To Know God

I was reading a talk given in General Conference October 2009 by Robert D. Hales entitled "Seeking to Know God, Our Heavenly Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ" and was faced by the following question:

"Why is belief in God so important?"

So many people in the world today do not believe in any God. Many do not even believe in themselves and others. We know that it is disappointing and depressing to not believe in God, but why is it important to believe in God? Elder Hales then said:

"Without God, life would end at the grave and our mortal experiences would have no purpose. Growth and progress would be temporary, accomplishment without value, challenges without meaning. There would be no ultimate right and wrong and no moral responsibility to care for one another as fellow children of God. Indeed, without God, there would be no mortal or eternal life."

This paragraph is arguing that question. Belief is a powerful thing. It reminds me of Peter Pan; when Tinker Bell was dying they had to say "I believe in fairies! I believe in fairies!" Now that is fictional, but having a belief in something or someone causes you to do or don't do different actions. It does not give that something or someone power just because of your belief, you give that something or someone power because of your actions. However, in God's case He has power regardless that we do not fully comprehend even though we try. But believing in God gives us the power and guidelines by which we should live. It gives us a wider range of agency. If we do not believe in God and His guidelines exist, it will still affect us. But not for the better. It affects us by it's lack. Much like a vacuum. If we were in existence in the Garden of Eden, perhaps it would be different as there would be innocence where there really would be no good nor evil. But now, ignoring it does not make it go away. The fact is, there is a God and a Savior. There is a law and for every action there is a consequence, even if the action is inaction. To believe in God, who does Live, means that there is a better world around us.

To 'know God lives' is a testimony. A testimony to be developed and expounded. A profound testimony that many in the world do not believe nor understand. To 'know God' is something that is a personal journey and cannot be based on another's knowledge. It comes from the Holy Ghost, this knowledge. As we work towards building the relationship just like we build all relationships: by spending time, by doing what is asked, by serving, by loving, by understanding.