Truth
President John Taylor declared: “. . .our religion, . . embraces every principle of truth and
intelligence pertaining to us as moral, intellectual beings, pertaining to this world and the world
that is to come. We are open to truth of every kind, no matter whence it comes, where it
originates, or who believes it. . . . A man in search of truth has no peculiar system to sustain, no
peculiar dogma to defend or theory to uphold; he embraces all truth, and that truth, like the sun
in the firmament, shines forth and spreads its effulgent rays over all creation, and if men will
divest themselves of bias and prejudice, and prayerfully and conscientiously search after truth,
they will find it wherever they turn their attention.” (Taylor 1944, pp. 93-94; Journal of Discourses: 16,
pp. 369-370)
“The doctrine of the Latter-day Saints is truth....Now, sir, you may think that it is a broad
assertion that it is truth; but sir, the first and fundamental principle of our holy religion is that we
believe that we have a right to embrace all and every item of truth, without limitations or without
being circumscribed or prohibited by the creeds or superstitious notions of men.”
(Joseph Smith, PWJS, p. 420; standardized)
the world and treasure them up, or we shall not come out true Mormons.” (Joseph Smith,
Teachings, p. 316)
“If there is any truth in heaven, earth, or hell, I want to embrace it. I care not what shape it
comes in to me, who brings it, or who believes in it, whether it is popular or unpopular.”
(Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, 1:155)
(Joseph Smith, PWJS, p. 420; standardized)
“We don’t ask any people to throw away any good they have got; we only ask them to come and
get more.” (Joseph Smith, HC, 5:259)
“Have the Presbyterians any truth? Yes. Have the Baptists, Methodists,&c., any truth? Yes. They all have a little truth mixed with error. We should gather all the good and true principles in
“Have the Presbyterians any truth? Yes. Have the Baptists, Methodists,&c., any truth? Yes. They all have a little truth mixed with error. We should gather all the good and true principles in
“One of the grand fundamental principles of ‘Mormonism’ is to receive truth, let it come from
whence it may.” (Joseph Smith, Teachings, p. 313)
“On another occasion, Brigham Young declared that ‘Mormonism’ embraces all truth that is
revealed and that is unrevealed, whether religious, political, scientific, or philosophical.”
(Brigham Young, JD, 9:149)
“But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God.
“Wherefore, I beseech of you, brethren, that ye should search diligently in the light of Christ that ye may know good from evil; and if ye will lay hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not, ye certainly will be a child of Christ.
“And behold, there were divers ways that he did manifest things unto the children of men, which were good; and all things which are good cometh of Christ; otherwise men were fallen, and there could no good thing come unto them.” (Moroni 7:13, 19, 24)
“They were servants of the Lord in a lesser sense, and were sent to those pagan or heathen
nations to give them the measure of truth that a wise Providence had allotted to them. And
not only teachers -- not poets and philosophers alone; but inventors, discoverers, warriors,
statesmen, rulers, et al. These also have been used from the beginning to help along the Lord’s
work -- mighty auxiliaries in the hands of an Almighty God, carrying out his purposes,
consciously or unconsciously.” (Elder Orson F. Whitney, CR, April 1921, pp. 32-33)
“But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God.
“Wherefore, I beseech of you, brethren, that ye should search diligently in the light of Christ that ye may know good from evil; and if ye will lay hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not, ye certainly will be a child of Christ.
“And behold, there were divers ways that he did manifest things unto the children of men, which were good; and all things which are good cometh of Christ; otherwise men were fallen, and there could no good thing come unto them.” (Moroni 7:13, 19, 24)
“All down the ages men bearing the authority of the Holy Priesthood -- patriarchs, prophets,
apostles and others, have officiated in the name of the Lord, doing the things that he required of
them; and outside the pale of their activities other good and great men, not bearing the
Priesthood, but possessing profundity of thought, great wisdom, and a desire to uplift their
fellows, have been sent by the Almighty into many nations, to give them, not the fullness of the
Gospel, but that portion of truth that they were able to receive and wisely use. Such men as
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Confucius, the Chinese philosopher; Zoroaster, the Persian sage; Guatama or Buddha, of the
Hindus; Socrates and Plato, of the Greeks; these all had some of the light that is universally
diffused, and concerning which we have this day heard.
“While the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is established for the instruction of men;
and is one of God’s instrumentalities for making known the truth, yet he is not limited to that
institution for such purposes, neither in time nor place. God raises up wise men and prophets
here and there among all the children of men, of their own tongue and nationality, speaking to
them through means that they can comprehend; not always giving a fullness of truth such as
may be found in the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ; but always giving that measure of
truth that the people are prepared to receive.
Mormonism holds, then, that all the great teachers among all nations and in all ages, are servants of God. They are inspired men, appointed to instruct God’s children according to the conditions in the midst of which he finds them. Hence it is not obnoxious to Mormonism to regard Confucius, the great Chinese and moralist, as a servant of God, inspired to a certain degree by him to teach those great moral maxims which have governed those millions of God’s children for lo! these many centuries. It is willing to regard Gautama, Buddha as an inspired servant of God, teaching a measure of the truth, at least giving to these people that twilight of truth by which they may somewhat see their way. So with the Arabian prophet, that wild spirit that turned the Arabians from worshiping idols to a conception of the Creator of heaven and earth that was more excellent than their previous conception of Deity. And so the sages of Greece and of Rome. So the reformers of early Protestant times.
Wherever God finds a soul sufficiently enlightened and pure; one with whom his Spirit can communicate, he makes of him a teacher of men. While the path of sensuality and darkness may be that which most men tread, a few, to paraphrase the words of a moral philosopher of high standing, have been led along the upward path; a few in all countries and generations have been wisdom seekers, or seekers of God. They have been so because the Divine Word of Wisdom has looked upon them, choosing them for the knowledge and service of himself.
While it is held by the Church, nay, taught by the very revelations of God themselves, that there is but one man at a time who is entitled to receive revelations for the government and guidance of the Church--and this in order to prevent confusion and conflict--still it is nowhere held that this man is the only instrumentality through which God may communicate his mind and will to the world.” (B. H. Roberts, Defense of the Faith and the Saints, Vol. 1, pp. 512-514)
“Why does the Church grow and flourish? It does so because of divine direction to the leaders and members. This began in our day when God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith early in the spring of 1820. However, we claim that God’s inspiration is not limited to the Latter-day Saints. The First Presidency has stated: ‘The great religious leaders of the world such as Mohammed, Confucius, and the Reformers, as well as philosophers including Socrates, Plato, and others, received a portion of God’s light. Moral truths were given to them by God to enlighten whole nations and to bring a higher level of understanding to individuals. ... We believe that God has given and will give to all peoples sufficient knowledge to help them on their way to eternal salvation.’”(Statement of the First Presidency regarding God’s Love for All Mankind, 15 Feb. 1978, James E. Faust, “Communion with the Holy Spirit,” Ensign, Mar. 2002, p. 3)
Mormonism holds, then, that all the great teachers among all nations and in all ages, are servants of God. They are inspired men, appointed to instruct God’s children according to the conditions in the midst of which he finds them. Hence it is not obnoxious to Mormonism to regard Confucius, the great Chinese and moralist, as a servant of God, inspired to a certain degree by him to teach those great moral maxims which have governed those millions of God’s children for lo! these many centuries. It is willing to regard Gautama, Buddha as an inspired servant of God, teaching a measure of the truth, at least giving to these people that twilight of truth by which they may somewhat see their way. So with the Arabian prophet, that wild spirit that turned the Arabians from worshiping idols to a conception of the Creator of heaven and earth that was more excellent than their previous conception of Deity. And so the sages of Greece and of Rome. So the reformers of early Protestant times.
Wherever God finds a soul sufficiently enlightened and pure; one with whom his Spirit can communicate, he makes of him a teacher of men. While the path of sensuality and darkness may be that which most men tread, a few, to paraphrase the words of a moral philosopher of high standing, have been led along the upward path; a few in all countries and generations have been wisdom seekers, or seekers of God. They have been so because the Divine Word of Wisdom has looked upon them, choosing them for the knowledge and service of himself.
While it is held by the Church, nay, taught by the very revelations of God themselves, that there is but one man at a time who is entitled to receive revelations for the government and guidance of the Church--and this in order to prevent confusion and conflict--still it is nowhere held that this man is the only instrumentality through which God may communicate his mind and will to the world.” (B. H. Roberts, Defense of the Faith and the Saints, Vol. 1, pp. 512-514)
“Why does the Church grow and flourish? It does so because of divine direction to the leaders and members. This began in our day when God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith early in the spring of 1820. However, we claim that God’s inspiration is not limited to the Latter-day Saints. The First Presidency has stated: ‘The great religious leaders of the world such as Mohammed, Confucius, and the Reformers, as well as philosophers including Socrates, Plato, and others, received a portion of God’s light. Moral truths were given to them by God to enlighten whole nations and to bring a higher level of understanding to individuals. ... We believe that God has given and will give to all peoples sufficient knowledge to help them on their way to eternal salvation.’”(Statement of the First Presidency regarding God’s Love for All Mankind, 15 Feb. 1978, James E. Faust, “Communion with the Holy Spirit,” Ensign, Mar. 2002, p. 3)
Peace is a prime
priority that pleads for our pursuit. Old Testament prophets held out hope and so should we. The
Psalmist said, ‘God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.’ He taught the
Golden Rule: ‘All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to
them.’
This principle is found in nearly every major religion. Others such as Confucius and Aristotle have also taught it. After all, the gospel did not begin with the birth of the Babe in Bethlehem. It is everlasting. It was proclaimed in the beginning to Adam and Eve. Portions of the gospel have been preserved in many cultures. Even heathen mythologies have been enriched by fragments
of truth from earlier dispensations.”(“Blessed are the Peacemakers,” Elder Russell M. Nelson, October Conference, 2002)
This principle is found in nearly every major religion. Others such as Confucius and Aristotle have also taught it. After all, the gospel did not begin with the birth of the Babe in Bethlehem. It is everlasting. It was proclaimed in the beginning to Adam and Eve. Portions of the gospel have been preserved in many cultures. Even heathen mythologies have been enriched by fragments
of truth from earlier dispensations.”(“Blessed are the Peacemakers,” Elder Russell M. Nelson, October Conference, 2002)
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