inquiringmind Posted January 5, 2012 Posted January 5, 2012 I'm interested in what sense the word "intelligence" is used in D&C 130:18?Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection.We normally use the word "intelligence" to refer to one's intellectual capacity, but is that what the word means here?Is it saying that Einstein will still be a really smart guy when he comes up in the resurrection, or is it saying something else?
TAO Posted January 5, 2012 Posted January 5, 2012 (edited) As far as I know, both. Not only spiritual knowledge, but temporal as well. Pretty cool, no? =)But I could be wrong there =P. Edited January 5, 2012 by TAO
inquiringmind Posted January 5, 2012 Author Posted January 5, 2012 (edited) As far as I know, both. Not only spiritual knowledge, but temporal as well. Pretty cool, no? =)But I could be wrong there =P.I have a lot of book knowledge (believe it or not, I have a bachelor's degree in behavioral science), but one of the things I learned is that knowledge and intelligence aren't the same thing.I had instructors who knew the rules of higher mathematics, but I doubt any of them had Einstein's intelligence (or could really explain the theory of relativity), and that's just comparing temporal knowledge with temporal intelligence.What is "spiritual" intelligence (and is it just a knowledge of the sermon on the mount, the Atonement, Paul's Epistles, the book of Mormon, the Word of Wisdom, the Law of Chastity, and the D&C), or is it more than that?Is D&C 130:18 simply saying that if you knew about the restored Gospel when you died, you'll still know about it in the resurrection, or is it saying something more than that? Edited January 5, 2012 by inquiringmind
zerinus Posted January 5, 2012 Posted January 5, 2012 I'm interested in what sense the word "intelligence" is used in D&C 130:18?Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection.We normally use the word "intelligence" to refer to one's intellectual capacity, but is that what the word means here?Is it saying that Einstein will still be a really smart guy when he comes up in the resurrection, or is it saying something else?Even in ordinary English "intelligence" has different meanings. For example, the US spy network is called the "Central Intelligence Agency" (CIA). So what do you think the word means in that context? In modern scripture the word "intelligence" is used with a meaning which is best defined by its own context, as these examples show:D&C 88:40 For intelligence cleaveth unto intelligence; wisdom receiveth wisdom; truth embraceth truth; virtue loveth virtue; light cleaveth unto light; mercy hath compassion on mercy and claimeth her own; justice continueth its course and claimeth its own; judgment goeth before the face of him who sitteth upon the throne and governeth and executeth all things.D&C 93:29 Man was also in the beginning with God. Intelligence, or the light of truth, was not created or made, neither indeed can be.30 All truth is independent in that sphere in which God has placed it, to act for itself, as all intelligence also; otherwise there is no existence.36 The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth.D&C 130:18 Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection.19 And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come.JS-History 1:54 Accordingly, as I had been commanded, I went at the end of each year, and at each time I found the same messenger there, and received instruction and intelligence from him at each of our interviews, respecting what the Lord was going to do, and how and in what manner his kingdom was to be conducted in the last days.The kind of "intelligence" that Joseph Smith refers to in D&C 130:18, however, I believe is more of the kind that leads to salvation, rather than the kind that Einstein had. That does not mean that that kind of knowledge is useless in the hereafter. I am sure Einstein will have that intelligence with him when he gets resurrected. But there is a different kind or quality of "intelligence" that aids salvation and eternal life, and that is more of the kind that Joseph Smith was referring to.
CV75 Posted January 5, 2012 Posted January 5, 2012 (edited) We normally use the word "intelligence" to refer to one's intellectual capacity, but is that what the word means here?Reading D&C 93 and 88, and other scriptural uses of the words "light" and "truth" it means any principle of light and truth, which can be spiritual and temporal (D&C 77:2) since the temporal is in the likeness of the spiritual. All things are spiritual to the Lord anyway. Edited January 5, 2012 by CV75
Deborah Posted January 5, 2012 Posted January 5, 2012 My Patriarchal Blessing makes a distinction between intelligence and intellect. Intelligence in the scriptural sense is more than just intellectual understanding. There is a book on emotional intelligence. I think the word intelligence applies to how we are able to function in certain areas, whether emotional, spiritual or academic. Some people may have a great intellect but not be very intelligent in how they apply that.
livy111us Posted January 5, 2012 Posted January 5, 2012 “It is fair to conclude that spiritual and mental growth can be attained only by obedience to the laws on which they are predicated,” wrote Elder Albert E. Bowen. “If through diligence, observance of correct principles, discipline of the mind and of the spirit, a man attains to a fine development of personality in this life, surely it is not unreasonable to suppose that that will be his imperishable possession and glory in the life he enters upon after death. On the contrary, if through lethargy or sin his self-realization in his life is dwarfed, he shall be handicapped to that extent as he enters upon the new world.” (In Conference Report, Oct. 1937, p. 86.)
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