Learning doesn’t come through disjointed jumps. You can’t just be shown how God is and jump to that point. There are innumerable steps in between, and these steps are embodied by people. They are the many “mansions" within his kingdom. We hop from “house” to “house” by learning line upon line the law which sanctifies us, or quickens us, or provides the basis of our experiences—the source of our joy, the substance of our suffering, and the purpose of our pain. It is the source of our power and our ability to understand and contend with things as they really are.
Everything must be explained to a person in terms of where they presently stand. All understanding builds organically. Everything must be built from what is already there.
All additional understanding comes through what you will choose to do with what you already know.
All outcomes will come to you through what you choose to do with what you have already received. The path to all knowledge and the receipt of all things lies along a trail that already stretches from where you immediately are.
And by giving heed and doing these things which ye have received, and which ye shall hereafter receive—and the kingdom is given you of the Father, and power to overcome all things which are not ordained of him. (D&C 50:35)
This is why the little things are the big things. That little sin that no one else knows about is a terminal blockade to everything God has to give you. It will permanently stop your progress in becoming like him and receiving all he has to give.
He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. (Luke 16:10)
The path to everything you desire lies through what you already know but aren’t doing.
The next sequential step of our progression lies in what is already obvious to us—or should be.
God requires you to be true and faithful to what you already know before he will instruct you further. If you desire more light and truth, you should obey all you have been given before you expect anything else. You must reach the point where you can sincerely pray, “Lord, I have been true and faithful in all things.”
Jesus frequently appealed to what his listeners already knew, but weren’t living according to. He knew that in order to progress closer to him, they first had to live according to what they already knew:
You think you have eternal life in the scriptures, but they testify of me (see John 5:39), and you don’t listen to me (see John 5:40). You claim to believe in Moses, but you don’t do what he said (see John 5:45, 47). Because you don’t do what he said, you don’t believe in me, even though he witnessed of me (see John 5:46). You haven’t seen the Father or heard his voice (see John 5:37) and you won’t, because you don’t believe whom he has sent (see John 5:38).
Jesus taught this principle through the parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man:
19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house:
28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the <u>prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. (Luke 16)</u>
God will never do for you what you will not do for yourself. It violates God’s perfect justice. While a truth lies in your capacity to understand through studying and pondering the scriptures, he will not send you an angel to explain it to you. While a truth lies in a book you have the ability to acquire and read, he will not reveal it to you through out-of-the-blue revelation. While your friend knows something you do not, he will not send some prophet you don’t know to teach it to you. You are responsible for all the truth you have access to. As you pray for more light and truth, also pray for help in seeing what truth you already have access to that you are taking lightly.
Preparation for further light and truth is solely a factor of your ability to notice and accept it. If you have not noticed or obeyed what you currently have access to, you will not receive further light and truth. To provide such to you would only trigger negative judgment against you.
As you learn more of what God knows, you will do more of what God does because you will share more of his reasons for what he does. You will begin to see what he sees, to feel what he feels, and, inasmuch as you choose to be honest about it, you will act more like he acts, for all the same reasons he does.