As a former journalist (I don’t know… do you ever stop being one?) I see a huge shift from an attempt to remain neutral and to verify every story, to what we have today: Pravda-esque unproven propaganda, biased reporting, outright lies, and no accountability (and both sides feel this way about the other side.) No wonder people don’t believe what they’re being spoon-fed.
Psychologist Rollo May said, “It is an ironic habit of human beings to run faster when we have lost our way.” We panic, right? So, we dash about as if increased speed will bring the answer.
In last October’s General Conference, Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf gave a talk called “Daily Restoration” and spoke of a study done at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics. To test the theory that people who are lost walk in circles, they took test participants to a thick forest and told them to walk in a straight line. GPS data showed that, despite thinking they had walked in a straight line, they had actually made loops, some as small as 20 meters in diameter. “Without reliable landmarks,” he said, “we drift off course.” It would be interesting to see if their pace increased as well.
I see this with those doubting their faith, as well. And they don’t always want to talk with strong believers because they sense bias. So, sadly, they talk with nonbelievers (who are also circling) and place their trust in the worst possible area.
When you can’t trust “experts,” newscasters, or public opinion, you need personal revelation more than ever. And when you’re doubting the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, you need it the most of all.