What Is Truth? Navigating a World of Faith, Science, and Noise

by Aaron D. Franklin

The world we live in is filled with wondrous truths and outrageous falsehoods. The amount of information produced worldwide in a single day would require several lifetimes for an individual to consume. How do we navigate between quiet truth and the constant onslaught of noisy untruth in such a world? How do we find truth in a world that increasingly and inaccurately pits scientific truth against religious truth? How do we treat those whose views on what is true differ from our own? What do we mean by truth, anyway?

What Is Truth? describes the relationship between scientific and gospel truth through parables, scientific examples, and simple diagrams. Dr. Aaron Franklin, a scientist, thinker, and author of The Spiritual Physics of Light, provides strategies for discovering, holding on to, and cherishing the most powerful and sacred truth, which brings peace that “passeth all understanding” (Philippians 4:7). This peace can penetrate even the most tumultuous of life’s storms. Ultimately, as we hold to the word of God and keep Christ at the center of all truth, we can continue on the path to “comprehend[ing] all things” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:67).

Genres: Religion, Nonfiction

192 pages, Hardcover

Published June 2, 2025

Reviews

[Yvonne Reynders · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thought-provoking read. As Franklin forewarned, this book relies heavily on the principles found within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. However, there is so much good to be found for anyone willing to have an open mind to the messages Franklin eloquently presents.

[Monsop Collado · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Thoughtful and Inspiring Read

This book was deeply enriching. It teaches that God is the ultimate source of all truth and that discovering it requires active faith, personal effort, and openness to different perspectives. I especially appreciated how it shows science and religion as complementary paths rather than opposing forces. It also emphasizes humility and the need to share truth with mercy. I highly recommend reading it slowly and thoughtfully—it both broadens the mind and strengthens faith.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars.I really enjoyed this author’s first book “The Spiritual Physics of Light” and was excited to see he had written a new book. Franklin is a scientist, professor, and convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and he approaches discerning truth from an intellectual and spiritual perspective. In a world full of information and misinformation, discerning truth is a critical and increasingly elusive skill. While truth comes from a variety of sources (e.g., scientific laboratory, revelation, world religions), closing the door of faith limits our ability to receive truth. His contention is that a real seeker of truth needs to build on two principles: 1-choosing to believe and 2-focusings on Christ. This last principle speaks to the his point that, in the end, it is less important what we have come to know, but WHOM we have come to know. I also appreciated that he balanced his core beliefs with being open to others’ differing beliefs and treating everyone, regardless of belief, as children of God. Would recommend.

Notes and Quotes:

3 navigating principles
1-God is the ultimate source of all truth
2-Knowing truth requires choosing to believe, no matter the topic
3-We cannot comprehend all the things that God comprehends

-It’s not is He speaking to me…He is. What is lacking is our ability to hear Him and receive.

-“I am most balanced and happy when I protect my core truths, learn about others’ beliefs with openness, and never place what someone believes above who they are as a child of God.”

-Many times we have to look back on experiences to recognize Gods presence, influence, and good fruits (Road to Emmaus)

-Less important what we have come to know, but WHOM have we come to know

-Do we really believe what we know—displayed in our actions and how we live our life

-Key LDS doctrine on seeking truth - “God has made truth available from a variety of sources that include different religions, science, personal experience and more.”

-“Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge? Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?” -T.S. Elliot

-Hinckley - “You bring all the good that you have and let us see if we can add anything to it.”

-His experience of knowing Saturn exists, with getting a telescope and having an experience witnessing it for himself - “Many things we accept as real have little to no basis in direct observation or personal experience…What I previously thought I knew, I actually believed, a distinction I was unaware of until I saw Saturn for myself.”
-We need our own personal experiences with truth

-“In some cases, those with the most confidence spend little time outside of the metaphorical echo-chambers of one-sided reciprocal thought.”

-“Sometimes God calms the storm and sometimes he calms the child.” Groberg

-“The first gulp from the glass of natural sciences will turn you into an atheist, but at the bottom of the glass, God is waiting for you.”

-“All truth is part of the gospel of Jesus Christ, whether truth comes from a scientific laboratory or by revelation from the Lord, it is compatible. There is no conflict between science and religion. Conflict only arises from an incomplete knowledge of either science or religion or both.” -President Nelson

-“By proving contraries, truth is made manifest.” -Joseph Smith

-“Science and religion are two sides of the same coin and they complement each other. Science is a way of understanding the natural world, while religion provides a moral framework and a sense of purpose. Together they can help us achieve a deeper understanding of our existence and our place in the universe.” -Dr. Joseph Murray

-“Without including God in our picture of truth about the universe, the depth of what we know is compromised.”

-Spiritual light and revealed truth - “Now I think this illustrates perfectly what Is involved in the receipt of revelation and the seeing of visions. We can read about visions and revelation in the records of the past, but we cannot comprehend what is involved until we see and hear and experience for ourselves. And so it is with the revelations and visions of eternity. They are around us all the time, but millions of people everywhere live and die without tasting the good word of God because they do not obey the laws which implant the revelations of the Lord in their souls.” -Bruce R. McConkie

-“No difference in perspective on a topic is more important than how we treat those with the differing perspective.”

-Scripture chain on seeking truth: Alma 9:26—Isaiah 65:24—Isaiah 55:8-9---Mosiah 4:9---3 Nephi 19:31-34—Alma 32:35

-Spiritual witnesses of truth are not just from spiritual experiences, but also our change in nature, our enlightened mind - “It’s the enlightening of our understanding, an expansion of our mind, that can also serve as the confirming witness. It’s not something that acted upon us, but rather how we have now been enabled to act. Our view of life, the world, and our place in it has been elevated, just as with the people of King Benjamin ‘we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually’ and we have ‘great views of that which is to come.’ In other words, a change in our outlook on the world is a sign of the seeds growth enlightening our mind, enabling us to act, and evidence the seed is good and that we know of its surety and truth.”

-We need to revisit spiritual experiences

Applying the principles at the end of each chapter

Chapter 1
1-Seek personal experience
2-Acknowledge the role of believing
3-Build confidence and value in God’s truth
4-Embrace humility in learning

Chapter 2
1-Seek truth from multiple sources
2-Avoid dismissing contrary views; be patient with some uncertainty
3-Embrace complimentary truths
4-Cultivate humility in learning
5-Never allow a difference in perspective to compromise your love for another person

Chapter 3
1-Recognize the limits of human understanding
2-Seek to establish and never compromise core truth
3-Be sure to understand what you believe
4-Keep God at the center of your truth
5-Beware of falsehoods

Chapter 4
1-Stay on the covenant path
2-Avoid distractions and shortcuts
3-Trust in the Lord’s unchanging nature
4-Apply effort and faith

Chapter 5
1-Prioritize love of God and others
2-Avoid judging a whole person based on one part
3-Be a peacemaker
4-Engage in self-reflection
5-Be patient and open to complimentary truths

Chapter 6
1-Develop discernment
2-Focus on core gospel truths
3-Trust in your preparation
4-Have patience in the Lord
5-Increase your traction

Chapter 7
1-Prioritize prayer
2-Let the Holy Spirit be your guide
3-Trust in God’s timing

Chapter 8
1-Balance skepticism with faith
2-Combine observation, reason, and faith
3-Understand the Rashomon effect
4-Acknowledge the absoluteness of truth
5-Be open to diverse communication from God
6-Share your testimony

Chapter 9
1-Revisit foundational truths
2-Believe in what you know
3-Remember the witnesses
4-Science cares most about process but the gospel cares most about result
5-The seed is Christ and the tree bears the fruit of His love

Chapter 10
1-No storm can swallow the ship where lies the master
2-Embrace the power of believing
3-Do not limit God

[Cynthia Egbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was for a book group discussion, and it certainly offered plenty to discuss. While I do think that anyone of any faith would appreciate what the author has to offer, it is written with an LDS bent. I was grateful for this man's background as a scientist, it made his arguments come to life. He loves charts, so if you are a visual learner, you will appreciate this one!

"Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge?
Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?" -T.S. Eliot

"No matter how much we learn, how much we experience, or even how much we come to know, there will still be a need for our belief."

"I'm convinced that anyone who digs deeply enough will ultimately realize how limited their grasp of the whole truth really is."

"The first gulp from the glass of natural sciences will turn you into an atheist, but at the bottom of the glass God is waiting for you." (I love the fact that a book about truth used this quote, which nobody can, with any definitive proof, attribute to an author. I am in the Francis Bacon camp as I adore that man!)

"Recognize that all truth cannot be empirically proven."

"What small changes could you make in your daily life to demonstrate how you prioritize gospel truths?"

"We're just working with the tools God gave us. There's no reason that science and religion have to operate in an adversarial relationship. Both come from the same source, the only source of truth - the Creator." -Joseph E. Murray

"I don't compartmentalize. Truth is truth. Some of it I discover following scientific methods in the lab with empirical evidence, while other truths I discover by exercising faith in my life with experiential evidence."

"Over the years, I've learned that while many scientists do believe in God, blending the scientific and religious worlds can be seen as taboo to some. To me, however, they're inseparable."

1. Seek truth from multiple sources.
2. Avoid dismissing contrary views.
3. Embrace complementary truths.
4. Cultivate humility in learning.
5. Never allow a difference in perspective to compromise your love for another person.

"Science can teach us a lot of things, but it can't teach us everything. Science cannot answer questions involving ethics or morality, such as what is fair, moral, or the right thing to do. Science cannot point a telescope into the heavens and detect if there is a God there. There is no instrument that can detect a spirit in your body or a meter to verify spiritual power or communication in prayer. Science cannot prove the existence of an afterlife, despite the many books written on hauntings and near-death experiences."

"Do we use whatever we've been given to show our love for God and all His children? Or do we focus more on the grandeur of what we believe is true and how it compares to others than on how we see and treat them?"

"And we don't have to worry about whether He will be speaking since He always is..."

"We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars." -Oscar Wilde

"She said whenever she's wondering about God speaking to her regarding a certain topic or question she's praying about, instead of wondering 'is He?' she reassures herself that 'He is.' The simple rearrangement of two short words transforms uncertainty to confidence."

"And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear." -Isaiah 65:24

"It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see." -Unknown

"We often testify of what we know to be true, but perhaps the more relevant question for each of us is whether we believe what we know." -David A. Bender

"We often find ourselves thinking of people based on what they post rather than who they are."

"Every day each of us faces a test. It is the test of our lifetimes: will we choose to believe in Him and allow the light of His gospel to grow within us? The decision to believe in Jesus Christ is the most important choice we ever make. It shapes all our other decisions...We will not accidentally come to believe in the Savior and His gospel any more than we will accidentally pray or pay tithing. We actively choose to believe, just like we choose to keep other commandments." -L. Whitney Clayton

"Sometimes God calms the storm and sometimes He calms His child." -John Groberg

[Mary Lou · Rating 5 out of 5]

What is truth?

Back in 2020, the world was screaming out this question. A virus had “escaped” from Chinese bats, or so it was said. As people got sicker and sicker, people and nations were desperately trying to find out “the truth.” How do we combat something if we don’t even know what it is or where it came from? And “the truth” was being kept deep, in darkness, a total secret.

Has “the truth” finally been brought up and out to the light? There can be a lot of debate on that.

Aaron D. Franklin never mentions Covid19 or China or viruses. However, he ventures into the realm of what is truth, and how do we find it. How do we access truth?

Franklin bases this book on a presumed LDS theology. He delves into belief and knowledge. He sheds light on his own “Ah-ha” moments. And he does it through the lens of a scientist. He does like to use diagrams, and I found them to be helpful in finding some of the deeper meanings for me.

The concept that light is everywhere, all around us, and even through us, is obvious, but so eye-opening to me. And then extend that to truth. We just have to learn the language that brings that truth into our minds and hearts.

This is a rare 5-star book for me. Well-earned because it totally changed my perspective on some important aspects in my life. I go forward with eyes opened to so much possibility, so much opportunity.

I recommend this book to anyone ready to dig in and find the truth inside.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I absolutely loved this book! This is not the genre I usually go for, but I actually really enjoyed it! I thought the parables were fantastic and the practical applications at the end of each chapter were so helpful. Sometimes I read a book, think it’s great and unfortunately don’t think much about it again. That hasn’t been the case with this one. It’s such a relevant book for the current religious, social, and political climate we’re living in. I have long struggled in navigating my questions and interactions within all these spheres and found concrete tools and ideas I hadn’t ever considered and have been implementing since reading the book. I think of myself a pretty open-minded person, but this book helped me recognize some pitfalls I fall into when confronted with ideas or information I don’t agree with and ways I can improve how I think about other people. I especially loved Franklin’s thoughts about developing discernment. It’s given me some life-changing ideas and motivation for my personal gospel study. I highly recommend this to anyone hoping to make better sense of the age of information we are living in or just wanting a super interesting and great read!

[Winslow Morrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, I love this author, and have since reading his first book. What Is Truth is a book filled with applicable ways in which we can come closer to Jesus Christ. I marveled at the little things that I sometimes miss while navigating life's challenges.

He shared an idea that has stuck with me. It's about experiences and knowing who you can trust for references of knowledge. Having credible sources is big, but following credible sources is even more critical. I base my faith on the experiences that I have daily. Whenever I do something good, such as reading the scriptures, praying, or serving, I feel better. This is the guiding force for me when it comes to staying in the church. My experience trumps all of the critics' claims.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m going to give this 5 stars. The book doesn’t contain anything that I would describe as ground breaking or new - but the presentation is fresh and well done. The author’s science background lends to interesting connections. I had my highlighter pen working on this one.

[Sharon Wheeler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Libby. Interesting book. Many principals of truth discussed. The most important factor is total focus on the Savior Jesus Christ to continue your life to search and always gave his spirit to teach and keep Truth.

[Mechel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy the concept of using science as a means of faith in God. I listened to his first book and immediately bought a copy for my library. Thus book did not disappoint.

[Becky Roper · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Franklin's first book, and this one, while very different, did not disappoint. It is very LDS oriented but could be read by any person of faith. I loved the practical applications.

[RICHARD SMITH · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read

Great Read was very well received by my spirit I thank the author for writing a very understandable book that gave me to think on how I believe

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first chapters were really good. The second half dragged a little bit, but overall had some good anecdotes. Not a must read, but definitely worth your time if you choose to pick it up.