How to know the truth? |
Mormons put a LOT of stress on feelings. They will say that the Holy Ghost manifests the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon by giving people a
"burning in the bosom" after they have read the book and prayed earnestly about its truthfulness.
Feelings are not a trustworthy source for discerning God's truth. For
example, Muhammed established the religion of Islam on the fact that he believed
in his heart that the Bible was corrupt or not complete. Muslims have a
very strong "burning in the bosom" feeling that Christianity and all
other religions (including LDS - Mormonism) are false. Muslims feel they are right but that doesn't make it correct.
Each of these following passages shows the error of the proposition that the Holy Ghost will give us a feeling to know what is true.
These three
passages are excellent references to show how God does reveal his truth. It is through remembrance, knowledge, and wisdom - not feelings.
Remembrance:
John (14:26) - This passage is intended to be used by Mormon missionaries to support the premise that "Through the Holy Ghost we can know the truth about
spiritual things". This it does. But it does not support the premise of the
Holy Ghost using feelings, that is; a burning in the bosom. Instead it clearly states that the Holy Spirit will teach and remind us of what Jesus
has already told us (bring to remembrance). The Holy Ghost reveals
truth by taking us to what has already been taught by Jesus.
Knowledge:
1 Corinthians (2:9-16) - It is intended to be used by Mormons to use these passages to show that
the Holy Ghost has promised to lead us to the truth. And these passages have a lot to say on this subject.
These passages show the way God does grants us truth. However, they have nothing to do about knowing what is true based on
a feeling:
Verse 12: "but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God."
Verse 13: "not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost
teacheth;"
Verse 14: "neither can he know them"
Verse 14: "because they are spiritually discerned."
Verse 15: "But he that is spiritual judgeth all things"
According to this section of the Bible, truth is revealed through understanding what has been freely given us. The Holy Ghost teaches us so that we can discern
what is true by making judgments. It is knowledge, not burning bosoms, that
lights our way to truth!
Mormons use James 1:5 to support the position that we are to pray to God to know
truth. But this passage speaks of praying for wisdom. Praying for wisdom is not the same as praying to know truth through a feeling!
A man conferred with God's gift of wisdom will seek God's will. In this case, he
will seek to know if a teaching is true by comparing it to the Bible.