Latter-day Saint scriptures make reference to “seeing the Lord’s face and knowing that he is” (Doctrine & Covenants 67:10; 76:117–18; 88:49–50; 88:68). This privilege is promised to those that “forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth [the Lord’s] commandments” (Doctrine & Covenants 93:1).

Of course, the Savior and His emissaries do not limit their ministry to the pure. The scriptures record many instances, including those of the Apostle Paul as well as Alma and the four sons of Mosiah, where the Savior or His emissaries ministered to the profoundly wicked. Even Alma and the four sons of Mosiah, called “the vilest of sinners,” were promised eternal life (Mosiah 28:4). The Lord probably limits who he shows himself to since we know that with greater light comes greater condemnation (Luke 12:47–48; 2 Nephi 9:27; Doctrine & Covenants 82:3) and the Lord probably wishes for us to be able to make as free of a decision as possible to choose Him and follow Him (2 Nephi 2:27–28).

In Spanish and many other languages, there are multiple words for “know.” In Spanish, there is the verb saber which denotes knowing facts and having other abstract knowledge. There is also the verb conocer which denotes having experiential knowledge and acquaintance with someone or something. These scriptures ask us to contemplate the joy and wonder of coming to conocer the Savior as well as the ways we may come to better conocer the Savior.