Truth - Discomfort, Denial

 

“Many run from the truth and dread it. Others mock it and deny it. Why do we deny the truth? Are we trying to obtain comfort by denial? Is denial the ultimate comfort zone? How could denying the truth bring comfort? 

One of the primary reasons we run from the truth is to feel the quick comfort denial “sort of” provides. It’s important to understand that kind of comfort is like a painkiller offering almost instant temporary relief but having forever side effects with greater discomfort caused by unresolved issues. The truth, especially when it’s harsh or challenges long-held beliefs, can be unsettling and sometimes overwhelming. It forces us to confront realities that may demand significant changes in our lives, correcting behaviors and perspectives, and possibly altering social status and current circumstances. 

For many, the idea of revising our worldview or admitting being wrong is too daunting. Sometimes denial can offer a short-term refuge or shelter and serve as a method to avoid “taking the next step” and advancing on our road of progress. Denial is certainly an option and seems to help justify staying where we currently are and resisting movement forward or upward. It allows us to maintain our existing beliefs and avoid the discomfort that comes with facing the truth.

Denial isn’t just about avoiding discomfort. It can also be about preserving a sense of control. When the truth threatens to upend our understanding of the world, it can feel like the ground beneath us is shifting and our vulnerability becomes more apparent. Denial allows us to keep our feet firmly planted in fallacy, delusion, and error, even if it means standing on shaky ground. Then again, life is always a little shaky in some form or another for everyone, but addressing things head on, reasoning with God, and being truthful and honest, gives us a much more stable footing.

Denial is a dangerous drug, a powerful thing encouraging us to believe lies and dismiss the truth we don’t want to hear. Denial is a way to be selective about the “reality” we perceive or the “actuality” we desire. It also protects our fantasies, fallacies, and illusions we choose to keep, but it does not bring long-term peace to the soul, heart, or mind. Denial is indeed an enemy to peace and progress.

Protesting the path to remove our problems, rejecting the idea to discard our shortcomings, failing to admit to our errors, refusing to correct our wrong-doings, and avoiding accountability for ourselves is damning and definitely slows the flow of progression. When we refuse to listen to the truth, hear it, and soften our hard hearts, sometimes our advancement and forward movement are stopped cold and frozen for a season until our hearts, actions, and situations change. By dodging responsibility, driving around obstacles, and hiding problems without courageously facing them head on, we will not only be required to carry the growing burden already upon us, but find ourselves further loaded with the development and manifestation of additional weights, outcomes, and side effects that naturally follow anyone with a prideful and hardened heart.

Whenever the truth is spoken or shared, it is common to be offended. But generally, the truth only offends us when we are not living it and are feeling guilty about it or, in some form from our perspective, it messes up our plan or way of life. Therefore, we are not interested in hearing any more about it and often rebel and actively fight against it by mocking, denying and rejecting the truth declared. To justify, we tend to see ourselves as good and the “truth-teller” as bad and feel a desperate need to make sure others surely know that.

“Now, my son, I don’t want you to let these things trouble you anymore. Just let your sins trouble you with the fear that will humble you to repent. My son, I don’t want you to deny God’s justice anymore. Don’t try to excuse yourself in the least degree because of your sins by denying God’s justice. On the contrary, let God’s justice and mercy and long-suffering have full sway in your heart, and let them bring you down to the dust in humility.” …  (Alma 19:17 CE)

“If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end; if you look for comfort you will not get either comfort or truth, only soft soap and wishful thinking to begin, and in the end, despair.”  C. S. Lewis

Truth - Ignoring, Avoiding

Some run from the truth and hide from it. Others ignore the truth and avoid it. To adapt Gandhi’s quote, one might say, “First they ignore the truth, then they laugh at the truth; then they fight the truth; and then the truth absolutely wins.” Why do people attempt to avoid reality or ignore the truth when it’s clearly presented?

In an era where information is at our fingertips, one might think that the truth would be embraced and celebrated. After all, with the vast resources available to us, uncovering facts and arriving at informed conclusions should be easier than ever, right? Unfortunately, that is not how things always turn out. 

When God shares information, instructions, and truth with mankind, few are interested. When authentic and authorized messengers from God declare His message for mankind, many fail to pay attention, correctly understand, or adhere to His words. Whenever knowledge, understanding, or truth originates or comes directly from God, it would seem reasonable for everyone to perk up with enthusiasm and never ignore or reject it. 

Yet, paradoxically, people often run from the truth, especially when it’s presented to them in a clear, unvarnished manner. People tend to run away even faster with greater determination when repentance or internal change is required. This avoidance of truth isn’t just a fleeting tendency; it’s a deeply ingrained behavior that has profound implications for individuals and society as a whole.

… “Now the people were deceived; so they ignored Abinadi’s words and tried to arrest him from that time forward. And king Noah completely ignored the Lord’s word and didn’t change his evildoing.”  (Mosiah 7:9 RE)

… “He has no rank or position deserving respect, and when we notice Him, there’s nothing about Him to please us. He is despised and rejected by men — a man of sorrow and familiar with disease. And we turned our faces away, ignoring Him. He was despised and thought to be of no value. Yet it was our sickness He took upon Himself, our suffering He endured.”  (Mosiah 8:3 RE)

… “They ignored warnings about their iniquities, and they wouldn’t abandon them. And though they were commanded to repent, they refused to repent.”  (Mosiah 8:14 RE)

… “How can you ever gain light and truth when you use one another as the final authority on truth, and ignore the light sent by the Most High God?” …   (T&C 171 - TSJ 5:10 RE)

Since God is truth, wouldn’t it be wise for me to read or hear His words, ponder their meaning, and determine how they specifically apply in my life? How are my current paradigms and ways of living matching up to the words I have received from God? What do I need to change? Start? Stop? Reconsider and repent of? Is there anything that I need to correct or make right? If I have questions, shouldn’t I ask God, reason with him, and correctly understand His perspectives and suggestions so I can properly live His words revealed to me for my situation? Wouldn't it be wise to be obedient to His instructions given to me? How could I realistically expect God to give me further instructions if I ignore and discard what He has already given me? If I obey what God has already given me, He promises to give me more. I believe this promise applies to all because God is no respecter of persons.

… “Many people are given knowledge of God’s mysteries; however, they’re placed under a strict command to only discuss that part of His word He allows to be given to mankind, corresponding to their obedience and diligence given to Him. Those who harden their hearts receive less of His word. Those who don’t harden their hearts are given a greater part of His word, until they understand God’s mysteries. They can be given God’s mysteries until everything is fully known. However those who harden their hearts are given less of His word, until they know nothing about His mysteries. Then the accuser captures them and leads them by his will down to destruction. This is what the chains of hell mean.” (Alma 9:3 CE)

Truth

… “and truth is knowledge of things as they are, and as they were, and as they are to come; and whatever is more or less than these is the spirit of that wicked one who was a liar from the beginning.” (T&C 93:8)

Many run from the truth, hide from it, ignore it, dread it, hate it, despise it, mock it, avoid it, deny it, and reject it. Others openly welcome the truth, want it, ask for it, seek it, find it, rejoice in it, love it, embrace it, and consistently live it. And the remaining ones find themselves somewhere in between. Sooner or later, truth catches up with everyone, misses no one, overlooks nothing, and determines the outcome of all. None is able to destroy the truth, and not a single soul dodges or evades it forever. You cannot make a lie true, nor can you make the truth a lie, but love reveals both.

From my observation, it is better to remain ignorant of the truth if you don’t want to live it because the consequences for willful rebellion are serious.

Some few really do want to know the truth and be set free.  … “If you continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” …  (John 6:14 RE)

But for the honest truth seeker, why is it so hard to find the truth? Is it because they’re not living it? Not looking for it? Looking at the opinions of others? Fearful of how the truth will change their life and paradigms? Or is the cognitive dissonance truth created just too painful?

I desire to know the truth as God knows it, but sometimes that’s easier said than done and it takes revelation, time, and obedience. In the following blog posts, I’ll share some tools, ideas, and concepts that are helping me to take an honest look at myself and be accountable for whatever fruit I produce.

Immovable versus Stubborn

In the June 20, 2024 revelation the Lord says: 

. . . for many things provoking arguments among the people are born  from pride, stubbornness, aspiring for control, and reckless indifference toward me and one another . . . posted on Denver Snuffer’s Blog July 19, 2024

In the Covenant of Christ we read: 

He [Lehi] also said to Lemuel: I wish you would be like this valley - firm, resolute, and immovable in keeping the Lord’s commandments. He said this because Laman and Lemuel were stubborn. page 3

Lehi wishes his son would be firm, resolute, and immovable because he can see Lemuel is stubborn. 

Stubborn: having or showing dogged determination not to change one's attitude or position on something, especially in spite of good arguments or reasons to do so.

Firm: not weak or uncertain; not easily moved or disturbed; well-founded; not soft or yielding to pressure; strong and sure; securely established; marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable; with resolute determination

Resolute: resolved; bold;  steady; firm in purpose or belief; characterized by firmness and determination

Immovable: steadfast, unyielding; not capable of being moved emotionally; incapable of being moved

What separates the firm, resolute, and immovable from the stubborn? Those who are stubborn are not willing to be persuaded by good arguments and reasons. They act without intelligence. Their disobedience keeps them from receiving the truth. 

Those who are firm, resolute, and immovable act with intelligence. They are easily persuaded by sound judgment and sensible reasoning. They continue to receive intelligence as they seek to align their lives with the truth. We need intelligence, so we can act wisely. The first step in being wise is to receive the truth. 

The stubborn are foolish. The firm, resolute, and immovable are wise. 

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• These things are the things that you must look for, and speaking after the manner of the Lord, they are now nigh at hand, and in a time to come, even in the day of the coming of the Son of Man. And until that hour there will be foolish virgins among the wise, and at that hour comes an entire separation of the righteous and the wicked, and in that day will I send mine angels to pluck out the wicked and cast them into unquenchable fire. T&C 50:12

How do wise virgins become righteous and foolish virgins become wicked? What mechanism is the Lord currently using to separate His covenant people? 

• And then at that day, before the Son of Man comes, the kingdom of Heaven shall be likened unto ten virgins who took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom, and five of them were wise and five of them were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom comes, go out to meet him! Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Lest there be not enough for us and you, go rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came. And they that were ready went in with him to the marriage, and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us. But he answered and said, Truly I say unto you, you know me not. Watch, therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of Man comes. Matthew 11:15

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What is the oil each of us must have to keep our lamps burning brightly? How can we successfully navigate the ever changing maze we find ourselves in? 

. . . And at that day when I shall come in my glory shall the parable be fulfilled which I spoke concerning the ten virgins, for they that are wise and have received the truth, and have taken the holy spirit for their guide and have not been deceived, verily I say unto you, they shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire, but shall abide the day, and the earth shall be given unto them for an inheritance. And they shall multiply and wax strong, and their children shall grow up without sin unto salvation, for the Lord shall be in their midst and his glory shall be upon them, and he will be their king and their lawgiver. T&C 31:12

The time is now, and the Lord is warning us. I believe this parable was given to teach about what is currently afoot among His covenant people. Be wise.

. . . Do not be misled by my patience, for the time is quickly approaching for the  harvest of my vineyard. Amen. Revelation June 20, 2024

p.s. I thought it interesting what AI has to say about wisdom:

A wise person is someone who has a deep understanding of people and situations, and is able to use their knowledge and experience to make sound judgments and decisions. Wise people are often characterized by their ability to analyze a situation from all sides before coming to a conclusion. They base their decisions on facts and evidence, rather than emotion or hearsay, and are open to reconsidering their positions if new information arises.

I Will Watch Over Them

It is not enough to receive my covenant, but you must also abide it. And all who abide it, whether on this land or any other land, will be mine, and I will watch over them and protect them in the day of harvest, and gather them in as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. I will number you among the remnant of Jacob, no longer outcasts, and you will inherit the promises of Israel. You shall be my people and I will be your God, and the sword will not devour you. And unto those who will receive will more be given, until they know the mysteries of God in full. T&C 157:48 [emphasis added]

The Joy of Raising Chickens

I never tire of gathering the chickens each evening. I’m always delighted to see scattered chickens run full speed to greet me. I walk them into the coop and shut the door behind us. I feed them food scraps and grain. Then I gather their eggs. As I leave, I latch the door behind me, leaving them safe inside while nocturnal predators prowl outside.