Is Your Testimony of the Book of Mormon Authentic or Borrowed?

13Jun/0910

Is Your Testimony of the Book of Mormon Authentic or Borrowed?

In my opinion, there are many kinds of testimonies held by church members. But at some point church members need to acquire a testimony in the Lord's way. This is done by calling on the Lord in prayer, even mighty prayer, to acquire a true and living testimony of the Book of Mormon as described in the following verses:

And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things. Moroni 10:4-5

When a member of the church receives this kind of testimony it will survive all the challenges of mortality. Including all the challenges associated with church history.

Since participating in the Bloggernacle (for nearly two years) there has been a steady stream of church members posting and commenting about their dwindling or loss of testimony. Some of them, referring to their study of church history, say they now know too much, and then explain their particular difficulty with their testimony.

As I've studied their explanations and reasoning I'm of the opinion that one of the following conditions is at the heart of the challenge their experiencing:

1. They've never really had a true and living testimony of the Book of Mormon--they've lived on "borrowed light"

2. They've allowed their testimony to grow anemic through sin or neglect

Living on Borrowed Light-A Testimony on Loan

President Joseph F. Smith said:

"One fault to be avoided by the Saints, young and old, is the tendency to live on borrowed light [and] to permit ... the light within them to be reflected, rather than original" (Gospel Doctrine, 5th ed. [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1939], p. 87).

Who knows how many members of the church are in this situation. It's probable that there are many. These members have never paid the price to acquire a testimony of the Book of Mormon and are easy prey for the doctrines of men.

The following questions might be helpful in determining the source of your testimony:

Have you read the Book of Mormon? Yes/No

After reading, studying, and praying about the Book of Mormon did you ask the God the Father if it's true, with real intent, and a sincere heart with faith in Christ? Yes/No

Did you obtain an answer through the Holy Ghost about the Book of Mormon? Yes/No

Have you ever fasted and prayed about the Book of Mormon? Yes/No

What do you think? Can a true and living testimony be obtained by a person who answers no to these questions?

A true and living testimony needs to be based on something. We've been taught by the prophets that the Book of Mormon is the keystone of our religion. The prophets have also taught us how to acquire an authentic testimony. An authentic testimony will not be overcome by the trials and difficulties of life, including the challenges posed by church history.

Many church members have acquired an authentic testimony. An authentic testimony comes by the power of the Holy Ghost. Following are a few examples:

Rhodes Scholar boldly seeks for a testimony of the Book of Mormon---click here

Missionary puts Moroni's promise to the test---click here

About Jared

Thanks for coming by. The primary reason I write this blog is to increase awareness and understanding about the doctrine of Christ as taught in the Book of Mormon. Click here to read about, "My Experience with the Savior" to understand my reasons for doing a blog.

Filed under: Scripture, Testimony of the Book of Mormon Leave a comment

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Mike
June 14th, 2009 - 05:40

It’s only human to see the mote in your brother’s eye while ignoring the beam in your own.
Jared
June 14th, 2009 - 19:43

Mote-beam sickness. I hope you don’t see me doing that. I’m searching for understanding on why so many say they lose their testimony over their study of church history. I feel it as more do with lacking authentic testimony than losing testimony.
Clean Cut
June 14th, 2009 - 22:50

I absolutely love the Book of Mormon. My testimony of the Book of Mormon is that it is authentic. Although, I’m very intrigued by Blake Ostler’s statements about it being a partial modern expansion of an ancient source. I haven’t studied his theory out completely to see how far he takes it, so I can’t say how much I agree or disagree. I’ve only read one blog post at the Times and Seasons of his, but I think he may be onto something. This is his final statement:

“I believe that the Book of Mormon is precisely what it claims to be: a book translated by the gift and power of God that tells us about the record of an ancient people. However, translation by the gift and power of God isn’t translation based upon an isomorphic rendering of an underlying text into English based on a knowledge of the ancient textual language; rather, it is a revelation from God which involves necessarily the limitations of vocabulary, conceptuality and horizons of God’s servant chosen to render it into English for us.”

http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2005/04/updating-the-expansion-theory/
Tim Malone
June 15th, 2009 - 00:04

Jared,

I share your observation of the steady stream of visitors who have expressed that they are struggling with what they have found in church history. I too have seen this in my blog. No matter how clearly I try to present persuasive arguments that explain the controversies, some will never accept them.

I think that those who are reaching out to us through the Internet have lost something and are struggling with that loss. I think that loss can best be expressed as that child-like trust that they once had before they started learning some of the disturbing things in our church history.

Both of your points about what is at the heart of their loss are valid – either they never really had a testimony or else they lost it through sin or neglect. However, may I share a third possibility – they simply outgrew the testimony of their youth. That kind of goes along with the idea of neglect.

The Lord allows each of us to encounter challenges that really are opportunities to grow beyond the basics that we had when we were young in the gospel. The difficulty is in seeing them for what they are – opportunities to grow and not insurmountable obstacles that can never be resolved or managed.

For some, the cognitive dissonance of what they learn when they study things in depth compared to what they knew when they were young are just too much to handle. It’s too bad that the more difficult parts of our history weren’t known to them earlier. They now feel like they have been deceived and are angry.

As much as we would like to help them find that reassurance that they have not been deceived, it is up to them to receive that revelation from the Holy Ghost in the manner that means the most to them. I have discovered that many people feel the Spirit of the Lord in ways that are different from what I do.

Some have said that they have never felt the burning of the bosom. I find that amazing since that to me is the most common way in which I feel the calm and peaceful reassurance that I am in the right place in my understanding of things spiritual. But I have learned to accept that some simply don’t feel it.

Your challenge is good. It takes a humble person to accept the idea that a re-reading of the Book of Mormon while seeking the promised confirming witness of the spirit of Lord will bring the desired reassurance that their faith is well placed. For some, that is just too difficult a proposition. But it works!

I love the Book of Mormon. I know what Blake Ostler has said about it and I too am intrigued, but for me, it will always be scripture, intended for our day and revealed through the gift and power of God to the prophet Joseph Smith, even if it was sometimes via a peepstone in a hat with no plates in sight.

I have read many, many stories of those who have struggled with their discoveries on the Internet. Some have resolved their issues by leaving the church. Others become cultural Mormons. But some, a very few, have analyzed what they have found, and have found ways to make it fit with their previous knowledge.

It is more than a testimony of the Book of Mormon that we need to be active, faithful and happy members of this church. When some learn of the imperfections of Joseph, they tend to throw out what they used to feel about the Book of Mormon. I think that is wrong. We don’t have to discard a sacred witness.

Of course if they never had that witness to begin with then it becomes a much more difficult proposition. But I am grateful to read of new converts like Tony, one of my visitors who has been exposed to all the difficult history on the Internet and still receive that witness of the spirit as God promised.

I feel like you do that as long as we have received that sacred witness of the spirit that the Book of Mormon is true, then we can extrapolate that Joseph was a prophet and that the other truths revealed through him can be trusted. So you are right – we need that basic testimony of the keystone of our religion.

My apologies for the discourse. I love your blog and have placed it at the top of my must read list. Thanks for your great posts and especially for your faithful approach to the difficulties of church membership in the Internet age. May God bless you as you continue to share your timely essays.
Jared
June 15th, 2009 - 12:50

Clean Cut–

Thanks for commenting. I always enjoy your insights–here, and at your blog.

I haven’t read much of bro. Ostler’s writings. The quote you left piques my interest though. I certainly agree with it (D&C 1:24).

This subject opens up a lot of questions. As I think about it, Joseph’s lack of education is actually very useful. What if the Lord called someone with the vocabulary of Talmage (Jesus Christ). I’m glad the Book of Mormon is limited to about a 3500 word lexicon (I’m relying on someone else for this number).

I share you love for the Book of Mormon.
Jared
June 15th, 2009 - 13:21

Tim–

Your comments are generally better reading than my post. My hat is off to you as a great communicator.

As I read your comment about “out growing” testimony, it made me think about a third category I need to add, “timing”. It seems to me that the Lord has a “time” table for each of us based on His knowledge as a parent. He is a perfect parent and will use perfect timing to workout our opportunities for immortality and eternal life.

Another point your comment stirred in my mind is that the Lord is at the helm of His kingdom. He has been fully aware of the challenge church history would have on this generation from the very beginning (Moses 1:27-28). In my limited experience and perspective I wonder if this is a tool in His hand to increase the faith of His followers. Crisis can be the catalyst for growth. It sure has been in my life. Some people may, as you point out, find spiritual growth in the crisis they find in church history. It will propel them to their knees and can help them find God at a whole new level.

Tim–thanks for your kind words.
Michaela Stephens
June 16th, 2009 - 14:06

I agree that those few difficult events of church history can be either a stumbling block or an impetus to seek greater faith. I think that one reason why it brings on a crisis is that it makes the church look bad. We are not used to that. We are very used to the church looking good. When the church looks bad in a particular historical event, naturally we ask ourselves whether it is looking bad because it is bad or it is looking bad because some individuals made wrong choices or whether it is looking bad because there is a principle at work that we don’t understand that puts it in opposition to the world. None of us want to look bad, so we have to dig deeper to discover whether the truths we know are worth it.
Jared
June 16th, 2009 - 19:11

Michaela,

Thanks for you comment. Opposition can be useful.
Mike
July 16th, 2009 - 16:18

Jared,
Just to clarify, that, no, I didn’t see you displaying the mote-beam sickness. Sorry if I wasn’t clear. It’s just that I have had many experiences in which I was able to invite someone to participate in certain self development events, and many many times that invitee would light up and say, Gee, that would be great for somebody I know! It wasn’t themselves, though. Hmmm.
Food for thought.

I think your article gets to the heart of the matter.
Jared
July 16th, 2009 - 21:52

Mike–

Thanks for coming by and clarifying your prior comment.