BCSpace Posted March 3, 2012 Posted March 3, 2012 Something I hadn't noticed is that not long after the Church published it's excellent summary on doctrine, entitled "Approaching Mormon Doctrine", it also published this:http://www.mormonnew...-mormon-historyMormon history is often viewed in terms of how sacred history can be reconciled with the empirical demands of secular history. It is often asked, for example, how the Church can reconcile the authenticity of the Book of Mormon with the absence of archeological proof. This difficulty is inherent in all religious history and illustrates how spiritual matters are best verified by spiritual means. For example, the Jewish belief in the reality of the Exodus is not dependent on archeological evidence, but rests on faith. At a time when many religions are pressured to treat their sacred histories as myths, the Latter-day Saints on the contrary embrace their history as a literal expression of their faith.Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, was asked how faith interacts with history. He emphasized that ultimately spiritual matters cannot be empirically verified, but require faith: “It will forever come to faith, or it isn't religion in any way that I understand religion.” Furthermore, Elder Holland said that there is no need to hide from Church history and that it should be accepted for what it is.Church President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910-2008), also interviewed by Helen Whitney, similarly expressed the need to take Church history literally. Articulating the difficulty of finding middle ground between myth and reality, President Hinckley said of the foundational story of Mormonism that “it's either true or false. If it's false, we're engaged in a great fraud. If it's true, it's the most important thing in the world.”Since the birth and growth of the Church has taken place right before the public’s eyes these past two centuries, it cannot escape public scrutiny. Nevertheless, this scrutiny does not require that the Church compromise or hide from its history. Far from being a liability, Mormons view their history as one of the Church’s greatest assets.Ah faith. Difficult for many. There will never be archeological evidence for Jesus Christ being the Son of God, or that he Atoned for our sins, or that he rose again on the third day. Therefore, the Bible requires just as much faith to accept as the Book of Mormon does. Archeological discovery doesn't really matter in the long run. But short term, it will remain a stumbling-block or a faith promoter. 2
blackstrap Posted March 4, 2012 Posted March 4, 2012 I concur,and yet,it would be nice if a sign were found near La Venta that said, "Ether slept here"
BCSpace Posted March 4, 2012 Author Posted March 4, 2012 Yeah it would. But did you also notice the term "literal" as applied to scriptural historicity?
The Nehor Posted March 4, 2012 Posted March 4, 2012 I concur,and yet,it would be nice if a sign were found near La Venta that said, "Ether slept here"I don't think I'd find it nice. I am not looking forward to proof the church is true. 1
BCSpace Posted March 5, 2012 Author Posted March 5, 2012 I don't think I'd find it nice. I am not looking forward to proof the church is true.Why? Because the Church might receive even more attacks or because perhaps the end times have come?
Teancum Posted March 5, 2012 Posted March 5, 2012 This is an interesting topic to me and one I struggle with. Part of me very much agrees with the premise. But part of me wonders why religion and the supernatural part of it gets this special pass. Science does not get this pass. Chosing a job does not get this pass. Picking a college does not get this pass. Investing money does not. In fact rational persons do not make major life decisions ( except perhaps marriage and love is not rational... ) do not make major life decisions on faith and lack of evidence. For me the history of the Church becomes important because if I am to take the claims of supernatural intevention on faith I have to trust the person telling me that they had the supernatural experiences. If they are not trustworthy then how can I have faith in what they claim?
BCSpace Posted March 5, 2012 Author Posted March 5, 2012 For me the history of the Church becomes important because if I am to take the claims of supernatural intevention on faith I have to trust the person telling me that they had the supernatural experiences. If they are not trustworthy then how can I have faith in what they claim?Well, you've John 7:17 which essentially tells us to treat matters of faith like science. If you do this (have faith), then something will happen.
The Nehor Posted March 6, 2012 Posted March 6, 2012 Why? Because the Church might receive even more attacks or because perhaps the end times have come?Because it being objectively true means we will get a huge surge of baptisms of people with no testimony. Then they will slip away and my Home Teaching list is already long enough.Compare it to a gym membership at New Year's getting a ton of new members due to New Year's Resolutions to lose weight because they objectively know that working out will improve health and lower weight. Then they give up the process....except that the gym employees and patrons who keep at it don't have to visit all their lapsed customers once a month for the rest of their lives.I expect it will be proved before the end to leave many without excuse but I am not looking forward to it.
The Nehor Posted March 6, 2012 Posted March 6, 2012 This is an interesting topic to me and one I struggle with. Part of me very much agrees with the premise. But part of me wonders why religion and the supernatural part of it gets this special pass. Science does not get this pass. Chosing a job does not get this pass. Picking a college does not get this pass. Investing money does not. In fact rational persons do not make major life decisions ( except perhaps marriage and love is not rational... ) do not make major life decisions on faith and lack of evidence. For me the history of the Church becomes important because if I am to take the claims of supernatural intevention on faith I have to trust the person telling me that they had the supernatural experiences. If they are not trustworthy then how can I have faith in what they claim?I think this is why Jesus and the church are often portrayed in scripture as husband and wife. There is a lot to that metaphor. Being rational and trying to prove your spouse/Jesus is always faithful by using rational means to check up on him and using every hint of a possible disloyalty to weaken or doubt the relationship is insane. We would rightly look down on someone who spends their whole life checking their spouse's phone and following them around to make sure they aren't cheating no matter how rational it makes them.I would also disagree with your other examples. When I take a job I'm not just going off the salary offer and the interview I'm going on faith and a gut feeling that this will work out. Same thing for pursuing a career in college. I objectively know that there is no rational guarantee it will work out. I know of others who have done it but that isn't proof it will work for me.
BCSpace Posted March 6, 2012 Author Posted March 6, 2012 Why? Because the Church might receive even more attacks or because perhaps the end times have come?Because it being objectively true means we will get a huge surge of baptisms of people with no testimony. Then they will slip away and my Home Teaching list is already long enough.Ah. I see your point. Laman and Lemuel gettiing shocked.
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