“Oh Say, What Is Truth?”: Approaches to Doctrine

Authors

Michael Goodman

Keywords

BYU Studies, doctrine, truth

Abstract

The restored gospel of Jesus Christ, like other religious traditions, claims to be based on true doctrines.² The above hymn, included in the first edition of the Pearl of Great Price, encapsulates the deep longing for truth by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Statements by Church leaders abound extolling the virtue and power of truth, but such statements often beg the question, What is truth? Scripture states that “truth is knowledge of things as they are, and as they were, and as they are to come.”³ Church curricular material further states that “divine truth is absolute reality” and “truth is eternal.”⁴ In the theology of the Church, truth is inextricably connected to God.

Recommended Citation

Goodman, Michael (2021) "“Oh Say, What Is Truth?”: Approaches to Doctrine," BYU Studies Quarterly: Vol. 60: Iss. 3, Article 3.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/byusq/vol60/iss3/3