To Know God

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. 
~ TPJS pg. 217 

But what is knowledge?  What does it mean to "know"?  What kind of knowledge is he talking about? 

"I want to ask this congregation, every man, woman and child, to answer the question in their own heart, what kind of a being God is?  Ask yourselves; turn your thoughts into your hearts, and say if any of you have seen, heard, or communed with him.  This is a question that may occupy your attention for a long time.  I again repeat the question -- What kind of a being is God?  Does any man or woman know?  Have any of you seen him, heard him, or communed with him?  Here is the question that will, peradventure, from this time henceforth occupy your attention.  The scriptures inform us that "This is life eternal that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent." 

If any man does not know God, and inquires what kind of a being he is, -- if he will search diligently his own heart -- if the declaration of Jesus and the apostles be true, he will realize that he has not eternal life; for there can be eternal life on no other principle." 
TPJS pg. 137 

I submit to you, there is only one real way for anyone to know anything, and that is to actually, personally, have the experience for yourself. 

To know what salt tastes like, to know what fire feels like, to know what God is truly like, can never be known by simply reading the scriptures, nor by listening to all the firsthand experiences in the world, but can be only truly known by actual first hand experience ourselves.  

And then, at that day, before the Son of Man comes, the kingdom of heaven shall be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 

And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.  They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:  But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.  And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.  And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.  But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 

Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.  But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, Ye know me not. 
Matthew 25:1-11  JST

Now is the time to get to know God.  This is the time to fill our lamps with oil.  This is the life in which we are to meet God in person.  Just like in the parable, those who wait, until the bridegroom comes, to fill their lamps with oil, or in other words, to experience being in the presence of God and learning His characteristics directly from Him in person, will find they are too late. 

"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou has sent." 
John 17:3 

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