Interesting Things

Too often educational institutions, people and parents generally (particularly in our nation) seem to really avoid teaching the process of thinking and learning in a critical and truly informative way.

I really like Richard Miller’s thoughts on his blog which can be found in “TEACHING THE UNTEACHABLE SKILLS.”

I’m so thankful for Joseph Smith, Jr., who, in the early and mid 1800’s asked some very difficult questions with an open mind and an open heart. He set some powerful precendents for my thoughts and the processes which govern my thought and questioning process today. It is incredibly critical to be able to approach questions, problems and world issues with an open mind which is ready to receive greater knowledge than that which currently exists in our world.

I am of the mind that not a fraction of the knowledge that has yet to be obtained has indeed been obtained. Sure, we are many orders of magnitude better off than we were 200+ years ago, however there is so much to learn.

I have too many times in previous years discussed spiritual matters and man’s ability to receive divine knowledge. Too many folks are under the impression that God, our loving heavenly father, does not wish to give us, His children, all things. When I say this, often they agree that He indeed does wish to give us all things in time, including eternal life, but when it comes to this mortality people are so often satisified with the answer that “we cannot know that while in mortality.” Whenever I hear this I shutter within myself. Sometimes I’ll respond, but most of the time it is inappropriate.

Here is my belief:

I believe that Heavenly Father is no respecter of persons and that he equally loves His children. When we have deep yearning desires for knowledge which are based in need or ability to use He most certainly will answer us. Perhaps not on our timetable, but He will answer us when we are ready. Sometimes that is through our own experiences through the bumbling linear format of time in which we bump through this earthly sphere.

I also, however, believe that He will imbue knowledge into us that is also simply a deep desire that we may have to receive. In other words, I feel that He can also give us knowledge and understanding of all things and even open up the visions of eternity to us as we are prepared and willing to receive it. And we are prepared to remain silent as appropriate.

So many inventions and joys of our “modern” world are manifestly and directly given from beyond the veil which separates us from that which is beyond our mortal glove or body which is designed to allow us to pass through mortal experience. There is so much more yet to receive.

Rather than considering religion some entirely different entity from science, I prefer to consider religion (when understood and followed properly) is a more pure form of science. As we experiment within the bounds that the Lord sets we obtain more through various means of understanding and levels of comprehension. I also like to consider Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ to be ultimate scientists. They themselves exhort us to be like them and even unified with them. Not different. Not some guinea pigs in their experiments, but equals in their work and glory.

What a blessing it is to have this deep understanding and conviction. It makes my heart swell with greater love and peace when I consider these things and I hope to help others to ask more questions and seek more knowledge; particularly those in my immediate stewardship, which is to say, my family.