Comments on: Experience the Gospel Instead of Just Intellectualizing It

By: Jared

Jared — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 15:20:30 +0000

Tim–

Thanks for reading and commenting. It’s always a pleasure to have your input.

So many of our gifted members in the Nacle intellectualize “principles of the gospel”, but rarely share testimony of them.

We need more gifted members like you, Michaela, and a hand full of others who not only discuss principles but testify of them as well.

Note: I’m sorry to hear that your family is dealing with cancer. I sincerely ask the Lord’s blessing to be with your family.

My 34 year old daughter in law just started chemo for breast cancer, and several ward members are dealing with it as well.

By: Jared

Jared — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 15:04:39 +0000

Michaela Stephens–

Great point. The fact you often worry about this issue is an important part of not falling into it. I’ve also found that as I get older, and closer to my end of days, I find it easier to be humbled by my “lackings” than my achievements.

By: Tim Malone

Tim Malone — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 05:38:21 +0000

You said, “It is more important to experience the gospel than it is to understand it,” and “The Lord is not pleased with those who are more interested in learning and teaching the gospel than they are in experiencing it.”

These are two very bold statements you make, but you back them both up with scripture and the quote from Elder Scott. I take these statements to heart as they hit close to home. I love to learn and teach the gospel but know that I can do a much better job of internalizing it and living it in faithfulness.

I also like your statement, “Church members who turn the gospel into an academic exercise are denied the Spirit while those who apply the doctrine of Christ will experience the gospel by receiving manifestations of the Holy Ghost.” I have seen that all over the Bloggernacle as I’m sure you have.

Of course, we cannot judge another’s spiritual life by the manner in which they write, but sometimes it is fairly obvious when they mock sacred things or by the way they write about them, make it clear that they do not understand them. It is indeed more important to experience the gospel than to fully understand it.

Line upon line. That’s how the Lord teaches his children. The missionaries teach just enough so the people can determine for themselves if they can make and keep sacred covenants. The spirit will teach them and help them gain more knowledge as they need it in their spiritual journey.

Great post. Well worth the read. I gave it five stars. Thanks.

By: Michaela Stephens

Michaela Stephens — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 22:47:53 +0000

Great reminder. I often worry about this issue. It’s easy to fall into intellectual blather sometimes in our preparation because we want to be prepared and we want to be effective, but we can’t anticipate how the Spirit will work on listeners during the lesson or talk so we prepare as if it won’t be there, appealing more to the natural man’s taste than the spiritual man’s.