We Don't Put Off Childish Things All At Once
1 Corinthians 13:11-12
“When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”
At the end of 1 Corinthians 13 Paul talks about our limited perspective. We are human and mortal. Because of that we do not have a full or a perfect perspective like that of the Lord. He first compares us to being children. When we were young we all "understood as a child," but as we grew and gain perspective our knowledge and wisdom grew and we "put off childish things." We learned to see the world, and people, and the even the gospel in more complex ways, and if we are moving in the right direction, in a more "perfect" way. We learn to see though Jesus and follow Him. Just as we do not become an adult all at once, this growth in spirit is a life long process. There is not some date certain when you are no longer a child, you grow and learn all your life.
I was thinking of this and Paul's following verse as I read Tracy Y. Browning’s talk from the October 2022 General Conference. She talked about the fact that she needs her glasses to see. Without them the world is blurry and she cannot make out what is in front of her. She compared her daily routine of putting on her classes immediately as she wakes up to her routine of daily prayer and scripture study. She also compared it to her taking the ordinance of the sacrament and attending the temple regularly as her way to see spiritually. These routines and patterns help her grow closer to the Lord, grow her understanding and wisdom of what he would have her do, as well as provide peace and comfort in hard times.
Paul says in verse 12, "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." Just like the example he used in the previous verse, this does not happen all at once. We do not need to (and should not) wait for the final day of judgement or resurrection to increase our knowledge and to perfect our perspective. This is a process, and the Lord is there to lead us along. The Heavens are not closed, and God is not silent. He is the same today, yesterday, and forever. We can clear our "glass" with daily steps and keeping that daily progress throughout our lives.
Tracy Y. Browning reminds us that "as covenant children of God, we have been uniquely blessed with a rich supply of divinely appointed tools to improve our spiritual vision." Creating daily and regular routines with these tools will help us gain clarity, focus, understanding, and guidance as we Follow Jesus.
The words and teaching of Jesus as recorded in scripture
The words and teachings of Jesus from messages from his chosen prophets
His spirit we receive through daily prayer
Regular worshiping together, and taking the ordinance of the sacrament
Regular temple attendance
Small, simple daily steps.
Alma 37:6
“Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise."
