“Faith the first principle in revealed religion, … the foundation of all righteousness, … and the principle of action in all intelligent beings.” 9 Because acting in accordance with the correct principles the Redeemer proclaimed is central to receiving and exercising true faith, “faith without works is dead.” 10 We are to be “doers of the word, and not hearers only.” 11 True faith is focused in and on the Lord and always leads to righteous action. 8 As our faith in the Lord increases, we trust in Him and have confidence in His power to redeem, heal, and strengthen us. 7 We begin to come to know the Savior as we arouse our spiritual faculties and experiment upon His teachings, even until we can give place in our souls for a portion of His words. The exercise of faith in Jesus Christ is relying upon His merits, mercy, and grace. Four essential steps that can help us come to know the Lord are exercising faith in Him, following Him, serving Him, and believing Him. We come to know the Father as we come to know His Beloved Son.Ī grand objective of mortality is not merely learning about the Only Begotten of the Father but also striving to know Him. “If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.” 6 “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. I earnestly invite the assistance of the Holy Ghost as we consider together this vital subject. Do we only know about the Savior, or are we increasingly coming to know Him? How do we come to know the Lord? These questions of the soul are the focus of my message. The phrases “Ye never knew me” and “Ye know me not” should be a cause of deep spiritual introspection for each of us. Importantly, the phrase “I know you not,” as reported in the King James Version of the Bible, was clarified in the Joseph Smith Translation to “Ye know me not.” 5 The implications of this parable for each of us are expanded by another inspired revision. “But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.” 4 “Afterward came also the virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. “And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Recall that the five foolish and unprepared virgins went to obtain oil for their lamps after hearing the cry to go and meet the bridegroom. Significantly, the Lord’s phrase reported in the King James Version of the Bible, “I never knew you,” was changed in the Joseph Smith Translation to “Ye never knew me.” 3Ĭonsider also the parable of the ten virgins. Our understanding of this episode is enlarged as we reflect upon an inspired revision to the text. “And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” 2 “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. As the Savior concluded the Sermon on the Mount, He emphasized the eternal truth that “only by doing the will of the Father is the saving grace of the Son obtainable.” 1
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