The Hard Truth
Well this week was a little bit more relaxed, we had a decent amount of let downs, but its all good. Im fairly happy though.
We had interviews.. again... This week. and we also had stake conference. Theres just always things going on lately, its been stressful, hopefully president calms down with all the different stuff going on.
I was reading a story the other day and it made me laugh, but its exactly what we do in our lives. It goes like this,
The Storm of Truth
The earth is the center of the universe, and the sun and moon revolve around it. Such was the authoritative pronouncement of Ptolemy about A.D. 150. He was a renowned astronomer of ancient time. He was in
accord with the thinking of Aristotle.1 He had all the intellectual credentials. His declaration was universally
accepted. But there was one major problem: he was wrong—absolutely wrong. Nonetheless, this theory of
an earth-centered universe flourished for fourteen hundred years as "gospel truth" in both the scientific and
religious communities.2 To think otherwise was to think the unthinkable.
It was not until 1543 that Copernicus, followed some years later by Galileo and Kepler, challenged this
seemingly ironclad "truth." In direct opposition to Ptolemy, these independent thinkers taught, and ultimately
proved, that the earth was not a stationary body at the center of the universe, but rather, a moving planet that
revolved, like all other planets, around the sun.
Such a disclosure sent a shock wave through the civilized world. Long-accepted assumptions began to be
undermined. The underlying rationale of the cosmos and its orbital movements was being challenged and
compromised. The seemingly rock-solid foundation for an earth-centered universe was disintegrating with
each new discovery. The storm of truth had hit, and the facade of falsehood could not withstand its
onslaught.
Nonetheless, the reaction to the truth when it was finally proposed by courageous men was violently
opposed and rejected by many. That reaction was reflected in the attitude of a friend of Galileo who refused
to look through Galileo's telescope "because he really did not want to see that which he had so firmly
denied."3 These errant believers were being told that their precious gold was fools' gold; their diamonds,
quartz; their foundation of rock, a quagmire of quicksand. It was not easy to swallow. Falsehood never flees
easily. It does not give up ground without a fight. After fourteen hundred years, its roots were deep-seated.
It would take more than a small tug to uproot it. It would take men who were bold and honest and tenacious.
One such man was Galileo. With his newly discovered telescope, he charted the skies and learned for
himself that the earth was not a stationary body at the center of the universe, but rather a planet that revolves
around the sun. For his adherence to the truth he was brought before the Inquisition. Under threat of torture,
he recanted his belief in an orbiting earth, but as he exited the proceedings, he was heard to mutter, "And yet
it does move."4 The truth had surfaced, never again to be silenced.
Many times in our lives instead of finding fault in ourselves and accepting it, we try our hardest to prove things are true. This the opposite of humility. If we are humble we will learn faster, and life will be made much easier for us.
Love you All!
Elder Hodson
