Well over 100 years
ago, an American poet put to rhyme an ancient parable. The first verse of
the poem speaks about: "Six men of Indostan To learning much inclined, Who went to see the Elephant (Though all of them were blind), That each by observation Might satisfy his mind." In the poem, each
of the six travelers takes hold of a different
part of the elephant and then describes to the
others what he has discovered. One of the men finds
the elephant's leg and describes it as being
round and rough like a tree. Another feels the tusk
and describes the elephant as a spear. A third grabs the tail and
insists that an elephant is like a rope. A fourth discovers the trunk
and insists that the elephant is like a large snake. Each is describing truth. And because his truth comes
from personal experience, each insists that he
knows what he knows. The poem concludes: "And so these men of Indostan Disputed loud and long, Each in his own opinion Exceeding stiff and strong, Though each was
partly in the right, And all were in the wrong!" That someone could
make a judgment based on one aspect
of truth and apply it to the whole seems absurd
or even unbelievable. On the other hand, have we ever
been guilty of the same pattern of thought? We have so many
examples of things that mankind once knew were true
but have since proven false. For example, in spite
of one-time overwhelming consensus, the earth isn't flat. The stars don't revolve
around the earth. And of course, man actually
can fly, even break the sound barrier.
Often truth is
rejected because it doesn't appear to be consistent
with previous experiences.
The thing about truth is
that it exists beyond belief.
It is true even if
nobody believes it. We simply don't know all things. We can't see everything. Because we see through
a glass darkly, we have to trust the Lord,
who sees all things clearly. That is because there
is one source of truth that is complete, correct,
and incorruptible. That source is our infinitely
wise and all-knowing Heavenly Father. He knows truth as it was, as
it is, and as it yet will be. Our loving Heavenly
Father offers His truth to us, His mortal children. Now, what is this truth? It is the gospel
of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ--He is "the way,
the truth, and the life." As you accept the responsibility
to seek after truth with an open mind
and a humble heart, you will become more
tolerant of others, more open to listen, more
prepared to understand, more inclined to build up
instead of tearing down. And you will be more willing to
go where God wants you to go. It is my prayer
that you will seek the truth earnestly
and unceasingly, that you will yearn to drink
from the fount of all truth, whose waters are pure and
sweet, "a well of water springing up into
everlasting life."