Treating Lightly The Book Of Mormon

[David T]

I think we're entering a new era of Book of Mormon study, where we will seek to actually read and explore the text for what it can challenge us and teach us, and not just use it as a series of prooftexts to confirm what we were already convinced of long before approaching it.

 

I think part of treating it lightly is also treading lightly when it comes to difficult and confusing issues within it, and trying to pass them off as just differently worded ways of saying something very different than it says. Assuming something is 'translated incorrectly', or that we must re-define something to prove to oneself that a BoM prophet is teaching exactly what we teach and collectively believe today is, to me, all part of treating it lightly.

 

The more aware I have become of the human element in its characters, authors, compilers, and translators, the more I've been able to appreciate and learn from the Book.

 

This goes for all scripture. I truly believe, for example, that the deep historical and contextual analyses going on in the Joseph Smith Papers that, in some of its conclusions deeply challenges long-held assumptions by many, is an important way of not 'treating lightly' that volume of scripture as well. Letting scriptures speak for themselves and learning from the context of what was said and why by whom treats them far more respectfully than conforming them and pounding them into our own image of what we wish they had conveniently said.

Edited December 11, 2013 by David T

[David T]

In addition, I'll even say that such a view of scripture has changed my view on my reluctance to call the Bible the Word of God. I previously liked to say, "The Bible contains the word of God", but when I view the narrative context of the authors' experience and attempts to answer theological questions as part of what we are to learn from it, I really can affirm the whole text and its context in the world's history as the Word of God - the message to be recieved, the logos.

 

I believe that all scriptural texts are primarily catalysts for us to ask of God questions based on what we encounter therein and have pondered, and recieve our own revelation of Him direct from the source.

 

This view also informs how I view the authentic prophetic ministry of modern prophets like Brigham Young.

Edited December 11, 2013 by David T

[Tacenda]

That's fine and good, Tacenda... but in those posts where you seemingly continue to make inaccurate and misleading statements as if they were fact in order to voice your criticisms of the Church, you do a disservice to those posters who come here to seek legitimate answers and information regarding the Church. Your statement that the Bible is but a "by word" to the Church is the perfect example, because it simply is not true... you can stand by your statement all you want... it doesn't change the fact that it is false... as several have pointed out.

You can make any statement you want... but IMO when you choose to make such broad inaccurate statements, it would be helpful if you could identify them as "In My Opinion" or "It is my personal belief" so it is clear that it is your opinion.

In my ward library when people, especially visitors, come in and ask to borrow a set of scriptures we hand out the Bible and a triple together... always... (we have on hand about a dozen+ sets people can borrow for the meetings).

GG

I'm sorry to those reading, if you now think the bible isn't important in the church. I know it's important in our church. But I'll say it again, I've never heard anyone say "read the bible" only "read the BoM". Of course I always hear "read your scriptures", so that probably covers it.

[Calm]

 

I believe that all scriptural texts are primarily catalysts for us to ask of God questions based on what we encounter therein and have pondered, and recieve our own revelation of Him direct from the source.

 

This view also informs how I view the authentic prophetic ministry of modern prophets like Brigham Young.

I believe the entire structure of the Church was created by God for this purpose...though people have attempted to add to it in misguided attempts to make it the destination rather then a catalyst or vehicle to bring us face to face with God.

[Michael Sanders]

So noone knows what source Ezra Taft Benson might have been referring to about missionaries treating the Book of Mormon lightly?

 

Thanks,

Mike

[Robert F. Smith]

So noone knows what source Ezra Taft Benson might have been referring to about missionaries treating the Book of Mormon lightly?

 

Thanks,

Mike

He might have based it on the fact that the Book of Mormon had traditionally served as a symbol of the Restoration, rather than as a book to be read and studied.  The Bible was the primary vehicle of discussion, and it was there that the non-Mormon community came to recognize for the first time that LDS missionaries could thump a Bible as well as any of them -- if not better.  LDS missionaries had to meet the opposition on their own turf, so to speak, which meant the Bible.

 

Pres Benson's insistence did in fact lead to a new emphasis on the Book of Mormon, and that renewed emphasis has yet to run its course.

[Michael Sanders]

He might have based it on the fact that the Book of Mormon had traditionally served as a symbol of the Restoration, rather than as a book to be read and studied.  The Bible was the primary vehicle of discussion, and it was there that the non-Mormon community came to recognize for the first time that LDS missionaries could thump a Bible as well as any of them -- if not better.  LDS missionaries had to meet the opposition on their own turf, so to speak, which meant the Bible.

 

Pres Benson's insistence did in fact lead to a new emphasis on the Book of Mormon, and that renewed emphasis has yet to run its course.

Thanks Robert - What do you think the Lord might have been referring to in Section 84?  I've always read the "former commandments" portion as referring to the early revelations of Joseph Smith.  Perhaps the "former commandments" might refer specifically to things pertaining to the Book of Mormon.

[Duncan]

Thanks Robert - What do you think the Lord might have been referring to in Section 84?  I've always read the "former commandments" portion as referring to the early revelations of Joseph Smith.  Perhaps the "former commandments" might refer specifically to things pertaining to the Book of Mormon.

 

 

have you ever read Grant Underwood's Dialogue Journal article about "Book of Mormon usage in early LDS Theology", might find something there

[Michael Sanders]

Duncan,

 

Thanks for reminding me of this piece - it is the one I mentioned in the OP that I read several years ago.  I appreciate you calling the title back to my attention.  It can be perused here:

 

http://www.dialoguejournal.com/wp-content/uploads/sbi/articles/Dialogue_V17N03_37.pdf

 

Mike

[DJBrown]

 How was the Book of Mormon being forgotten?

Mike

 

Ezra Taft Benson, while President of the church, quoted Bruce R. McConkie, "Few men on earth,” said Elder Bruce R. McConkie, “either in or out of the Church, have caught the vision of what the Book of Mormon is all about. Few are they among men who know the part it has played and will yet play in preparing the way for the coming of Him of whom it is a new witness. … The Book of Mormon shall so affect men that the whole earth and all its peoples will have been influenced and governed by it. … There is no greater issue ever to confront mankind in modern times than this: Is the Book of Mormon the mind and will and voice of God to all men?  We testify that it is."

 

I believe this statement is true.  I think it is not just that we have a record of ancient people who knew of Christ and received revelations from Him.  It is not just that the Book of Mormon requires the Bible to be true in a day of world-wide secularism.  Enoch saw our day and was told by God that "truth will I send forth out of the earth" along with the "righteousness" which would be sent down "out of heaven" to flood the earth.  It was this flood which would gather out the elect of Israel to build Zion.

 

The Book of Mormon contains prophesy and types that are directed at our time and events in the world and most specifically in America.  And I think a lot of people can read the book over the course of their lives and not see these elements of the Book of Mormon, which are found throughout the book.  

 

But besides the information in the Book of Mormon, I think the primary role of the book is found in Lehi's dream- the Book of Mormon is the rod which was the only means of progressing to the tree of life.   Of all our books of scripture, the Book of Mormon can be equated with the rod.  Consistent, faithful study of the book throughout a person's life, I believe, results in a type of safety and protection that is not available from any other source.  

 

And I think it is the casual treatment of the book that is so common among us that keeps us from seeing this and that results in the "condemnation" spoken of in the Doctrine and Covenants and by President Benson.  

[Stargazer]

I think part of the B of M's problem is that it's ........well, boring....

 

The first time I tried to read it before my mission, it came to pass, that I fell into a deep slumber.

 

And then it came to pass again and again and again that I fell into a deep slumber while trying to read it.

 

Finally I decided to read the New Testament and it came to pass that I.........

 

Sorry, I can't treat this lightly. The New Testament is where I gained my testimony of the Savior and His great sacrifice on our behalf. And it captivated me in a way that no other book has had the capacity to do. I still read it nearly every morning. There is nothing out there that even comes close.

Everyone is different. I got my testimony of the Savior from the Book of Mormon. It's the Bible that I find to be "chloroform in print", to misapply Mark Twain on the BoM.

Although I should clarify that my testimony of Christ is through the Spirit, not through any book. It just happened that it was during my reading of the Book of Mormon that I received that testimony.

And I don't really think the Bible is boring. I just find it less inspiring than the Book of Mormon.