Kalli,
This is my talk from January. Thought I would share it here with you. Love you lots!
This weekend I saw a couple of movies, both based on true stories, which really caused me to think about humanity again. There were parts of me that became very discouraged with how lost we can become, how cruel we can be to one another, how blind we can be to others needs, but mostly how much deception there is in the world. My feelings are reflected quite well in these thoughts by Pres. Uchtdorf, “It seems to be a trait of humanity to assume that we are right even when we are wrong. And if that is the case, what hope is there for any of us? Are we destined to drift aimlessly on an ocean of conflicting information, stranded on a raft we have poorly pieced together from our own biases? Is it possible to find truth?”
Fortunately, during these films, there were also parts of me that were encouraged and hopeful at seeing people who stand strong, who don’t waiver, at seeing kindness and love. People who stood alone looking like they were following or knowing only “wrong” for large portions or all their lives, when in reality they were the only ones following or knowing what was “right”. This begs the question, how do we find and know what is right or true when there are these oceans of conflicting information, as Pres. Uchtdorf calls them, and all those around us see/understand/believe something completely different?
There are many amazing and wonderful tools and supports our Heavenly Father has provided for us on this earth to help us, but I think one of the greatest is a way for us to sort through all this information and decipher right and wrong, truth and error. It is a simple pattern of actions that I’ll touch more on in a minute, which can be quite difficult to follow consistently. But will bring the Holy Ghost into our lives and as a result we will have the ability to know what is right and true, as well as the strength to stand for and follow it.
Elder Russell M. Nielson stated why it is so important for us to decipher what is right and true, “Just as buildings and institutions have foundations, so do we as individuals have foundations that support our faith. Some are weak; some are strong. We can waffle “like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed,” 30 or we can stand on a firm foundation and anchor ourselves with straps of spiritual steel, rooted and grounded to the timeless pillars of the gospel.” Knowing truth gives us a firm foundation! And it is through the gospel that we will find what is right and true so that we can build and strengthen our foundations.
Michaelene P. Grassli, former general Primary pres., while speaking to parents stated, “If our children know truth, they can recognize error. When (they) are familiar with truth, they can face opposing voices with confidence. When they make mistakes or have questions about doctrines as we all do, the feelings and memories of truth from their childhood can help draw them back.” Applies to us all!
From Elder Nielson again, “The foundation of this Church was forged long before the world was. It is strong. It is true. It is eternal. The foundation of one’s individual faith, if anchored firmly to eternal truth, allows each of us to reach upward with an eternal perspective. 43 That faith will give hope when there is no hope. It will give us joy here and eternal life hereafter.” To me there is a lot of comfort in this statement…gaining an eternal perspective…having hope when we see so much that tries to strip us of that…it gives joy…all great things!
But how do we know truth in order to build our own solid foundations?
In Moroni 10:4 it states, “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.”
Many of us are very familiar with this scripture and the pattern given us to find truth, but we are all in varying stages of learning and practicing this pattern.
Search: the word of God
Ponder
Ask: sincere heart, real intent, in the name of Christ
Act/live them/test them: Holy Ghost will manifest
Pres. Uchtdorf: “First, you must search the word of God. Then quoted Alma 32:27 “Even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you … that ye can give place for [the word of God].
“Second, you must consider, ponder, fearlessly strive to believe,8 and be grateful for how merciful the Lord has been to His children from the time of Adam to our day by providing prophets, seers, and revelators to lead His Church and help us find the way back to Him.
“Third, you must ask your Heavenly Father, in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, to manifest the truth … unto you. Ask with a sincere heart and with real intent, having faith in Christ.9
“There is also a fourth step, given to us by the Savior: “If any man will do [God’s] will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.”10 In other words, when you are trying to verify the truth of gospel principles, you must first live them. Put gospel doctrine and Church teachings to the test in your own life. Do it with real intent and enduring faith in God.”
Elder Didier also says this with, “Test divine revelation. Hear the voice of the Lord. It is real; it is personal; it is true. Reason does not and cannot replace revelation. Quoting President James E. Faust, “Do not let your private doubts separate you from the divine source of knowledge” In this same talk he has the tag line “hear and heed”. I love this because it captures the action we must all take in the truth seeking process.
Matthew O. Richardson, former Second Counselor in the Sunday School General Presidency “First, the Holy Ghost teaches individuals in a very personal way. This makes it possible for us to intimately know truth for ourselves. Because of our different needs, circumstances, and progression, the Holy Ghost teaches what we must know and do so we may become what we must be. Please note that while the Holy Ghost teaches “the truth of all things,”4 He does not teach all truth all at once. The Spirit teaches truth “line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little. Second, the Holy Ghost teaches by inviting, prompting, encouraging, and inspiring us to act. Christ assured us that we come to the truth when we live doctrine and act accordingly. John 7:17”
My take away from this is how individualized this process is for each one of us, and that it is a process. We can know truth intimately; we will learn line upon line in a manner that works for us.
Since I grew up in the church, I feel that I have known this pattern for a long time. But it is still challenging on many levels. Throughout my life I have asked, How do I really know? How it is manifest? Was that really the Spirit confirming truth or something else? It is wonderful that this is an individual process that will work for each one of us, but sometimes that is also difficult for me because how do we learn to gain understand when it is different from others? How do we learn how we receive these spiritual confirmations?
In answer to my questions, we must act, test it out, try different approaches in order to figure it out. It is so important and vital to each on of us that we learn how to recognize truth for ourselves.
Pres. Uchtdorf gives a few examples of what these manifestations of truth can look like “He will speak to them in dreams, visions, thoughts, and feelings. He will speak in a way that is unmistakable and that transcends human experience. He will give them divine direction and answers for their personal lives. You need to learn to listen to His voice.”
We do need to learn His voice! It is how we can have truth confirmed and build our relationship with Him.
Pres. Uchtdorf also said, “if you want to recognize spiritual truth, you have to use the right instruments. You can’t come to an understanding of spiritual truth with instruments that are unable to detect it.”
We have the tools of studying, pondering, prayer and action. Plus there can additional tools for each of individually that work.
Since this is an individual thing I can’t give exactly what it will feel like for each one of us when truth is revealed, but I can share my own experiences. They may be similar to your own, or quite different. A number of years ago I had a very poignant experience, but not for the reasons most would think of when considering this topic. After my fresman year in college I went on a travel study tour and as part of the trip we went to the Sacred Grove. I remember at the time being really excited and prayer to know the truth of a specific principle, which I don’t remember now. I was sort of expecting a big experience or grand gesture. It was a wonderful experience, but nothing grand. It was peaceful and beautiful. I can still hear the sounds of the birds and see the sun filtering through the trees. But there were no huge answers or confirmations. This experience helped me realize I receive truth through small experiences over time. I will feel peaceful, good, things will feel familiar, a moment of clarity, lack of confusion, or something will just stand out. It is through these small moments combined that I have a solid foundation of truth.
Once we have these experiences and confirmations it doesn’t man we are all set. There will still be moments when we waiver. Sister Grassli was talking about Moses’ experience when he was tempted by Satan and she said, “Moses knew this was not true, but Satan’s rantings had a terrifying effect on him. However, he did not let fear overtake him. He prayed again, received strength from God, and commanded Satan again to depart. Then with loud wailing, weeping, and gnashing of teeth, Satan finally departed (see Moses 1:20–22). Moses recognized error, he prayed continually for help, and he overcame fear. Thus he was able to defy Satan’s attempts to intimidate him.”
This is very comforting to me to know that a prophet of God sometimes has to call on the Lord in moments when he doesn’t feel as strong. We are not alone in needing all the support we can get and sometimes needing additional confirmations of truth.
Pres. Uchtdorf said “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a place for people with all kinds of testimonies. There are some members of the Church whose testimony is sure and burns brightly within them. Others are still striving to know for themselves. The Church is a home for all to come together, regardless of the depth or the height of our testimony. I know of no sign on the doors of our meetinghouses that says, “Your testimony must be this tall to enter.””
I love this! We are all at different stages and we are even at different stages at different times in our lives. Sometimes when we know one thing is true we have to go back to it later and work again to gain that confirmation.
“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32
Truth really does set us free to see and understand the bigger picture as well as to have more confidence in the Lord and the truths of the gospel.
One final thought from Pres. Uchtdorf “The process of gathering spiritual light is the quest of a lifetime.”
It does take a lifetime, and is a continual process. There are truths all around us and we need to look for them and acknowledge them. I don’t know when or why I started this, but whenever I hear truth and can identify it as such I say it out loud. I feel like it is one thing to recognize the truth, but saying it then confirms it again and is very helpful to me.
We can find truth, we just need to seek it out and learn how we gain that confirmation so we know the pattern in our life.
I know that our Heavenly Father and Savior want us to find truth and will help us if we only ask. Although it is very difficult at times and I’ve often joked about having flashing red signs to point me in the right direction, I’m grateful for the opportunity to find out for myself and to have the choice to believe in truths or not.
I know my Savior lives and loves me. I know the Atonement is real and is there for me, as well as for everyone. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen
Love you Kalli!!!
Ashlee and Us
Dear Kalli ... Love, US 