Suppose you are a warrior. Your success in battle depends upon the skill with which you wield your weapons. If you don’t even know what weapons you have, how can you fight effectively? Having weapons does no good, even if you know about them, if you have not practiced using them. You will not win battles you otherwise would have won if you don’t know what weapons you have and don’t practice using them.
There are only two things that control your rate of acquisition of truth. First is obedience to what you already know. The second, explored in this chapter, is the effort you invest in finding more:
18 Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection.
19 And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come. (D&C 130)
God has appointed that truth should only be imparted according to one’s heed and diligence:
And now Alma began to expound these things unto him, saying: It is given unto many to know the mysteries of God; nevertheless they are laid under a strict command that they shall not impart only according to the portion of his word which he doth grant unto the children of men, according to the heed and diligence which they give unto him. (Alma 12:9)
The more heed and diligence you exercise, the more truth you will obtain. Obedience is discussed in several chapters in Part 1. Part 2 will provide you with tools to understand and increase your diligence.