Truth

… “and truth is knowledge of things as they are, and as they were, and as they are to come; and whatever is more or less than these is the spirit of that wicked one who was a liar from the beginning.” (T&C 93:8)

Many run from the truth, hide from it, ignore it, dread it, hate it, despise it, mock it, avoid it, deny it, and reject it. Others openly welcome the truth, want it, ask for it, seek it, find it, rejoice in it, love it, embrace it, and consistently live it. And the remaining ones find themselves somewhere in between. Sooner or later, truth catches up with everyone, misses no one, overlooks nothing, and determines the outcome of all. None is able to destroy the truth, and not a single soul dodges or evades it forever. You cannot make a lie true, nor can you make the truth a lie, but love reveals both.

From my observation, it is better to remain ignorant of the truth if you don’t want to live it because the consequences for willful rebellion are serious.

Some few really do want to know the truth and be set free.  … “If you continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” …  (John 6:14 RE)

But for the honest truth seeker, why is it so hard to find the truth? Is it because they’re not living it? Not looking for it? Looking at the opinions of others? Fearful of how the truth will change their life and paradigms? Or is the cognitive dissonance truth created just too painful?

I desire to know the truth as God knows it, but sometimes that’s easier said than done and it takes revelation, time, and obedience. In the following blog posts, I’ll share some tools, ideas, and concepts that are helping me to take an honest look at myself and be accountable for whatever fruit I produce.

Perpetual Ignorance

The recipe for perpetual ignorance is: Be satisfied with your opinions and content with your knowledge.

I do not believe in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance.

The most violent element in society is ignorance. 

Not engaging in ignorance is wisdom.

Ignorance is a temporary affliction, remedied only by asking the right questions and sincerely seeking the right answers.

Ignorance is always afraid of change.

Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance.

I think it is possible to actually be so ignorant that you refuse to recognize and therefore fail to know how ignorant you are.

Many people do not want to hear the truth because they do not want their illusions destroyed.

The more connected you are with God and the more perfect you become, the more difficult it becomes for others to ignore you.

If you think education is expensive, just try ignorance!

Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.

The cure for ignorance is to question.

Ignorance is a voluntary misfortune. We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid.

We fear things in proportion to our ignorance of them.

Beware of false knowledge. It is perhaps more dangerous and harder to overcome than ignorance. I think Mark Twain said it well, “It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so.”

Being ignorant is not so much a shame, as being unwilling to learn.

Please do not judge others based on your incredible ignorance. Condemnation without investigation is the height of ignorance.

Arrogance and ignorance go hand-in-hand.

It takes a real man and a lot of work to suffer ignorance and smile at the same time.

A closed mind is a good thing to lose, because few closed minds come with closed mouths.

 

Joseph Smith said, “It is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance.” (TPJS 301)

 

 

Knowledge Destroys Ignorance

Joseph Smith said:

“It is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance.” (TPJS 301)

“The principle of knowledge is the principle of salvation. This principle can be comprehended by the faithful and diligent; and every one that does not obtain knowledge sufficient to be saved will be condemned. The principle of salvation is given us through the knowledge of Jesus Christ.” (TPJS 297)

“The Church must be cleansed, and I proclaim against all iniquity. A man is saved no faster than he gets knowledge, for if he does not get knowledge, he will be brought into captivity by some evil power in the other world, as evil spirits will have more knowledge, and consequently more power than many men who are on the earth. Hence it needs revelation to assist us, and give us knowledge of the things of God.” (TPJS page 217)

“The problem we must overcome to obtain salvation is our profound ignorance. And what the gospel offers defies ignorance, subdues it, challenges it, destroys it, and leaves it in the dark.” (DS Lecture 1)

“Ignorance is only blissful until the issue you've ignored jumps up from the sidewalk and bites you in the ass.” (David Roppo)

“One of the hardest lessons I've had to learn in my lifetime is that people will believe what they want to believe regardless of facts or evidence. I have been foolish enough to believe that anything I say could change that.” (B. Devine)

“People don't want to hear the truth because they don't want their illusions destroyed.” (Friedrich Nietzsche)

“Where ignorance is bliss, 'Tis folly to be wise.” (Thomas Gray)