What Does It Mean For God To Restore His Truth? Fresh Perspectives To More Deeply Understand This Concept

“We acknowledge the oneness and basic unity of religion, which is a symphony of God’s blessings and mercy, and the universality of

belief in religion. One cannot have harmony if everyone plays the same notes; and one cannot have symphony if everyone plays the

same instruments. Individual conductors and composers are different, but the source of musical creativity is One” - Fethullah Gulen

“Mormonism is truth, let it come from whence it may" - Joseph Smith

“If there is anything virtuous, lovely or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things." - The Apostle Paul & The Prophet Joseph

"Seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom," - Doctrine and Covenants 88:118

Purpose Of This Article:

In order to complete the restoration and in order to experience a fullness in our own lives, we need to continue to search for fragments of truth that are scattered throughout the world and not currently in the church.

Yes, God's prophets and apostles will reveal to us foundational truths that will guide us on the path to salvation, but, as Elder Bednar states,"We should not expect the Church as an organization to teach or tell us all of the things we need to know and do to become devoted disciples and endure valiantly to the end (see Doctrine and Covenants 121:29). Rather, our individual responsibility is to learn what we should learn, to live as we know we should live, and to become what the Master would have us become.

3 Problems People Fall Into:

1. Thinking that the church has the entire fullness (that the restoration is over)
2. Thinking that if there is anything true that is important for us to know or apply in our lives, that it will come from prophetic channel 
3. Even if we are aware of #2 and #3, many are lazy and do not actively seek out that which is good and true in the world

Many think the teachings of the church are sufficient to help them with everything in their lives. For example, many have the false notion that just living the gospel will prevent or treat depression or strengthen a marriage. However, there is much wisdom to be gleaned from outside the church about marital education, counseling and medicine.

Elder Bednar continues, "Our individual responsibility to learn truth, to love truth, and to live according to truth is increasingly important in a world that is "in commotion" (Doctrine and Covenants 45:26) and grows ever more confused and wicked. We cannot expect simply to attend Church meetings and to participate in programs and thereby receive all of the spiritual fortification and protection that will enable us to "withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand" (Ephesians 6:13). Certainly inspired leaders and activities help and support individualand family efforts to grow spiritually. But the ultimate responsibility for developing spiritual strength and stamina rests upon each andevery member of the Church.”― David A. Bednar, Increase In Learning: Spiritual Patterns For Obtaining Your Own Answers

And Dieter F. Uchtdorf adds, "Sometimes we think of the Restoration of the gospel as something that is complete, already behind us—Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon, he received priesthood keys, the Church was organized. In reality, the Restoration is an ongoing process; we are living in it right now. It includes “all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal,” and the “many great and important things” that “He will yet reveal.”2 Brethren, the exciting developments of today are part of that long-foretold period of preparation that will culminate in the glorious Second Coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ."

Catherine Thomas stated, "We acknowledge that even in the Restored Gospel we do not yet have a fullness. Though there has been restored to us a flood of rich doctrines and a greater access to Truth, much yet remains to be revealed to each of us. The Restoration is still going on, dependent to some degree on our preparation and diligent seeking." 

A common teaching of the church is that "all truth may be circumscribed into one great whole." To circumscribe means to draw a circle around. Imagine a mathematical compass. To draw a perfect circle, you place the first point down, and then with the other point, you draw a circle around the first point. The point in the middle is the restored gospel, and God is gathering in truth from all places and all times, line upon line. (see more from the podcast, "Zion: Consciousness and Covenant," Episode: “Trials and Testimony” starting at 44:00)

How Does God Gather In Truth? 

We know from modern revelation that God did not create the universe out of nothing, but he used eternally existing chaotic unorganized matter and organized it.

Just like with the creation, the doctrines of the restoration did not come out of a vacuum. It is a creative and revelatory process where God helps his prophets take the fragments of truth scattered throughout the world and gather them into a coherent whole.

So you could say that Joseph Smith was an inspired eclecticist. 

What are some of those fragments of truth scattered throughout the world that we can draw in to the church and into our lives?

"We are in the process of receiving all that God has spoken by the mouths of all his holy prophets since the world began. Only a small portion has come to us so far; we do not, as yet, begin to know what the ancients knew."- Bruce R, McKonkie

"God has been using not merely his covenant people, but other people of the world as well, to carry out a work that is too demanding for the limited numbers of Latter-day Saints to accomplish. God and great men and women . . . who have thought profoundly . . . have been inspired by God under many circumstances to deliver dimensions of light and truth . . . (including) Zarathustra, Buatama Buddha, Lao Tzu, Muhammed, and Guru Nanak" -Orson F Whitney, Conference Report, April 1921

The great religious leaders of the world such as Mohammed, Confucius, and the Reformers, as well as philosophers including Socrates,Plato, and others, received a portion of God’s light. Moral truths were given to them by God to enlighten whole nations and to bring a higher level of understanding to individuals. - 1st Presidency Statement

So what are some of the things God revealed to the ancients that we are just beginning to incorporate into the restoration?

For starters, techniques such as meditation and essential oils have proven in millions of lives to be healing and strengthening for people physically, mentally and emotionally - which strengthens us spiritually.

And there are many other things we can discover with the aid of God and apply into our lives for our blessing.

However, we need not claim that it's doctrine for whole church.

May we remember the 3 things God wants us to do: 

1. Realize that the entire fullness has not yet been restored
2. Realize that not every piece of truth restored will come through our church or it's prophets
3. Actively seek all that is good and true into the world, and incorporate it into the restored kingdom and into our lives.