Jesus told Thomas, “Because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed.” Then, He added, “Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed” (John 20:29). Alma expressed the same principle as he taught the Zoramites about faith: “If a man knoweth a thing he hath no cause to believe, for he knoweth it” (Alma 32:18).
It sounds like an essential element of faith is not knowing something. “If ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true” (Alma 32:21).
But what happens when you actually do see something? The old adage, “Seeing is believing,” is surely true most of the time. As soon as we experience something firsthand, we accept it as true. But what if the experience challenges deep-rooted convictions and mental models? How do we deal with the cognitive dissonance this generates?
When Nephi told his neighbors that the chief judge was dead, and that they could know the truth of his words by going to the judgment seat (Helaman 8:27-28), five of them decided to find out for themselves. As they ran, they said among themselves, “We do not believe that he is a prophet; nevertheless, if this thing which he has said concerning the chief judge be true, that he be dead, then will we believe that the other words which he has spoken are true” (Helaman 9:2). This expression of skepticism was also a commitment, and they followed through on their promise. “When they saw they believed” (Helaman 9:5).
But didn’t they have to believe at that point? Wasn’t it obvious at that point that Nephi was a prophet? It was to them, but not to everyone else. Some of the neighbors came up with a theory that he had an accomplice who had carried out the murder on his behalf. When he debunked that theory, they still found it hard to accept the truth:
Notwithstanding that great miracle which Nephi had done in telling them concerning the death of the chief judge, they did harden their hearts and did not hearken unto the words of the Lord.
Helaman 10:13
Maybe seeing isn’t always believing after all.
One key appears to be personal integrity. The five who ran to the judgment seat didn’t believe that Nephi was a prophet and didn’t want to believe it, but they were willing to examine the evidence and accept the result, even if it contradicted their assumptions. “When they saw they believed.” Surely we can all hold ourselves to that standard.
Today, I will accept observable facts, even if it makes me rethink my assumptions. I will avoid rationalization and will strive to adapt my thoughts and actions to the realities that I can observe firsthand.