to know personally

Neal A. Maxwell: But does not God know beforehand if we can endure? Yes, perfectly. But we need to know, firsthand, about our capacity. So much of a life well lived consists of coming to know what God knows already. Could our joy be complete if our personal triumph were not complete? Could we have the self-esteem necessary for the heavier--much heavier--duties to devolve upon us in that better world, if we did not know personally that we had passed the test and had fought the good fight?

(Book: "Wherefore Ye Must Press Forward," 1977, pp. 109-123)