The Process of Knowledge

Knowledge is a process. God is a powerful source of truth. We can gain knowledge when God reveals it to us. The process of receiving truth from a divine source is called revelation. Different types of revelation include: (1) testifying, (2) prophesying, (3) comforting, (4) uplifting, (5) informing, (6) restraining, (7) confirming, and (8) impelling. Recently my very close friend had a spiritual experience where she was comforted during a time of great despair. This spiritual experience was essentially a form of revelation—knowledge.

Sometimes we will receive unconditional revelation. Alma's spiritual experience in the Book of Mormon is an example of this. But most of the time we receive revelation upon certain conditions. One condition is the willingness to act upon the knowledge that we are given. Therefore, we increase knowledge through an integration of knowledge and behavior. The root of the word integration is the same for the word "integrity". Having integrity means speaking, thinking, and acting in harmony. This is essential to developing character. Character and knowledge have a reinforcing pattern. Acting on knowledge develops our character and strengthening our character leads to more knowledge by preparing us to receive revelation.

If we are not willing to incorporate new knowledge into our lives, new knowledge will only condemn us. We are accountable for the knowledge that we receive. Those with more knowledge are more strictly judged than those with less knowledge. Alma 32:19 says, "And now, how much more cursed is he that knoweth the will of God and doeth it not, than he that only believeth, or only hath cause to believe, and falleth into transgression?"

God has given us faculties of logic and reason to expand our knowledge. Logic is the ability to generate conclusions based on premises or assumptions. For example:

(1) All Asians eat rice.
(2) Vanny is Asian.
(3) Therefore, Vanny eats rice.

(1) and (2) are premises; (3) is the conclusion. If the premises are true, reason confirms that the conclusion is true and we have increased our knowledge. But reason cannot validate its own premises and therefore it is only as good as its premises. If one starts with false premises reason is useless in the pursuit of expanding knowledge. Truth can be rendered reasonable, but it does not arise from reason alone.

Revelation from God provides premises from which we can discover more truth. We can receive this revelation personally or impersonally through witnesses. The first thing that investigators of the church are asked to do is to read the Book of Mormon and to ask God if it is a true book. If the Book of Mormon is true, then it must follow that Joseph Smith (who translated the book by the power of God) was a prophet. If Joseph Smith was a prophet, then The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints must logically be the only true church—meaning that it accurately represents the state of things as they really are. One must also conclude that IF the Book of Mormon is false, then Joseph Smith was one of the greatest liars and charlatans who ever lived. The church he started is a lie, which means that the members of the LDS church are grossly mistaken about their convictions.

God cannot contradict himself, therefore 2 religions that contradict each other cannot both be true. Various churches may share many great and important truths, but only one church can be directed by God Himself—everything else is a human counterfeit.

Those who honestly seek for knowledge will receive it. According to 2 Nephi 28:30 " 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."