It seems that we feel like we're spiritually mature once we're learning mysteries from God. And I'd agree, except, I sometimes hear proposed mysteries that do not honour the true nature of God.
Milk before Meat
I think often of this verse:
D&C 19
21 And I command you that you preach naught but repentance, and show not these things unto the world until it is wisdom in me.22 For they cannot bear meat now, but milk they must receive; wherefore, they must not know these things, lest they perish.
23 Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me.
62 Yea, and I will also bring to light my gospel which was ministered unto them, and, behold, they shall not deny that which you have received, but they shall build it up, and shall bring to light the true points of my doctrine, yea, and the only doctrine which is in me.
I believe this is saying the milk is the Way to Christ doctrine. It's the essential first step, and best start. Within this doctrine, we receive His spirit, and come to know His will, voice, nature, and word. These will help us to properly discern mysteries (meat) as they come.
I'm decades past my diet of milk in my life, so spiritually I'd expected to be past the milk and into the meat, but right now I'm feeling very nourished by the milk! I see a real need to stay here for a time. This website and the Way to Christ scripture project are for the purpose of feasting on this milk.
I think it's also significant that we see in this passage the necessity of knowing "the true points of my doctrine, yea, and the only doctrine which is in me." Whatever we learn will honour the doctrine. We need this super nourishing milk. It's our foundation!
My concern: I wonder how many LDS have really been nourished by this milk? What are we partaking of when we have a gospel that has been added-to, taken-from, changed, perverted and transfigured? I'm not really sure what to call it, but it's NOT milk, right? We really do need this milk first!
The essential Firm Foundation
I had an experience a few years ago, listening to a woman excitedly share her understanding of the mysteries; but she had no idea how much her theological ideas dishonoured Christ's doctrine. As her LDS tradition taught her, she believed pieces of the Doctrine of Christ, and filled in the gaps with mysteries. My careful suggestion was that she go back to the re-examining the doctrine of Christ. For her, this felt backwards to go back to the beginning, since she felt she was WAY beyond the very basic principles of the doctrine.
It's REALLY hard to convince someone they need milk when they're digging into mysteries. But if you're not actually ready for meat, is it even able to be the nourishment it's meant to be? Going back to the beginning might be exactly what we need to properly move forward.
I think of the Jews who looked beyond the mark for things they could not understand, isn't this what we're doing when we want meat before we've really been nourished by the milk? Even if you happen upon a true mystery, could you even understand it without the foundation understanding of God first?
Jacob 4
14 But behold, the Jews were a stiffnecked people; and they despised the words of plainness, and killed the prophets, and sought for things that they could not understand. Wherefore, because of their blindness, which blindness came by looking beyond the mark, they must needs fall; for God hath taken away his plainness from them, and delivered unto them many things which they cannot understand, because they desired it. And because they desired it God hath done it, that they may stumble.15 And now I, Jacob, am led on by the Spirit unto prophesying; for I perceive by the workings of the Spirit which is in me, that by the stumbling of the Jews they will reject the stone upon which they might build and have safe foundation.
Acquiring an appetite for meat when we haven't been sufficiently nourished with milk seems to cause harm; even perishing is possible! (see D&C 22 above) How could my friend properly understand a mystery if she doesn't first understand God and His plan?
We also have a perfect example within our own LDS beliefs. We've been convinced that sometimes God commands polygamy, and I believed it for a long time,... but it was feasting on the milk, coming to understand the nature of God and His voice that helped me see God has not authored the bad ideas in section 132. (Here is some great content on the nature of God, and how He condemns polygamy.)
When I believed the false mystery, before sufficient nourishment by the milk, I was able to be fooled, but nourishment by the milk made it obvious, section 132 could not be milk, nor meat.
The Great Mystery
So I had a really good laugh reading this, this week:
D&C 10
63 And this I do that I may establish my gospel, that there may not be so much contention; yea, Satan doth stir up the hearts of the people to contention concerning the points of my doctrine; and in these things they do err, for they do wrest the scriptures and do not understand them.64 Therefore, I will unfold unto them this great mystery;
...
(Hold on friends, we're about to hear a great mystery!)
65 For, behold, I will gather them as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, if they will not harden their hearts;
66 Yea, if they will come, they may, and partake of the waters of life freely.
67 Behold, this is my doctrine—whosoever repenteth and cometh unto me, the same is my church.
68 Whosoever declareth more or less than this, the same is not of me, but is against me; therefore he is not of my church.
69 And now, behold, whosoever is of my church, and endureth of my church to the end, him will I establish upon my rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them.
70 And now, remember the words of him who is the life and light of the world, your Redeemer, your Lord and your God. Amen.
Do you see the tease in the scripture above? "I'll show you the great mystery! I will bring My people in, through the Doctrine of Christ. The mystery is that you need the milk! You need to come unto me through My doctrine. Receive My spirit, live by My word, be sanctified in Me. You're not past that step yet! The real mystery is that you're not ready for the meat!"
Maybe that's all the mystery we need for now. I'm finding time with the milk is still the perfect feast for me. I keep learning more about the goodness of our God, and it feels like cup-runneth-over nourishment! I'm frequently in awe of our God! My love for Him is growing. I'm often so moved by His plan, I need to pause and praise Him. Bonding, trust, love and admiration are all developing right now.
This understanding of His nature has made scripture new all over again. Time with the milk is enriching my scripture study. I'm understanding more about God's plan and what it looks like to live as a branch to the vine. This milk is nourishing and delightful.
It's never backwards to go back to the beginning, if that's the foundational nourishment you need first.
I suppose next would be to talk about what these mysteries are. Sometimes they're as simple as the individual instruction that comes through the spirit. Sometimes they'll be truths that have been hidden from the world. Maybe another post will be in order at some time. But for now, milk is enough!