Straight Line is the Shortest Distance Between Two Points

Postulates and Theorems 

By Marcus Southworth 

I know that a lot of you have studied algebra and geometry in school.  I really enjoyed those classes when I was young although my grades never showed it.  I was always fascinated with the concepts of “Theorems and Postulates”.  Postulates are basic rules of algebra and geometry that are considered inherently true and that if applied, ensure that your calculation or mathematical assumptions, no matter how complicated, will turn out right.  Theorems on the other hand were somehow conditional.  They were dependent upon other conditions in order to be true and required a “proof” to be made, so that I had to remember the “proof” in addition to the theorem.  Even now, 35 years after taking that class as a sophomore in high school, I still remember several theorems and postulates that I was taught.

 

Recently, I was thinking about the very first postulate that I ever learned:

 

“The shortest distance between two points is a straight line.”

         

I remember when memorizing it and what I thought; “this is so stupidly simple, everyone knows that”.  Well, as the class wore on month after month, I memorized many more postulates and theorems.  Each one seemed more complicated than the last.  They also seemed to build upon each other, going from the simple and basic to something much more complex.  I do remember how important it was to learn them.  Getting a correct answer was entirely dependent upon my ability to remember and apply those postulates and theorems.

 

I like the idea of “postulates” being something that are inherently true and require no proof.  I like the idea that there are some things that we can count on to be absolutely true no matter what.  I suppose that is why the gospel is so important to me.  The gospel provides me with information that is absolutely true and I can feel confident in applying its principles in my life.  The gospel principles will always lead me to a path of happiness and a life of peace.  They bring me closer to God and through my obedience and faith, I find that I draw closer to my Father in Heaven and thereby become entitled to special knowledge and blessings.

 

In today’s scientific world, there are many popular theories like; the “Big Bang Theory” or “Darwinism”.  Great scientists have come to believe these theories and have spent their lives relying upon them and teaching them.  However, as time passes, those popular theories have detriorated as “proofs” began to fail.  Today, scientists are becoming less comfortable with the idea that the universe and everything in it originated from a historic, coincidental collision of two molecules that created a chain reaction which over a period of billions of years produced the universe, the earth and all living things.  Darwin’s Theory has distracted many from the truth as well.  Textbooks have been written and students have come to rely on these theories as being true. 

There are some things that we can count on to be true!

 

The gospel teaches us that; “God created man in his own image…male and female created he them.”  If this concept were universally embraced by the worlds great thinkers as a “Postulate”, I wonder how much further our world of science would be.  Instead of consuming ones lifetime in search of the ‘unknown origin of life’, one could spend their life in getting to know and becoming like the great creator of all things.

 

Think of false “Postulates” or ‘Theorems’ that you may have relied upon as being true only to learn later that they were false or different than what you had believed.  Isn’t it disappointing?  

 

A Story of the Immigrant Woman:

 

I am reminded of a story that I once heard of an old woman who had suffered much during World War II.  After the war she dreamed of coming to America, the land of great beauty and opportunity.  But she made a goal and set out to reach it.  She was modestly poor and worked very hard at menial jobs in order to earn enough money to purchase her ship ticket.  It took her several years and required a great deal of sacrifice.  She was so happy when she was finally able to purchase her fare.  

 

As the day arrived for her departure, she had all her belongings packed.  She carefully planned how many days she would be at sea and prepared herself some simple meals of crackers and cheese for each day of her travel.  She only had a few dollars to spare after purchasing her ticket and knew that she would not be able to buy regular meals.  

 

It was all so exciting.  When she boarded the great ship, she quickly made several friends and had other roommates with whom she would spend her time.  Each day, they would invite her to join them for breakfast and lunch.  In the evenings they would beg her to get dressed up and attend a great gala and dining event.  At each invitation, she would politely beg their pardon and insist that she wanted to return to her room.  Her friends just assumed that she was ill or something.  While they were gone, she would break out the meals she had prepared of crackers and cheese.  Humbly and quietly she would eat them alone in her room. 

 

Day after day, following each meal and each gala event her friends and companions would return and recount the wonderful experiences and delightful food that was served hoping to entice her to join them.  Oh, how she wished that she could afford to go with them.  Finally, on the last day of the long voyage the old woman decided to join her friends for the evening meal and gala event.  She had such a good time.  The food was so delicious and extravagant.  As the evening wore on she worried over the cost of such a meal and wonderful gala.  But quickly reminded herself that it was a special event and that she would long remember it. It was a wonderful time of laughing, dining, and dancing.  

 

At the conclusion of the long evening, she patiently waited for the waiter to bring her bill.  But the bill never came.  She finally asked the waiter, whispering softly, “Sir could you kindly bring me my bill”.  He smiled and said, “ma’am, the meals and all of the events of the trip are included with the payment of your ship fare”.

 

My Heart Aches for the old woman

 

I am saddened when I hear this story.  My heart aches for the old woman, for of all the passengers, she certainly deserved the full benefits of her hard earned money and sacrifice.  She was a good woman too, and it saddened me to think that she had been denied what she deserved.

 

Do I have false beliefs that hinder my enjoyment of life?

 

It causes me some personal introspection; Do I have false ideas that keep me from enjoying the full benefits of my voyage through life?  Are there benefits and blessings that I deserve that I am not getting because of a false belief or practice?

 

I love the scriptures, and I find great heroes and exemplars that provide me with instruction and successful life patterns that I can use in my everyday life.  Its teachings bring me closer to my Heavenly Father.  They provide me with clear ‘postulates’ or truths that I can rely on to be true no matter what.  I don’t want to be like the old woman who sacrificed the wonderful meals and evening events not knowing that they were included in the price of the fare.  

 

Study the scriptures and identify the ‘Postulates’.  Check them against your own beliefs.  Are there beliefs or misunderstandings in your life that may be keeping you from greater blessings (‘shortest distance between two points’)?  

 

Are there blessings and benefits that you deserve and want but are not getting because of one false idea or another?  I bear you my personal witness that the following principles are true.  I love these words and believe them.  They are postulates in my life.  They are guiding principles that keep me on the right path.  I wish that I could share with you the great joy and happiness that I have enjoyed as a result of living these teachings.  I have not always done the right thing.  But, I have learned that getting back on the right track is just a matter of drawing the straight line from where I stand to the point where I should be and ‘bingo’, life becomes good again.  Remember, the shortest distance between two points is a straight line.  Choose your destination and follow that straight line.  It brings great joy and happiness.

 

Postulates and Principles for a successful life:

 

And the Father said: Repent ye, repent ye, and be baptized in the name of my Beloved Son.                                                                                              2 Nephi 31:11

 

And also, the voice of the Son came unto me, saying: He that is baptized in my name, to him will the Father give the Holy Ghost, like unto me; wherefore, follow me, and do the things which ye have seen me do.                                                          2 Nephi 31:12

 

And I heard a voice from the Father, saying: Yea, the words of my Beloved are true and faithful. He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.  And now, my beloved brethren, I know by this that unless a man shall endure to the end, in following the example of the Son of the living God, he cannot be saved.                                                    2 Nephi 31:15-16

 

And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son; and ye have received the Holy Ghost, which witnesses of the Father and the Son, unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive.    

2 Nephi 31:18)

 

Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.                                                                                     2 Nephi 31:20

 

And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. Amen.      2 Nephi 31:21