"So," I was asked recently, "how can you keep your faith in LDS spiritual truth when so many changes have been made over the years?"
I couldn't argue. Religions do change. The Catholic Church once taught that the sun spun around the earth and the stars moved through the sky because legions of angels shoved them around.
I gave the man the answer I often give.
I quoted Ralph Waldo Emerson:
"Don't believe in needles," Emerson said. "Believe in magnetism."
In other words, don't focus on visible displays, focus on the power behind them — hold to the "spiritual method," not just "spiritual manifestations."
And if that sounds like a dodge, keep in mind it's the same approach used by researchers with the scientific method.
When I was in grade school, science said I should eat a good breakfast every morning to stay healthy. And science said that breakfast might be two fried eggs, two strips of bacon, toast, butter and a glass of milk.
I followed the findings of science for years — as my heart surgeon will attest.
But when more information surfaced and changes were made, did I abandon my belief in science because it got things wrong?
No.
I kept my faith in the method.
I just abandoned my former beliefs.
A scientist in 1912 had one age for the earth, a scientist in 1950 had another and a scientist today will give you a third.
Does that mean science is useless because it's fickle?
No. It means new findings have constantly come to light.
For me, relying of spiritual impressions works much the same way.
I hold to the "spiritual method" because I'm amazed — not by all the things that have changed, but by all the things that haven't.
The principles found in stories about Ruth and Naomi, The Good Samaritan and The Lost Sheep are just as true today as they were thousands of years ago.
Can the same be said for the "truths" of medicine, nutrition and astronomy?
As the wise old salt said, "You gotta stick with what works."
And what works for me are both the scientific method and the spiritual method.
I'll stick with them.
I'll put my faith in magnetism, not needles.
Jerry Johnston is a former Deseret News staff writer. "New Harmony" appears every other week in Mormon Times. Email: jerjohn@desnews.com