human knowledge?

 Security David Bowman

Human knowledge comes from experience, either one's own brushes with the school of hard knocks or by observing the experiences of others. As a youngster, my dad always said that I preferred to learn from the former. Since then I've learned to synthesize the experiences of others through my studies of the written word.

We are commanded to gain knowledge and share what we learn. “And I give unto you a commandment that you shall teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom...Of things both in heaven and in the earth, and under the earth; things which have been, things which are, things which must shortly come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad; the wars and the perplexities of the nations, and the judgments which are on the land; and a knowledge also of countries and of kingdoms that ye may be prepared in all things when I shall send you again to magnify the calling whereunto I have called you, and the mission with which I have commissioned you...  teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith.” Doctrine and Covenants 88:77-80, 118

Human knowledge is used to serve others in many ways and subdue the earth. "And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth." Genesis 1:28 Nevertheless, our experience and knowledge is limited and weak. Our interpretation of experience may be a little off, and we can't ever learn everything there is to know. We cannot remember pre-mortal life or know exactly what post-mortal life will entail. We can only speculate and many of our facts are based on these speculations.

This can be illustrated by the theory of evolution, which is based on the theory of uniformity (things occurring today happen at the same pace and are under the same laws of physics which have existed for all time.) However, written history tells us that great times of change occurred, when Adam and Eve were forced form the garden, and when Noah experienced the Great Flood upon the ark. The Creation and the theory of uniformity cannot both be true. Therefore, human knowledge based on the synthesis of experience is not always truth. For example, the world is not flat, animals did not evolve from lower lifeforms due to spontaneous generation, nor does the sun revolve around the earth.

Since human knowledge is fallible, meaning our conclusions are sometimes false, we must guard against pride in our acquisition of said knowledge. "O the cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they thing they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish. But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God." 2 Nephi 9:28-29

God has commanded us to learn all we can about gospel doctrine, astronomy, botany, geology, biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, ancient and modern history of peoples, religions, art, music, and governments, political science, current events, self-sufficiency public speaking, writing, logic, rhetoric, literature, and languages. Only in following this commandment throughout our lives will we be prepared for our missions. While a mission may be as obscure as raising and teaching righteous members of God's Kingdom, all missions are important. Possibly, a mission will be some other incredibly important thing. With this in mind, we must put aside apathetic attitudes, forget ourselves, and get to work. However, we must take ourselves with a grain of salt, remembering our reasoning is falible. Move forward with eyes on God.