heaven, before the world was made;

2 The same which knoweth all things, for all things are present before mine eyes.

Not only does God the Father know all things, but as stated above by the Lord Jesus Christ, so does He, the Son.  The Holy Ghost also known as the Comforter, the third member of the Godhead does also:

Doctrine and Covenants 35: 19

19 Wherefore, watch over him that his faith fail not, and it shall be given by the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, that knoweth all things.

We are the sons and daughters of God, the weaker intelligences mentioned above by the Prophet Joseph Smith.

Knowledge – The Differences.

All the knowledge that is available is not equal in worth to us.  Much of it does not move us towards exaltation.

Learning the arts and sciences like history, mathematics, medicine, and chemistry are good things to learn and are very useful here on earth and will be used in eternity, but in and of itself, does not move us towards our salvation. 

First, we have to obtain salvation and be judged or allowed to progress onward after this life, and then we will use the other things we have learned here.

Learning them may help us to be open to the receiving of the saving truths or being able to understand those truths more. 

The Lord tells us to seek learning out of the best books, by study and also by faith.

There are many that think, after learning much of the worldly knowledge that they do not need God. 

They think that they know better and do not pay attention to God or His Spirit.

It is the knowledge of God that brings salvation.

The Prophet Jacob explains:

2 Nephi 9: 28-29, 42

28 O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish.

29 But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God.

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.

Daniel 12: 4 (Partial quote.)

4 …”many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased”.

He is talking about the last days that there will be so much knowledge available that many will not be able to find the knowledge that matters for their eternal benefit.

The Latter Day Saints are expected to concentrate in the knowledge of the truth and this kind of knowledge is a result of righteousness and comes by revelation from the Holy Ghost who is a revealer of saving knowledge. (See John 7: 17)

The Prophet Joseph Smith also instructed us on this:

Doctrine and Covenants 130: 18-19

18 Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection.

19 And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come.

In conclusion, keep learning all that you can, but concentrate on the saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and His gospel that He has restored to the earth.

For further information go to www.lds.org

Comments are welcome.

ANCIENT PROPHET SEES AMERICA IN LAST DAYS

An Ancient prophet named Jacob, who lived in the Americas between 559 - 544 B.C., talked about this land in prophetic vision.

The Prophet Jacob saw in the last days there would be a righteous branch of the House of Israel on this land, where he was then standing.

JACOB PROPHESIES ABOUT AMERICA, THE LAND HE IS STANDING ON AT THAT MOMENT.

2 Nephi 9: 53

53 And behold how great the covenants of the Lord, and how great his condescensions unto the children of men; and because of his greatness, and his grace and mercy, he has promised unto us that our seed shall not utterly be destroyed, according to the flesh, but that he would preserve them; and in future generations they shall become a righteous branch unto the house of Israel.

Ancient prophets have seen Jesus Christ long before He was born on the earth.  They knew that He was Jehovah of the Old Testament who was to come to the earth to perform the Atonement for all mankind.

2 Nephi 10: 1-5

1 And now I, Jacob, speak unto you again, my beloved brethren, concerning this righteous branch of which I have spoken.  (This was Lehi's descendants who came from Jerusalem 600 B.C.).  (Jacob was a prophet son of Lehi)

 

2 For behold, the promises which we have obtained are promises unto us according to the flesh; wherefore, as it has been shown unto me that many of our children shall perish in the flesh because of unbelief, nevertheless, God will be merciful unto many; and our children shall be restored, that they may come to that which will give them the true knowledge of their Redeemer.

 

3 Wherefore, as I said unto you, it must needs be expedient that Christ—for in the last night the angel spake unto me that this should be his name—should come among the Jews, among those who are the more wicked part of the world; and they shall crucify him—for thus it behooveth our God, and there is none other nation on earth that would crucify their God.

 

4 For should the mighty miracles be wrought among other nations they would repent, and know that he be their God.

 

5 But because of priestcrafts and iniquities, they at Jerusalem will stiffen their necks against him, that he be crucified.

The Lord knew that they would eventually crucify Him when He came to the earth. 

But they had to make the choice on their own, and He allowed it because the Atonement had to be made for all of us. 

Jacob continues his prophesy.

Jacob continues to talk about when his Prophet father Lehi left Jerusalem with him and Nephi and his other family members he mentions that the righteous would be scattered among all nations. 

And, as we know now, Jerusalem was attacked in 586 B.C.

2 Nephi 10: 7-8

7 But behold, thus saith the Lord God:  When the day cometh that they shall believe in me, that I am Christ, then have I covenanted with their fathers (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob), that they shall be restored in the flesh, upon the earth, unto the lands of their inheritance. 

8 And it shall come to pass that they shall be gathered in from their long dispersion, from the isles of the sea, and from the four parts of the earth; and the nations of the Gentiles shall be great in the eyes of me, saith God, in carrying them forth to the lands of their inheritance.

2 NEPHI 10: 10-16

10 But behold, this land, (The Lord talking to Jacob about America), said God, shall be a land of thine inheritance, and the Gentiles shall be blessed upon the land.  (America has been blessed on this land) 

11 And this land shall be a land of liberty unto the Gentiles, and there shall be no kings upon the land, who shall raise up unto the Gentiles. 

12 And I will fortify this land against all other nations.

 

13 And he that fighteth against Zion shall perish, saith God.

 

14 For he that raiseth up a king against me shall perish, for I, the Lord, the king of heaven, will be their king, and I will be a light unto them forever, that hear my words.

 

15 Wherefore, for this cause, that my covenants may be fulfilled which I have made unto the children of men, that I will do unto them while they are in the flesh, I must needs destroy the secret works of darkness, and of murders, and of abominations.

 

16 Wherefore, he that fighteth against Zion, both Jew and Gentile, both bond and free, both male and female, shall perish; for they are they who are the whore of all the earth; for they who are not for me are against me, saith our God.

 

Those who are not of Israel are Gentiles according to the definition.

REMEMBER, all of this is being said by a prophet in the Americas between  559 - 544 B.C.

2 Nephi 10: 18-19 

18 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, thus saith our God: I will afflict thy seed (meaning the American Indians), by the hand of the Gentiles; nevertheless, I will soften the hearts of the Gentiles, that they shall be like unto a father to them; wherefore, the Gentiles shall be blessed and numbered among the house of Israel. 

19 Wherefore, I will consecrate this land unto thy seed, and them who shall be numbered among thy seed, forever, for the land of their inheritance; for it is a choice land, saith God unto me, above all other lands, wherefore I will have all men that dwell thereon that they shall worship me, saith God.

2 Nephi 10: 21-23

21 But great are the promises of the Lord unto them who are upon the isles of the sea; wherefore as it says isles, there must needs be more than this, and they are inhabited also by our brethren. 

22 For behold, the Lord God has led away from time to time from the house of Israel, according to his will and pleasure. And now behold, the Lord remembereth all them who have been broken off, wherefore he remembereth us also.  

23 Therefore, cheer up your hearts, and remember that ye are free to act for yourselves—to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life.

Man don't have to believe the Lord and may think his hand is mightier than the Lords but they cannot ignore His Words.  All His words will be fulfilled.

Many things can be learned by reading the chapters before and after this chapter. 
 
For more information, go to www.lds.org.

Comment are welcome.