One of the first things that we need to recognize is that ultimately all spiritual knowledge can only come from God through the Holy Ghost (Mosiah 4:9, 1 Corinthians 2:5,9-11). Without that foundation of trust in our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ, it is difficult to follow appropriate steps in gaining spiritual knowledge. In addition, the attitude with which we ask questions plays a huge part in whether we find answers, and what kind of answers we receive. An attitude of sincerity and real intent will lead to real answers (Moroni 10:4-5).
The process that we worked through together last night, and that we can apply in many different scenarios and settings is outlined as followed (this all comes from the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document, accessible HERE
1. Act in Faith
We act in faith when we choose to trust God and turn to Him first through sincere prayer, a study of His teachings, and obedience to His commandments.
As we seek to develop our understanding and to resolve concerns, it is important that we rely on the testimony that we already have of Jesus Christ, the Restoration of His gospel, and the teachings of His ordained prophets. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland taught: “When those moments come and issues surface, the resolution of which is not immediately forthcoming,hold fast to what you already know and stand strong until additional knowledge comes” (“Lord, I Believe,” Ensign orLiahona, May 2013, 94). The Lord Himself has invited us to “look unto [Him] in every thought; doubt not, fear not” (D&C 6:36).
During times when we may not immediately find answers to our questions, it is helpful to remember that although Heavenly Father has revealed all that is necessary for our salvation, He has not yet revealed all truth. As we continue to seek for answers, we must live by faith—trusting that we will eventually receive the answers we seek (see Proverbs 3:5–6; Ether 12:6). As we are faithful to the truth and light we have already received, we will receive more. Answers to our questions and prayers often come “line upon line, precept upon precept” (2 Nephi 28:30).
2. Examine Concepts and Questions with an Eternal Perspective
To examine doctrinal concepts, questions, and social issues with an eternal perspective, we consider them in the context of the plan of salvation and the teachings of the Savior. We seek the help of the Holy Ghost in order to see things as the Lord sees them. This allows us to reframe the question (to see the question differently) and view ideas based on the Lord’s standard of truth rather than accepting the world’s premise or assumptions (see 1 Corinthians 2:5, 9–11). We can do this by asking questions such as “What do I already know about Heavenly Father, His plan, and how He deals with His children?” and “What gospel teachings relate to or clarify this concept or issue?”
Even questions that relate to historical events may need to be examined with an eternal perspective. As we stay anchored to our trust in our Heavenly Father and His plan of salvation, we are able to see issues more clearly. It may also help to examine historical questions in the proper historical context by considering the culture and norms of the time period rather than imposing current perspectives and attitudes.
It is important to remember that historical details do not carry the saving power of ordinances, covenants, and doctrine. To be distracted by less significant details at the expense of missing the unfolding miracle of the Restoration is like spending time analyzing a gift box and ignoring the wonder of the gift itself.
3. Seek Further Understanding through Divinely Appointed Sources
As part of the Lord’s appointed process for obtaining spiritual knowledge, He has established sources through which He reveals truth and guidance to His children. These sources include the light of Christ, the Holy Ghost, the scriptures, parents, and Church leaders. The First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles—the Lord’s prophets upon the earth today—are a vital source of truth. The Lord has chosen and ordained these individuals to speak for Him.
We can also learn truth through other trustworthy sources. However, sincere seekers of truth should be wary of unreliable sources of information. We live in a time when many “call evil good, and good evil” (Isaiah 5:20). Satan is the father of lies and seeks to distort truth and persuade us to turn away from the Lord and His appointed servants. As we turn to the Lord’s divinely appointed sources for answers and direction, we can be blessed to discern between truth and error. Learning to recognize and avoid unreliable sources can protect us from misinformation and from those who seek to destroy faith.
We used this process to work through questions that individuals may have regarding the Church's position on Same-Sex Attraction and Same-Sex Marriage. Students should have left with a couple of different outcomes:
1. Having their faith strengthened on the doctrine of Marriage and Family, of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and the Plan of Salvation.
2. Having learned the process outlined above and to be able to apply it in different real-life situations
3. Having identified some simple resources for further exploration of the subject.
The suggested sources to learn more about the topic of Same-Sex Attraction and Same-Sex Marriage can be accessed HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE. Additional resources are located in the footnotes of those pages and can also be found on www.lds.org.
Click HERE to email Brother Mansfield with any questions.
