Random Thought #20

So I was in charge or moderating a little forum for employees with 3-5 years of experience who meet with a manager and just have an open discussion forum. Our guest of honor today was a guy who has a Bachelor's in Mathematics and Physics, and also one in Theoretical Physics, a Masters in Nuclear Physics, and a PhD in Science Education. He also has a wife who has a PhD in clinical psychiatry and has two kids, a daughter who is also studying to be a clinical psychiatrist and a son who is also some of astronomical physicist. Anyways, needless to say, he was an intriguing person to talk to. I asked him about some good books to read on some of these topics as Quantum Mechanics and Theoretical Physics are two of my favorite reading topics. He gave me a few references and I'm sure as I start digging, more and more literature will become available. I've also recently been studying Hugh Nibley, a famous LDS scholar, and some of his works. I recently stumbled upon a complete bibliography of all of Nibley's works. Including his 19 books averaging 650 pages a piece were a plethora of articles he has written on various topics which all together comprised an astounding list of 47 pages were of articles to be read and digested. As I thought about the large task in front of me, I couldn't help but wonder how we find ourselves content with the knowledge we have when there is so much more out there to be learned. We spend our time on worthless endeavors that produce little to no benefit for good in our lives such as Twitter, Facebook, and other social networking sites. Instead of keeping our nose in books, we stick it in other people's business and the news is always filled with how the world is decaying around us. When was the last time any of us took a step back and evaluated how we spend our time in a day?

I have to admit that I used to be addicted to Twitter, but now that I have so much knowledge in front of me, I can't help but spend my free time trying to understand how things work. After all, if we are to rule on high and Gods and Goddesses and Piests and Priestesses, creating worlds without end, how do we expect to be able to do that if we haven't the slightest clue as to how astronomy works, how biology works, how chemistry works? You think it just exists? Let us remember that there was a creation. Somebody had to understand how these things work. Glory is shared intelligence. "For this is my work and my glory, to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man". God's whole goal is to give us the same knowledge He has so we can become like Him and do what He does, so that we can have everlasting joy. The scriptures are always telling us to feast (not just nibble), FEAST upon the words of Christ. We are to study out of the best books. Why do we limit ourselves to the standard works? Do we not believe in the 9th article of faith?

With so much to learn and so little time left in this world, I think it behooves us all to put a little more effort into learning the ways of the Lord and leaving the worthless things of this world alone.