Eternal truths

"THE, THE FIRST PRESIDENCY and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children."

What is truth? President Dieter F. Uchtdorf spoke of this in January 2013. He told the following story.

The Blind Men and the Elephant

"Well over one hundred years ago, an American poet put to rhyme an ancient   parable. The first verse of the poem speaks about:

Six men of Indostan

To learning much inclined,

Who went to see the Elephant

(Though all of them were blind),

That each by observation

Might satisfy his mind.

In the poem each of the six travelers takes hold of a different part of the elephant and then describes to the others what he has discovered.

One of the men finds the elephant’s leg and describes it as being round and   rough like a tree. Another feels the tusk and describes the elephant as a spear. A third grabs the tail and insists that an elephant is like a rope.A fourth discovers the trunk and insists that the elephant is like a large snake. Each is describing truth. And because his truth comes from personal experience,each insists that he knows what he knows.The poem concludes:

And so these men of Indostan

Disputed loud and long,

Each in his own opinion

Exceeding stiff and strong,

Though each was partly in the right,

And all were in the wrong!¹

We look at this story from a distance and smile. After all, we know what an   elephant looks like. We have read about them and watched them on film, and   many of us have even seen one with our own eyes. We believe we know the   truth of what an elephant is. That someone could make a judgment based on one aspect of truth and apply it to the whole seems absurd or even unbelievable. On  the other hand, can’t we recognize ourselves in these six blind men?"

This seems to be part of our nature as human beings, to make assumptions and judgments about people, politics, religion and more based on only the small bit of truth we know. Elder Uchtdorf tells us that "Part of the reason for poor judgement comes from the tendency of mankind to blur the line between belief and truth. We too often confuse belief with truth, thinking that because something makes sense or is convenient, it must be true. Conversely, we sometimes don't believe truth or reject it- because it would require us to change or admit that we were wrong. Often, truth is rejected because it doesn't appear to be consistent with previous experiences."  When others opinions differs from our own, we automatically assume that they are misinformed, instead of considering that it might be us that we could be wrong. In these last days many lives are lost because of difference of opinions, people are hurt and friends and families torn apart. Satan has a plan and that is to deceive all those who he can. If he can cause contention and cause hatred he will, even if it is when we are looking for truth. As I have studied this talk it has helped me to understand the importance of seeking knowledge, and being Christ like to all around me. I would hope that as we continue in these last days that we will be loving and understanding with each other. Especially those who know truth. That we will not judge others, and that we will consider others opinions and be willing to learn.