I have always been raised to see the Holy Ghost as the ultimate litmus test of truth. Moroni 10:3-5 lays out clearly that it is by the power of the Holy Ghost that we may know the truth of all things. Even the Bible has similar language. Jesus says he will send the Comforter who, among other things, will guide us into all truth (John 16:13). And yet I wonder, is the Holy Ghost really a good litmus test of what is true?
One immediate issue regards the definition of the word truth. Truth can be used in a number of ways, especially regarding spiritual matters. If someone shares an allegory, let's say The Mediator, I am liable to respond by saying, "That's so true." Clearly I am not saying that the story is factually true. I am saying that the message is true. Likewise, I may have felt the spirit. Is the spirit saying that the man in the story actually existed? Is the spirit testifying of the truthfulness of the story or the message? I would argue, the message.
Another example is Paul H. Dunn. For those who don't know. He was a general authority of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was well known for his amazing faith promoting stories about his time in WWII and playing major league baseball. Thousands of people listened to him speak or purchased his tapes and books. All this came to a crashing end in 1991 when he was forced to admit that he had made up many of his stories. And yet people felt the spirit when listening to his stories. If the spirit testifies of factual truth, how could that be? Are we to believe that the Holy Ghost, who knoweth all things, was fooled? Obviously not. The reasonable thing to believe is that the spirit was testifying of the truth of the message.
Recently I was reading a novel; I felt the spirit very strongly. It wasn't religious in any way. It was just a popcorn fantasy novel, and yet I felt the spirit while reading it. Should I assume that the authors actually translated this book from ancient records and that it is a factually true story? No, it was that something in the book resonated with the soul. I was being testified to about truth, but not factual truth.
So then, what are we to make of the Holy Ghost as a testifier of truth. We need to look at these spiritual promptings as compasses towards goodness and truth. It should not be used as a definite litmus test of factual truth. As shown above, utilizing it in this fashion will provide plenty of false positives.
Tragedy and Kitsch
5 hours ago
8 comments:
I can testify that this post is true. Not the message so much as the content itself. And by content, I mean the words. The words are actual words.
Well done.
The Holy Ghost testifies of truth, relating to Christ's role as our Savior, not whether or not someone is a liar.
When feeling the Holy Ghost while reading a fantasy novel, concentrate on what He is testifying to you about Christ, not the author.
The same can be done when pondering the story of Christ's role in the origin of the Book of Mormon.
Exactly, that's my point. The Holy Ghost testifies of truth, not fact (i.e. If someone is a liar). Yet we continue to use it as a spiritual polygraph, like with the Book of Mormon (for example).
I think the confusion comes when the "truth" being sought after has no bearing on Christ's role or plan.
I strongly disagree with your logic and your conclusion. You conclude that the Holy Ghost, "should not be used as a definite litmus test of factual truth." You arrive at your conclusion after analysing three instances of when you or others felt the Holy Ghost. You show that the Holy Ghost can be felt during experiences that are uplifting, but never prove that it cannot actually testify of factual truth. The fact that one can feel the influence of the spirit during fictional stories is hardly proof that by the Holy Ghost cannot be trusted to verify factual truth.
In all three instances the facutality of the story was never in question. The Mediator never proposed to be factual truth. When Paul Dunn was speaking it was not the historicty of his stories that was the focus, but the moral. Paul Dunn never intended that the truthfullness of his stories be disputed. I assume that while reading your novel you never sat back and questioned the factual accuracy of the plot or characters. The factual nature or truth of these three examples was never under question; as you argue the only thing that would have been would be the message. The fact that in all three instances the factual truth was never under examination does not coinside with your conclusion.
The Holy Ghost is a testator of all truth. The LDS church teaches this and supports it from various passages in the Book of Mormon and the Bible; as previously mentioned in your argument.
Moroni 10:5, "And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things."
The Holy Ghost according to this passage would testify to the truth of a message as well as to the factual truth of a history. The fact that I can feel the Holy Ghost when I read "Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites" has no bearing on the Holy Ghost being able to guide me to know that the Book of Mormon is a factual historical record. It is my understanding that LDS teachings tell us that the Holy Ghost is a witness to all truth, a comfortor, a guide, and a revelator among other things. The act of testifying of a true principle expounded in a fictional story does not negate the Holy Ghost's ability to confirm factual events.
The test to find out if the Book of Mormon is true has been to study the book, analyze it in your mind, and then pray and ask if the book is really a factual history of the Americas and a book inspired by God. If it is then the Holy Ghost will "reveal" it to you.
As you aptly stated there is an immediate issue regarding, "the definition of the word truth". Trying to argue that a popcorn fantasy novel is factual and spiritual truth because you felt the spirit is false reasoning. As you argued it was testifying about truth and something that resonated in your soul. The Holy Ghost as a litmus test for factual truth must be applied to some factual event.
If the Holy Ghost can help us , "know the truth of all things," then it would be the end all litmus test of what is true, by definition.
Thank you very much for your comments. You have pointed out a number of good points.
It is true that what I have presented is not proof that the Holy Ghost cannot function in the role of fact-finder. What I have meant to present is the fact that the testimony of Holy Ghost does not necessarily mean that something is factually true. A person who prays feeling the spirit regarding the Book of Mormon does not necessarily mean that it is factually true. It simply means that there are good qualities, important lessons to be learned.
Moroni 10:3-5 is the only place I can think of wherein the Holy Ghost is defined in this "polygraph" capacity. You'd think that we would see examples of this more often. Instead, we see the Holy Ghost being used as a testifier of Christ and broad truth.
I guess I should acknowledge the fact that I do not believe the Book of Mormon to be factually true. I believe that there are many valuable lessons and teachings within, but factually? Well, there's just too much evidence to the contrary for me to accept it as fact.
I have to assume it was the Holy Ghost that confirmed to the mind of Joseph Smith polygamy was a commandment of God and therefore justified him having sex with their teen-age housekeeper; and the faith male followers of Smith, including my great grandfather of taking more wives (usually younger and better looking than their first/former wife/wives).
Since this 'confirmer of truth' justifies mainstream Mormonism in their continued acceptable of this sexual perverted scam (see D&C), I would suggest to anyone looking into joining this mind-control sect to study its history and its impossible-to-prove claims about its central pillar of truth - the Book of Mormon.
I can't imagine that the holy spirit - in whatever form a person might experience or believe in it - would limit itself to purely religious areas. The most spiritual moment I ever experienced was at a Pearl Jam concert - how much more banal can you get? But I don't discount the experience. I think the holy spirit says more than just "this is fact." I think it shows us about being alive, being real, and knowing who we are.
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