CH3 - The Greatest Revelation: Pure knowledge

[5ft Diva]

Pure knowledge is probably my favorite quality of all the qualities that Dr. Lund lists since I love to learn. Knowledge indicates that one has learned, studied, and experimented upon the word to the point of acquiring knowledge. In likening this to my quest for doctrinal truth, I love to study the doctrine so that I clearly know where I stand. I don't know a lot but what I do know I know because I've tried to study it out so that I understand it completely. It is after searching, pondering, and studying thoroughly that I feel the Holy Ghost can strengthen my testimony to bless me with a foundation of knowledge. When that comes I'm no longer guessing or wondering if I'm doing the right thing for a particular situation and the Holy Ghost can now help me build upon that foundation.

I find it interesting that Dr. Lund says that pure knowledge is "Spirit-discerned information that gives us confidence to act." This implies that we're waiting to hear what the Spirit is telling us in order to move forward and/or that one can be so familiar w/ the Spirit that unless they feel an absence of it they can feel confident to act in a given situation as impressed upon by the feelings they are already experiencing. This requires practice and it requires us to take our time and requires restraint of the natural [wo]man so as to let the Spirit guide. Imagine how much more of an effective person I'd be if I desired to find out the whole story or all of the circumstances the same way I desired to know the doctrine of the gospel. It is not always possible to take the time to study out every situation presented to us in this life like we would studying the gospel which is why it is so important to be listening and waiting for the quickening of the Spirit as we move forward in our lives. It would make sense to me that to be persuasive, one must have pure knowledge.

The counterpart of pure knowledge is, "ignorance or incomplete knowledge. It is acting without the facts, failing to see the big picture, flying off the handle, or overreacting. It is assuming, presumptuous, and extremely judgmental." Doesn't this sound like someone who is totally out of control, someone who always has to be right no matter the cost? It sounds a bit manipulative and it seems there is no responsibility taken. In fact, this sounds like a tantrum. This definitely requires one to reflect on one's own actions.

[Joanie]

That is really insightful.
I really liked that you(?) said that we need to be open to change if we discover that we are wrong.
I think the Spirit makes us so much more aware of how our actions affect other people and help us to sense what is going on inside the other person. It's a worthy goal to have the Spirit with us always.

[5ft Diva]

And having the Spirit with us allows us to be in line with Heavenly Father's will for the people around us rather than....oh, I just reread what you wrote, this is what you said. I agree with what you said.

[Erudite]

Originally Posted by 5ft Diva

I find it interesting that Dr. Lund says that pure knowledge is "Spirit-discerned information that gives us confidence to act." This implies that we're waiting to hear what the Spirit is telling us in order to move forward and/or that one can be so familiar w/ the Spirit that unless they feel an absence of it they can feel confident to act in a given situation as impressed upon by the feelings they are already experiencing. This requires practice and it requires us to take our time and requires restraint of the natural [wo]man so as to let the Spirit guide.

Interesting. This brings you back around to long-suffering as well.

I was struck by a phrase from the Temple recently..."that all truth can be circumscribed into one great whole..." Isn't it interesting how it all works together? Pure knowledge is part of everything else and as we work in one area, we realize that we've made strides in another area that seemed unrelated. It is all one great whole. Building one area then builds in others. Amazing.