Questions of the Soul: Part 3 (Knowledge & Wisdom)

Sorry that I've been MIA lately, busy week. In response to the last blog about  whether or not we were before, and will continue to be the same people that we are in this life after it; I was asked another question that someone had. I was asked how we gain the knowledge that we need to do what is needed in this life to return to our Father in Heavens presence, and what we do to correct our mistakes that we make along the path.

To respond to this I would like to contrast two things: knowledge and wisdom. Knowledge is defined simply as the following:
knowledge - being acquainted with facts, truths or principles, by study or investigation.

So what is the knowledge that is needed to understand those things that are required to return to the presence of God? Well it begins pretty simply actually. The first thing that we need to know is that God does exist. We need to know that He is our Father in Heaven, and that He has laid out a plan for us to return to His presence. This plan is called the Plan of Salvation.

We learn through the Plan of Salvation that our condition of returning to the presence of our Father in Heaven is dependent on our faith in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The Book of Mormon teaches us: "that there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent."- Mosiah 3:17

So our knowledge of how to live to return to the presence of our Heavenly Father is obtained through study of the Savior's life. We learn what to do by reading the scriptures, (i.e. Holy Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price) and reading about what Jesus Christ taught. Some examples that come to mind are the"10 commandments", the "Sermon on the Mount", the "be-attitudes", and His example of serving others and loving all with an unconditional charity.

So now we that we've addressed where, and what the knowledge is that we are looking for, the next part of the equation in returning to God's presence is the application of that knowledge. That is where the word "wisdom" comes into play.

wisdom - knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action; or simply put, the application of knowledge.

The Book of Mormon teaches:" 32 For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors." - Alma 34:32

What are those labors? Well everything that we think, desire, and  do in this life is associated with the labors that we perform by which we will be judged. "3 And it is requisite with the justice of God that men should be judged according to their works; and if their works were good in this life, and the desires of their hearts were good, that they should also, at the last day, be restored unto that which is good." - Alma 41:3 

As taught in this scripture in the Book of Mormon, we learn that our desires and our works, or labors, in life will play the determining factor in our judgement.

We know that we are not perfect and that we will not make all the right decisions in life. We know that there are times when we may desire those things that are not righteous before the Lord. Our Father in Heaven knows this as well. In fact, He knows it better then we do. Because He knows of our imperfections He made it possible for us to be able to erase from our lives those thoughts, desires, and actions that are not righteous. As we apply our knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and act in wisdom by repenting of our sins through the atonement of Jesus Christ, we can be found worthy to be judged as "good". 

How do we apply that knowledge into wisdom through repentance? Following are the steps of repentance:

1. Acknowledge that we have sinned against the laws of God.
2. Fell true "Godly Sorrow" for the sins that we have committed, and the pain that we caused the Savior by committing such sins. ("10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation..." - 2 Corinthians 7:10)
3. Pray and seek sincere forgiveness of our sins from our Heavenly Father. (" 8 But as oft as they repented and sought forgiveness, with real intent, they were forgiven." - Moroni 6:8)
4. Seek forgiveness from all others that we have sinned against, and strive to make restitution for those things.
5. Forsake the sin, committing ourselves to never return to it. (" 10 And again, believe that ye must repent of your sins and forsakethem, and humble yourselves before God; and ask in sincerity of heart that he would forgive you; and now, if you believe all these things see that ye do them." - Mosiah 4:10")
6. Remember that because the Lord has forgiven us, we are also required to forgive ourselves.

I know that at times it is not easy for us to use our knowledge wisely. We each have to deal with the daily conflict of temptation and trail in life. I also know however that through our Savior's atoning sacrifice we can find "...peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come." - D&C 59:23