Some Notes on Truth, Part I

I have been banished from Gospel Doctrine class and sentenced to an indeterminate time in Primary, so I've kind of lost some of my fire for the blog.  My apologies.   I'll work to resurrect it, however, and will begin the process by posting some notes and thoughts on some specific doctrines.  So, here's Part I:

1. What is the scriptural definition of truth?
1. D&C 93:24-25; Jacob 4:13

D&C 93:24-25

24 And truth is knowledge of things as they are, and as they were, and as they are to come;

25 And whatsoever is more or less than this is the spirit of that wicked one who was a liar from the beginning.

Jacob 4:13

“…the Spirit speaketh the truth and lieth not. Wherefore, it speaketh of things as they really are, and of things as they really will be.”

2. John 8:31-36 (note especially verses 32 and 36); John 14:6

John 8:31-36

31 ¶ Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, [then] are ye my disciples indeed;

 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

 33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?

 34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

 35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: [but] the Son abideth ever.

 36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

John 14:6

6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

a. )  In a fashion very typical of God’s communications with His children, the response here is both extremely simple, yet full of deeper meaning.  Truth is defined most simply as “knowledge.”  Of course the content of that knowledge is essential—knowledge of things as they really are, were and are to come.  Still, even with the added information, the definition of truth is broad and open to exploration by any who wish to do so.

b.)  The Savior provided a definition of truth that bears close scrutiny.  On its face, truth is identified as that knowledge which will liberate those disciples who “continue in my word.”  When questioned about the need for liberation, He taught that truth will free the disciple from the bondage of sin. 

Finally, He identifies Himself as that liberating truth, which hearkens to his declaration in John 14:6 that “[He is] the way, the truth and the life.” (John 14:6 emphasis added.)  This declaration is made in the context of His teachings regarding the “many mansions” in Heaven prepared for the faithful and in answer to Thomas’ request that Jesus show him the way.

Moreover, the Savior assured in the above-cited verses that “If ye continue in my word,” then “…ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  This seems to indicate that as we focus our attention upon His teachings, we will come to know Him, and He shall make us free. 

Such a line of thought draws my attention to the initial declaration of John that:   “In the beginning was the gospel preached through the Son. And the gospel was the word, and the word was with the Son, and the Son was with God, and the Son was of God.”  (JST John  1:1 emphasis added.)

Replacing words as above-defined, then we can read the scripture in John 8 as, “if ye continue in my [gospel], then are ye my disciples indeed;  And ye shall know [the Savior] and [the Savior] shall make you free.”

Jacob’s teaching, therefore, that “the Spirit speaketh the truth,” is consistent with this view for we know that one of the missions of the Holy Ghost is to bear record of the Father and the Son. (D&C 20:27; Moses 1:24; 5:9; 6:66; 7:11)

I should also point out that Jesus’ declaration that he is the way the truth and the life was followed by the teaching that He leads us to the Father and that anyone who has seen Him, has seen the Father.  (John 14:9)

But what do Jacob’s teachings and those put forth in the Doctrine and Covenants teach us about the nature of truth and in essence, the nature of the Savior who embodies truth?  Between the two scriptures as cited, we learn that truth is the knowledge of reality in the three great time zones of the past, present and future (to paraphrase Elder Neal A. Maxwell).  Therefore, if we come to know the truth, or the Savior, we come to know that which comprehends the past, present and future as the Savior certainly does.   Moreover, we can come to know and understand Him and his roles in those “time zones.”  With this increasing knowledge comes increasing appreciation for who and what He is and what He has done for us.

By coming to know Him, we come also to know those great realities ourselves in similar ways, to our own salvation.  For, as was pointed out by Joseph Smith, there is a binding link between knowing God and fully knowing ourselves.  Likewise, we can access that precious perspective within the bounds of divine will, as needed for direction and guidance.

Whether we view truth as it is embodied by the Savior, or view other realities through the perspective of that vital “lens,” it is made manifest to us by the Holy Ghost and that Spirit will be present whenever truth is presented unto us, or whenever it is being presented to others by us (see D&C 50:17-23).