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Home » The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints » Current Church Doctrine » Knowledge enough to sin (When do we know enough to be accountable to knowledge?)
Re: Knowledge enough to sin [message #530 is a reply to message #529] Thu, 21 June 2012 13:15 Go to previous messageGo to previous message
JulesGP
Messages: 357
Registered: May 2012
Location: Davis County, UT
Senior Member
Both Amonhi and Dragon's posts ring true to me, but since my understanding is less than both of yours, I'm trying to figure all this out and figure out how both ideas fit together. I agree with Amonhi about the lower law vs. the higher law, and our understandings of each having to do with our accountability. I also agree with Dragon and think his explanation is true as well.

"I believe, or have cause to believe, that everyone on Earth KNOWS right and wrong at some level. They have the capacity to choose, therefore they have the capacity to sin against that which they KNOW"

Some of my thoughts that I haven't put together yet, are that first, if we KNOW right from wrong on a particular thing, then that's the spirit telling us it's wrong. So we are sinning against a spiritual confirmation. So that rings true to me as I said. But second, knowing how to apply those truths would fit into what Amonhi is saying. So we could go against what we know is right (knowing we are doing so), but doing it because the church or parents or gov. says that's what we're supposed to do (because we are being commanded in the world of the lower law). So we are kind of caught in a catch 22 situation where either way, we are going against either what we are commanded, or what the spirit is telling us. So my understanding it that the higher law is figuring out HOW to apply what we know to be right.

Amonhi talked on another forum about how Abraham was tested for Godhood when he was told to sacrifice Isaac. So when he did as he was commanded, he was doing what he thought was right because God TOLD him to do it (which is the understanding I had before, and what everyone else understands, probably because of being in the lower law realm) - even though he went against what he KNEW was right. He didn't do what he knew was right - and disobey a command from God himself so at that time he failed the test of Godhood and being admitted into that realm. So was he "sinning" or was that a transgression because he didn't yet know how to apply those things in the realm of Godhood and be under THOSE laws?

Just some of my thoughts... hope they are not too scattered, but I'm working to understand these things.

One question I have: When can we start applying higher laws? When we are little, we are to do things exactly as our parents tell us to. But as we grow in understanding, there is not necessarily a ceremonial declaration regarding our every action that we can now live under a different law. Our parents don't typically come to us and say: "Ok, you now have a full understanding that the stove is hot and if you touch it it will burn you, so I release the command that you are not to touch the stove, and I will now allow you to use your discretion, knowing that it could burn you, but trust that you will be careful". It just kind of "happens" gradually.

SO, when can we move from being commanded in all things within the church culture and having the "follow the prophet because the thinking has been done for us" mentality, and acting upon what we KNOW is right - even though it's not the way the church may expect us to do things? Is it a gradual progression we act on as the spirit dictates? Do we need to wait for our bishop's permission (which we likely would not get)? Do we need to wait for the Savior to stand before us and say "OK, you can now be released from the command not to touch the stove...."? Etc... my FEELING is the first - that we act on the spirit as we progress. But I want to make sure I'm understanding correctly. I guess if I need to be more specific for this question to be answered, let me know and I can be, but I'll leave it at this for now.

Thank you guys for sharing your understandings and knowledge!!

~Jules

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