Part II

This blog post is actually part II to last week's post which was about the truth and consistency of the Gospel. Yes, the Gospel is established upon fundamental truths, but there comes a time when the answers to our questions lie beyond the scope of human intellect and it is then that we must rely on our faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Here in our mortal probation our knowledge is limited because at birth we passed through the veil. In a general conference address called "The Race of Life" President Thomas S Monson said, "How grateful we should be that a wise Creator fashioned an earth and placed us here, with a veil of forgetfulness of our previous existence so that we might experience a time of testing, an opportunity to prove ourselves in order to qualify for all that God has prepared for us to receive."  

In his book called, "Reflections of a Scientist" Henry Eyring warns us that, "You can't intellectualize your way to a testimony." As we exercise humility and submit to the will of our Heavenly Father we can develop faith in the things which we cannot see. Joseph B. Worthlin once said, "Pride rears its ugly head in so many ways that are destructive. For example, intellectual pride is very prevalent in our day. Some people exalt themselves above God and His annointed servants because of their learning and scholarly achievements. We must never allow our intellect to take priority over our spirit. Our intellect can feed our spirit and our spirit can feed our intellect, but if we allow our intellect to take precedence over our spirit, we will stumble, find fault, and may even lose our testimonies." 

2 Nephi 9:42-43 says, "And whoso knocketh, to him he will open; and the wise, and the learned, and they that are rich, and who are puffed up because of their learning, and their wisdom, and their riches - yea, they are they whom he despiseth; and save they shall cast these things away, and consider themselves fools before God, and come down in the depths of humility, he will not open unto them. But the things of the wise and the prudent shall be hid from them forever - yea, that happiness which is prepared for the saints." The existence of a God cannot be proven by the scientific method or any intellectual means, but rather we can come to a knowledge of the reality of God and his divine plan of salvation through humble prayer and study. While it is important to seek after and study the truths of the gospel it is also necessary to seek them with the attitude of humility so we can be taught by the Holy Spirit which reveals the truth of all things to men; Truths which cannot be found any other way.

Truth

Last week I finished up a book called, "Faith of a Scientist" by Henry Eyring. It was a delightful read that got me to thinking. As Henry Eyring left home to begin his studies at the University of Arizona his father told him, "In this church you don't have to believe anything that isn't true. You go over to the U of A and learn everything you can, and whatever is true is a part of the gospel." In D&C 84:45-47 we read, "For the word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ. And the spirit giveth light to every man that cometh into the world; ... And every one that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit cometh unto God, even the Father." 

Every truth leads man to God. Geologists find truth in rocks, historians find truth in ancient manuscripts, and the astronomer finds truth in the depths of space. Henry Eyring said, "The wise man searches all these and other sources knowing that all are communications from the same divine source and certain that, if followed far enough, all will guide him back to the divine Presence." 

Because the principles of the Gospel are rooted in fundamental truths, they do not change. Mormon 9:9 says, "For do we not read that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and in him there is no variableness neither shadow of changing?" It is very comforting to know that in this world of change that the church is constant. 

In science, these universal truths, these consistencies, are called laws. D&C 130:20-21 says, "There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world upon which all blessings are predicated - And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated." In the scriptures the Lord gives us many laws which are accompanied by a promised blessing. I know that when I faithfully pay my tithing I will always be blessed with enough money. I know that when I obey the Word of Wisdom I will be blessed with good health. I know that strict obedience to the commandments will help me achieve the greatest promise of eternal life (D&C 59:23).

D&C 50:24 says, "That which is of God is light and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day." I know that this gospel is a continual learning process.We learn every truth line upon line, precept upon precept. And though our knowledge of the mysteries of the universe are always expanding, the fundamental truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ never change.