Sabbathought: The three greatest truths

Along with Elder McConkie we judge that three truths stand out as the greatest truths in all eternity.

The greatest truth in all eternity is that there is a God. And this God is also a Father. It follows that He must therefore have children and that those children can become like their Heavenly Parents. This truth is self evident in all aspects of Creation, of which He is the Author, and qualifies as the greatest truth in all eternity.

The second greatest truth in all eternity is that this Father-God has an Only Begotten Son whose birth, life, death, and atoning sacrifice put into operation all the terms and conditions of the plan for the Father's other children to become like Himself. This is the central message of the Christian faith and qualifies as the second greatest truth in all eternity.

The third greatest truth in all eternity is that the Father and Son have a Holy Personage of Spirit by whom They are able to communicate with, reveal, teach, comfort, sanctify, and purify the children while they are away from home for their mortal schooling in how to become like their Heavenly Parents. This Personage is known as the Holy Ghost, and this truth rightly qualifies as the third greatest truth in all eternity.

These three great truths---simple, clear, lucid, and powerful---are summarized in the first article of faith: "We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost." This makes the first article of faith the greatest of all the thirteen articles of faith.

Latter-day Saints should specialize, as it were, in the theology contained in this first article of faith. There is God, and there are the things of God, His creations. Revealed religion has to do with the personhood of God, His character and attributes. Science and research deal with the things of God, His creations.

President Brigham Young said, "Every elder should be a profound theologian," meaning that each and every man and woman in the kingdom of God should know God and know much about Him, and His purposes and plans for His family. Such a pursuit is the quest of a mortal lifetime and should be a magnificent obsession among the Saints of the Most High. It can only be achieved through the holy scriptures, which bring the Holy Ghost into the matter.

How blessed we are to have these things made known to us!

God bless us all in this adventure.

Steve