A Rational Theology, as Taught by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day SaintsWidtsoe, John Andreas
Religion
A Rational Theology, as Taught by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Widtsoe, John Andreas
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- Doctrines; Latter Day Saint churches -- Doctrines; Theology
**The Senses.** Knowledge is the material on which the mind works. In
every progressive life fresh knowledge must be gathered as the days go
by. The senses of man are the gateways through which that knowledge
enters. The senses of man must be developed, therefore, as completely
as is possible. Seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling and feeling must
all be developed fully and joyously for the pleasure and benefit of
man. Without sharp senses, man may not have the highest earthly joy.
**The Reasoning Power.** It is not sufficient for the contentment of
man that he gather knowledge, and add fact to fact. All new
information must be compared with other information, so that
conclusions may be drawn, and new knowledge brought into view. By this
process of reasoning, on the basis of acquired knowledge, man may rise
by sure steps to a high degree of understanding. Man must train
himself, with all his might, to use this wonderful faculty of reason,
so that he may intelligently read new knowledge from all he learns. A
fact, of itself, is lifeless; only when it is compared with other
facts, does it leap into life, and show forth its hidden meaning.
**The Feelings.** The sense of feeling is but a poor expression for
the one great sense by which man may directly communicate with the
region of the unseen. Through this sense, man stands on the border
line between earth and the external universe. Those who have communion
with the forces about them, because of their greater refinement of
feeling, have comfort which is attainable in no other manner.
Moreover, our feelings with respect to our fellow men should be
cultivated. We must learn to sympathize with them in their distresses,
rejoice with them in their joys, and pity them in their sins. The
education of the feelings is a great duty of man.
**The Spiritual Sense.** This sense is closely akin to the feelings.
The virtues of man, such as hope, charity, and mercy, can reach high
development only on the basis of the conviction that the unseen world
may be known. When this conviction grows upon a man, and he reaches
out for a fuller understanding of it, his spiritual sense develops,
new worlds are opened to him and he conforms to the intelligent love
which made the Great Plan possible.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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