This document provides an overview of divine truth according to Latter-day Saint doctrine. It begins by stating that discovering and applying truth is important for building God's kingdom. It then outlines that divine truth is absolute, known only by God, and imparted to his children. Finally, it explains that following revealed truth brings blessings including salvation. Key points are that truth is eternal, absolute reality known only to God, and obedience to truth allows one to progress towards perfection and dwell with God.

1. Divine Truth Chapter 1
Introduction 2. All blessings from God are predicated upon
obedience to eternal law and truth (see D&C
Discovering what truth is and applying it in our 130:20–21).
lives are the most important things we can do 3. The word of the Lord is truth and is of the
while on earth. Only by gaining a knowledge of greatest value (see 1 Corinthians 2:9–16;
the truth are we able to build the kingdom of God Colossians 3:2; 2 Nephi 9:28–29; D&C 84:45).
and prepare for eternal life. 4. By following Christ we gain truth, which will
make us free (see John 8:31–32).
Doctrinal Outline 5. Those who gain more truth than others in this life
have an advantage in the world to come (see
A. Divine truth is absolute reality. D&C 130:18–19; Alma 37:44).
1. Truth is knowledge of things as they really are, 6. We cannot be saved in ignorance (see D&C 131:6;
were, and are to come (see D&C 93:24; Jacob 4:13). John 17:3).
2. Truth is eternal (see Psalm 117:2; D&C 1:37–39;
88:66). Supporting Statements
3. Divine truth is absolute (see Alma 7:20; Helaman
8:24; Moroni 8:18; D&C 3:2). A. Divine truth is absolute reality.
B. All divine truth is possessed by God and ■ “It is vital to know that there really is a God, that
imparted by Him to His children. there really is a Savior, Jesus Christ, that there really
1. God is a god of truth (see Ether 3:12; is impending immortality for all men, that there
Deuteronomy 32:4; John 14:6; D&C 93:11, 26). really will be a judgment with genuine personal
accountability, and that there really is purpose in life
2. All things are known by God (see 2 Nephi 2:24;
9:20; Alma 26:35). and a divine plan of happiness for man.
“When we know such basic truths as these, then
3. All light and truth proceed from God to His we know what really matters, how to approach life
children (see D&C 88:11–13; Proverbs 2:6).
and how to view man in the universe. There is great
4. God uses the Holy Ghost to impart truth (see power in perspective. Therefore, the adverb ‘really,’
1 Nephi 10:19; D&C 50:19–22; 91:4). as used by Jacob [Jacob 4:13], is deeply significant”
C. Adherence to revealed truth brings great (Neal A. Maxwell, Things As They Really Are, 4).
blessings and, ultimately, salvation. ■ “We are willing to receive all truth, from
1. Truth is given by the Spirit “for the salvation of whatever source it may come; for truth will stand,
our souls” (Jacob 4:13). truth will endure. . . . Truth is at the foundation, at
the bottom and top of, and it entirely permeates
this great work of the Lord that was established
through the instrumentality of Joseph Smith, the
prophet” (Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, 1).
■ “This true way of life [the gospel] is not a
matter of opinion. There are absolute truths and
relative truths. . . . There are many ideas advanced
to the world that have been changed to meet the
needs of the truth as it has been discovered. There
are relative truths, and there are also absolute
truths which are the same yesterday, today, and
forever—never changing. These absolute truths
are not altered by the opinions of men. As science
has expanded our understanding of the physical
world, certain accepted ideas of science have had
to be abandoned in the interest of truth. Some of
these seeming truths were stoutly maintained for
centuries. The sincere searching of science often
rests only on the threshold of truth, whereas
revealed facts give us certain absolute truths as a
beginning point so we may come to understand
the nature of man and the purpose of his life. . . .
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2. Chapter 1
“We learn about these absolute truths by being
taught by the Spirit. These truths are ‘independent’
in their spiritual sphere and are to be discovered
spiritually, though they may be confirmed by
experience and intellect. (See D&C 93:30.) . . .
“God, our Heavenly Father—Elohim—lives.
That is an absolute truth. . . . All the people on the
earth might deny him and disbelieve, but he lives
in spite of them. . . . In short, opinion alone has no
power in the matter of an absolute truth. He still
lives. And Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the
Almighty, the Creator, the Master of the only true
way of life—the gospel of Jesus Christ. The
intellectual may rationalize him out of existence
and the unbeliever may scoff, but Christ still lives
and guides the destinies of his people. That is an
absolute truth; there is no gainsaying. . . .
“The Gods organized and gave life to man and
placed him on the earth. This is absolute. It cannot
“The Apostles Peter and John, for example, had
be disproved. A million brilliant minds might
little secular learning—being termed ignorant, in
conjecture otherwise, but it is still true” (Spencer W.
fact. But Peter and John knew the vital things of life,
Kimball, “Absolute Truth,” Ensign, Sept. 1978, 3–4).
that God lives and that the crucified, resurrected
B. All divine truth is possessed by God and Lord is the Son of God. They knew the path to
imparted by Him to His children. eternal life. They learned that mortality is the time
■ “The Father, Son and Holy Ghost, as one God,
to learn first of God and his gospel and to receive
are the fountain of truth. From this fountain all the the saving priesthood ordinances.
ancient learned philosophers have received their “Yet secular knowledge can be most helpful to
inspiration and wisdom—from it they have the children of our Father in Heaven who, having
received all their knowledge. If we find truth in placed first things first, have found and are living
broken fragments through the ages, it may be set those truths which lead one to eternal life. These
down as an incontrovertible fact that it originated are they who have the balance and perspective to
at the fountain, and was given to philosophers, seek all knowledge—revealed and secular—as a
inventors, patriots, reformers, and prophets by the tool and servant for the blessing of themselves and
inspiration of God. It came from him through his others” (Spencer W. Kimball, “Seek Learning, Even
Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost, in the first by Study and Also by Faith,” Ensign, Sept. 1983, 3).
place, and from no other source. It is eternal” C. Adherence to revealed truth brings great
(Smith, Gospel Doctrine, 30). blessings and, ultimately, salvation.
■ “The philosophy of the heavens and the earth
■ “Much of really living consists of acquiring
of the worlds that are, that were, and that are yet
perspective about everlasting things so that we can
to come into existence, is all the Gospel that we
successfully manage the transitory factual things,
have embraced. Every true philosopher, so far as
for tactical choices do crowd in upon us all hour
he understands the principles of truth, has so
by hour. Knowing the facts about a bus schedule,
much of the Gospel, and so far he is a Latter-day
for instance, is helpful, but such facts are clearly
Saint, whether he knows it or not. Our Father, the
not the lasting or emancipating truths Jesus spoke
great God, is the author of the sciences, he is the
of as being necessary to experience real freedom,
great mechanic, he is the systematizer of all things,
for ‘the truth shall make you free.’ (John 8:32.)”
he plans and devises all things, and every particle
(Maxwell, Things As They Really Are, 2).
of knowledge which man has in his possession is ■ “We consider that God has created man with a
the gift of God” (Brigham Young, Discourses of
mind capable of instruction, and a faculty which
Brigham Young, 2–3).
may be enlarged in proportion to the heed and
■ “What is this knowledge, intelligence, and
diligence given to the light communicated from
light and truth that our Heavenly Father would
heaven to the intellect; and that the nearer man
have us receive? Does it consist solely of the
approaches perfection, the clearer are his views,
truths God has revealed through his prophets?
and the greater his enjoyments, till he has
What place does knowledge gleaned from secular
overcome the evils of his life and lost every desire
sources and with secular means have in the
for sin; and like the ancients, arrives at that point
scheme of eternal progression?
of faith where he is wrapped in the power and
“In considering these questions, we must
glory of his Maker and is caught up to dwell with
recognize that secular knowledge alone can
Him. But we consider that this is a station to
never save a soul nor open the celestial kingdom
which no man ever arrived in a moment” (Joseph
to anyone.
Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 51).
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