![]() Oaks, “ Focus and Priorities,” Ensign, May 2001, 82–84).īut going back to Joseph Smith’s situation: What value and comfort do we find in knowledge? Surely we would all agree that knowledge of the gospel itself can comfort and inspire. When we attend meetings, participate in missionary work, attend the temple, listen to conference, and participate in interviews, these activities are all primarily focused on helping us grow in understanding and knowledge-deep knowledge, that is-knowledge that includes facts but goes far beyond to embrace wisdom, as discussed by Elder Oaks in a wonderful conference talk last spring that I strongly encourage you to reread (see Dallin H. In fact, when you think about it, helping each other grow in knowledge stands at the heart of most of what we do in the Church. From the passage above, as well as from others, it is clear that knowledge is something God values greatly. ![]() Now, here we are at a great university, all of us focused on the quest for knowledge. How long can rolling waters remain impure? What power shall stay the heavens? As well might man stretch forth his puny arm to stop the Missouri river in its decreed course, or to turn it up stream, as to hinder the Almighty from pouring down knowledge from heaven upon the heads of the Latter-day Saints. We usually focus our attention in this section on this last point, but, in fact, considerable emphasis is placed on the comfort to be derived from knowledge, and it is about this I would like to speak.Īll thrones and dominions, principalities and powers, shall be revealed and set forth upon all who have endured valiantly for the gospel of Jesus Christ.Īnd 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-Īll 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. Third come promises and exhortations regarding priesthood. Second, He comforts Joseph and the Saints with promises of great knowledge.ģ. First, the Lord invokes the immensity of time: “Thine afflictions shall be but a small moment” (verse 7), He says, and the hope of the enemies of the Saints “shall be blasted” (verse 11).Ģ. ![]() In answer to Joseph’s question, what comfort did the Lord have to offer? If we turn to D&C 121, we find the answer.ġ. The Saints had been driven from their homes-indeed, from their state-in the cold of winter, and the whole Church had been brought down to near destruction. From out the misery of a cold, dark, comfortless jail cell in Liberty, Missouri, Joseph Smith asked a poignant question that all of us sooner or later in our lives have asked or will ask: “O God, where art thou?” You know the story-many of you have probably been to see Liberty Jail. ![]()
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