This morning, before I headed out to mow my lawn, I finished posting a review on Pastor Jeff and Hello Saints’ thoughts about BYU’s Education Week. As I worked, I pondered the thought of being saved and worshiping Jesus. It was then that I had a moment of clarity and several ideas came together, strengthening my testimony.
In my previous post about Hello Saints and Education Week, I touched on the importance of “knowing Jesus Christ.” This knowledge goes beyond simply believing in Him, accepting Him, or worshiping Him eternally; it is about truly understanding His nature.
Over the past few days, I’ve been trying to wrap my head around the Lectures on Faith Lecture Fourth. I’ve read and listened to it multiple times, seeking to grasp its deeper meaning. What is it truly saying? What is it truly teaching? Is it something profound, or is it as clear as the midday sun? I realized while contemplating these ideas that they relate to one another.
- Exaltation (Celestial Kingdom)
- Knowing who God is (Godhead)
- Knowing Gods Attributes
- Serving God (Works)
- Relying upon God (Grace)
Lectures on Faith Lecture Fourth emphasizes that without a correct understanding of God’s attributes, one cannot have faith sufficient for salvation. As stated in the text:
“correct ideas of the character of God are necessary in order to the exercise of faith in him unto life and salvation, and that without correct ideas of his character, the minds of men could not have sufficient power with God to the exercise of faith necessary to the enjoyment of eternal life, and that correct ideas of his character lay a foundation as far as his character is concerned, for the exercise of faith, so as to enjoy the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Jesus Christ, even that of eternal glory;”
https://lecturesonfaith.com/4/
This highlights that our understanding of God’s character lays the foundation for our faith and the blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
I reflected on my earlier writing about Pastor Jeff and Hello Saints, and how the concept of the Trinity—God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost as one being—can obscure our understanding of God’s true attributes. How can we come to know God the Father if we do not understand who he truly is?
In that moment of clarity, I recognized a truth: The devil in his cunning way has damned the children of God, limiting our understanding of God’s power and attributes. He has taught false principles about his character, attributes, and power. He also convinced mankind that it is not necessary to know him or serve him.
Consider the parable of the ten virgins.
1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/matt/25?lang=eng
In this parable, the bridegroom responds: “I know you not.” The Joseph Smith Translation emphasizes this by stating, “Ye know me not.”
Does this not follow a similar pattern?
13 For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/5?lang=eng
How can we truly come to know God if we do not serve Him?
Naturally, the LDS plan of salvation does not resonate with the broader Christian world. If one does not believe that God the Father is a separate being or that attaining His presence is possible, why would one desire to be with Him? After all, how can you seek God if you do not have a correct understanding of his nature and attributes?