Truth
Knowledge of things as they are and as they were and as they are to come (T&C 93:8).1 You can only know the truth by having it revealed to you from heaven itself (see T&C 69:29).2 “We must know the truth. The truth informs us how things are (now, today, in our current peril). The truth informs us of how things were (revealing exactly what happened, without mythical or political overlay, with its disappointments and tragedies candidly depicted). The truth informs us of the things to come (even if the prophecies and promises dash our hopes, crush our vanity and expose our foolishness). Without the truth it is impossible to repent. In order to take people captive, all that is required is for people to be content with their ignorance. The greatest threat to salvation does not come from teaching false doctrine but instead comes from ignoring doctrine altogether. Substituting platitudes and truisms for careful, ponderous and solemn investigation of the deep things of God is sufficient to keep people in the chains of captivity. It isn’t necessary for the devil to convince you of lies, only for him to make you content in your ignorance or fearful of the search for truth.”3
1 “Nephi’s Brother Jacob, Part 4,” March 14,2012, blog post.
2 “The Whole Not the Parts,” Dec. 28, 2011, blog post.
3 Preserving the Restoration, 341n913.