“The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth.”[1]

Intelligence is light and truth.[2] It is the correct knowledge, understanding, and application of truth.

We increase in knowledge and intelligence through diligence and obedience.[3] We are to be diligent in doing the best good we can do, in obedience to God’s commandments and laws, that we might increase in intelligence.

God’s intelligence is above all, exceeds all, and encompasses all truth. His most fundamental function is to flow intelligence to us. He delights in offering us means whereby we can increase in intelligence by assimilating and manifesting more and more truth.

The Still Small Voice of conscience within each of us is His voice within our minds and hearts. The more we heed this voice, the more we become filled with light and truth. Making a continual conscientious decision to heed and obey the Still Small Voice of conscience within us is the best, wisest, and the most intelligent thing we can do.

We are to increase our intelligence by consistently doing what is best by doing the best good we can do. As we do this, we will be guided in receiving increased intelligence. Identifying the best good we can do is primarily achieved by elevating our awareness to conscience by strictly doing as our conscience directs. This is the most effective way to be and to become more intelligent.

We all have a moral obligation to be intelligent. To be or become increasingly intelligent is a matter of consistently doing what is best by doing the best good we can do, by strict obedience to conscience. By this, we become the best we can be.

Our objective should be to become perfect in heeding the Still Small Voice of conscience within us. As we do this, we will be blessed beyond what we can presently even possibly conceive.

As we are increasingly faithful and obedient to the voice of God within us, God will naturally, automatically, and instantly bless us with additional light and truth, with more inspiration, more revelation, and more manifestations of truth, just as quickly as we can receive such things as blessings and not as unwieldy liabilities rigged to condemn us.

I like the Big Rocks, Small Rocks concept. If you have a pile of rocks to move, move the big rocks first.

If we are trying to increase our intelligence, by learning, by faith, by repentance, and by obedience to conscience, first identify the big rocks and then worry about the small rocks. The big rocks are the most easily recognized.

I recommend making a list of God’s general commandments, starting with the famous Ten Commandments[4] given in the Old Testament, and then the new commandments given by Jesus in the New Testament[5], such as “Love thy neighbor as thyself.” Ponder and consider these general commandments.

Next, make a list of things you know very well your conscience has been telling you to do. And then do them!

Those things your conscience has been telling you to do are your highest priorities! These are the big rocks. Your conscience will automatically take into consideration what God knows you know of His commandments and what He knows you know of what is the most moral, advantageous, and true. Additionally, God knows very well what you realistically can and cannot do, or should or should not do; but do not use this as an excuse not to do what the voice of God is telling you to do.

As we do this we naturally move on to the small rocks. These are the smaller details of what God will be telling us is best. Additionally, as we study and ponder the word of God, we will find our conscience has much more to work with in imparting greater light and understanding, and in directing us in exerting greater and greater acts of faith in doing what is best. We are to be proactive self-starters, doing many things of our own free will and choice, searching deeper and deeper into the light of truth, and acting on that truth as we are directed by the voice of God within.

What I have described is the most effective way to funnel God’s intelligence from Him to us, for our blessing and improvement, for our greatest joy and happiness, and for His delight and glory!

As we apply these principles and actions in our lives, we will find that the laser light of truth, as applied by following the Still Small Voice of conscience, will cut through any chain, remove any and all bonds, and free us from ALL sins. There most definitely is hope! Any affliction you may be facing will be overcome and vanquished by following these principles. God will deliver you when and as you deliberately choose to follow Him in all things. This is God’s promise!

As we search into the light of truth, we need to be aware that the most prevalent obstacle we encounter in seeking greater light and truth is our innate resistance to punitive truth. Hence, one of the best things we can do is to deliberately seek punitive truth for our improvement.

Punitive Truth is that truth that conflicts with our perception of truth and perception of reality. It is the truth needed for realignment, correction, and repentance. Seeking punitive truth corrects our false beliefs. It is punitive; our ignorance punishes us when we reject it, ignore it, or remain ignorant of it.

In the absence of punitive truth, we cannot improve, which means we will continue to harm ourselves and everyone else. Willful ignorance of punitive truth is immoral and unethical and there will be consequences we will not like.

Almost nobody enjoys correction or particularly wants correction; but the reality is that appropriate correction by seeking and embracing punitive truth is what we need most for our increased joy and happiness. Punitive truth is detrimental for those who choose to ignore it; it is liberating and joyfully exalting for those who choose to embrace it.

Jesus Christ declared: “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”[6] The way of truth leads to the abundant life—abundant[7] because it is filled with truth and joy and goodness. As we come unto the Father, we will increase in goodness and joy.

It should come as no surprise that there are those who are not always interested in genuine truth or genuine virtue. There are many who simply do not seem to care about what God says is just and true or the most beneficial. They do not want to be measured, judged, or held accountable to a standard that conflicts with their desires, their ways of thinking and doing, or their plans. They do not want to be made aware of realities that appear to potentially undermine their fun, happiness, or sense of security. In short, they are afraid; but if they truly understood God, they would not be. They would be completely at peace in always following Him.

Most people do not want to be challenged to become better than they are. Nor do they want to be held to a standard that might challenge their sense of self-worth or hurt their feelings. They cry and whine about how “aren’t we ever good enough?” Or “why can’t I just do what I want to do?” In short, they want to do their own thing regardless of the negative consequences. It does not seem to matter to them that there is a better and more joyful way.

In seeking to do what is best, it is important to consider the natural effects of natural law, to include simple principles of cause and effect. We need to consider the natural consequences relating to our actions. We are dealing with natural laws here. Ultimately, one cannot cheat natural law.

It is ironic and sad how often we consider ourselves above the law, even natural law, and above the need for being considerate of others. We sometimes seem to think we can cheat the law and bypass the natural consequences of less-than-optimum choices or behavior. When we are in denial of law, we seek to become a law unto ourselves.  When we die without law, having not had regard for the laws of God, or natural law, or the higher good protected by law, we will find we cannot be justified or elevated by the laws we did not obey.

In the absence of respect for God’s law, the rule of man seems to some the next best thing. By the rule of man, there is no morality, no immorality, no real right and wrong; there is only the rule of men, exerting the threat of force to keep order; and many seem completely fine with this, as long as they still get to party hard, pulling sin, as it were, with a cart rope.[8]

The rule of law, in connection with the proper role of government for the protection of fundamental rights and liberties, will be discussed in detail in later chapters. All these issues and principles fit together within the eternal framework of God’s laws and cosmic processes. See Table of Contents.

Ultimately, there are two competing mentalities in the world and in the universe. The first includes proponents of objective, pragmatic, absolute, punitive, cohesive, and divine eternal truth; and the second includes proponents of cognitive, diluted, normative, complex, and subjective truth. The first category upholds and promotes the pragmatic truth, wisdom, virtue, and supreme sovereignty of God; the latter rejects it. In modern parlance, we might call these right-wing and left-wing philosophies, respectively.

There are two standards of truth. The first standard comes from God. The second standard comes from devils. These two standards are diametrically opposed.

The first standard advocates adherence to the truth of God as generally instituted by traditional Judeo-Christian values—religiously, politically, and behaviorally; while the second standard advocates a divorce from traditional Judeo-Christian values, to be replaced with political correctness, a new morality, Wokeness, and the rule of man.

Within biblical literature, the truth of God is characterized as light, and the doctrine of devils is characterized as darkness. Similarly, within biblical literature, we see the children of God notarized as children of the day, and children of the devil condemned as children of the night.

Within Christian traditions, goodness and truth always prevail because they are functional, beneficial, consistent, predictable, real, and have substance and power; while evil and delusion always ultimately decline and is vanquished because they are built on lies, illusion, fantasy, and a dysfunctional view of reality.

Furthermore, again and again, we read of how “the light penetrates the darkness, but the darkness comprehendeth it not.”[9] In other words, the intelligence, light, and truth of God penetrate and comprehends the deceptions, darkness, and doctrine of devils, but the devils are not able to penetrate and comprehend the intelligence, light, and truth of God. There are many reasons for this.

Perhaps the most fundamental reason is that creatures of darkness are not willing to believe, perform, obey, fulfill, or abide the requirements of the laws governing the acquisition of moral truth. Knowledge and understanding are always predicated on obedience to those laws upon which such blessings are predicated. There are certain things you cannot know and understand without first obeying the laws upon which the acquisition of that knowledge and understanding is predicated.

“There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated—And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.”[10]

The assimilation of light and truth is a function of honesty, obedience, and righteousness.

The loss of light and truth is a function of dishonesty, disobedience, and wickedness.

The wicked will suffer in a self-induced hell under a full consciousness of their own guilt until they are able to come to terms with God’s goodness and mercy. Guilt eventually compels honesty, and honesty eventually compels truth, even the truthfulness of God’s goodness and mercy. Or guilt can be ignored, resulting in one becoming desensitized to conscience and the dissipation of light and truth, which eventually leads to complete dissolution of being.

I am using a loaded vocabulary which will hopefully be made more and more clear by reviewing the previous, current, and succeeding chapters. Additionally, if what I am saying disagrees with your existing views, please keep reading and see if what I have to say in later chapters might not convince you of an expanded point of view.

For purposes of this discussion…

Wickedness is doing what you inwardly know or believe is morally wrong and will result in lesser value.

Righteousness is consistently doing what you inwardly know or believe is best and offers the best value.

Wickedness makes you irrational. It makes you irrational because it is self-serving, disregarding of others, morally corrupt, emotionally compromised, and overtly ignorant of pragmatic truth.

Righteousness makes you both rational and wise. It makes you rational and wise because it demands character traits and patterns of conformity with light and law that produce maximum value for you and for everyone.

Wickedness and righteousness are only religious if you are religious, but they apply to everyone.

As we quest for greater intelligence, we should look to the supreme source of all intelligence. As we give diligent heed to that eternal omnipotent being, even God, we increase in intelligence.

Intelligence is not really about being clever, witty, or academically learned; intelligence is about being led by the light and truth of God within you. This is not just a matter of moral intelligence; this is a matter of doing what is best according to the best good you can do.

Intellectuals virtue signal as being intellectual and morally superior; the righteous simply focus on doing what is best and what is right.

Intelligence is not intellectualism; it is a matter of discerning the best value and the best outcome and then acting accordingly.

Intelligence cleaveth to intelligence.[11] The more you act intelligently, the more intelligent you become. If you want to be truly intellectual, this is the best way to do it.

The best good you can do is always supremely intelligent and is always reachable and accessible. It is supremely intelligent because it is of God, even the voice of God within you.

This is all God asks of us. As we learn to do this, we will eventually find ourselves in compliance with all of God’s laws and we will eventually find ourselves reaching our maximum potential, both in time and in eternity. Reaching our maximum potential ultimately results in a fullness of joy! This is all God asks of us. This is what He wants us to receive.

The glory of God is intelligence.[12]

We glorify God by being intelligent.

We all have a moral obligation to be intelligent.

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[1] Doctrine and Covenants 93:36

[2] Doctrine and Covenants 93:29

[3] Doctrine and Covenants 130:19

[4] Exodus 20:1-17, Mosiah 13:12-24

[5] Matthew 5:43-44, 22:37-40, John 13:34-35,

[6] John 14:6

[7] “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” – John 10:10

[8] Isaiah 5:18

[9] John 1:5, Doctrine and Covenants 6:21, 10:58, 34:2, 39:2, 45:7, 88:49

[10] Doctrine and Covenants 130:20 – 21

[11] “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.” Doctrine and Covenants 88:40

[12] “The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth. Light and truth forsake that evil one.” – Doctrine and Covenants 93:36 – 37

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