This week I’d like to focus on learning and discerning truth from error. As I studied and prepared to write my paper I first went to the Index in the Book of Mormon and looked under “Trust”. I used the “see also” to reference several different topics that are interconnected to truth.
The first reference under mystery in the index led me to Jacob 4:8. In part it reads, “And no man knoweth of his ways save it be revealed unto him; wherefore, brethren, despise not the revelations of God.” Immediately I was impressed upon that the truth and mysteries of God come about through direct revelation from Him. If we are going to be able to effectively recognize truth and error we cannot do it through our limited perspective. It is necessary then that we inquire after God.
That is a nice segue way into the next scripture in D&C 6:7, “Seek not for riches but for wisdom, and behold, the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you, and then shall you be made rich. Behold, he that hath eternal life is rich.” To me the companion scripture to this lies in D&C 88:118 which reads, “And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith.” In seeking to know truth from error, in addition to us inquiring after God, He has commanded us to also seek wisdom by our own learning and study. To me the two are intertwined. Studying is our action that shows God we are committed to learning and understanding more and then we inquire after Him to confirm truth to us. I am reminded of the School of the Prophets where the brethren at the time sought wisdom from both secular and religious texts to learn all needful things pertaining to the kingdom.
Diametrically opposed to truth we have error. In D&C 10:63 it reads, “And this I do that I may establish my gospel, that there may not be so much contention; yea, Satan doth stir up the hearts of the people to contention concerning the points of my doctrine; and in these things they do err, for they do wrest the scriptures and do not understand them.” I looked up the word “wrest” and found that it means to pull, force, or move by violent wringing or twisting movements or to gain with difficulty by or as if by force, violence, or determined labor. To me, it means that we can be led into error by trying to force or twist the scriptures to fit our narrative that we find comfortable. In conjunction with this we also find in D&C 33:4, “And my vineyard has become corrupted every whit; and there is none which doeth good save it be a few; and they err in many instances because of priestcrafts, all having corrupt minds.” In the guide to the scriptures on LDS.org it references 2 Nephi 26:29, “…priestcrafts are that men preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world; but they seek not the welfare of Zion.” I feel compelled to mention that statecraft is, as they say, “birds of a feather” with priescraft. In the forward to Hugh Nibley’s “The Ancient State”, Steven D. Ricks comments that statecraft is a fraud and an endless attempt at self-aggrandizement and is akin to priestcraft.
I pray that we can endlessly study and call after God in the pursuit of discerning truth and error. In Christ’s name, Amen.
