The intellect is very important. God gave it to us and expects us to use it. We can take it with us when we die and the knowledge we gain in each stage of life will also go with us. However, the intellect is not the most important part of us, nor is it the source of absolute knowledge of truth.

While Joseph Smith was translating the Book of Mormon into English, a young man named Oliver Cowdery, who was interested in learning more, came to him. Soon after, he began to assist the prophet in the work. Joseph was not well-educated, and although he could translate through the gifts given to him by God, he used scribes to take down the words. Cowdery was one of these scribes. After a time, Oliver longed to try his own hand at translation. Joseph inquired of God, who gave permission for Oliver to try to translate a portion. However, Oliver was only able to translate a few words. When he wanted to know why he couldn’t do it, the Lord responded,

Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me.

“But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right.” (D&C 9:7-8.)

With this revelation, we learn the role of the intellect in making choices regarding spiritual things. Oliver was taught to study it out and then to turn to God for confirmation. This is the proper balance of intellect and faith. “The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth.” (Doctrine and Covenants 93:36)

It is a mistake to use only the intellect, science, and “facts” to make spiritual decisions. Even a brief study of the history of knowledge shows that worldly knowledge is constantly changing. At one time, we believed the sun revolved around the earth. Even in modern times, every day a study or discovery is completed that changes what we thought we knew to be true. Knowledge, as it is decided by mortals, is uncertain.

God’s truth, however, is unchanging. Truth is always truth, and no scientific study can ever change that. When we want to know what is really true, we must turn to God. First we study, and then we confirm our studies from the source of all truth.

This is what Joseph Smith himself discovered as a fourteen-year-old boy. He worked hard to study out the question he faced: Which church should I join? He visited church after church, attended revivals, listened to the sermons of various preachers, and read the Bible. He found, as he listened to the teachings of the preachers, that they contradicted one another. He was able to gather facts, but not truth, because each minister provided his own version of or interpretation of truth. Finally, while reading the Bible, he came across the solution to his question.

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. (James 1:5, King James version of the Bible)

This verse, written by the brother of the Savior, reassures us that if there is something we don’t know, wisdom we need, we can turn to God. He promises to respond. While ministers might have opinions on what is true, the only way to know which one was God’s choice was to ask God Himself. Joseph did, with spectacular results. While our results most likely won’t match his, we will always receive an answer.

Mormon missionaries and teachers are cautioned about teaching through the intellect, rather than through the spirit. Bruce R. McConkie taught:

If you teach the word of truth-now note, you’re saying what is true, every thing you say is accurate and right-by some other way than the Spirit, it is not of God. Now what is the other way to teach than by the Spirit? Well, obviously, it is by the power of the intellect.

“Suppose I came here tonight and delivered a great message on teaching, and I did it by the power of the intellect without any of the Spirit of God attending. Suppose that every word that I said was true, no error whatever, but it was an intellectual presentation. This revelation says: ‘If it be by some other way it is not of God’ (D&C 50:18).

“That is, God did not present the message through me because I used the power of the intellect instead of the power of the Spirit. Intellectual things-reason and logic-can do some good, and they can prepare the way, and they can get the mind ready to receive the Spirit under certain circumstances. But conversion comes and the truth sinks into the hearts of people only when it is taught by the power of the Spirit” (The Foolishness of Teaching [pamphlet, 1981], 9, quoted by Dallin H. Oaks in “Teaching and Learning by the Spirit,” Ensign, Mar 1997, 7 ).

Mormons learn that they can present facts and testimony, but only the Spirit can convert. When a Mormon missionary or teacher allows herself to be open to promptings of the spirit after careful preparation, her students will also be able to feel the spirit if they choose to do so, and will be converted or have their faith strengthened.

The question originally asked was how faith and reason work together. Reason can be interesting and even important, and it can be part of the research phase of any problem. Reason is often an entertaining intellectual exercise and many religious people enjoy learning facts or even “proof” of what they believe. Gaining knowledge, even secular knowledge, is encouraged, but only if it does not destroy faith. Applying reason to religion is fine if we use the reason wisely, and never lose sight of what God has told us through His Spirit.

The difference between faith and reason can be demonstrated this way: If the Savior was nearby and you said, “Oh, I know who that is. He was born to Mary in a stable. He became a missionary when he was an adult and now teaches about God” –that is a factual recitation. If you made a list of Jesus‘ miracles and other actions, and, after studying it, decided that given what you’d witnessed, He probably really was the Savior–that is reason. If you saw the Savior nearby and fell to your knees, that would be faith. While the facts of Jesus‘ life are interesting and helpful to know, it’s the faith that brought you to your knees that would bring eternal salvation. Faith is the most critical part of knowledge.