My theological question for the day- I'm especially interested in LDS answers but will welcome any?

Question

How do you determine what is truth?

I like to follow the model of the Bereans in Acts 17:10-11 by "searched(ing)ing the scriptures daily" to see if the things I am told are true.

Same rules as before- no bashing, no comments refuting the posts of others- although asking for clarification is OK. This is just to see how we form opinions and make decisions-not to determine who is right or wrong.

Answer 1

As a Christian, I go by Jesus' own truth claims as recorded in the Bible. "I am the way, the truth and the life'. About his followers he prayed, 'I have given them your word... Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.' Interestingly, in the Bible Jesus is identified as the Word of God. So whatever truth claims any religion makes has to square exactly with what Jesus and God have already said. If, at a later date, some person comes along claiming he is the way to God, I can instantly dismiss that because Jesus said 'No-one comes to the Father except through me' (which means I am not a Mormon or a Muslim etc). Knowing what Jesus said, is therefore a prerequisite for being able to measure truth claims. Sadly, most religious people are woefully ignorant about what Jesus actually said because they allow others to interpret Jesus' words for them.

Answer 2

I've always been of the opinion that, when it comes to matters of faith, truth is relative. I read the Bible, I see truth, and the truth of the Bible is taught best by the Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-day Saints. IMHO. I read the Book of Mormon, and I don't care what anyone says about how this or that proves it wrong, it's not wrong, it's true.

This is rather simple, it's much more complex, but this is the basis of how I judge truth.

But, I do want to state one thing:

I do NOT DO NOT believe that the LDS church has TRUTH and everyone else is FALSE. That's TOO simplistic and, IMHO, a sign of total insecurity of faith.

Jesus Christ is truth. The Bible is truth. So, those who believe in Christ, who believe Christ, who follow the Bible, follow truth, despite HOW they follow it. Some of what they believe is not truth, but that does not make them FALSE.

Oh, and one thing about the verse you quote. What did the Bereans do BEFORE they searched teh scriptures?

Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that THEY RECEIVED THE WORD WTIH ALL READINESS OF MIND, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

Here is another way of looking at it:

Alma 14:1 And it came to pass after he had made an end of speaking unto the people many of them did believe on his words, and began to repent, and to search the scriptures.

Which comes first; Jesus Christ, or the scriptures?

Answer 3

So you say that you like to follow the model of the Bereans and you know then that the Bereans were saying all authority comes from God's word, that means that we don't twist a scripture to fit our thoughts, but allow the scripture to be the finial authority. This requires a honest heart and today the hearts of men are like the hearts of men in Noah's day. Genesis 6:5. This should also indicate that few people on earth today will servive the great day of our creator, when he puts an end to man's rule by crushing all man made Governments, Daniel 2:44. So to determine what is truth you put on a humble attitude, allow honest reasoning to direct your thoughts, and accept god's disaplene by study of his word. When he see's you doing these things he then helps you gain understanding. for his word is truth. but to only those who follow the model of those Boreans.
Truth means “conformity to fact

Answer 4

Ahh, Truth. What a great question. First you must recognize something that many people do not. Truth is not relative. It is eternal and what is Actual truth must be true for all people. Granted there may be many factors involved, but in order to seek truth, you must be seeking that eternal truth which does not change for anyone. When I cam eto information that is presented to me as this kind of truth, I look for two things first. They are a confirmation of the Holy Spirit or comfortor, and for evidence of that truth in the written word of God. If there is some evidence, even the slightest hint of a scripture and/or of the spirit telling me to investigate further, I try the truth on a personal level.

A fairly basic example of this could be my daily yoga routine. I had a friend who was finding some success in usig yoga for a morning meditation, so I considered it, found that there is both scriptural and spiritual evdence of the importance of physical wellness, and so I tried it, and found that within the precepts of yoga are valuable excercises and philosophies that bring me closer to God and to wellness. I since consider yoga to have some truth to it.

So it's a fairly inane example, but it shows the process, without revealing some of the deeper struggles I have gone through in a perhaps inappropriate place.

Answer 5

There have been scriptures for thousands of years. As long as there have been scriptures there have been people arguing over the correct interpretation of them.

Many Jews didn't recognize Christ himself because they misinterpreted the scriptures. Ironically, they never discovered this.

JUST reading the scriptures and trying to interpret them is not enough. If it were, all christians would agree on every interpretation of the bible and there would be no disagreements. There are thousands of different interpretations, all by well meaning and sincere people, that directly contradict each other.

So....how is it that we find truth???

1. Develop a relationship with the Lord.
2. Learn to distinguish his voice
3. Pray sincerely, humbly, and full of faith that he will guide you to truth. Be willing to submit yourself to his will.
4. Search the scriptures, not for amunition to back what you believe, but for truth. There is a big difference. Many read the scriptures to justify thier own beliefs. Humility is the key.
5. Ask and ye shall find, knock and it shall be given unto you.

Answer 6

What fabulous answers you've had here.

I'm LDS, and well educated (bit of a snob, actually) and if I want to work out the truth of something I start by thinking about it a lot. I like to use logic, and my brain. I may even ask others. I like an intelligent, reasoned answer. My darling hubby has an IQ of 165 and is one of the world's best accountants, and I trust his judgement on things which I can't comprehend.

Then I search the scriptures. And I mean search. Look up all the references I can find, and read around them. Read the footnotes, and look up the cross-references. Read the Bible dictionary, and anything else I can find which relates.

Finally, I pray. That's the strongest thing of all - when you get that witness of something, or that really clear answer to your prayers, it just knocks the breath out of you. I've had audible answers, and just wonderful feelings of "it's going to be OK", or "you are forgiven" or "this is true and good and right" and even writing about them now I'm glowing. But as great as the spirit is, I don't think God wants us to neglect to study and use our minds aswe work out what it true.

Answer 7

Assuming that it's something that I'm unsure of, but which is important, I ask and rely on the Spirit. There are some things that I just know are not true. I don't know how I came to this knowledge, other than it was innately in me from birth. On the flip side, there are some things I know to be true, and feel like I have always known they were true. There are all kinds of things that I don't know if they are true or not that are not important. For those things I ask an expert, and trust that they are telling me the truth as much as they know it, and believe it until I am proven wrong.

One of the main reasons I'm here on R&S is to answer questions that make me put into words my beliefs, thereby strengthening my testimony.

Answer 8

Wow! What a deep question. There is no quick and easy answer for me lol.

"Jesus answered: “My kingdom is no part of this world. If my kingdom were part of this world, my attendants would have fought that I should not be delivered up to the Jews. But, as it is, my kingdom is not from this source.” 37 Therefore Pilate said to him: “Well, then, are you a king?” Jesus answered: “You yourself are saying that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone that is on the side of the truth listens to my voice.” 38 Pilate said to him: “What is truth?”-- John 18:36-38

Jesus is King of God's Kingdom; I am to be peaceable with people of all sorts; I must witness about God's Kingdom to others; I must obey the teachings of Christ.

To me, that is how I determine truth- by examining the Scriptures, applying them to my life and associating with others who share my beliefs... but more is involved.
Good question.

I hope my flu-befuddled brain didn't mess things up lol

Answer 9

The scripture the Bereans had at the time was the Old Testament because the New Testament wasn't put together yet. But we today have more scripture to look at then the Old and New Testaments.

Answer 10

dear Imasis,
This is an awesome question. I have struggled with it too. The Bible claims to be the whole truth. Jesus said " I am the way, the truth and the life and no one else comes to the father except through me." John 14:6. So he is the way we determine the Truth.
Hope this helps in your search for real Truth.

Also, the guy above me answered your Q better. So also what he says in addition to my answer.