I have been contemplating many things lately. One of them, which keeps popping into my head is the dilemma we are dealing with in our country...in fact in all of the world... right now, on the subject of TRUTH. There are so many voices out there. Some of them shouting! Some of them very calmly proclaiming their own version of their own truth. Some of them preaching truth. Some of them sneering that their version on truth is the ONLY TRUTH. What is one to do?
With all of this noise and confusion all around me, I am reminded of a story that has been told in my Church, TheChurch of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, of a young boy who heard confusing voices all around him in the year of 1820. They were attempting to sway people to join the various churches looking for members. He was a boy who had been taught by his parents to search the Scriptures. One day, as he was reading in the Gospel of John, he came across a verse that read, "...if any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth liberally and upbraideth not."
The boy pondered these words and decided to put then to the test. He walked into a wooded area near his home in Palmytra, New York, found a quiet, secluded spot and knelt down to pray. He didn't expect what happened next and he was really surprised to find himself surrounded with light and directly in front of him, it was brightest of all...and there, in a pillar of light stood two personages. And they spoke to him! One introduced the other as His beloved son and said, "Hear Him!"
The boy's name was Joseph Smith and he had just seen a vision of the Father, who pointed to the other and called Him His beloved Son! This is a truth that I. know, because the Holy Ghost has testified the truthfulness of it to me many times. And I cannot deny that Spirit. Nor can I deny the burning within me that testifies truth. This is a gift that has been given to me! This is a gift I treasure.
There is a Hymn in our Hymn Book that asks, what is Truth? The title of this Hymn is "Oh Say, What is Truth?" From this hymn, I learn a great deal and it helps me find the answers to many of my questions. It describes Truth as "the fairest gem"that the richest of worlds cannot produce. Think about that for a moment. Think about all of the principalities of the world and what they tell you that they say is their truth. Is it? Is it the fairest of gems? Test it! Next to truth, all of a "Monarch's diadem is counted as dross and refuse." Truth is certainly a rare gem!
The second verse calls truth the "brightest prize." When you find it, hold on to it, because you have certainly found a prize! Mortals and Gods aspire to possess this truth...this rich prize. To possess it is "an "aim for the noblest desire."
Truth overcomes evil. I include the entire third verse here. "The septre may fall from the despot's grip. When with winds of stern justice he copes. But the pillar of truth will endure to the end, and its firm rooted bulworks outstand the rude blast and the wreck of the fell tyrant's hopes."
This verse pretty much tells it all, if you follow a court case (as we have witnessed recently in the impeachment trial of our past President, Donald J. Trump!) Truth wins in the end! There were so many conflicting voices and the lies were brought to the forefront. But still, those who lied believed their lies so profoundly, they were turned into tyrants!
On to the last verse...truth 'tis the "last and fir first." "Tho the heavens depart and the earth's fountains burst, TRUTH , the sum of existence, will weather the worst, ETERNAL, unchanged, evermore."
So, when you are confronted with confusing voices, put their words to the test..do what Joseph Smith did....Pray, and measure those confusing voices against their value and endurance. Are they eternal? Good words, these! Put them to the test.
For me, the test is eternal. I measure good against evil and "GOOD" comes out on top every time. I also have the gift of discernment, a gift I earned after many trials of choosing between good and evil in my life. The Lord knew I had to earn it and I am so grateful He stuck with me as I traveled that difficult road. It is a precious gift and I don't ever want to lose it.
My Savior. He IS "The Last and the First," The Alpha and Omega!
He is my True North.
He is the compass by which I navigate my life.
Without Him, I could not discern what is TRUTH!
