To People Leaving the Church
My heart goes out to people leaving the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons). I recognize that, for many of you, this is a difficult decision. I write this post realizing I'm unlikely to convince anyone to stay, nor should you stay if you don't want to (unless it's a situation of choosing beneficial values over pleasures--say, like eating fruits and veggies rather than ice cream!). I'm still sad to see you go, and I wish you the best on your life journey. I guess my goal is to articulate why I stay and why I still believe. My focus today is on one specific tangible witness: the Book of Mormon.
Kent P. Jackson, professor of ancient scripture at Brigham Young University, stated the issue very simply some years ago. When Joseph Smith Jr. said he touched and handled actual golden plates and translated them by the gift and power of God, he was either telling the truth or he was lying.
Did Joseph Smith touch and handle actual golden plates? His repeated testimony throughout his life is very clear, and he and his brother Hyrum died affirming that testimony, as Elder Jeffrey R. Holland stated here.
Did other witnesses touch and handle the plates? A multitude of witnesses claim to have done so. Anthony Sweat, professor of Church history and doctrine, has documented these first-person accounts where people hefted and handled Book of Mormon objects. In addition to Joseph Smith, eleven witnesses testified of tangible objects and God's handiwork, and four women witnesses reported having tangible interactions with Book of Mormon objects.
The story of these tangible objects and the translation process, including use of seer stones, is told through firsthand nineteenth-century documentary evidence in an important new book by Joseph Smith Papers historians Michael Hubbard MacKay and Gerrit J. Dirkmaat. Full disclosure: I edited the book, but I don't get royalties! :) I found the documentary case very compelling that these folks truly hefted and handled tangible objects and that Joseph Smith Jr. believed he was translating by the gift and power of God. This book is definitely worth a look!
Based on linguistic and other studies, the Book of Mormon appears to be an authentic translation of an ancient document. Alma 36 provides one impressive example. So what do people make of the King James language in the Book of Mormon? Here is just one explanation.
Based on a lifetime of study and prayer and application of the Book of Mormon's teachings, I believe this book to be the word of God, just as the Bible is. The power of the Holy Ghost has filled me from head to toe with assurance that it's true. I've also experienced quiet miracles that cannot be explained except through acknowledging the divine hand of God. But Jesus performed miracles in His earthly ministry, and people still became offended or simply turned away for various reasons (see story of John 6-7 as shared by Elder Hans B. Ringger). The important question to ask is, "Lord, to whom shall we go?" (John 6:68).
I understand the importance of wrestling with ambiguity and the need for compassion and integrity in our quest for truth. I also understand that many people will arrive at different conclusions. Larry Krause, a therapist for sex abuse victims, always considered himself a seeker of truth but fell away from Church activity as a young man. Home teacher Mark Payne visited him for many years and eventually said, "Only when you are unafraid of the truth will you find it." That statement startled Larry into examining his underlying motives. He sensed that, deep down, he was afraid of finding the truth, a stance that contradicted his core identity of a seeker of truth. As an experiment, he decided to try out the teachings of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ (see Alma 32:21, 27-28). In the act of "doing" the Father's will (see John 7:17), he felt peace and joy. He testified that the lifestyle and values blessed not only him but also his family and their children (notwithstanding the challenges we all face).
I cannot say this will be the path for every seeker of truth, but it has been for me, for Larry, and for many other individuals. I wish all of you seekers of truth much peace and happiness as you wrestle with ambiguity and find answers to your sincere questions, regardless of where your journey leads.
Love,
Devan
Kent P. Jackson, professor of ancient scripture at Brigham Young University, stated the issue very simply some years ago. When Joseph Smith Jr. said he touched and handled actual golden plates and translated them by the gift and power of God, he was either telling the truth or he was lying.
Did Joseph Smith touch and handle actual golden plates? His repeated testimony throughout his life is very clear, and he and his brother Hyrum died affirming that testimony, as Elder Jeffrey R. Holland stated here.
Did other witnesses touch and handle the plates? A multitude of witnesses claim to have done so. Anthony Sweat, professor of Church history and doctrine, has documented these first-person accounts where people hefted and handled Book of Mormon objects. In addition to Joseph Smith, eleven witnesses testified of tangible objects and God's handiwork, and four women witnesses reported having tangible interactions with Book of Mormon objects.
The story of these tangible objects and the translation process, including use of seer stones, is told through firsthand nineteenth-century documentary evidence in an important new book by Joseph Smith Papers historians Michael Hubbard MacKay and Gerrit J. Dirkmaat. Full disclosure: I edited the book, but I don't get royalties! :) I found the documentary case very compelling that these folks truly hefted and handled tangible objects and that Joseph Smith Jr. believed he was translating by the gift and power of God. This book is definitely worth a look!
Based on linguistic and other studies, the Book of Mormon appears to be an authentic translation of an ancient document. Alma 36 provides one impressive example. So what do people make of the King James language in the Book of Mormon? Here is just one explanation.
Based on a lifetime of study and prayer and application of the Book of Mormon's teachings, I believe this book to be the word of God, just as the Bible is. The power of the Holy Ghost has filled me from head to toe with assurance that it's true. I've also experienced quiet miracles that cannot be explained except through acknowledging the divine hand of God. But Jesus performed miracles in His earthly ministry, and people still became offended or simply turned away for various reasons (see story of John 6-7 as shared by Elder Hans B. Ringger). The important question to ask is, "Lord, to whom shall we go?" (John 6:68).
I understand the importance of wrestling with ambiguity and the need for compassion and integrity in our quest for truth. I also understand that many people will arrive at different conclusions. Larry Krause, a therapist for sex abuse victims, always considered himself a seeker of truth but fell away from Church activity as a young man. Home teacher Mark Payne visited him for many years and eventually said, "Only when you are unafraid of the truth will you find it." That statement startled Larry into examining his underlying motives. He sensed that, deep down, he was afraid of finding the truth, a stance that contradicted his core identity of a seeker of truth. As an experiment, he decided to try out the teachings of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ (see Alma 32:21, 27-28). In the act of "doing" the Father's will (see John 7:17), he felt peace and joy. He testified that the lifestyle and values blessed not only him but also his family and their children (notwithstanding the challenges we all face).
I cannot say this will be the path for every seeker of truth, but it has been for me, for Larry, and for many other individuals. I wish all of you seekers of truth much peace and happiness as you wrestle with ambiguity and find answers to your sincere questions, regardless of where your journey leads.
Love,
Devan
Comments
Post a Comment