I write this blog because I want you to know what is important to me. I am going to say, “I know” and so I want to talk about how one decides what is true, what one knows. For me there are five main methods of determining truth: the scientific method (science), witness testimony (law), experience (personal), inspiration (faith), and rational thinking (philosophy), Truth is a correct understanding of things as they really are, as they were, and as they are to come.
a. Use of the scientific method. I
have tested the principles of the gospel and found that living these principles
results in greater happiness and productivity and not living them reduces
happiness and productivity. What is interesting is that social scientists (many
of whom are not religious) have also demonstrated these same connections in
hundreds of studies involving tens of thousands of humans from all over the
world.
b. Eyewitness testimony. We have
many witnesses throughout the ages who have seen God, who have seen the
resurrected Savior, Jesus Christ, who have given testimony of their reality.
Here are some examples of such witnesses Adam, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaiah,
Jeremiah, Peter, James, John, Paul, Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdrey, Sydney
Rigdon, Joseph F. Smith, and others. Witnesses. In every culture of which I am
acquainted, there are individuals who claim to have been inspired by God or
taught universal principles of good behavior such as kindness, honesty, and
love. The Buddha, Mahatma Ghandi, Confucius, and Socrates. Examples
of additional individuals who claimed to be inspired by God include Mohammed, Origen
of Alexandria, Saint Augustine of Hippo, Joan of Arc, Saint Thomas Aquinas, Teresa
of Åvila, John Wycliffe, Julian of Norwich, and Emanuel Swedenborg. While there
are differences in the beliefs of these “witnesses,” there are also many
commonalities.
c. Experience. I have now lived
more than 80 years. I have talked with thousands of individuals and have talked
with hundreds of people at great length. I have seen the consequences in the
lives of those who try and live gospel principles and those who don’t. I have personally
experienced God’s dealing with humanity. I have seen life given back to
individuals instantly through Priesthood blessings. I have seen healings. I
have also seen the devastation in the lives of those who brake basic laws of
God and man. Christ said, “Ye shall know them by their fruits” (Matthew
7:16-20). Active church participation has been found to be positively related
to subjective well-being (happiness), good mental health, quality of life, and
a protective factor against suicide. Religious participation has been found
give meaning and purpose to life and strengthens one’s social support system.
Religious groups provide worldwide humanitarian aid.
d. Inspiration. I have personally
tested the challenge of Moroni regarding the truthfulness of the Book of
Mormon. “And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye
would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are
not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having
faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the
Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all
things.” (Moroni 10:4-5) I know the Book of Mormon contains the word of God and
is a true record of some of God’s dealings with His children on the American
continent. What’s more, I have personally talked with thousands of individuals
who have tested Moroni’s promise and found it to be true.
e. Rational thinking. I know of no
other philosophy, religion, or perspective that can answer questions clearly and
simply such as: Where did I come from? Why am I here? What happens after death?
How can I overcome mistakes? How can everyone who has ever lived upon the earth
have equal opportunities hereafter? The gospel of Jesus Christ as taught in the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only coherent system of
thinking that gives clear answers to these questions. Many other philosophies
and religions have some truths and are beneficial to humankind.
2.
Doubtful
sources truth.
a. When a person or group has
something to gain from a particular perspective (money, fame, power). We see
many examples of this especially in politics, the arts, and business.
b. When a person has an axe to
grind. Anger, hatred, and revenge drive much of what is “evil” in our present
world.
c. When there are clear
contradictions within the system. For example, in science the theory of natural
selection and the second law of thermodynamics. Or chaos theory itself.
d. The idea that if something has
lots of hits on the internet or lots of likes on social media, then that
becomes the basis for what is good or acceptable. Popularity changes with the
wind. Fads come and go. Such ideas are unstable by their very nature.
e. Just as I believe in God, I also
believe in the devil. Just as God is real, the devil is real, and the devil tries
to persuade us to believe in things and do things that result in misery and
unhappiness.
3.
The
what, when, how, and why questions are all important. For example, Gods’
creation of the earth described in the scriptures deals with what, and why the
earth was created, but not with when or the how. Many aspects of evolution may
be helpful in understanding “how,” but offers little regarding “why.”
4.
I
believe this life is a test to see if we can live by faith, love God, love one
another, live peaceably with one another, and help each other through the
challenges that come. The purpose is our personal growth and development of
Christlike characteristics. For me, this life is act two in a three-act play.
We lived before this life, and we will all live after this life. We all choose
the quality of our life hereafter by the choices we make in this life.
5.
Worldwide,
the majority of the inhabitants of this earth believe in God or a higher power.
65.4% of Nobel laureates are Christians (Baruch Shalev, 2000). 11% claim to be
atheists (johnlennox.org). Worldwide, 51% of scientists indicate they believe
in God or a higher power and 7% say they are atheists. 83% of Americans say
they believe in God, another 12% say they don’t believe in God but do believe
in a higher power, and 4% don’t believe in either (Pew Research Center, 2009).
6.
We
do not have to walk through this life alone. Family can provide a wonderful
source of support and strength. God loves us, his children, and is willing to
help us if we will reach out to Him. Prayer is a major means of communicating
with God. He will answer our prayers according to His greater knowledge and not
always according to our wishes. He often does not take challenges away but
rather gives us strength to deal with them or endure them. God the Father has
provided a Savior, His Son, Jesus Christ, who has paid for all our sins and
mistakes as we repent, that is change, to live in harmony with the immutable
laws of God and nature. God has established His Church upon the earth, The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The purposes of the Church are to
help us to grow and develop in Christ-like characteristics through covenants
and ordinances and opportunities to serve one another. Covenants are promises
between man and God. Keeping the covenants binds us closer to God and allows us
to receive blessings we might not otherwise receive. Ordinances are one
important means in which covenants are made available to us. Even social
scientists know that making public commitments increases the probability that
we will keep the commitment.