In the 2018 General Conference, President Oaks focus his talk on the topic of truth and the LDS plan. While he covers a few in-depth principles, we will mainly be analyzing the topic of truth according to his talk. President Oaks opens his address advising the listeners to heed to the sources of truth. Only base our personal decisions on information sources that are “qualified on the subject and free from selfish motivation”.
I personally agree with his advice. However, mostly applicable in a worldly use. Why? Because as a Christian, we seek Christ and His Truth. In John 8:32, Christ says “And ye shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall set you free” (KJV). We find out that Jesus is that Truth (John 14:6). Thus, to seek truth in all things is by Him and in Him. To Elder Oaks’ credit, he does list the matters of finding truth with the spiritual methods: prayer, the witness to the Holy Ghost, and the study of scriptures and the words modern day prophets.
We would agree with his advice except for the claim to seek the words and teachings of modern-day prophets. In the scriptures, we learn that Christ fulfills the laws and the prophets (Luke 16:16) and that now Christ is our prophet (Hebrews 1:1-2). Once we lay that foundation of Christ, we can then tackle “worldly” complications such as scientific conflict, religious discrimination and hate, doctrinal disagreement, etc.
In conclusion, I would like to refer to a quote by James E. Faust that President Oaks uses in his talk: “…We believe that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has the fullness of the gospel of Christ, which gospel is the essence of truth and eternal enlightenment.” I would argue, as an addition to my previous claims above, that the genuine gospel perceived in the Bible is the essence of truth and eternal enlightenment. What is the gospel? Paul articulates it perfectly in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4: “ For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.” My brothers and sisters, that is the Gospel we build our foundations of truth on.
