Close Menu
  • The One Climbs Show
    • YouTube
    • Apple Podcasts
    • Spotify
    • Show Posts
  • Topics
    • All Posts
    • The Book of Mormon
    • Atonement
    • Symbolism
    • Temple Prep
  • Study Tools
    • Book of Mormon Onomasticon
    • Etymology Dictionary
    • Hebrew 4 Christians
    • Lectures on Faith.com
    • LDSSymbols.com
    • Number in Scripture
    • Isaiah Explorer
    • ScriptureNotes
    • Strong’s Condordance
    • The Book of Isaiah (IIT)
    • Webster’s 1828 Dictionary
  • About
    • About oneClimbs
    • Contact
Trending
  • The Meaning of Isaiah 4:1 and Seven Women Taking Hold of One Man
  • Lecture Five, the Godhead, and the Light We Missed
  • Retaining brightness
  • Sebus, Severed Arms, and Humility Unto Salvation
  • oneClimbs on The Stick of Joseph: Alma’s Sermon
  • What were Nephite “Sanctuaries”?
  • Why the Conventional Interpretation of Jacob 2:30 Falls Short
  • #39 – Insights on Prayer from Incense
oneClimbs.comoneClimbs.com
  • The One Climbs Show
    • YouTube
    • Apple Podcasts
    • Spotify
    • Show Posts
  • Topics
    • All Posts
    • The Book of Mormon
    • Atonement
    • Symbolism
    • Temple Prep
  • Study Tools
    • Book of Mormon Onomasticon
    • Etymology Dictionary
    • Hebrew 4 Christians
    • Lectures on Faith.com
    • LDSSymbols.com
    • Number in Scripture
    • Isaiah Explorer
    • ScriptureNotes
    • Strong’s Condordance
    • The Book of Isaiah (IIT)
    • Webster’s 1828 Dictionary
  • About
    • About oneClimbs
    • Contact
oneClimbs.comoneClimbs.com
Home»Articles»Hugh B. Brown on Truth
Articles May 17, 20157 Mins Read

Hugh B. Brown on Truth

Open-mindedness

There is not enough of the attitude of the sincere investigator among us. When we come into a new field of research that will challenge our due and honest consideration, we should be warned against coming too quickly to a conclusion, of forming a decision too hastily. We should be scientific — that is, open-minded, approaching new problems without prejudice, deferring a decision until all the facts are in.

Some say that the open-minded leave room for doubt. But I believe we should doubt some of the things we hear. Doubt has a place if it can stir in one an interest to go out and find the truth for one’s self. I should like to awaken in everyone a desire to investigate, to make an independent study of religion, and to know for themselves whether or not the teachings of the Mormon church are true.

Faith that goes beneath the surface soil

There are altogether too many people in the world who are willing to accept as true whatever is printed in a book or delivered from a pulpit. Their faith never goes below the surface soil of authority. I plead with everyone I meet that they may drive their faith down through that soil and get hold of the solid truth, that they may be able to withstand the winds and storm of indecision and of doubt, of opposition and persecution. Then, and only then, will we be able to defend our religion successfully. When I speak of defending our religion, I do not mean such defense as an army makes on the battlefield but the defense of a clean and upright and virtuous life lived in harmony with an intelligent belief and understanding of the gospel. As Mormons, we should do with religion as we do with music, not defend it but simply render it. It needs no defense. The living of religion is, after all, the greatest sermon, and if all of us would live it, we would create a symphony which would be appreciated by all.

Freedom to think and express opinions in church

I have been very grateful that the freedom, dignity, and integrity of the individual are basic in church doctrine. We are free to think and express our opinions in the church. Fear will not stifle thought. God himself refuses to trammel free agency even though its exercise sometimes teaches painful lessons. Both creative science and revealed religion find their fullest and truest expression in the climate of freedom.

The marketplace of thought

I admire men and women who have developed the questing spirit, who are unafraid of new ideas as stepping stones to progress. We should, of course, respect the opinions of others, but we should also be unafraid to dissent — if we are informed. Thoughts and expressions compete in the marketplace of thought, and in that competition truth emerges triumphant. Only error fears freedom of expression.

Both science and religion beget humility. Scientists and teachers of religion disagree among themselves on theological and other subjects. Even in our own church men and women take issue with one another and contend for their own interpretations. This free exchange of ideas is not to be deplored as long as men and women remain humble and teachable. Neither fear of consequence or any kind of coercion should ever be used to secure uniformity of thought in the church. People should express their problems and opinions and be unafraid to think without fear of ill consequences.

Continue to explore the vast unknown

We should all be interested in academic research. We must go out on the research front and continue to explore the vast unknown. We should be in the forefront of learning in all fields, for revelation does not come only through the prophet of God nor only directly from heaven in visions or dreams. Revelation may come in the laboratory, out of the test tube, out of the thinking mind and the inquiring soul, out of search and research and prayer and inspiration.

We must be unafraid to contend for what we are thinking and to combat error with truth in this divided and imperiled world, and we must do it with the unfaltering faith that God is still in his heaven even though all is not well with the world.

We should be dauntless in our pursuit of truth and resist all demands for unthinking conformity. No one would have us become mere tape recorders of other people’s thoughts. We should be modest and teachable and seek to know the truth by study and faith. There have been times when progress was halted by thought control. Tolerance and truth demand that all be heard and that competing ideas be tested against each other so that the best, which might not always be our own, can prevail. Knowledge is the most complete and dependable when all points of view are heard. We are in a world of restlessness and skepticism, where old things are not only challenged but often disappear, but also a world of miraculous achievement, undreamed of accomplishment, and terrifying power.

Freedom of the mind and thinking right and wrong

One of the most important things in the world is freedom of the mind; from this all other freedoms spring. Such freedom is necessarily dangerous, for one cannot think right without running the risk of thinking wrong, but generally more thinking is the antidote for the evils that spring from wrong thinking.

More thinking is required, and we should all exercise our God-given right to think and be unafraid to express our opinions, with proper respect for those to whom we talk and proper acknowledgment of our own shortcomings. We must preserve freedom of the mind in the church and resist all efforts to suppress it. The church is not so much concerned with whether the thoughts of its members are orthodox or heterodox as it is that they shall have thoughts. One may memorize much without learning anything. In this age of speed there seems to be little time for meditation.

Believing vs understanding what God has revealed

But while I believe all that God has revealed, I am not quite sure I understand what he has revealed, and the fact that God has promised further revelation is to me a challenge to keep an open mind and be prepared to follow wherever my search for truth may lead.

We do not have a corner on truth

We Mormons have been blessed with much knowledge by revelation from God which, in some part, the world lacks. But there is an incomprehensibly greater part of truth yet to be discovered. Revealed insights should leave us stricken with the knowledge of how little we really know. It should never lead to an emotional arrogance based upon a false assumption that we somehow have all the answers — that we in fact have a corner on truth. For we do not.

And while all members should respect, support, and heed the teachings of the authorities of the church, no one should accept a statement and base his or her testimony upon it, no matter who makes it, until he or she has, under mature examination, found it to be true and worthwhile; then one’s logical deductions may be confirmed by the spirit of revelation to his or her spirit, because real conversion must come from within.

  • The full text may be found here.
Hugh B. Brown Science Truth
Previous ArticleMeditation and Pondering, Revolving and Weighing
Next Article Appropriate Appropriation
Steve Reed

I created oneClimbs as a place to organize my thoughts and share my observations with anyone who might find the information useful. Though I may speak passionately or convincingly in some of this content, PLEASE don't simply take my word alone on anything. Always seek the truth of all things through study and prayer in the name of Jesus Christ.

Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

New Post Email Notifications

You can subscribe any time, and I will ONLY use your email to send you new post updates.

POPULAR POSTS
  • Popular
  • Recent
Recent Comments
  • Pam on oneClimbs on The Stick of Joseph: Alma’s Sermon: “Thank you for that insight. I did not pick up on Moroni’s comment being 33:1. Your approach makes total sense…”
  • Steve Reed on oneClimbs on The Stick of Joseph: Alma’s Sermon: “Good catch, and I’ll try to explain. I’m using Alma 32 and 33 which are all part of one sermon,…”
  • Pam on oneClimbs on The Stick of Joseph: Alma’s Sermon: “Thank you for sharing your knowledge on Alma 32/33. These ideas/insights were enlightening and illuminated Alma’s words for me. I…”
  • Greg on Lecture Five, the Godhead, and the Light We Missed: “Thank you Dawn. Well said.”
  • Greg on Lecture Five, the Godhead, and the Light We Missed: “Thank you Steve! So enlightening. We lose things or have them taken away because of our inability or unwillingness to…”
Blogroll
  • A Traditional Architecture Glossary
  • Academy for Temple Studies
  • Book of Mormon Onomasticon
  • Bruce Charlton's Notions
  • Interpreter Foundation
  • Isaiah Explained
  • Isaiah Explorer
  • Isaiah Institute
  • Isaiah Prophecy
  • Junior Ganymede
  • Latter-day Saint Architecture Blog
  • Latter-day Saint Temples
  • LDSSymbols.com
  • Leading Saints
  • Number in Scripture by E. W. Bullinger
  • Strongs Concordance
  • TempleStudy
  • The Ancient Context of Joseph Smith's Egyptian Alphabet and Grammar
  • Webster's 1828 Dictionary
New Post Email Notifications

You can subscribe any time, and I will ONLY use your email to send you new post updates.

About this Site

I created oneClimbs as a place to organize my thoughts and share my observations with anyone who might find the information useful. All content on this site is considered a work in progress that is often updated when new insights are obtained.

Climbspiration

The purpose of the climb is to know

oneClimbs.com
  • Home
  • All Posts
  • About oneClimbs
  • Contact

LecturesOnFaith.com  //  LDSSymbols.com

© 2025 oneClimbs. All content unique to oneClimbs is fair use. All other content is property of the respective copyright owner. oneClimbs.com is not owned, controlled, or affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. All views and opinions are of the authors here who are solely responsible for their content and should not be interpreted as official statements of Church doctrine, belief, or practice, unless specifically stated and correctly referenced.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.