Be Knowledgeable

“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.” (Doctrine & Covenants  130:19)

I understand that for many this may be a difficult step to take.  Becoming knowledgeable can seem like a daunting task, especially for someone who equates gaining knowledge with what we had to do in school, all that reading and studying.  For some this step is made a little easier because of a love for reading, which is what makes it so enjoyable for me. 

I do enjoy reading.  I love learning something new, and I really like sharing what I learn with others.  I first realized this when I was in college.  I was reading a book that I found to be so fascinating that I couldn’t keep it to myself.  Every day I would tell my roommate about what I had read.  I didn’t realize how much I was sharing until one day she said, “I’ll never have to read another book for the rest of my life.”  I’m not sure if she wanted me to stop or if she had made a happy discovery.  I don’t remember if I kept telling her about my reading experience or not, but knowing me, I probably did.  And that love of sharing what I learn is why I’m writing this blog.  

A couple of decades later, I stumbled across a new reason to study.  The more I learn, especially about the gospel, the happier I am, the more hope I have for the future and the more faith I have that everything that happens is for my good.  The most amazing thing happens when we dedicate a portion of each day to studying the gospel.  Our connection to the Holy Ghost becomes stronger.  The light that the Spirit shines in our minds grows brighter.  It is not only easier to grasp the meaning of what we’re reading, but we have a greater desire to read more, to understand more and to apply it in our lives.  The overall effect is an increase in spirituality. 

Strangely enough, I learned this while studying the gospel connection to depression.  I learned about depression, but more importantly I learned that the companionship of the Holy Ghost, which can be enhanced through gospel study, is an important and very large component of staving off depression, at least in my case.  So the knowledge I gained in this case was two-fold: what I was actually reading about and pondering, as well as the very real effect studying the gospel had on my emotional and spiritual well-being.  

Not all learning comes through reading.  We can also learn from listening to others or from experience, but in all learning we must never forget that gaining knowledge is to learn what is true.  Something that is not true is not knowledge.  How do we know if something is true?

“Behold, he hath heard my cry by day, and he hath given me knowledge by visions in the night-time." (2 Nephi 4:23)  

All knowledge ultimately comes through personal revelation.  We may acquire information in many ways, but the knowledge, knowing that what we have learned is true, always comes from the Holy Ghost.  “And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.” (Moroni 10:5)

The more we learn about the gospel, the more we will want to learn.  As we take in knowledge, our testimonies strengthen, branch out and touch upon new and perhaps unexplored areas of God’s plan for us.  We begin to see how everything fits together perfectly.  There may be some mysteries that escape our understanding, but we have the promise that at some time, in God’s time, even those things will be made plain to us.

“If thou shalt ask, thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the mysteries and peaceable things--that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal.” (Doctrine & Covenants 42:61)

Knowing that Jesus is the Christ and that He died for us that we might be forgiven and live again is the most important piece of knowledge anyone can gain.  Learning more of the gospel helps us to better understand what it means to be forgiven, how to seek that forgiveness, and how to prepare for the life that awaits us after this one ends.  Studying the word of God daily gives us an advantage in this life.  It is a way to lay claim to the companionship of the Holy Ghost.  It gives us the power to withstand temptation, the courage to face hardships, and the strength to overcome challenges.   

My suggestion for this step:  Pick a subject and devote time every day to reading and pondering what the Lord has to say about it.  Pray about it.  Write about it in your journal.  Look for every connection to the subject that you can think of in the Topical Guide.  Read what the prophets have written on the subject.  (Gospelink.com is a great resource.  At a minimal cost, you have thousands of books available to you.)  I have done this with several different topics and have found it a very productive way to study and an amazing way to internalize some of the teachings of the Savior.  

This is one step I already put into practice, but I have to make sure I don’t get lazy and stop.  As we learn from the allegory of the tree of life, we must cling to the word of God if we are to find our way to Him so that we can truly partake of His love and receive the greatest gift of all.  If we are clinging to His word, our knowledge will be increasing day by day, and we will be Happy Like Jesus.