In the early 1900's a young man was requesting entrance into the prestigious University of Oxford. In order to be accepted into the college a student was required to take a written exam. If a student received high enough marks on the exam they were accepted, those with marginal exam marks were invited to appear before a board for an oral examination.

One question of particular interest was prepared by the mathematics department.

It read as follows: "Given a thermometer determine the height of the southwest corner of the Oxford University Museum of History."

The young student responded with the following answer "In an effort to gain admittance into this fine institution I will provide the answer that you are looking for while it appears to this individual that it might not be the most accurate. Given the fact that we are in the position of the southwest corner of the building I suppose that you would expect me to use the sun for the calculation. The answer then that you are looking for is thus: Take the height of a given (the thermometer measure it's height and the length of the shadow that it casts. Then measure the length of the shadow that the building is casting at the same time and you will have the height of the building. Divide by the length of the shadow cast from the building by the length of the shadow cast by the thermometer and then multiply the result by the height of the given (the thermometer). The result will be the answer that you are looking for however it will not be as accurate as the other answers that are available using the thermometer.

As the examination board met to review the examinations prepared by those requesting admittance, they were extremely interested in what the young lad was going to list as other possible answers to the question that they had posed.

The board decided that even though the student had received one of the highest scores on the exam as a whole, he still should be subjected to the oral examination. Curiosity had gotten the best of them, especially in light of the high score. They wanted to know what he suggested as the other possible "Better" answers.

Well the day came and the young man was invited to appear before the board. The only question that was asked of the young man was what are the other more correct answers. To which he replied 1) you could climb to the top of the building in the southwest corner and tie a string to the thermometer and lower it down until it touched the ground. Then measure the length of the string. This would be more accurate than the calculation. 2) Perhaps the easiest method would be to find the janitor, engineer or architect and tell them that you will give them the thermometer if they will tell you the height of the building.

Needless to say the young man was admitted to University of Oxford.

Despite his youth the young student taught a remarkable truth to his soon to be professors. That is Ð sometimes the best possible answer is simple and is derived right from the source.

Our Heavenly Father has provided a similar plan as well, a plan that enables us to be like him. To live with him and to do the things that he does. When we talk about the nature and kind of being that God is - we start from the basic proposition that it is life eternal to know him.

John 17: 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

The truth about our Fathers plan is that we can only come to know him thru revelation. He cannot be discovered in test tubes found in the research laboratory, his nature cannot be discover in the computer science department even with the best algorithm's know to man, his attributes and personalities are not mapped or calculated in the schools of design or architecture, God either stands revealed to us or he remains forever unknown.

Joseph Smith once said "God will not reveal anything to Joseph That he will not reveal unto the Twelve, and to the least and last saint as soon as he is able to bear it."

Within the scriptures we find the symbolic relationship between the scriptures and food.

Alma 32: 42 42 And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst.

Notice how this scripture makes reference to both nourishment and feasting. Nourishment and feasting denote two very different processes in which one can employ, both when viewed in a natural sense can be of utmost importance. For without constant nourishment we die, interesting that the Lord chose those exact words Ð one can suppose that a similuar fate awaits those who are not nourished by the word.

We might ask ourselves what significance does the word nourishment have in relationship to studying the scriptures?

Nourishment is not a task that can be preformed once and then forgotten Ð it must be done in dilligence, it is a consistent requirement Ð we must nourish ourselves daily. It is by nourishment we come to understand who we are, our grand destiny, why we are here, our purpose, our relationship with God, the atonement of his son, the love of God. It is thru nourishment that we get those small promptings that guide us to reach our potential,

The second reference irelates to the principle of feasting That which is partaken of, or shared in, with delight; something highly agreeable; To eat sumptuously; to dine on rich provisions, To delight; to gratify; as, to feast the soul.

When one comes from a feast one has committed himself by spending a great amount of time. A feast is more than sustaining of life - it is a form of rich fulfillment. Those who return from a feast are generally full, and in a gospel sense the rewards of feasting on the word include visions, revelations and deeper understanding Ð above that of the casual.

Thomas Troward once said "The law of floatation was not discovered by contemplating the sinking of things - but by the contemplating the floating of things which floated naturally, and then intelligently asking why they did so."

Not only is it important that we spend time each day nourishing our souls, and providing the sustaining nutriments that enable spiritual growth. It's also important to feast often, for it is in the feast that we become full - it is in the feast that we gain greater understanding, that we come to know him, and who he is.

It is not by coincidence that the Lord chose the word "search" when he said:

John 5: 39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

And without our knowledge of him, and his great atoning sacrifice, that he is the creator of the heavens and the earth, we would not be able to accomplish the measure of our creation.

The chapter summary for 2 Nephi chapter 32 reads "Men must... gain knowledge for themselves from the Holy Ghost."

In 2 Nephi 32: starting in verse 1 We read

1 AND now, behold, my beloved brethren, I suppose that ye ponder [reflect deeply on a subject, to spend time contemplating] somewhat in your hearts concerning that which ye should do after ye have entered in by the way. But, behold, why do ye ponder these things in your hearts?

2 Do ye not remember that I said unto you that after ye had received the Holy Ghost ye could speak with the tongue of angels? And now, how could ye speak with the tongue of angels save it were by the Holy Ghost?

3 Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they [Angels and those who speak by the power of the Holy Ghost] speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; [We discoved earlier that when one comes from a feast he has committed himself by spending a great amount of time, he has enjoyed more than just a casual meal. Now for the reward of the feast Ð because he is full he is ready for more.] for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do. [Lecture on Faith 3

2 Let us here observe, that three things are necessary, in order that any rational and intelligent being may exercise faith in God, unto life and salvation:

3 First, the idea that he [God] actually exists.

4 Second, a correct idea of his Gods character, perfections and attributes.

5 Third, an actual knowledge that the course of life which he is pursuing, is according to his [God's] will. For without an acquaintance with these three important facts, the faith of every rational being must be imperfect and unproductive, but with this understanding, it can become perfect and fruitful, abounding in righteousness unto the praise and glory of God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.]

4 Wherefore, now after I [Nephi] have spoken these words, if ye cannot understand them it will be because ye ask not, [Notice how sure Nephi is about this Ð He says so to speak that the "Burden is on us" we must ask] neither do ye knock; [ in otherwords - we must make an effort on our part. There's a fundamental law given - the Lord will force no man to heaven] wherefore, ye are not brought into the light, [We do not get the rewards of the feast, we missed out on the greater understanding and the additional peace that we could have.] but must perish [to pass away; to become nothing; to be lost; To be destroyed;] in the dark. [an unenlightened state; absence of light or illumination; absence of moral or spiritual values;]

5 For behold, again I say unto you that if ye will enter in by the way, [Accept the Gospel, exercise the faith to repent of our sins and be baptized] and receive the Holy Ghost, [both by confirmation and by constantly nourishing the spirit by reading the scriptures and obeying the commandments, Joseph Smith taught "No man can receive the Holy Ghost without receiving revelations" teaching 325] it [revelation, received by the power of the Holy Ghost] will show unto you all things what ye should do. [I will submit to you that never has any generation of time needed to know their purpose more than we do. Never has it been more important to study the scriptures, to understand them, to feast on the words. We speak often of his coming again in the flesh, we are given the opportunity to be living during that period which all the faithful saints of old have looked forward too. It a blessing for us to live in this time, but ithat blessing come with some very sacred responsibilities. We were chosen to be here now Ð to prepare the world for his return. He has provided the details of the plan, of our responsibilities. How can we expect to fulfill our responsibilities if we do not know what they are?]

It is from the study of the scriptures that we open wide the door to the discovery of testimony, to personal revelation and understanding that he actually exists, the scriptures describe his character and attributes. It is only from constant labor within the sacred pages of text that we learn the details of what he expects of us both as a people and as individuals.

It is only logical that we cannot begin to fulfill our destiny if we do not know who we are and what our destiny is. We are given this charge that "Now is the time that we must gain for ourselves the knowledge that the course of life which we are pursuing, is according to God's will. "

A wise man once said: "Measure not life by the hopes and enjoyments of this world, but by the preparation that it makes for another. Looking forward to what you shall be rather than looking backwards to what you have been.

That we may do so is my prayer