Pilate asked this question of Jesus and then didn’t give him an opportunity to respond. Perhaps Pilate was scared of the truth and how it might change his way of thinking and living.
If Jesus had been given a chance to respond, I think he would have simply said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). This statement would certainly have caused Pilate to reconsider his ways of thinking and living for if Jesus Christ is the way and the truth then we have to choose to obey the truth or reject the truth. If we choose to obey the truth then we will follow Jesus Christ’s example of living and loving as set forth in His gospel. As we do so, we will be blessed with the abundant life and freedom. Jesus promised “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). As we come to “know the truth,” even Jesus Christ, and start living His way, then the Son and “the truth shall make [us] free” (John 8:32, 36), free to know and be who we really are, sons and daughters of a loving Heavenly Father, and free to become all that we can and want to be, “heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17).
In his recent CES address, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf answered Pilate’s question “What is truth?” He declared that the gospel of Jesus Christ is truth. He affirmed that “truth exists beyond belief” and “truth is true even if no one believes it.” We can know the truth by the Holy Ghost, even the “Spirit of truth” (John 16:13) if we will simply ask of God in faith, believing that we will receive for God is the source of all truth because He knows all things. We show our love of truth and our love for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ by believing in them and loving them “in deed and in truth,” which means keeping their commandments and loving one another (1 John 3:18-24). They have promised that we will be sanctified and saved by believing the truth and loving the truth “in every good word and work” (see 2 Thess. 2:8-17 and John 17:17, 19). This sanctification and saving process that occurs as we live the truth makes us stronger and better than we are or could ever hope to be by walking in our own way. “For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11).
More points to ponder as you watch President Uchtdorf’s message:
- Where and how can I find the truth?
- How can I know the truth?
- How does Satan keep me from the truth?
- How does the truth make me free?
- How am I blessed when I obey the truth?
Jennilyn,
Another awesome lesson. I loved the way you taught about truth. Your choice of President Uchtdorf talk and video and the way he explained things was wonderful. It is interesting that he also started with the unfortunate reality that Truth is what people believe it is! (The blind men and the elephant.) And concluded with an absolute truth through Christ and His gospel.
When I responded to your original question of “What is truth”? I was only emphasized that truth is what people believe it is! My frustration for “we the people” who are being carefully led down the path, through social control, the media (Satan’s) attempt to control our values and beliefs.
However, I do have a strong conviction of the source of all truths. A more in depth review of my feelings and understanding are as follows.
I believe invariant laws are a summary of truth and that the Godhead knows all truth. I further believe that one of the main things we are sent to earth for is to learn to discern truth from error.
I have spent much of my lifetime learning and understanding invariant laws. Laws that don’t change. Laws that don’t led to misunderstanding, and laws that reveal truth. I have done this in my occupation by studying and teaching mathematics and physics. These laws don’t change and rarely are they expanded upon or clarified. I have also done this in my church service and study. I look for the unchanging laws and understanding insights found in the church doctrines and teachings of Jesus Christ. Also, in the plan of salvation or the great plan of happiness.
The following scriptures are some I often use, I have {added words} in italic for clarifications, which shows my a belief and insight.
D&C 130:20-21 There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings {each and every one individually} are predicated — And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law {a specific unique law} upon which it {the particular blessing} is predicated.
One of the first, and most precious, gifts that God gave to us was agency. It is not given as free choice, it is given with a consequence for our choice and action. Therefore it behooves us to learn truth from error, right from wrong, good from evil; to reap the rewards. Else, we will not reap the blessing because we didn’t obey the law there fore we reap the punishment or lack of reward.
Moses 1:39 For behold, this is my {God speaking} work {and yours} and my glory {and it will determine your glory} – to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.
Abraham 3:24-26 …. We will go down, for there is space there, and we will take of these materials, and we will make an earth whereon these {His spirit children that will gain a physical body} may dwell; And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them; And they who keep their first estate {spirit world where we gained our spirit body} shall be added upon {added upon with a physical body}; and they who keep not their first estate shall not have glory in the same kingdom with those who keep their first estate {the third part that was cast out do not inherit any of the three degrees of glory}; and they who keep their second estate {earth life} shall have glory added upon their heads {celestial degrees of glory} for ever and ever {eternity}.
One of the reasons that we are sent to earth {and not given the hollow deck experience} is because we learn (understand, comprehend), better from having experiences. And when we do so we incorporate this understanding into our lives and our values.
Finally from D&C 130:18, Whatever principle of intelligence {insight, truth and light or understanding} we attain unto in this life {earth life}, it will rise with us in the resurrection {where we receive our glory}.
In summary I believe a large part of our earthly experience is to learn and understand all laws spiritual and physical – that we may learn from our experiences. I believe it is our responsibility to learn all the truths we can – also learn how to discern truth from error. I also believe it is a great opportunity for us to take with us those principles of intelligence, light and truth that we learn, in fact, the more truth we learn the better off we will be in the worlds to come.
Love, Dad