Making Truths Useful

Elder Dallin H. Oaks somewhat famously said, "Not everything that’s true is useful." Charles Darwin would agree with that, but for different reasons. In a letter he once complained,

About thirty years ago there was much talk that geologists ought only to observe and not theorize; and I well remember someone saying that at this rate a man might as well go into a gravel-pit and count the pebbles and describe the colours. How odd it is that anyone should not see that all observation must be for or against some view if it is to be of any service!

This pithy quote summarizes much about science--the importance of testing hypotheses and constructing the organizing framework of theories.

---