The knowledge which we
have concerning God has come through revelation, for which we are indebted to
Him, “because without the revelations which he has given to us for a correct
understanding of his character, perfections, and attributes; because without
the revelations which he has given to us, no man by searching could find out God” (Lectures on Faith 3:7). In 1st Corinthians, chapter 2 and
verses 9,10, and 11 we read, “But as it is written, eye hath not seen, nor ear
heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath
prepared for them that love him; but God hath revealed them unto us by his
Spirit, for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth
the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so, the
things of God knoweth no man but the Spirit of God” (see also Job 11:7, 8, 9 ). So, the next step would be to examine the character of
God which we have received from those revelations.
God is our Heavenly Father. We are His children
(Romans 8:16). He has a body which is glorified and perfect (D&C 130:22;
Gen. 1:27). His purposes are to “bring to pass the immortality and eternal life
of man” (Moses 1:39; see also Rom. 8:17). “The Lord God [is]...merciful and gracious, long-suffering and abundant in goodness
and truth” (Exodus 34:6; see also Psalms 90:2). He is just and slow to anger
(Psalms 103:17,18), creator of the heavens (Hebrews 1:10), unchangeable and
eternal (Hebrews 1:12; Malachi 3:6; D&C 35:1; James 1:17), a God of truth
who cannot lie (Numbers 23:19; Doctrine and Covenants 3:2), full of love (John
4:8), and is “no respecter of persons” (Acts 10:34, 35).
To be familiar with God’s
possession of these divine attributes is necessary for any rational being to
have faith centered in Him sufficient for salvation. For if a person does not
believe Him to be God, then faith in Him could not exist, for fear that
something above God would have power to ruin God’s plans; but seeing that He is
God over all, from everlasting to everlasting, no such faith can exist in the
minds of those who put their trust in Him. If He were not merciful and slow to
anger, the weakness and frailties of man, without belief that these divine
attributes existed, would make unwavering faith impossible. Doubt would
take the place of faith, for those who are aware of their weakness and
liability to sin would be in constant doubt whether they are qualified for
salvation. But with the knowledge that He is forgiving, long-suffering, slow to
anger, and merciful, faith is strengthened. If God were not unchangeable, doubt,
again, would take the place of faith, because an individual would be in
constant fear that the actions which please God today might not please God tomorrow.
However, knowing that He does not
change, one can place faith in Him with unshakable confidence. Knowing that He is a God of truth
who cannot lie makes it possible to have the utmost assurance that He will
never work in deceit. Knowing that He is no respecter of persons places us all
on equal ground in the eyes of God, and we need not doubt which privileges are
ours or question what privileges belong to another. We then know that each has
the authority by faith to lay hold on eternal life. “And lastly,...is
the idea that He is love; for with all the other excellencies in His character,
without this one to influence them, they could not have such powerful dominion
over the minds of men; but when the idea is planted in the mind that He is
love, who cannot see the just ground that men of every nation, kindred, and
tongue, have to exercise faith in God so as to obtain eternal life?” (Lectures
on Faith 3:24).
Having determined the attributes of God, we
continue by exploring the origins of the knowledge of God’s existence. We turn
to the historian, Moses, to aid us in our exploration. Beginning in the first
chapter of Genesis with verses 26-30, we learn the situation of man at his
first creation. He was given dominion over all things on the earth, and thereby
was governor over the earth. He also enjoyed communion with his Maker without a
veil to separate them. From Chapters 2 and 3 of Genesis we learn of the
fall of man and of his expulsion from the Garden of Eden. From these chapters
we are shown an important item. Despite man’s transgression, he was not
deprived of his previous knowledge of the existence and glory of his Creator,
and actually received additional affirmation of His existence when he again talked with God and received commandments from Him.
Further, in verses 1 through 15 of
chapter 4 in Genesis, we learn that not only did Adam witness manifestation of
his Maker’s existence after his transgression, but likewise Cain, after his
great transgression against his brother, received a personal knowledge of God’s
existence. We also see that Abel offered sacrifices according to the knowledge
passed on by his father, and with this we see that such fundamental information
concerning God was passed down from father to son in like manner. In chapter 5
we are able to trace the genealogy of Noah to Adam. From this we learn that the
Lamech, who is the father of Noah, Methuselah, Enoch, Jared, Mahalaleel, Cainan, Enos and Seth all lived to see both the death of Adam and the birth of
Noah. Each heard from Adam his testimony of God, who He is and that He does
exist. “From the foregoing it is easily to be seen, not only how the knowledge
of God came into the world, but upon what principle it was preserved; that from
the time it was first communicated, it was retained in the minds of righteous
men, who taught not only their own posterity, but the world; so that there was
no need of a new revelation to man, after Adam’s creation to Noah, to give them
the first idea or notion of the existence of a God; and not only of a God, but
the true and living God” (Lectures on Faith 2:44). Noah also communed with God,
and in chapter 10 we see that eight men were acquainted with both Noah and
Abraham, these men being Shem, Arphaxad, Salah, Eber, Reu, Serug, Terah, and
Nahor, the brother of Abraham. With this we see that the knowledge of the existence
of God began with the creation mankind, and was passed from father to son. The
first idea that entered into man’s mind was that of God’s existence, and we
cannot suppose that this important fact would remain in the mind of any
rational being unless he made it known to his posterity.
Despite these histories, some may choose to deny
the existence of such a being. The reality of the existence of God cannot be
decided by human counsels or worldly philosophies, nor does it depend on an
individual's desire to believe. God exists, or He does not. Let’s briefly
explore this idea. You are presented with a box, inside which is a cat. The cat is either dead, or it is alive. Simply opening the box
does not change that reality. Likewise, choosing to worship or not
worship a Supreme Being does not change the reality of His existence. By
examining the intricate details of creation around us, the human reason strongly
declares the existence of God. James Talmage taught
in his book Articles of Faith,
“The mind, already imbued with the historical truths of the divine existence
and its close relationship with man, will find the confirmatory evidence in
nature on every side; and even to him who rejects the testimony of the past and
assumes to set up his own judgment as superior to the common belief of ages,
the multifarious evidences of design in nature appeal. The observer is
impressed by the manifest order and system in creation; he notes the regular
succession of day and night providing alternate periods of work and rest for
man, animals, and plants; the sequence of the seasons, each with its longer
periods of activity and recuperation; the mutual dependence of animals and
plants; the circulation of water from sea to cloud, from cloud to earth again, with
beneficent effect. As man proceeds to the closer examination of things he finds
that by study and scientific investigation these proofs are multiplied many
fold. He may learn of the laws by which the earth and its associated worlds are
governed in their orbits; by which satellites are held subordinate to planets,
and planets to suns; he may behold the marvels of vegetable and animal anatomy,
and the surpassing mechanism of his own body; and with such appeals to his
reason increasing at every step, his wonder as to who ordained all this gives
place to adoration for the for the Creator whose presence and power are thus so
forcefully proclaimed; and the observer becomes a worshiper” (Articles of
Faith, Talmage, 29). Alma, a prophet from the Book of Mormon also
stated, “The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yeah,
even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its
motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do
witness that there is a Supreme Creator” (Alma 30:44).
Although we discussed the physical and
philosophical facts concerning the existence of God, only by confirmation from
God Himself through His Holy Spirit can one truly come to know of His reality.
As earlier mentioned, all which we know of God has come by means of revelation
from Him. Therefore, only through personal revelation and confirmation from God
can one, with confidence, know that He is. God will answer the prayers of those
truly seeking for knowledge and understanding, for Christ himself taught, “Ask,
and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be
opened unto you” (Matthew 7:7). I testify that God exists, for I have
personally felt His calming reassurance and confirmation. I know that He lives
and plays an active role in the lives of those who love Him. I invite all who
may have doubts or unbelief to humbly and sincerely ask God, in the name of
Christ, for an affirmation that He does exist. I know if you do so with real intent,
having faith that God will answer, He will answer by placing feelings in your
heart and thoughts in your mind.
No comments:
Post a Comment