Learning Truth through Pondering Jeremy Chugg / JDBlogger

Have you ever pondered about truth? Wondered at if we could ever know any truth at all? If you have thought about it then continue to do so. If not then here is an opportunity to think about it. We will think about Truth as a pillar, Truth in the relative, Truth as a tool, and learning of truth as using seeds and tools. Mosiah 27:14 Lord hath heard the prayers of his people, and also the prayers of his servant, Alma, who is thy father; for he has prayed with much faith concerning thee that thou mightest be brought to the knowledge of the truth. Just as Alma prayed for his son to be brought to the knowledge of truth; I pray today that we can be brought to truth!

Truth can be likened unto a pillar. A quote from Thomas Jefferson said “It is error alone which needs the support of government. Truth can stand by itself” (1). Truth stands firm and is absolute. When we learn truth we should be firm like unto the lamanites in Alma 24:19 “ And thus we see that, when these Lamanites were brought to believe and to know the truth, they were firm, and would suffer even unto death rather than commit sin; and thus we see that they buried their weapons of peace, or they buried the weapons of war, for peace”. Truth can stand and be firm just like a pillar and we should follow it.

Is this always the case with Truth that it is firm and strong like a pillar? We have been speaking about what has been called absolute truth. Now we can look at relative truth. First of all I don’t necessarily believe that relative truth is bad! Lots of useful items we have in this world have been made because of relative truth. When I went to Chemistry class they taught me all about relative truth. Maybe they didn’t call it relative truth but that’s what it was. People’s theories on how the world worked and when a new theory came along that explained it better; the new theory is regarded as truer than the last. It was kind of fun to think about the different models with atoms and how we went from plum pudding model to a orbital model and thus forth. I bring up relative truth only as a matter of it being not absolute truth. For example when in Alma 30:43 When” Korihor said unto Alma: If thou wilt show me a sign, that I may be convinced that there is a God, yea, show unto me that he hath power, and then will I be convinced of the truth of thy words” shows that we should not get caught up in proofs because scientific theories even change over time (besides that Korihor was lying from the beginning).

Truth can be a tool. I like ropes as tools, I’ve use them to tie stuff up or swing from or to hold things in place. These are all good things that ropes can be used for, However tools don’t always turn out the way we think they might. Abinadi who was a very firm pillar told King Noah and his priests in Alma 13:4 But I must fulfil the commandments wherewith God has commanded me; and because I have told you the truth ye are angry with me. And again, because I have spoken the word of God ye have judged me that I am mad. The ironic thing about this story is though Abinadi was tied with ropes and burned. He was freer than King Noah was when he was tied and burned. King Noah lost his kingdom, life, and probably salvation too. Physical ropes in this story told of tying people up. However if we look at the spiritual ropes we can see the truth that God let Abinadi’s testimony be sealed with blood and that the words left all came true.

Truth now relates to each of us. Think about learning the truth in patience or another attribute that you feel is weak and start a seed. Think about this attribute while you read Alma 32:28 “Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.” Learning truth starts small then to keep it in the right direction use the tools needed to keep it growing straight and tall. In this we become firm by the use of truth instead of being angry by it and causing our own downfall. Do all things in truth you will always be a pillar of truth in life.

May we all look forward for truth with open hearts! In Mosiah 23:10 Alma speaking to his people: Nevertheless, after much tribulation, the Lord did hear my cries, and did answer my prayers, and has made me an instrument in his hands in bringing so many of you to a knowledge of his truth. May we all bear testimonies of the truth we have found. God loves each of you and is willing to open truth to you, be open to this (Science changes as new evidences come along you should be open too). Pray and start as a little seed do as according to what you find. I know I need to all the time to learn and grow. Christ is our savior and redeemer and truth comes from him. I say these things in Christ’s humble name and hope you will ponder truth of these words yourself.

Jeremy Chugg.

(1) Thomas Jefferson; http://www.wisdomquotes.com/cat_truth.html.