A friend recently posed the question, "Isn't the love of God, spread abroad in the hearts of the children of men, accessible to all?" The following is my response.
"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." (John 17:3)
To correctly esteem a gift as good comes by way of only two paths.
The first is a recognition and knowledge of the character of the giver of the gift.
The second is by way of a conscious and visceral awareness, appreciation, and genuine gratitude for the benefits resulting from the gift.
What man or woman truly knows God?
Most believe in God, but belief is not knowledge.
The difference between belief and knowledge is that where belief is founded on hopeful desires, knowledge is based on concrete experience, sure personal evidence.
Life eternal is not belief in God. Life eternal is KNOWING God.
As all are born into this world without a memory and sure knowledge of God, we must therefore acquire that knowledge through the gifts he sends us.
How do you get to know someone you can not see, talk to face to face, or relate with in traditional daily life ways?
You must receive, use, and understand the purposes for the gifts that have been granted to you from Him.
Receive,use,and understand are all verbs. They are action words. They require work. They are action words dependent on personal choice, effort, ultimately - agency.
Getting to know anyone, including God, requires interest and personal effort.
It is personal choice, a self accepted journey for knowledge of the character of an individual.
With an understanding of a person's character and purposes we can then appropriately correlate and assimilate legitimate feelings for their works. In this way we can peer into another's mind and emotions with respect to us.
No matter how much a friend may give and do for another, no state of friendship is conveyed or established until the individual receiving chooses to accept and become aware of the importance, care, concern, and effort expended. That work must be done. And it can't be done by the giver. The receiver must do it. It must be this way because anything else would be manipulation, compulsion, coercion, unrighteous dominion, force - all varying degrees of slavery. On the flipside, it therein could not be charity - a beneficial gift given without strings attached and for the benefit of the receiver.
To truly appreciate a gift and come to know the giver of the gift requires the receiver to learn of the giver.
How else can you determine and therefore know the motives and sentiments behind the giver of a gift? How else can you recognize the thoughtfulness, care, and concern behind the giving of a gift?
Lucifer presented Eve with the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil as if it were a gift to liberate her. He beguiled her, to begin with - it was not his to give, and while it did give her knowledge, he lied to the fact that it would not bring death upon her.
Belief is not knowledge. Eve believed Lucifer and partook of the fruit, therein she was beguiled. And though she did pass from immortality to mortality, a horrible consequence, she now also had knowledge, knowledge to the effect of Lucifer's character, and in that personal experience she now knew who he was. A liar and destroyer. She learned for herself that what he offers she shouldn't receive. She also learned of the value of the commandment God had given her. She learned of his honesty - his character, his concern for her comfort and well being, his love for her.
Christ on the other hand did not need to go through such a personal experience of trial by error, to learn the character of Lucifer or Heavenly Father. KNOWING the character of the adversary, when the adversary offered him power, glory, and riches of the world untold, if he would but follow him, Christ responded in effect,"Get lost", knowing full well it was a lie.
Christ already had knowledge of the would-be gift giver. And he also had perfect knowledge of the true gift giver - his Heavenly Father. Consequently, Christ did only those things which he saw of his Father, already knowing his Father's character, and holding in proper appreciation and feeling for the gifts he had, Christ was one with the Father, the perfect example of eternal life.
We need knowledge of the gift-giver who is God. Without that knowledge, we may be subject to completely rejecting, or accepting, but incorrectly appreciating or understanding, the gifts God has sent to us. To continue accepting good gifts from God, and in the right way, we need to come to know his character, who he is. Otherwise things of God perceptively become relative to one's own faulty established views and desires, restraints and controls, instead of protections and guides for happiness and joy.
Knowledge of any truth is gained by means of a process. Like walking along a trail one begins the journey at the beginning and step by step one reaches the end.
The first step is DESIRE. Desiring to know a thing gives way to a BELIEF in that thing. This belief ineffect is an instilled HOPE in an expectation. This hope motivates a person to experiment and prove the expectation. This is the rise of FAITH. Endurant, vital, and true faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of a thing. It instead is a hope for that thing which is not yet realized but which none the less is true and can be established. Faith directs choices and behavior in order to prove the object or situation in question. The experiment once fulfilled results in knowledge.
Notice that this process is the same one EVE unwittingly undertook in her experience. Her faith however was not a true faith and resulted in an experience which taught her firsthand the effects of believing a lie, and trusting a liar.
All gift givers do not give gifts out of appreciation, acceptance, and affection for the recepient. Some gifts are designed to enslave, poison, and corrupt.
The awareness of gratitude for a gift requires the using of the gift and the recognition of how ones circumstances are ultimately benefited by the gift. Overarchingly, does the gift bring life-increase, or death-loss? this awareness must be experienced by trial and personal energy. Trials require work on behalf of the individual.
For these reasons not all men or women partake of the efforts, works - the fruits of God. Nor do they come to recognize the deep feelings of love he has within him as the motivation for giving gifts.
John 17:3
And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Mosiah 5: 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?
To get to know God, requires a strict adherence (experimentation) upon his words. Once the experiment culminates, the knowledge will always yield understanding of the boundless love God has for us his children and ever had in all the wonderous good he has ever distilled upon us.
In essence, it's not that God's love is at that point born, but merely personal realization makes one aware more perfectly to the heights and depths of God's love and therein becomes significant to us.
In truth, God's love abounds - we just don't recognize things for what they are. Recognition requires change of perception. Change of perception requires individual work. Therefore, only those that put forth the effort in casting off the scales from their eyes can realize what has been before them all along. Such is every persons work. Recognize that even the prophets sometimes have scales that must be put aside so to realize this truth:
Alma 29
O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people!
Yea, I would declare unto every soul, as with the voice of thunder, repentance and the plan of redemption, that they should repent and come unto our God, that there might not be more sorrow upon all the face of the earth.
But behold, I am a man, and do sin in my wish; for I ought to be content with the things which the Lord hath allotted unto me.
I ought not to harrow up in my desires, the firm decree of a just God, for I know that he granteth unto men according to their desire, whether it be unto death or unto life; yea, I know that he allotteth unto men, yea, decreeth unto them decrees which are unalterable, according to their wills, whether they be unto salvation or unto destruction.
Yea, and I know that good and evil have come before all men; he that knoweth not good from evil is blameless; but he that knoweth good and evil, to him it is given according to his desires, whether he desireth good or evil, life or death, joy or remorse of conscience.
Now, seeing that I know these things, why should I desire more than to perform the work to which I have been called?
Why should I desire that I were an angel, that I could speak unto all the ends of the earth?
For behold, the Lord doth grant unto all nations, of their own nation and tongue, to teach his word, yea, in wisdom, all that he seeth fit that they should have; therefore we see that the Lord doth counsel in wisdom, according to that which is just and true.
I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy.
And behold, when I see many of my brethren truly penitent, and coming to the Lord their God, then is my soul filled with joy; then do I remember what the Lord has done for me, yea, even that he hath heard my prayer; yea, then do I remember his merciful arm which he extended towards me.
Yea, and I also remember the captivity of my fathers; for I surely do know that the Lord did deliver them out of bondage, and by this did establish his church; yea, the Lord God, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, did deliver them out of bondage.
Yea, I have always remembered the captivity of my fathers; and that same God who delivered them out of the hands of the Egyptians did deliver them out of bondage.
Yea, and that same God did establish his church among them; yea, and that same God hath called me by a holy calling, to preach the word unto this people, and hath given me much success, in the which my joy is full.
But I do not joy in my own success alone, but my joy is more full because of the success of my brethren, who have been up to the land of Nephi.
Behold, they have labored exceedingly, and have brought forth much fruit; and how great shall be their reward!
Now, when I think of the success of these my brethren my soul is carried away, even to the separation of it from the body, as it were, so great is my joy.
And now may God grant unto these, my brethren, that they may sit down in the kingdom of God; yea, and also all those who are the fruit of their labors that they may go no more out, but that they may praise him forever. And may God grant that it may be done according to my words, even as I have spoken. Amen.
Notice the work that was done by Alma in valuing the knowledge of God's character and prior gifts given. Alma's understanding of God and His great love makes apparent to him that his desire is a sin, for God called him to be a prophet to his people, not an angel to the world, and God's proven judgements are always loving, right, and just. Alma has recognized God's great love so much so that his own feelings of love and happiness near overwhelm his physical frame at times. Knowledge of God's character and feelings consequently make it prudent and easy for him to toss away his errant desire.
Had Alma not reviewed his prior knowledge and experiences of God he might have full well allowed his passion, which at face value seems good, to overwhelm him, and possible leave open the door to sin, and thereby eventual heartache and negative results.
2 Ne. 10:23
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.
John 17:3
And this is LIFE ETERNAL, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Morm. 9: 27
O then despise not, and wonder not, but hearken unto the words of the Lord, and ask the Father in the name of Jesus for what things soever ye shall stand in need. Doubt not, but be believing, and begin as in times of old, and come unto the Lord with all your heart, and work out your own salvation with fear and trembling before him.
The love of God is accessible to all, it merely is not accepted by all. Because they don't accept the things that he has sent in love to them they stand by way of unbelief in the dark and alone, unaware and persisting as if there was no restitution made by which fallen man could return into the presence of God.
Why do people do this? Reason, because they choose to focus their attention on other things which blind them to correct or righteous matters.
Notice what Christ says to the saints of His Church:
D&C 95:5,6
But behold, verily I say unto you, that there are many who have been ordained among you, whom I have called but few of them are chosen.
They who are not chosen have sinned a very grievous sin, IN THAT THEY ARE WALKING IN DARKNESS AT NOON-DAY.
D&C 121:34,35
Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen?
BECAUSE THEIR HEARTS ARE SET SO MUCH UPON THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD, AND ASPIRE TO THE HONORS OF MEN, THAT THEY DO NOT LEARN this one lesson—
That the rights of the priesthood (which includes all things that stem from God - the Church, God's words and truths given through His prophets, the ordinances and covenants, etc. etc. effectually all things we have of God) are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness.
God will force no human mind to heaven, though he wants all there. All humans must individually come to know God and thereby become aware of the great love He has always had and continues to have for them.
The way to that place is by holding fast to the iron rod and traveling the path ALL must travel. Notice there was only one way to become aware of God's love. That means everyone's journey will be the same as Nephi's yours or mine. Only by clinging to the words of God will any of us come to feel and see the great love God abundantly spreads abroad.
Nephi only came to claim:
1 Ne. 3:7
I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.
AFTER HE CLAIMED:
1 Ne. 11: 17
I know that he (the Lord) loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things.
WHICH ONLY CAME AFTER:
1 Ne. 2: 16
I, Nephi, being exceedingly young, nevertheless being large in stature, and also having great desires to know of the mysteries of God, wherefore, I did cry unto the Lord; and behold he did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father; wherefore, I did not rebel against him like unto my brothers.
HAVING BEEN EXPOSED TO THE WORD OF THE LORD, DISEMINATED TO HIM BY THE PROPHET OF THE LORD, NEPHI EXPERIMENTED ON THE WORD AND ASKED IF IT WAS TRULY FROM GOD.
God's relationship with Nephi did not begin there. Nephi's relationship and awareness to God began there. And like everyone else it developed as Nephi was diligently obedient to the commandments of the Lord. Thru those experiences Nephi had evidences. Proof so that he could claim his later declarations about the Lord, the Lord's love, and his character.
The Lord truly loves us, and it's for that reason that he will not force us to accept and realize his love, but merely, gently, calls to us to come unto Him and:
Matt. 11: 29
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
John 14: 6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
2 Ne. 28: 30
For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have.
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