Cherish Your Doubts - wasmormon.org

This reading for worship, from the Unitarian Universalize Association, emphasizes the value of doubt as an essential and positive element in the pursuit of truth and knowledge. It contrasts doubt with unquestioning belief, arguing that beliefs immune to questioning can lead to error and incompleteness. Doubt, in this context, is portrayed as the key to unlocking knowledge and the servant of discovery.

The reading states that doubt is a testing ground for belief and a touchstone for truth, capable of revealing what is false. Unlike a belief that remains untested and unquestioned, truth emerges stronger and more secure through the process of doubt. The passage encourages individuals not to fear doubt but to cherish it, as it serves as a critical tool in the quest for understanding.

Cherish your doubts, for doubt is the attendant of truth.
Doubt is the key to the door of knowledge; it is the servant of discovery.
A belief which may not be questioned binds us to error, for there is incompleteness and imperfection in every belief.
Doubt is the touchstone of truth; it is an acid which eats away the false.
Let no one fear the truth, that doubt may consume it; for doubt is a testing of belief.
The truth stands boldly and unafraid; it is not shaken by the testing:
For truth, if it be truth, arises from each testing stronger, more secure.
Those that would silence doubt are filled with fear; their houses are built on shifting sands.
But those who fear not doubt, and know its use, are founded on rock.
They shall walk in the light of growing knowledge; the work of their hands shall endure.
Therefore let us not fear doubt, but let us rejoice in its help:
It is to the wise as a staff to the blind; doubt is the attendant of truth.
Cherish Your Doubts, Robert T. Weston, Unitarian Minister
https://www.uua.org/worship/words/reading/cherish-your-doubts

"Cherish your doubts, for doubt is the attendant of truth.
Doubt is the key to the door of knowledge; it is the servant of discovery.
A belief which may not be questioned binds us to error, for there is incompleteness and imperfection in every belief.
Doubt is the touchstone of truth; it is an acid which eats away the false.
Let no one fear the truth, that doubt may consume it; for doubt is a testing of belief.
The truth stands boldly and unafraid; it is not shaken by the testing:" - Cherish Your Doubts, Robert T. Weston, Unitarian Minister | wasmormon.org — Cherish your doubts, for doubt is the attendant of truth.
Doubt is the key to the door of knowledge; it is the servant of discovery.
A belief which may not be questioned binds us to error,
for there is incompleteness and imperfection in every belief.
Doubt is the touchstone of truth; it is an acid which eats away the false.
Let no one fear the truth, that doubt may consume it;
for doubt is a testing of belief.
The truth stands boldly and unafraid; it is not shaken by the testing:
– Cherish Your Doubts, Robert T. Weston, Unitarian Minister

"For truth, if it be truth, arises from each testing stronger, more secure. Those that would silence doubt are filled with fear; their houses are built on shifting sands. But those who fear not doubt, and know its use, are founded on rock. They shall walk in the light of growing knowledge; the work of their hands shall endure. Therefore let us not fear doubt, but let us rejoice in its help: It is to the wise as a staff to the blind; doubt is the attendant of truth." - Cherish Your Doubts, Robert T. Weston, Unitarian Minister | wasmormon.org — For truth, if it be truth, arises from each testing stronger, more secure.
Those that would silence doubt are filled with fear;
their houses are built on shifting sands.
But those who fear not doubt, and know its use, are founded on rock.
They shall walk in the light of growing knowledge;
the work of their hands shall endure.
Therefore let us not fear doubt, but let us rejoice in its help:
It is to the wise as a staff to the blind; doubt is the attendant of truth.
– Cherish Your Doubts, Robert T. Weston, Unitarian Minister

Contrasting this perspective with those that fear doubt, and teach us to fear it, the reading promotes an open-minded and questioning approach. Those who attempt to silence doubt are motivated by fear, and their foundations are portrayed as less stable, akin to “shifting sands.” Those who embrace doubt, on the other hand, have a more solid foundation, founded on rock, and they can expect to walk in the light of growing knowledge.

Wisdom of Investigating Doubt

The reading advocates for the positive role of doubt in the pursuit of truth and knowledge. Unquestioning beliefs are inflexible, can lead to error, and at best to a dead end. We should not fear doubt, but see it as an essential companion of our truth-seeking journey. When we properly test truth with our doubts, any false beliefs will not withstand it. Many statements from Mormon leaders echo this wisdom over the years. Consider the golden wisdom provided by J. Reuben Clark when he stated that “if we have the truth, it cannot be harmed by investigation.” He was confident in the fact that the truth could withstand

"If we have truth, it cannot be harmed by investigation. If we have not truth, it ought to be harmed." - Elder J Reuben Clark, LDS Apostle | wasmormon.org — “If we have truth, it cannot be harmed by investigation. If we have not truth, it ought to be harmed.” – Elder J Reuben Clark, LDS Apostle

"The honest investigator must be prepared to follow wherever the search of truth may lead. Truth is often found in the most unexpected places. He must, with fearless and open mind insist that facts are more important than any cherished, mistaken beliefs, no matter how unpleasant the facts or how delightful the beliefs." Elder Hugh B Brown, Mormon Apostle — “The honest investigator must be prepared to follow wherever the search of truth may lead. Truth is often found in the most unexpected places. He must, with fearless and open mind insist that facts are more important than any cherished, mistaken beliefs, no matter how unpleasant the facts or how delightful the beliefs.” Elder Hugh B Brown, LDSApostle

"Mormonism, as it is called, must stand or fall on the story of Joseph Smith. He was either a prophet of God, divinely called, properly appointed and commissioned, or he was one of the biggest frauds this world has ever seen. There is no middle ground." - LDS Church President, Elder Joseph Fielding Smith - Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. I | wasmormon.org — “Mormonism, as it is called, must stand or fall on the story of Joseph Smith. He was either a prophet of God, divinely called, properly appointed and commissioned, or he was one of the biggest frauds this world has ever seen. There is no middle ground.” – LDS Church President, Elder Joseph Fielding Smith – Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. I

"Our whole strength rests on the validity of that vision. It either occurred or it did not occur. If it did not, then this work is a fraud." Gordon B Hinckley | wasmormon.org — “Our whole strength rests on the validity of that vision. It either occurred or it did not occur. If it did not, then this work is a fraud.” Gordon B Hinckley

Mormon Leaders Fear Doubt

The mainstream and correlated proclamations from the pulpit center more on fearing doubt, especially lately. We are told to doubt our doubts, stop rehearsing our doubts, that researching our doubts to find answers is not the ultimate solution. We’re told that research is not the answer, and leaders even admit that they are not preaching the truth, but preaching stories to promote faith.

“It’s natural to have questions... First doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith. We must never allow doubt to hold us prisoner.” - Dieter F. Uchtdorf, 2013 | wasmormon.org — “It’s natural to have questions… First doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith. We must never allow doubt to hold us prisoner.” – Dieter F. Uchtdorf, 2013

"Stop increasing your doubts by rehearsing them with other doubters." Russell M Nelson, Mormon Church President | wasmormon.org — “Stop increasing your doubts by rehearsing them with other doubters.” Russell M Nelson, Mormon Church President

"Having perplexing questions that arise from reasons to doubt is not a problem. But please understand, finding answers to these perplexing questions ultimately is not the solution." - Elder McKay, Church Historian | wasmormon.org — “Having perplexing questions that arise from reasons to doubt is not a problem. But please understand, finding answers to these perplexing questions ultimately is not the solution.” – Elder McKay, Church Historian

Matters of Church history and doctrinal issues have led some spouses to inactivity. Some spouses wonder how to best go about researching and responding to such issues. “I suggest that research is not the answer” — Matters of Church history and doctrinal issues have led some spouses to inactivity. Some spouses wonder how to best go about researching and responding to such issues.“I suggest that research is not the answer” – President Oaks

There is a temptation for the writer or the teacher of Church history to want to tell everything, whether it is worthy or faith promoting or not. Some things that are true are not very useful. - Elder Boyd K Packer — “There is a temptation for the writer or the teacher of Church history to want to tell everything, whether it is worthy or faith promoting or not.Some things that are true are not very useful.” – Elder Boyd K Packer

Real historians have made it crystal clear that the church peddles fake history to bolster the faith of the members. They are literally holding up fake truth, so members have something to believe in. Why would this be necessary, if the real truth was believable? Those who knew this and eloquently published it, like D Michael Quinn, end up excommunicated, while the leaders teaching half-truths continue preaching, and continue getting paid to preach.

"The tragic reality is that there have been occasions when Church leaders, teachers, and writers have not told the truth they knew about difficulties of the Mormon past, but have offered to the Saints instead a mixture of platitudes, half-truths, omissions, and plausible denials... A so-called "faith-promoting" Church history which conceals controversies and difficulties of the Mormon past actually undermines the faith of Latter-day Saints who eventually learn about the problems from other sources." Dr. D Michael Quinn, Excommunicated Mormon | wasmormon.org — “The tragic reality is that there have been occasions when Church leaders, teachers, and writers have not told the truth they knew about difficulties of the Mormon past, but have offered to the Saints instead a mixture of platitudes, half-truths, omissions, and plausible denials. Elder Packer and others would justify this because “we are at war with the adversary” and must also protect any Latter-day Saint whose “testimony [is] in seedling stage.”35 But such a public-relations defense of the Church is actually a Maginot Line of sandy fortifications which “the enemy” can easily breach and which has been built up by digging lethal pits into which the Saints will stumble. A so-called “faith-promoting” Church history which conceals controversies and difficulties of the Mormon past actually undermines the faith of Latter-day Saints who eventually learn about the problems from other sources.” Dr D Michael Quinn, Exommunicated Mormon Historian

Did you doubt your doubts, and did that help your faith crisis? Did you learn to find wisdom in the doubts? Did the doubt show you warning signs and inform you that your shelf was unhealthy? How did you experience your Mormon faith transition and what role did doubt play? Share your thoughts in the comments below, or consider sharing your whole deconstruction story with a profile on wasmormon.org.

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