Why do we need TRUTH?
What is truth?
For something to be a truth, it must be constant and unchanging. For example, 2 + 2 = 4 is a truth which is easily provable. It doesn’t change.
Another aspect of truth is that it must accurately represent reality and the state of things as they actually exist independent of perception or interpretation. In other words, truth is not open for debate. It is what it is and stands on its own merit.
Most importantly, the source of all truth is God, our Heavenly Father, and He does not live in chaos. He is steady and constant and unchanging. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Because of this, we can rely upon and have faith in Him.
What would the world be like if there were no truths that were constant and unchanging? If gravity were not constant and unchanging on Earth (for all practical purposes), we would not be able to build buildings, bridges, dams, etc. Simply walking from point A to point B might present challenges such as becoming weightless and drifting up into the sky if gravity were to approach zero or becoming pinned to the ground if gravity suddenly increased too much. What if the orientation of the earth and the earth’s orbit varied significantly and were not constant and predictable? Agriculture as we know it would be impossible. There would be no set and predictable seasons. Weather would constantly vary and be wildly erratic. What if there were no moral truths to govern the behavior of people? Freedom, peace, and prosperity would not and could not exist to any significant degree, if at all, due to the lack of any moral standards protecting “life, liberty, [property,] and the pursuit of happiness (Declaration of Independence).” The reality is that our world literally could not exist in such a state.
In the Bible, Jesus declares that He is “the truth” and “the light of the world.” The concepts of light and darkness are used to represent truth and falsehood, as well as good and evil. Why would He compare Himself to truth and light? Here are three aspects of light to consider, and these will be used to explain why we need TRUTH as the foundation of our lives.
- illumination / clarity / understanding
- beauty
- power
Light provides Illumination and Clarity
First, light provides illumination and clarity. Have you ever heard a strange noise in your home at night? What is likely the first thing you will do? Turn on the lights or grab a flashlight? Absolutely! Who wants to go find out what caused that strange noise in the darkness? Not me! Pointing a flashlight in the direction of the noise, or better yet, turning on the overhead lights, will illuminate the scene and allow one to see clearly to answer the who or what questions and then determine which, if any, course of action to take. How about walking into a dark theater after the movie or play has already started? How easy is it to navigate to your seats, especially if they happen to be in the middle of the row? It is not very easy, more so if it happens to be during a darker scene so there is very little ambient light. Even in an environment with which you are very familiar, such as your own home, how easy is it to go retrieve something (perhaps a flashlight) when it is dark and the lights are off, such as during a power outage? For me, this has been quite difficult at times, depending on the situation and the location of the item I am seeking. What if there were no sun, and we only had the moon and stars for light? How well would we understand our world? Would our perception of it be wrong much of the time since most of it would not be completely visible to us? With no sunlight, the world would be dark and various shades of gray. It would be a depressing, dreary, and scary place.
Sunlight and all the various forms of lighting available to us in our modern society allow us to explore, see, and interact with our world – be it indoors or outdoors. Truth is like light in that it gives us an accurate frame of reference from which to understand the topics and issues in the world around us, to analyze them, and to make correct judgements and decisions. By living according to true principles and seeking our Heavenly Father’s guidance, we can know the truth of all things.
Light provides Beauty
Second, light allows us to experience the beauty of this world. Light allows us to see in color. We can enjoy a beautiful sunset or a spectacular view of a mountainside full of yellow, blue, and red wildflowers. We can look out from the Empire State Building at night and view the lights of New York City. We can enjoy art or wonderful musical or theatrical events or fireworks to celebrate Independence Day. There are endless examples that we could list.
Truth enables us to experience true happiness and joy, to feel the fruits of the Holy Spirit, and to experience the real beauty of this world. In the next life, we will have the opportunity to experience a fullness of joy for all eternity if we make truth the foundation of our lives.
Light is Power
Third, light is power. Light is energy. Darkness has no power. When I was a young boy, I learned how one could use a magnifying glass to focus the sun’s light onto kindling to start a fire. Focusing that light onto one’s own skin was painful! In 1960, the first laser was developed and was based on an idea first described by Albert Einstein in 1917. Lasers use focused beams of light to perform various tasks. Lasers are now used to make extremely precise cuts in all kinds of commercial and industrial environments. They are used to store data on optical disks, such as CDs and DVDs. They are used to correct vision and are employed in other surgical procedures. Light is used in fiber optic network systems to transport data at extremely high speeds. In 2013, NASA used a pulsed laser beam to send data from a spacecraft orbiting the moon back to Earth at a speed of 622 Mbps, which was an amazing feat back then. Today, the Starlink Internet service, which utilizes satellites in low Earth orbit, generally has data speeds of around 150 – 250 Mbps.
For those who live according to true principles, our Heavenly Father gives power to overcome the various trials and challenges we all experience in mortality; to receive guidance and direction; to change and become perfected; to be forgiven through the Atonement of our Savior, Jesus Christ; to request and receive miracles according to His will and His timing; to continue learning more truth; and to accomplish the purposes He has planned for each one of us.
Summary
By committing ourselves to learning the true principles which come from our Heavenly Father through His Son, Jesus Christ, and living them, we will be able to “see” clearly, we will experience godly beauty in mortality, and we will receive power that will bless our lives in multiple ways as only our Heavenly Father can, subject to His wisdom and timing. His focus is on our eternal progression, and we can trust that everything He does is for our eternal good.
What next?
- I encourage everyone to go and search the Bible for the words “light” and “truth.” Go to the source and become familiar with these truths for yourself. There are many versions of the Bible which are freely accessible online. I prefer the King James Version (KJV). Here is one website as a starting point: https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org
- Read the TRUTHS page on the BTLBTC website. These are the core truths which must be at the foundation of our lives.
- Learn about the Mission of BTLBTC. It is about helping individuals to learn and live by true principles. Then, share them and learn what God would have you do in your life.
- Join the BTLBTC mailing list. We all need the encouragement which comes from associating with others who want to follow true principles. There is absolutely strength in numbers! There is more to come, and it will be so important that we be able to communicate with all of you!
- Obtain products which have the BTLBTC logo on them and use them. This is key to supporting the mission of BTLBTC, building the truth movement, and showing those around us that there are many people committed to following true principles. This contributes to the strength in numbers! Imagine if the BTLBTC logo were as commonplace as the Nike and Under Armour logos, for example.
- Follow our social media accounts so that we can communicate and more easily share truth with others.
- Please provide your feedback and ideas. This is just the beginning! We will be able to improve and become more effective much faster by having your involvement.
Scripture References
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 14:6-7
7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
John 8:12
For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
Proverbs 6:23
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
John 14:26
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:1-14
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
6 ¶ There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
