From Elder Neal A. Maxwell (deceased), and his book “That Ye May Believe”): (This book contains letters on Gospel subjects to his posterity):
Dear Peter:
Let’s go right to your major point concerning intellectual dissenters.
The gospel requires us to yield our minds as well as bend our knees. Minds are often more arthritic than knees. No wonder we are to seek to obtain the “mind of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 2:16). Yielding intellectually but only partially, is often the problem. There is the intellectual equivalent of Ananias and Sapphirsa’s holding back a portion of their money (See Acts 5:1-11). Such holding back may be motivated by a mistaken notion that by so doing a person somehow preserves his individuality or demonstrates his God given agency.
Individuals who thus hold back often demand to know more before they obey more. Their minds seek to run far ahead of their confirming behavior. They prefer exciting exploration to prodding implementation.
The real method of acquiring spiritual knowledge is clearly laid out for us by Alma (see Alma 32). It features what may at first seem to be an unexciting sequence: desiring to believe, giving place in order to experiment, believing and knowing. There is no easy leap from deep doubt to deep knowledge. In between lies the terrain which requires the steady doing of God’s will.
It is a merciful provision that, even if at first we have no more than “a desire to believe,” or if we begin with only a particle of faith,” we can still commence (Alma 32:27). Giving place and so experimenting is no small thing for some who really struggle with taking this simple step.
Subsequently, by nurturing the seed carefully and by experimenting, for ourselves, belief grows into confirmed knowledge. Personal verification thereby occurs “in that thing”—meaning, in the principle which is specifically being opened and applied. Other principles or doctrines await the same process of personal verification.
Instead, however, some people want to skip this seemingly plodding “spiritual method.” As already pointed out, they are so busy surveying large intellectual tracts that they fail to cultivate even a small behavioral tract. Theory rich and data poor! Intellectual speculation is easy, and compared to steady, spiritual submissiveness it makes few demands. The spectators end up “looking beyond the mark” (Jacob 4:14) staring beyond the obvious. Jesus confirmed that only if we will “do” will we then know. (John 7:17).
Your namesake, Peter, affirmed that if we have obeyed and thereby developing certain qualities of character we will not be unfruitful in the knowledge of Jesus Christ (see 2 Peter 1:8). Once again, Obeying is linked to enlarged knowing! Obedience is thus a true friend to intelligence, a fact which comes as a surprise to some.
Jacob warned about those who sought for that which they could understand (See Jacob 4:14). Their zest for exploring and speculating is not matched by their enthusiasm for Obeying and doing. Consequently, such individuals to not really come to know for themselves (see Alma 5:45-47.) Without that personal witness they are ambivalent and unable to defend gospel truths or doctrines. It is people’s incapacity to defend the faith, wrote George MacDonald, which can turn them into persecutors.
Others have once known, but because of subsequent failure to nourish the faith they have grown “weary and faint in their minds” (see Hebrews 12:3).
God wants us to believe, but he also wants us to be, to become. As we nurture our faith and gradually develop the qualities of Christ, everything becomes mutually reinforcing. Obeying leads to more knowing. More knowing leads to more obeying and more improving. More improving leads to more knowing and Obeying. Finally it’s on to submission and consecration!
Yet it all starts with a simple desire to believe and with humble willingness to give place in order to experiment upon the word of Christ—by doing!
It is possible that an initial unwillingness to give place is a telling, early indicator of one’s underlying stubbornness? Stubbornness often masquerades as individuality, causing some to hold back throughout life.
When people are not willing to submit, even to a small degree, they will end up skimming, wearily and disappointedly, over life’s surface. Emerson spoke of growing “weary of the surfaces.” Soon the heat of life’s sun scorches what little belief exists! (Alma 32:38.)
I love you, Grandfather
P.S. . . .Some, though decent and good, prefer the ambience of living in the general vicinity of the Lord’s neighborhood, They do not really desire to go all the way home or to be “clasped in the arms of Jesus” (Mormon 5:11). But anything we embrace instead” will keep us from the ultimate embrace with Him! ~~Neal A. Maxwell, That Ye May Believe (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1992) p. 101-03
