Knowledge

Working on Knowledge

Value Experience #1

I read Proverbs 1:5; 4:7; 2 Nephi 38:30; and Doctrine and Covenants 88:78-80, 118, 90:15; 130:18-19; 131:6.

I am to think about why I need to gain knowledge and understand about how to apply gospel principles to my family life.  I am to write in my journal what I have learned and discuss it with my family.  So here I am killing 2 birds with one stone.  I figure blogging is the journal part.  I would love to have comments made and that way I will be discussing it.  So folks, help me out and make comments, so I can get my YW medallion.

We should seek knowledge above everything else according to Proverbs 4:7 and with it wisdom.   Wisdom is defined as the ability to make sensible decisions and judgments based on personal knowledge and experience. I would add that wisdom is also making sensible decisions and judgments based on personal knowledge and experience of others.  As I have aged, I have observed in my life, that at times, I learn quite slowly.  But no matter whether I learn vicariously or through personal experience, to really learn, to make it worthwhile, I have to exercise faith, either in someone else or in my Savior.  By learning and trying to gain wisdom I have prepared myself to fulfill my calling as a mother, wife and member of God’s kingdom. 

In Proverbs 1:5 we learn that wise people listen to others and learn from that which they hear.  If you are smart you will seek out people who already know what to do or have been through similar situations.  This is vicarious learning.  We believe the person who tells us the stove is hot.  That is enough for us not to test it for ourselves.  We can learn many things vicariously through the scriptures.  We can learn that it is worthwhile to pray by studying the story of the Brother of Jared.  We can learn how to serve others by reading the example of Christ’s life. 

But the Lord wants us to learn as much about everything as possible.  In D&C 88:78-80, we are encouraged to gain knowledge about everything including theory, principle, doctrine and law of the Gospel.  But also we should learn of things in the heaven, the earth, and under the earth.  We need to become knowledgeable in the history, politics of nations as well as our own. I think the Lord wants us to read a little fiction too, for he advises us in D&C 88:118 to seek out of the best books.  Gandalf, Dorothy and Pumpkin Head as well as Harry Potter have all helped me gain a little knowledge and wisdom. 

As I mentioned before, I have discovered over the course of my life that I learn relatively slowly.  I was watching Chloe the other day flicking through my I-pod, finding Netflix, dismissing an add by touching the x in the corner and scrolling through numerous movies until finding the  one she wanted to watch.  How quickly she can learn at such a young age.  It took me months to master simple things using the same contraption.  My slow learning does not just apply to my old age.  As a returning missionary, I remember arrogantly thinking I understood the Gospel.  I actually wondered what I would learn in Sunday School for the rest of my life.  If I could only reach out and slap my younger self.  The understanding that comes line upon line and precept upon precept as described in 2 Nephi 28:30 will continue for eternity.  How I wish I could have understood the gospel on my mission the way I do now.  How I wish I could understand the gospel now the way I will once I have entered into the presence of my Savior. 

This leads me to the last point.  Some things we just need to experience ourselves.  We have to endure pain to understand and empathize with one in pain.  We have to taste sugar to truly know what it tastes like.  This is why I found the last line of D&C 88:118 so interesting, “…to seek learning, even by study (mostly vicarious learning) and also by FAITH.”  We have to put what we learn to the test.  That test usually requires faith in our Savior.  Faith that he will not allow us to go astray.  How many times do we set out on our own voyage across uncharted waters as did the Jaradites.  How often do we feel we are in the dark and pray for assistance and get the answer, “Figure it out for yourself.”  We seek the knowledge and then we are required to put that knowledge to the test.   We see how wise we really are. But we must have faith that Christ will be there with us, he will not allow us to fail, at least not eternally.  We often don't know the next step for sure. I can, however, testify that I have been warned spiritually whenever I have been about to take a misstep.  Can't say I always listened to the warning, but that is all in how I have gained a little wisdom.   

If we can work on gaining knowledge and applying wisdom etiher vicariously or personal experience, then the Lord can use us in his Kingdom as it explains in D&C 88:80.  We will be prepared in all things to magnify our callings, to help our children, and support our spouse.  We will be able to fulfill the mission with which he has commissioned us.