In Spanish there are 2 words for know. The first is to intellectually know something, like I know I am getting old. The second is to know a person, like to become acquainted with and then be acquainted to, to be familiar with, friends with, etc.. You know a person in a much different way than you know a fact. Knowledge is cold and factual. But knowing a person is familiar and personal.
In Alma 12:34 it says, "Therefore God gave unto them commandments, after having made aknown unto them the plan of redemption"
In Spanish it says, "por tanto, después de haberles dado a aconocer el plan de redención"
Knowing the plan of redemption in this way isn't just having an accumulation of facts about an event. It is having it in our hearts and understanding it on a personal level. We need to understand the plan of redemption on a personal level. We need to take it into our hearts, not just our heads. Equally, when we teach the things of God, we need to teach to people's hearts and help them know them on a personal level.
I also like in this scripture that it says AFTER God helped us know (on a personal level) the plan of redemption, then He gave us commandments. We are much more likely to obey the commandments if we know why we have them. The same is true for our children as we teach them and anyone else we try to influence. The obedience is much more likely if they know WHY we have those rules or laws or commandments.
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Beautiful thoughts! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI like thinking that we need to on purpose TAKE these things into our hearts. We've heard them thousands of times, yet I think they often still float above our heads. This year's course of study I think is huge! Your comments has been printed out and is being added to our lessons, because it is so profound. I'd like to add 2 Corinthians 3:3, about the gospel being ministered to us, writtne not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart."
ReplyDeleteI'm going to come to this blog lots now.
In the book Beloved Bridegroom, by Donna Nielsen, she brings up another look at "knowing" or "knowledge" (referring to Hosea 6:6:For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.")
ReplyDelete"The word "knowledge" comes from two Hebrew words, "yada" and "daat", both of which mean "to learn by close experience". Again, the Lord reinforces the idea that he desires to have a personal and intimate association with each individual..." It comes clearer and clearer how much he wants these truths to mean to us.