Section 88 Part 2, Light, Comprehension and Understanding, and Will
The theme of ‘light’ runs through the entirety of Section 88 of the Doctrine and Covenants. The contexts in which it is used are more than I have understood in past readings of the revelations. Light is associated with life, law, power, the Spirit of Christ, truth, glory, intelligence, understanding/enlightenment, and word. Since these topics are mentioned throughout the section, we could say that all things are either created, controlled, comprehended, or understood using light.
Comprehension is another idea that struck me. Comprehension is quite different than understanding. While the former is the precursor to the latter, they are not the same thing. Comprehension deals more with the intellectual aspect of a thing, while understanding is the internalization and spiritual part that motivates us to change and action. I have a seemingly insatiable need to know how things work. I want to know why things exist, including myself and God. Comprehension of these things is essential to me.
When it says that God “comprehendeth all things” (verse 41). This establishes God as omniscient—everything is before Him; He is above, below, around, and through all things. His comprehension is absolute and limitless, referring to His perfect understanding and encompassing presence. I want the same. So when the Lord promises, “the day shall come when you shall comprehend even God, being quickened in him and by him” (verse 49). This points to the ultimate aim of sanctification and progression—growing in “light” until one is able to comprehend even the divine, it makes me happy and gives me hope.
However, if I only comprehend something, I still may not be willing to incorporate it into my life and act on it in a meaningful way. Receiving a spiritual witness of the things I can comprehend is the goal. The beauty of Section 88 is that it presents concepts such as light in a way that I can both comprehend and understand. I do not pretend to comprehend these principles and concepts in full, but I know that one day, I will.
This brings me to the final thing that struck me when studying this section: how willingness plays into it all. As I have mentioned before, and will focus more on it next week, I believe agency is the foundation and reason for everything that exists and why things happen. The section opens with an explicit invitation to receive God’s will: “Thus saith the Lord unto you who have assembled yourselves together to receive his will concerning you.”
The ultimate destiny of souls is all about what we are willing to receive. After several verses describing the different ‘glories’ made available to us in eternity, there is one that makes clear why we end up where we will. Verse 32 reads, “And they who remain shall also be quickened; nevertheless, they shall return again to their own place, to enjoy that which they are willing to receive, because they were not willing to enjoy that which they might have received.”
We must be willing to receive the gifts that are bestowed upon us. Rejection of the gifts of God does not result in a fullness of joy. However, those who are not willing to accept everything will still enjoy what and where they land.
To receive a gift from God is more than simply possessing something. Gifts come with responsibilities. We can’t simply confess Jesus is Lord and do nothing about it. This comes back to the difference between comprehension and understanding. Some outstanding intellectual minds of our day and in history have concluded that there must be someone or something at the top of everything. They put God and Jesus Christ in that place, but may not understand what it means to them. They fail to understand, internalize, and act on their knowledge.
Here are some verses that illustrate the point, “Unto what shall I liken these kingdoms, that ye may understand? Behold, all these are kingdoms, and any man who hath seen any or the least of these hath seen God moving in his majesty and power. I say unto you, he hath seen him; nevertheless, he who came unto his own was not comprehended. The light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not; nevertheless, the day shall come when you shall comprehend even God, being quickened in him and by him. Then shall ye know that ye have seen me, that I am, and that I am the true light that is in you, and that you are in me; otherwise ye could not abound.”
I will finish with this, which I think sums it up eloquently, “Behold, that which you hear is as the voice of one crying in the wilderness—in the wilderness, because you cannot see him—my voice, because my voice is Spirit; my Spirit is truth; truth abideth and hath no end; and if it be in you it shall abound. And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things. Therefore, sanctify yourselves that your minds become single to God, and the days will come that you shall see him; for he will unveil his face unto you, and it shall be in his own time, and in his own way, and according to his own will.
Happy Sunday.