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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The First Principle Of The Gospel

These are incomprehensible ideas to some, but they are simple.  It is the first principle of the gospel to know for a certainty the character of God, and to know that we may converse with Him as one man converses with another, and that he was once a man like us; yea, that God Himself, the Father of us all, dwelt on an earth, the same as Jesus Christ Himself did; and I will show it from the bible. 
~ TPJS pgs. 345-346 

Verily, thus sayith the Lord:  It shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am. 
~ D&C 93:1 

The problem is:  As soon as anyone hears of a person having a prophetic experience, actually seeing and interacting with God in person, that person is put down as an impostor, and denounced, as if such a thing could not happen today!  There are many excuses, most common among them seem to be that God would only talk to those in certain lines and positions of authority, yet, I say to you that God has always talked to those who would listen, regardless of authority.  God has so often proved over and over again, that He can do His own work.  All those who limit what God can do, will be damned.  Indeed, they damn themselves.  The Prophet Joseph said:  "I say to all those who are disposed to set up stakes for the Almighty, you will come short of the Glory of God." 
~ TPJS pg. 321 

God has not revealed anything to Joseph, but what He will make known onto the Twelve, and even the least Saint may know all things as fast as he is able to bear them! 
~ TPJS pg.  149

My friends, it is your privilege to progress, to purify yourselves, to approach God in person, to see with your own eyes, to hear with your own ears, to touch with your own hands, to actually know for yourselves the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom He hath sent.  To know your Heavenly Parents, and the destiny available to you!  Seek the face of God always!  Never give up!! 

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Set Aside Mortal Thoughts

Now therefore set thine house in order, and reprove thy people, comfort such of them as be in trouble, and now renounce corruption, let go from thee mortal thoughts, cast away the burdens of man, put off now the week nature, and set aside the thoughts that are most heavy unto thee, and haste thee to flee from these times. 

~ II Esdras 14:13-15

 This scripture really stands out to me.  It is the advice the Lord gave to Esdras when he told him to prepare to leave this mortality to reside with the Son and others of the prophets until the times be ended.  I love the fact that the Lord says; "let go from thee mortal thoughts, cast away the burdens of man, put off now the week nature, and set aside the thoughts that are most heavy unto thee".  We are always so worried about our mortality, always carrying the burden of judgement, the burden of offence.  To stop being so weak, to set aside the thoughts that are most heavy unto us; what glorious freedom.  When someone has harmed us, when they have destroyed our lives; to not worry about such mortal concerns, to be free from that corrupt thinking! 

To set our hearts on the thoughts of eternity, to fill our minds with the things that concern our Heavenly Parents; that is our goal, to become like them.  To be truly free!! 

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