More Light – Sunday, September 20, 1942
One of the scholarly scientists of our day not long ago wrote these words: “We are learning more and more the high cost of discovering the truth about anything. Our subject matter is so complex that we never reach more than half-truths and first approximations.” This wholesome admission offers a viewpoint which scholar- ship in all its fields would do well to keep in mind. It is very comforting and significant to the layman, also.
Theories are useful as scaffolds in the building process; they are a means to an end, but they must not be mistaken for the basic structure itself. New discovery is constantly discrediting those things which were scientifically thought to be fundamental until today or yesterday. A college textbook from a generation ago is today, in large part, a collection of odd and out-dated misinformation. What some of our instructors once readily assured us was the final word, it now seems in many instances was not the final word at all—but merely the best guess someone could make at that time from the evidence then available. And even among the authorities—among the qualified men of science themselves, and among the men of religion too, for that matter—there is so much contradiction, so much difference of opinion, so much variance, that we would do well to reserve our judgement and not let controversial issues disturb our peace or unbalance our reasoning until we have more light.
Much as we know, we know so little compared with the great unknown. It is doubtful if a man by his own unaided senses can positively know the truth about anything, without first having placed himself in touch with the source of all truth—with that spirit which “giveth light to every man that cometh into the world.” (Doctrine and Covenants, 86:46) If we do this, and if we reserve dogmatic declarations until such time as we have more light, many foolish and time-consuming controversies will dissolve themselves, and in the meantime we shall have a good deal more energy to devote to constructive thought and purpose.
Blessed is the man who has the courage to say “I do not know,” when in reality he doesn’t know, but only supposes. When we commit ourselves to this attitude, those “half-truths and first approximations,” of which our scholarly friend wrote, may lead us to fundamental discoveries, and meanwhile we do not stand in danger of having to reverse ourselves by reason of our dogmatism. And this we should also know: While we are learning the high cost of discovering truth, we should also remember the high cost of not accepting it once it has been revealed and established by the Highest Authority.
By Richard L. Evans, spoken from the Tabernacle, Temple Square, Salt Lake City, Sunday,, Sept. 20, 1942, over Radio Station KSL, and the nationwide Columbia Broadcasting System. Copyright – 1942.
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September 20, 1942
Broadcast Number 0,683