In preparation for the talks we will be giving in Church next week, Elizabeth and I had a discussion last night over dinner. She asked me about Elder Hallstrom’s remarks in April 2012 General Conference. On strengthening the role of the Gospel and the Church in our personal discipleship, Elder Hallstrom stated,

“A sustained knowledge of and love for the three members of the Godhead are indispensable. Mindfully pray to the Father, in the name of the Son, and seek direction from the Holy Ghost,” (emphasis added; “Converted to His Gospel through His Church”, Donald L. Hallstrom).

Elizabeth and I discussed the use of the word indispensable. As Elizabeth and I discussed, we realized a couple of things.

First, we considered how hard it is to have a relationship when one person in that relationship has a completely erred concept of the other person’s identity and key attributes. Imagine a first date scenario where the boy mistakenly thinks that his date is seven months pregnant and continues to operate on that assumption even though she’s not. What hope is there for this potential relationship to go anywhere unless he corrects his perception? When we fundamentally get wrong key aspects of our relationship with God the Father and Jesus Christ, we’re limited in our ability to interact and connect with them until that perception is corrected.  For example we might,

• Misunderstand God’s intent and purpose, leading us to question him: ‘Why would God let this happen?’
• Mistake the consequences of sin as God passing judgement on us and we assume we’re a hopeless case.
• Fail to understand that God’s grace and mercy does not mean that we can sin now and repent later.

Without truly understanding who God is and what His key attributes are, there are many ways we might be deceived. Further, if we fundamentally misunderstand who he really is, how do we know how to please him? How can we properly understand what is important to him?

Second, and closely associated with above, to fail to understand God and Jesus Christ, we fail to understand ourselves and our potential as God’s sons and daughters. Elder Dallin H. Oaks taught,

the Final Judgment is not just an evaluation of a sum total of good and evil acts—what we have done. It is an acknowledgment of the final effect of our acts and thoughts—what we have become. It is not enough for anyone just to go through the motions. The commandments, ordinances, and covenants of the gospel are not a list of deposits required to be made in some heavenly account. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a plan that shows us how to become what our Heavenly Father desires us to become,” (“The Challenge to Become”, October 2000 General Conference).

Without fully understanding our divine potential and God’s purposes in giving us commandments, ordinances and covenants, it’s possible to do and say those things that seem to be right in the sight of God by still have our hearts far from him.