David Journal

Tag: Testimonies

  • Barriers to disbelief

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    David
    in

    Elder Holland once said that the Book of Mormon was a barrier standing in the way of anyone who wants to leave the church. The idea is that someone who is intellectually honest could not claim the church was false without explaining away the Book of Mormon. I think the testimonies of the three witnesses…

  • Introducing the Doctrine and Covenants

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    David
    in

    I don’t think I’ve ever read the introduction to the Doctrine & Covenants before. In doing so today I have came to appreciate the efforts the church makes to clearly explain and give context to our sacred texts. I also discovered that there was a published testimony from the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in…

  • The bulk of witnesses

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    David
    in

    In a legal case there are star witnesses—those who provide the most compelling testimony—and then all the other witnesses who bear less spectacular testimonies but the consistency of their more pedestrian testimonies serve remove any argument that the testimony of the star witnesses is inconsistent with the broader context of surrounding facts or the overall…

  • Much to think about

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    David
    in

    I can only imagine how much Joseph found himself pondering every year in what he had learned from Moroni and what it would be like to finally have the plates.

  • Witnesses first

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    David
    in

    The testimonies of the Three Witnesses, the Eight Witnesses, and Joseph Smith come at the beginning, this was likely meant to give readers context and assurance so that they could not lightly treat the book as a work of fiction.

  • Intriguing

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    David
    in

    The pending testimonies and introduction to the Book of Mormon would certainly get the attention of any reader with an open mind. They declare no doctrine but the origin story they expose would pique the interest.

  • Introductory texts

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    David
    in

    The introductory texts such as the testimonies focus on the Book of Mormon and it’s origins, not the central message if it so unsurprisingly there are no references to the Atonement.

  • What would you have me do?

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    David
    in

    Joseph was praying for forgiveness, not necessarily a mission. I expect he knew he would have a mission to perform at some point but I don’t believe he was asking for it at this time when Moroni first visited him. No matter what Moroni said I’m sure that Joseph didn’t realize the full extent of…

  • Historical record

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    David
    in

    Every time I read the Book of Mormon I think of what it would take for it’s origin story to be fictitious and realize that man could descend from apes more easily than such an elaborate lie be acted out. Conceptually it could be a lie but that would require that many things which we…

  • One Testimony is not enough

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    David
    in

    As I read the testimony of the prophet Joseph Smith regarding the Book of Mormon I realized how weak any single testimony is too weak to depend on. While the totality of testimonies from Joseph, the various witnesses, and the testimony of the lives of so many people including Joseph and the other original testators…