Conclusion

A true search for truth must be a consistent rational evaluation of new evidences, both those that support and those that refute currently held positions. In order to search for truth, then, one must be able to enumerate the reasons for their currently held beliefs. Anyone who preaches the gospel must already be able to give reasons for what they believe. Yet a surprising number of people both attempt to preach the gospel and defend their own beliefs without any substance at all. Instead, their entire argument consists of a few tired logical fallacies. These ineffective attempts fail to convert because one has no reason to pray with real intent until they believe it is at least possible that the new idea is true. Moreover, an individual whose beliefs are not substantiated cannot be convinced of higher truth, cutting themselves off from God’s messengers, because it is impossible to argue against an irrationally held position.¹

Asking questions is among the most important skills we must develop in our quest to know God. Good askers have confidence in God’s willingness to respond. They are suspicious of what others say. They realize that the vast majority of people have no idea what they are talking about most of the time. They are also suspicious of what they already believe they know. They are willing to be wrong. They are able to suspend judgment on an issue until more facts are gathered. Because their belief is constructed based on their observations over time, they expect that their belief will change as they make more observations.

Each principle stands or falls on its own. It is a false tradition to assume that because one principle is true, all principles bundled together by some person or group are also true.² The truthfulness of the Book of Mormon does not imply that everything the church ever did or will do is inspired by God any more than the Constitution being inspired implies that everything the U.S. government did or will do is inspired. We must learn how to ask specific questions, which might have limited application.

We make a grave mistake when we assume that questioning leads to doubts. In reality, questioning not only leads to faith, but it is the only path that leads to faith, since faith cannot be had in false principles, and the only way to establish which principles are true is to ask God.

We ought to believe what we have found to be true, not evaluate what is true based on what we already believe.³ Moses’ journey closer to God was punctuated with moments where he learned things he had never before supposed. We are no different. We progress towards God not only by learning new things but also by rejecting old things we previously believed in that are false. If we limit our investigation to what we already believe to be true, we will never approach closer to God than we currently are.