Many years ago when I had my family submerged in the process of my earning a doctorate in the field of education, I read a statistic about the low percentage of High School graduates who ever read a book during their lives after graduation. In fact, if I am remembering correctly, the percentage of those who read a newspaper or a magazine was also dismally low.
In what would be considered a much less scientific observance, I have felt that a large percentage of those who are baptized as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, rarely advance their understanding and, therefore, their testimonies beyond what they had obtained by the time they left the Young Men’s and Young Women’s programs of the Church.
If we were only to use the inactivity level of the membership of the Church as a measuring device, it would be an indicator that well over 50% of those who retain membership after their teen years have ceased to search in an effort to further their understanding and thereby strengthen their testimonies.
If we took a poll of those who prepare for the Sunday classes they attend by reading the lesson materials, the percentage would take another significant dip.
Not to labor the point, although I probably already have, if we were to register those who have read the Old Testament in its entirety, we would undoubtedly see the percentage drop again.
I have belabored the point because of the extensive promises the Lord has made to those who continue with diligence to seek knowledge of the truth and to live in righteousness.
Doctrine and Covenants 76:5-10
For thus saith the Lord—I, the Lord, am merciful and gracious unto those who fear me, and delight to honor those who serve me in righteousness and in truth unto the end. Great shall be their reward and eternal shall be their glory. And to them will I reveal all mysteries, yea, all the hidden mysteries of my kingdom from days of old, and for ages to come, will I make known unto them the good pleasure of my will concerning all things pertaining to my kingdom. Yea, even the wonders of eternity shall they know, and things to come will I show them, even the things of many generations. And their wisdom shall be great, and their understanding reach to heaven; and before them the wisdom of the wise shall perish, and the understanding of the prudent shall come to naught. For by my Spirit will I enlighten them, and by my power will I make known unto them the secrets of my will—yea, even those things which eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor yet entered into the heart of man.
Doctrine and Covenants 42:61
If thou shalt ask, thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the mysteries and peaceable things—that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal.
Doctrine and Covenants 121:26-32
A time to come in the which nothing shall be withheld, whether there be one God or many gods, they shall be manifest. All thrones and dominions, principalities and powers, shall be revealed and set forth upon all who have endured valiantly for the gospel of Jesus Christ. And also, if there be bounds set to the heavens or to the seas, or to the dry land, or to the sun, moon, or stars—All the times of their revolutions, all the appointed days, months, and years, and all the days of their days, months, and years, and all their glories, laws, and set times, shall be revealed in the days of the dispensation of the fulness of times—According to that which was ordained in the midst of the Council of the Eternal God of all other gods before this world was, that should be reserved unto the finishing and the end thereof, when every man shall enter into his eternal presence and into his immortal rest.
In the first 8 chapters of the Book of Mormon we have become aware of Lehi having made the sacrifice of all his worldly possessions, his status in the community and had dedicated the remainder of his life to being obedient to the commands of the Lord. These commands included putting his son’s lives in peril to obtain the Plates of Brass from his kinsman Laban.
We become aware that both Lehi and his son Nephi make more than a casual perusal of those records which contained their genealogy as well as the history of his people from Adam down through Jeremiah.
The diligence which Nephi had in searching these records as well as recording the duel records of his father and his own history led him to proclaim in the last verse of chapter 9 of 1 Nephi, but the Lord knoweth all things from the beginning; wherefore, he prepareth a way to accomplish all his works among the children of men; for behold, he hath all power unto the fulfilling of all his words. And thus it is. Amen.
It is extremely interesting in the five chapters which follow they have revealed to them an extraordinary volume of information from that inexhaustible bank of the Lord’s knowledge.
During the next few weeks, which interestingly fall during the celebration of the remembrance of the Crowning Event of the mission of our Savior, I hope we will all contemplate the vast knowledge which was given to Lehi and Nephi because of their faithfulness and diligence, asking and being constant in seeking for knowledge of the truth.
(To be continued)
THOUGHTS FOR A SABBATH DAY – WILLIAM L. RILEY
EDITED BY – KATHLEEN W. RILEY
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