Everyone knows a baby doesn’t run without learning to walk first. You can’t do algebra unless you know basic math (and even then it might be hard). The same is true with gospel learning—before you are baptized, for example, you first need to develop faith in Jesus Christ.
That’s why the Lord reveals things to us “line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little” (2 Nephi 28:30).1 As Paul put it in his letter to the members of the Church in Corinth, “I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 3:2).
Paul is actually a little disappointed here. He thought they were ready for spiritual “meat,” only to discover they were still worrying about immature things, like whether it’s better to have been taught the gospel by Paul or Apollos or some other missionary (see 1 Corinthians 3:3–7).
Now, obviously (to us), this doesn’t matter. It’s the Holy Ghost that converts people, not the missionary. They aren’t “Paul’s converts” or “Apollo’s converts”—they’re God’s. But when Paul saw that the Corinthians were focusing on things like this, he realized they were missing the point. They needed more spiritual “milk” to build up their strength.
We’re not that different. Have you noticed how often basic principles like “read the scriptures,” “forgive one another,” and “pray daily” are repeated in Church messages? It’s good to learn everything we can about the gospel, but not if we stop remembering—and living—the basics.
Back to the Basics
NOTES
This is part of a weekly series about “Come, Follow Me” readings. Here’s a link to the full lesson.
1. See also Isaiah 28:10.