President Boyd K. Packer on balancing reason and revelation

President Boyd K. Packer (1924-2015) served as an Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve (a position that no longer exists) from 1961 to 1970, when he was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles.  He served as president of that Quorum from 1994 until his death in 2015 at age 90.

"The ties between universities and the churches that founded them have been severed because of constantly recurring contention between the spiritual and the temporal; the never-ending controversy between a narrow view of science and religion; the ancient conflict between reason and revelation.

"There are two opposing convictions in the university environment. On the one hand, 'seeing is believing.' On the other, 'believing is seeing.' Both are true! Each in its place. The combining of the two individually or institutionally is the challenge of life. Neither influence will easily surrender to the other. They may function for a time under some sort of a truce, but the subtle discord is ever present.

"They mix the way oil and water mix—only with constant shaking or stirring. When the stirring stops, they separate again. It takes a catalytic process to blend them. This requires the introduction of a third ingredient, a catalyst, which itself remains unchanged in the blending process.

"Each of us must accommodate the mixture of reason and revelation in our lives. The gospel not only permits but requires it. An individual who concentrates on either side solely and alone will lose both balance and perspective. History confirms that the university environment always favors reason, and the workings of the Spirit are made to feel uncomfortable. I know of no examples to the contrary.

"Spirituality, while consummately strong, reacts to very delicate changes in its environment. To have it present at all and to keep it in some degree of purity requires a commitment and a watch-care that can admit to no embarrassment when compared with what the scholarly world is about."

- Boyd K. Packer, "I Say unto You, Be One," Brigham Young University Devotional, February 12, 1991
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President Packer shared these remarks with a university audience, discussing the particular challenges of that learning environment where historically reason and revelation, or science and religion, once coexisted, but then separated, and now sometimes compete. He reminds us that in our personal lives, both are important; we must learn to have them coexist and interact in our minds and thoughts. However, in the so-called "scholarly world," reason often pushes revelation to the side and even dismisses it as inferior and inadequate.

I found this to be a profound concept. Spirituality is strong, but "reacts to very delicate changes in its environment." We must take caution to preserve and maintain our spirituality in the face of many forces that threaten it. Truly it "requires a commitment and a watch-care" to give spiritual things the prominence and influence in our lives they deserve.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2019)

President Spencer W. Kimball on the need for faithful devotion in today's world

President Spencer W. Kimball (1895-1985) was ordained an apostle in 1943 and served as President of the Church from 1973 to 1985.

"It seems that at no time in world history has there been a greater need for understanding and blending the wholesome and divine teachings of the Master into our lives and into all our dealings with our fellowmen. I say to everyone within the sound of my voice, 'Do not fail the Lord.' We must accept the truth that the gospel principles are not on trial but that we are. The teachings of Jesus as revealed through the ancient and modern prophets are constant and unchanging.

"The history of man evidences that these teachings are true. The rise and fall of civilizations according to the alternating righteousness and wickedness of the peoples proclaim the need to hear and to heed the Savior’s divine messages. We must prepare ourselves, both individually and as a church, to defend the gospel truths against a world steeped in atheism and godlessness. We must oppose the so-called intellectuals who reason that they have all the answers, and we must contend mightily with those whose lust for power and worldly gain destroy their sense of right and wrong.

"As members of Christ’s true church we must stand firm today and always for human rights and the dignity of man who is the literal offspring of God in the spirit. We cannot condone a separation of our religious beliefs from our daily living. Righteousness must prevail in our lives and in our homes."

- Spencer W. Kimball, "Fortify Your Homes Against Evil," General Conference April 1979
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President Kimball's voice was weak, ravaged by cancer and age; but his message was always clear and strong. I particularly enjoyed this talk, as he shared with Church members a sense of his vision for their duties and opportunities in the face of a challenging world. Never has there been a greater need for living the teachings of the Master:

In this talk, President Kimball used the phrase "we must" a total of 16 times as the tried to convey the need of faithfulness and obedience to his audience. Even in this short excerpt, notice the urgency of his invitations:

• we must recognize that we are being tried on how we can live gospel truths
• we must be intellectually prepared to stand up for our beliefs
• we must be ready to contend against intellectualism
• we must oppose those who lose a moral sense in their desire for power and profit
• we must stand firm in defense of the rights and dignities of men

This message, of how much the Lord depends on us and is counting on our efforts in His work, should inspire us to greater efforts and faithfulness in the things that matter most.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)

President Dallin H. Oaks on intellectual principles and the gospel of Christ

President Dallin H. Oaks (born August 12, 1932) served as president of BYU from 1971-1980.  He was then appointed as a justice of the Utah Supreme Court, and resigned when he was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1984. He became President of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles and also 1st Counselor in the First Presidency in January 2018.

"Those who govern their thoughts and actions solely by the principles of liberalism or conservatism or intellectualism cannot be expected to agree with all of the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ. As for me, I find some wisdom in liberalism, some wisdom in conservatism, and much truth in intellectualism—but I find no salvation in any of them.

"The role of a preacher or a practitioner of righteousness is not to be popular with the world or to be esteemed by any particular group, but to be right with God. Isaiah affirmed that fact when he condemned the rebellious 'which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits.' (Isa. 30:10.) It is easy to preach freedom or truth. Praise for those subjects is usually safe and always popular. It is infinitely more difficult to preach how men and women should use freedom or truth. The preacher of that message may command respect, but he or she will not win popularity.

"I conclude with a message of hope. When Isaiah condemned the critics of his day, he concluded with a prophecy. He said that in time the children of God would sanctify his name and 'fear the God of Israel.' Continuing, he declared, 'They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine.' (Isa. 29:23–24.) In that spirit I pray for the day when all of us will know God and keep his commandments. In that day, as Isaiah foretold, the 'king shall reign in righteousness,' and 'the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.' (Isa. 32:1, 17.)"

- Dallin H. Oaks, "Critisicm," talk to an LDSSA fireside on 4 May 1986; see Ensign, February 1987, p. 68-70
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This thought-provoking talk was shared with a gathering of young adults early in President Oaks' service as an apostle. His views on learning and philosophy are very interesting in light of that new focus of his life. I appreciate his open-minded description of finding merit in a variety of approaches to life and politics: liberalism, conservatism, and intellectualism. But the critical distinction is between finding wisdom and insight, and finding salvation:

President Oaks makes a critical distinction between the teaching of intellectual principles and the insights of the gospel. While it's one thing for a man to talk about ideas like truth and freedom, it's quite another to discuss how to use those ideas in practical daily living.

The key for us is to learn doctrine and to obey commandments. With those two priorities, the rest of the intellectual endeavors will fall into their proper places.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)