Today in Sunday School one of the comments really resonated with me. One of the brothers shared the story of when he was young and would be going to the movie theater with his family and inevitably they would always be late and miss some of the first reel of the film. And then they would end up staying after the film ended to see the beginning reel of the film they had missed during the next start time.
He likened this to the gospel. Many in the world are missing the first few "reels" when they don't have the knowledge of the fullness of the gospel. This brother mentioned that on his mission he thought it was very interesting when they taught about the pre existence, no matter what religion the people were, they seemed to agree with those truths, even though this brother would point out that their religions did not teach those principles.
Once people can see the full "picture" of the truths of the gospel it makes the rest of the story (or purpose) make much more sense.
A similar metaphor story that I heard a long time ago also relates to this fullness of knowledge. It is the story of the blind men and the elephant (from wikipedia):
"A group of blind men heard that a strange animal, called an elephant, had been brought to the town, but none of them were aware of its shape and form. Out of curiosity, they said: "We must inspect and know it by touch, of which we are capable". So, they sought it out, and when they found it they groped about it. The first person, whose hand landed on the trunk, said, "This being is like a thick snake". For another one whose hand reached its ear, it seemed like a kind of fan. As for another person, whose hand was upon its leg, said, the elephant is a pillar like a tree-trunk. The blind man who placed his hand upon its side said the elephant, "is a wall". Another who felt its tail, described it as a rope. The last felt its tusk, stating the elephant is that which is hard, smooth like a spear."
When a person only has pieces of the puzzle, or in this instance, an elephant, they are unable to know or understand for themselves the truth of all things. For those struggling with testimonies, or with faith, it could be that you are missing pieces of the puzzle.
By studying the scriptures, conference talks, the churchofJesusChrist.org, and going to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints you can find answers to the questions about this life. The life before we came here, and the life we will have when our mortal existence ends.
One of my favorite parables the Savior shares during his earthly ministry is found in Matthew 13:1-23. It answers so many questions about the paths that people consciously or subconsciously choose when they stumble upon the truths of the gospel and why for some, they are able to act on what they have learned and why others struggle to embrace these teachings of truth. We must ask ourselves what kind of ground are we? Are we the ground we want to be? The joy that comes from being the good ground and allowing those seeds to build our faith and our desire for Heavenly knowledge can bring immeasurable joy and peace in this life and in the life to come. If you take the time to read the below parable, please read to the end. Starting in verse 19, the Savior explains the parable he shares.
1 The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.
2 And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.
3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:
5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:
8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
15 For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
18 ¶ Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.
19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
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