I was unpleasantly
surprised by this quotation from a website that purports to know what it is talking about:
“Many BYU professors, even on the religion faculty, do not believe the Book of
Mormon is historical and are not convinced that historicity matters.” No proof
was provided for this statement, and so we cannot say that it is true. I am
sure many if not most BYU professors would be offended by it and would declare
their testimony of the historical authenticity the Book of Mormon. However, if
there is some truth to it, and if there are some few that it speaks correctly
of, let us review, point by point, what these professors, and others of like
mind on the fringes of the Church, are rejecting—to view this book as (perhaps
inspired) fiction; a 19th Century production.
They are rejecting the revelations to the Prophet Joseph
Smith as found in the Doctrine and Covenants wherein the Lord references the
Nephites and Lamanites as an ancient people. See section 3 and also 38:39;
1:29; 10:48.
They are rejecting the revelations to Joseph Smith that
speak of modern peoples as descendants of the ancient Lamanites. See Doctrine
and Covenants sections 32:2; 28:8-9, 14; 49:24; 30:6; 19:27; 54:8. It seems
that if the Book of Mormon isn’t speaking of real ancient peoples, we may as
well toss out the Doctrine and Covenants as well.
They reject the signed testimony of the three witnesses, who
stated “That we . . . have seen the plates which contain this record, which is
a record of the people of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites, their brethren, and
also of the people of Jared, who came from the tower of which hath been spoken.
And we also know that they have been translated by the gift and power of God,
for his voice hath declared it unto us; wherefore we know of a surety that the
work is true.”[1]
They reject the sublime vision of President Joseph F. Smith,
commonly known as the Vision of the Redemption of the Dead, as found in the
last section of the Doctrine and Covenants (138). Verse 49 speaks of deceased
Nephite prophets who mingled with other prophets and righteous Saints in the
Spirit World. These first four items are all from canonized scripture that
Latter-day Saints have raised their hands and voted to sustain.
They reject the apostolic witness of President James E.
Faust, concerning the reality of the prophet known as the brother of Jared.
President Eyring recorded the following in his journal: “Elder Faust bore
testimony that he, like the brother of Jared, could say that he knew the Lord
lived. When Kathy thanked him later for sharing something so sacred with us, he
smiled and turned away without comment.”[2]
Another time President Faust testified: “I would tell you of the divinity of
the work we are all engaged in. My testimony is like that of the brother of
Jared who saw the finger of God and believed no more for he knew. It has been
given to me to know, for I have become acquainted with the Savior.”[3]
Lastly, “He [Jesus] lives. There is no question about that. I can testify with
the same conviction and sureness as the brother of Jared. As he saw the finger
of God, it is written, he believed no more, for he knew” (see Ether 3:6, 19).[4]
They reject the apostolic witness of Elder David B. Haight,
as given before the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1989 (as read by President
Gordon B. Hinckley during Elder Haight’s funeral in 2004). After reading (from
the minutes) of things that Elder Haight had testified of seeing in visions of
the life, death, and resurrection of Christ, President Hinckley read from Elder
Haight’s recorded testimony the following: “I had marvelous manifestations
regarding the Prophet Joseph Smith and of the Angel Moroni and of the prophets
since Joseph Smith.”[5]
They reject the testimony of the
authenticity of the Book of Mormon as given by Elder Vaughn J. Featherstone: “I know the Book of
Mormon is true, and I would rather lay down my life this instant than deny that
Nephi, King Benjamin, Alma, Ammon, Moroni, Mormon, and the Brother of Jared
were prophets of God. I know they were. As I stated to the missionaries, the
enemies of the Church could line up four abreast from San Francisco to Salt
Lake City and come to me to try to convince me that the Church was not true,
and when the last one had passed by I would still know that this church is the
only true church on the face of the earth.”[6]
They reject the witness of President Ezra Taft Benson, who spent
much of his ministry as the President of the Church, testifying to the certain
truth of the Book of Mormon; that it is the keystone scripture of the Church.[7]
They reject the
collective witness of all the prophets, apostles, general authorities,
and righteous Latter-day Saints, who have had the Holy Spirit bear witness to
them that the Book of Mormon is true; an authentic divine record that is
exactly what it says it is. By so doing, they reject both apostolic testimony
and also the sure witness of their fellow faithful Saints. They reject the Holy
Spirit, the voice of God, and the voice of angels.
They reject the recent statements made by the current
President of the Church, Russell M. Nelson, referring to the prophet Mormon
being a man who lived long ago: “Joseph Smith did not name the Church restored
through him; neither did Mormon.”[8]
And: “We have to be careful to protect the name ‘Mormon.’ The media will think
that we are tossing it out. We aren't. We just want to be accurate. Mormon was
a man. He was a prophet. He was a writer, a record keeper. We honor him and
treasure the book that bears his name. We're talking about the name of the
Church.”[9]
They reject Joseph Smith’s foundational testimony as found
in JS—History; especially his testimony of the words of the angel Moroni to
him. Verse 34: “He said there was a book deposited, written upon gold plates,
giving an account of the former inhabitants of this continent, and the source
from whence they sprang. He also said that the fulness of the everlasting
Gospel was contained in it, as delivered by the Savior to the ancient
inhabitants.”
Finally, they are rejecting the testimony of Jesus Himself:
“And he [Joseph Smith] has translated the book, even that part which I have
commanded him, and as your Lord and your God liveth it is true” (D&C 17:6).[10]
If the Book
of Mormon is not a translation, by the gift and power of God, of an ancient
abridged record, as it purports to be, then The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints is not what it purports to be. Those rejecting the Book of
Mormon’s divine authenticity as an ancient historical scriptural record should
reconsider their conclusions—meaning get a testimony of it for themselves and
cease leading others astray. I testify, with all the others (probably millions),
that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that the book he translated is true and of
ancient origin, for God has revealed this to me.
[1]
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/three?lang=eng
[2]
Henry B. Eyring journal, Sunday, October 17, 1982 (sailing from Florence to
Cairo); as quoted in Robert I. Eaton and Henry J. Eyring, I Will Lead You Along: The Life of Henry B. Eyring (Salt Lake City:
Deseret Book, 2013), 458.
[3]
James E. Faust, speaking in a Sacrament meeting held in Tiberias, on the west
shore of the Sea of Galilee, January 2, 1993; account written by Florence Bittner;
hardcopy in possession of the author.
[4]
“Beginnings,” CES Fireside for Young Adults, University of Utah Institute of
Religion, May 7, 2006, 4; video presentation available at https://www.lds.org/broadcasts/watch/ces-devotionals/2006/01?lang=eng&vid=1776027824001
[5]
Transcription made by author of portion of audio recording of funeral remarks
of President Gordon B. Hinckley, August 5, 2004; see also https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1989/10/the-sacrament-and-the-sacrifice?lang=eng
[9]
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/president-nelson-discusses-church-name-canada
[10]
President Benson taught the following about this testimony from Jesus about the
truth of the Book of Mormon: “Perhaps there is nothing that testifies more clearly
of the importance of this modern book of scripture than what the Lord Himself
has said about it. By His own mouth He has borne witness (1) that it is true
(D&C 17:6), (2) that it contains the truth and His words (D&C 19:26),
(3) that it was translated by power from on high (D&C 20:8), (4) that it
contains the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ (D&C 20:9, D&C
42:12), (5) that it was given by inspiration and confirmed by the ministering
of angels (D&C 20:10), (6) that it gives evidence that the holy scriptures
are true (D&C 20:11), and (7) that those who receive it in faith shall
receive eternal life (D&C 20:14).”
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