Eventually I learned that the method of discovering truth that I was using was not the Lord’s way. The Lord spoke of this during his earthly ministry:
15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven (Matthew 16).
Here Christ’s speaks of the Lord’s way (revelation) and the world’s way (flesh and blood). We know from the scriptures that the Lord’s way is to seek and ask God what the truth is, studying and applying his word, and receiving an answer directly from him through the Holy Spirit.
I eventually learned for myself that if I tried to find out if the Church is true using the internet, I was using the world’s way. I also group in the world’s way looking for signs or proof. Reading anti-Mormon literature and its counterpart, Mormon apologetics. Or just trying to study it out using logic and reason.
It is not that there is anything wrong with the world’s method of discovering truth. But what I learned is that if you use the world’s method to discover the truth of the Church, you will never get a satisfactory answer. All the proof in the world will not help someone believe. God designed it that their are always things we do not understand, so that we are forced to develop the gift of faith. Elder Callister taught: “There will always be some seemingly intellectual crisis looming on the horizon as long as faith is required and our minds are finite,”
This is not to imply a spirit of anti-intellectualism or ignoring things that conflict with our beliefs. But a recognition of the reality that there will always be things we do not understand, and these questions can coexist with absolute certainty through the revelations of the spirit.
I think people can get trapped with apologetics, going back and forth between apologetic and anti-Mormon sources, trying to find a satisfactory answer. Some fall away from the church doing this. As Paul teaches, they are “ever learning, and never able to come to knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:7). I think a reason why is it makes a member falsely believe that they can prove the Church true by studying the evidences they learn with Mormon apologetics. It can become a form of seeking for signs to know the truth, which we know never satisfies. There are many signs showing the truth of the Church, but there will never be enough to create belief. (see 3 Nephi 2:1-2, and Helaman 16:13-23).
Walking away from anti-Mormon literature can be difficult because of the doubt that it brings. But I found that if I got out of the trap of studying things the world’s way I would find peace using the Lord’s method. Many times the Lord has specifically addressed rational concerns that I have prayed about. What also helped me walk away was recognizing that many of things that bothered me did not really bother me. They only bothered me because someone else said it should bother me.
My advice to anyone with doubts is first to spend your time filling your mind with the pure doctrine of Christ, instead of the reasonings of the world. Consider the merit of the doctrine itself, and test the principles in your life. Leave any intellectual issues to the side, and turn to Lord’s way of discerning truth.
I know many people struggle with it, and some deny the reality of it, but I bear witness that the Lord’s method of discerning truth does work. I testify that God does answer our prayers through the Holy Spirit. I used to doubt if an answer would ever come through the Lord's method. I get it when people get frustrated with it. But now due to countless spiritual experiences through the Holy Spirit and the Book of Mormon I testify that it most certainly will come. I know for certain that revelation is real, and I leave my witness that this is the Lord’s Church.
What do you think? Can apologetics be more harmful than it is good?
No comments:
Post a Comment