Several years ago I heard F. Burton Howard say a couple phrases that have stuck in my mind and heart. I’m not certain if I’m quoting him perfectly but he said something like this:
Certainty is incompatible with learning.
The only thing that keeps us from learning more, is the false certainty that we already know enough.
These phrases remind me of Nephi’s warning to us,
“Yea, wo be unto him that saith: We have received, and we need no more!
28 And in fine, wo unto all those who tremble, and are angry because of the truth of God! For behold, he that is built upon the rock receiveth it with gladness; and he that is built upon a sandy foundation trembleth lest he shall fall.
29 Wo be unto him that shall say: We have received the word of God, and we need no more of the word of God, for we have enough!
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” (2 Nephi 28:27-30).
“It is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance” (Doctrine and Covenants 131:6).
“The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth.
37 Light and truth forsake that evil one” (Doctrine and Covenants 93:36-37).
“… A man is saved no faster than he gets knowledge, for if he does not get knowledge, he will be brought into captivity by some evil power in the other world, as evil spirits will have more knowledge, and consequently more power than many men who are on the earth. Hence it needs revelation to assist us, and give us knowledge of the things of God” (History of the Church, 4:588; from a discourse given by Joseph Smith on April 10, 1842, in Nauvoo, Illinois; reported by Wilford Woodruff).
“Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection.
19 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 and Covenants 130:18-19).
These next quotations by Joseph Smith are quoted as found in, “Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith (2007), 264-268).
“Mormonism is truth; and every man who embraces it feels himself at liberty to embrace every truth. … The first and fundamental principle of our holy religion is, that we believe that we have a right to embrace all, and every item of truth.”
“When things that are of the greatest importance are passed over by weak-minded men without even a thought, I want to see truth in all its bearings and hug it to my bosom.”
“In knowledge there is power. God has more power than all other beings, because He has greater knowledge; and hence He knows how to subject all other beings to Him.”
“A man is saved no faster than he gets knowledge, for if he does not get knowledge, he will be brought into captivity by some evil power in the other world. … Hence it needs revelation to assist us, and give us knowledge of the things of God.”
“The things of God are of deep import; and time, and experience, and careful and ponderous and solemn thoughts can only find them out. Thy mind, O man! if thou wilt lead a soul unto salvation, must stretch as high as the utmost heavens, and search into and contemplate the darkest abyss, and the broad expanse of eternity—thou must commune with God. How much more dignified and noble are the thoughts of God, than the vain imaginings of the human heart!”
“When you climb up a ladder, you must begin at the bottom, and ascend step by step, until you arrive at the top; and so it is with the principles of the gospel—you must begin with the first, and go on until you learn all the principles of exaltation. But it will be a great while after you have passed through the veil before you will have learned them.”
“Mormonism is truth; and every man who embraced it felt himself at liberty to embrace every truth: consequently the shackles of superstition, bigotry, ignorance, and priestcraft, falls at once from his neck; and his eyes are opened to see the truth....”
“Mormonism is truth, in other words the doctrine of the Latter Day Saints, is truth.... [Y]ou may think that it is a broad assertion that it is truth; but ... the first and fundamental principle of our holy religion is, that we believe that we have a right to embrace all, and every item of truth, without limitation or without being circumscribed or prohibited by the creeds or superstitious notions of men, or by the dominations of one another, when that truth is clearly demonstrated to our minds, and we have the highest degree of evidence of the same; we feel ourselves bound by the laws of God, to observe and do strictly, with all our hearts, all things whatsoever is manifest unto us by the highest degree of testimony that God has committed us, as written in the old and new Testament, or any where else, by any manifestation, whereof we know that it has come from God: and has application to us, being adapted to our situation and circumstances; age, and generation of life; and that we have a perfect, and indefeasible right, to embrace all such commandments, and do them.... And again, we believe that it is our privilege to reject all things, whatsoever is clearly manifested to us that they do not have a bearing upon us” ("To Isaac Galland, March 22, 1839," Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, p. 420-421).
There are many more wonderful quotes by Joseph Smith regarding truth and salvation in, “Gaining Knowledge of Eternal Truths,” chapter 22, Teachings of the Presidents of the Church, Joseph Smith. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/teachings-joseph-smith/chapter-22?lang=eng
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