THE ALL KNOWING GOD

 

I read a long time ago Joseph Smith's statement in "Lectures on Faith 3" that we cannot have proper faith in God unless we know Him so that has been my goal for many years. I came to understand over time what peace just knowing one of His attributes can give me.

Nephi says that God knows all things and that ‘there is not anything save he knows it’ (2 Nephi 9:20). In other words, God has perfect and complete knowledge. God is not progressing and adding to His intellectual reservoir, like some people have come to believe. Why would this give us peace? Because if God's knowledge was not complete, He could not bring to pass our immortality and eternal life. If it were not so, prophecies would be mere predictions; the Plan of Salvation would always be under review; and the outcomes of our lives would be forever changing according to new knowledge that He would acquire. But God does not make mistakes and He does not create messes….because He is perfect, His knowledge is perfect and He changes not (3 Nephi 24:6; Moroni 8:18; Mormon 9:9-10; Moroni 7:22; Moroni 10:34; D&C 19:11-12; 20:12; 20:17).

But this is not all. This is what gives me the greatest peace regarding His perfection: Because God is perfect in His knowledge, He knows the outcomes of our lives and this enables Him to have patience and tolerance for us throughout our progress. God is mostly concerned with the end product; not what we have been but who we are going to end up. He is focused on the direction we are facing. All that is in our past: repented of, changed because of, and progressed from, is forgotten. God always looks at who we are at this moment, rather than who we have been. Does this not give you peace?

Are you discouraged with your progress? Are you guilt ridden because of your past? Are you ashamed in any way that you are not ‘there’ yet? Time does not exist for God. God is without beginning of days or end of years (Moses 1:3). Past, present and future are continually before Him (D&C 130:7). The merciful sacrifice of one member of the Godhead makes your progress to sanctification and eternal life possible. You are not alone in this. His power is behind you, beside you, in front of you. God sees the polished gem you are yet to become. Let it light your way to believe in yourself.

How commendably patient Thou art

With the slow progress

Of my proud heart;

How great Thy wisdom,

How great Thy mercy,

How great Thy love

That fills my joyful heart;

How very great Thou art!

- Cathryne Allen

(Art: Creator by Greg Olsen)