What is "Gnosis"

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT believe that the modern gnostics are "true messengers." Although there are very good people who follow the gnostic path (not to be mistaken with agnostics or agnosticism) and have found, in my estimation, a shocking amount of truth and wisdom, they hold many beliefs that I simply cannot reconcile with the truth as it has been revealed to us in modern (and ancient) times.

The primary problem that I see beyond their lack of authority-which of course is a problem of paramount proportions-is that although they believe in the godliness of Jesus Christ and regard him as a Master (and from what I've read, some adherents to gnosticism regard him as THE Master, the greatest expression of God to have ever come into the world or to have appeared in physical form), they do not understand the atonement. They do not comprehend or believe that it is only through Jesus Christ's sacrifice that we can attain the presence of the Father. In many respects, modern gnosticism is a sort of amalgamation of every great belief system with personal revelation or self-actualization as the core principal. The primary reason, however, I am so interested in reading about what they have to say is that I am fascinated by the fact that a person can come to attain so much knowledge simply through meditation and working within oneself. To me it is both a blessing and a curse that God has allowed man to be able to do this and, in some ways, I believe it is akin to tasting of the fruit of the tree of life and living forever but remaining in one's sins, although I don't mean that literally. What I mean is that, in my opinion, what many of these individuals have done is skip over the vital, fundamental touchstones of the Gospel of Jesus Christ which are the first ordinances and principles of the Gospel, namely FAITH, REPENTANCE, BAPTISM, and the GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST. Instead they dive headlong into the mysteries of God. This doesn't make them evil, but it simultaneously provides them with unspeakable experiential knowledge and a lack of the basic, vital components necessary to gain eternal life. In other words, they taste of some of the most exceedingly delicious spiritual truths and feelings but cannot go beyond them. Beyond that they are missing some of the plainest and most precious truths.

Many extremely experienced "meditators" describe ascending quite high into the higher dimensions of existence only to find a "places" which they find difficult to describe and which represent a sort of boundary beyond which they cannot traverse. There is only so far one can go in that route thus, in no uncertain terms, it represents a sort of dead-end or damned path. Once more, I emphasis that these paths are not evil, but limited. They indeed see far more than the average mortal may over see in his lifetime BUT they are still damned in the sense that they cannot proceed beyond that level because they have not yet obtained the knowledge and ordinances necessary to do so. These individuals can go beyond those boundaries, but it will be quite difficult because they will have to show extreme humility in order to accept those basic truths they believe they have superseded. Ironically they will wait, like all others who have not truly accepted the Savior, to be taught the true order or to reject it.

In the end, the primary focus of any true disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ is to obtain the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel, including baptism by immersion, the reception of the Holy Ghost, to be married eternally, and so forth. It is then our responsibility to continue in the path rendering service to our fellow beings, demonstrating charity, or compassion, and repenting of our sins until we reach the perfect day in which the Savior, through His Grace, "pulls us" to His presence which is, naturally, the presence of the Father as they are one and dwell in the highest degree of glory. There is nothing wrong with meditation and seeking the mysteries of God. As we follow the true path, taking things in the PROPER ORDER, we shall have the mysteries revealed unto us "line upon line, precept upon precept." The following is from "...Line Upon Line, Precept Upon Precept..." 2 Nephi 28:30 by Elder David A. Bednar:

This principle is described in 2 Nephi 28:30. Please turn with me to this verse in the Book of Mormon.

For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have. (Emphasis added)

Brothers and sisters, the theme for my message this afternoon is contained in the phrase

". . . line upon line, precept upon precept . . . ." If you and I would learn to discern the difference between our own emotions and the promptings of the Holy Ghost, then we must come to recognize the Lord's pattern and process for giving us spiritual knowledge. And the phrase ". . . line upon line, precept upon precept . . ." describes a central feature of the Lord's pattern."

With that said, I invite you to read what the modern gnostics have to say about their beliefs HERE if you're interested. Beware though, as I have already warned; although there is nothing inherently dangerous here, these ideas come from good men but men who have nevertheless missed the mark to a significant degree.

Finally, I leave you with the following excerpt from Elder Russell M. Nelson who briefly touches upon the term "gnosis" as it pertains to repentance. It reminds me that what brings us closest to God, and therefore his mysteries, is the principle or repentance. You can read the talk from which this excerpt has been taken HERE:

Broader Meaning of the Word Repent

The doctrine of repentance is much broader than a dictionary’s definition. When Jesus said “repent,” His disciples recorded that command in the Greek language with the verb metanoeo.24 This powerful word has great significance. In this word, the prefix meta means “change.”25 The suffix relates to four important Greek terms: nous, meaning “the mind”;26gnosis, meaning “knowledge”;27pneuma, meaning “spirit”;28 and pnoe, meaning “breath.”29

Thus, when Jesus said “repent,” He asked us to change—to change our mind, knowledge, and spirit—even our breath. A prophet explained that such a change in one’s breath is to breathe with grateful acknowledgment of Him who grants each breath. King Benjamin said, “If ye should serve him who has created you … and is preserving you from day to day, by lending you breath … from one moment to another—I say, if ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants.”30

Yes, the Lord has commanded us to repent, to change our ways, to come unto Him, and be more like Him.31 This requires a total change. Alma so taught his son: “Learn wisdom in thy youth,” he said. “Learn in thy youth to keep the commandments of God. … Let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever.”32

To repent fully is to convert completely to the Lord Jesus Christ and His holy work. Alma taught that concept when he posed these questions: “I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?”33 That change comes when we are “born again,” converted and focused upon our journey to the kingdom of God.34