, but for the minority, when I say the church, I mean The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And no, this is not church doctrine, it's my opinion.
The other night I came across an interesting article, it was the transcript of a fireside someone gave on Blacks and the Priesthood. The speaker was an African-American who had joined the church 14 years previous to the fireside (which was held in 2002). He had struggled with this topic before he decided to get baptized. My point here is not to retype his talk, but to discuss some of his ideas.
The first is one that I completely agree with, he asks the question, why talk about it? Having been involved in the missionary work of several wards, I've had the opportunity (a code word for something else) to discuss members' feelings about sharing the gospel. Guess what the number one (or two) concern is?
Ok, just think for a minute, what are your top two concerns? Seriously, stop reading and think about it. Since you are not stopping, look at this picture until you have thought about it:
Ok, I know you didn't think about it, but had you, your concerns would likely have been 1: you don't want to offend your friends (or have them think you are weirder than you are) and 2: that you are afraid they will ask you a question that you won't know the answer to. So why talk about Blacks and the Priesthood? or
Polygamy? or probably hundreds of other topics? Because we don't understand them (because we never talk about it, at least, as a church we don't).
Not only do we not talk about it, we are afraid to find out. I support the counsel that we've been given to not subscribe to anti-mormon literature, but I think that we like to take it to the extreme. I think that we use this as an excuse to not research out some of our questions. I have a good friend who, when I gave him a BoM, returned the favor with an anti-mormon book. I read it very slowly, researching every claim made, and wrote a summary of what I had learned about each topic. I couldn't find a satisfactory answer (in my opinion) to every claim, but I learned a lot that I hadn't previously known. I gained a testimony of the fact that the church is true, though not perfect, and that members can be just as foolish and/or wicked as anyone (I don't want to get off on a side discussion about Judas, but remember that he was an apostle).
"And you don't see any danger with reading anti-mormon literature?"
Yes and no. The question is misguided, I think we should first focus on a primary requirement: what should we be reading? If you have two books on the same subject, one of which you were told by God is true, and another from questionable sources, which should you read? Researching some of these topics is a little like sailing uncharted waters, so you better have your liahona functioning.
"That's not fair, Lehi/Nephi were commanded to sail those waters."
True, and I think we have been commanded to study the gospel. We have Sunday school classes on church history and, like it or not, this is part of our history.
"So where can we turn for answers?"
Prayer is a ready answer that any primary kid will give you, but brother Marvin Perkins (from the above mentioned fireside) gives us his testimony by quoting D&C 9:7:
"Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me; But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right."
Doesn't that go along with our whole "faith without works" bit? Anyone who has gained a testimony of the BoM didn't do so without reading from it, and they didn't do so without praying about it; you need both parts.
"Ok, so aside from prayer, where can we look?"
The church has a lot of manuals from which we may study, but, in my opinion, the books that strengthen our testimonies the most don't hit on many of these topics.
"Why?"
Well, we just received a first presidency message (maybe you have home teachers or maybe you are a home teacher) from President Eyring in which we were basically told to stick to the basics, they are what the Holy Ghost can testify of most powerfully. The church doesn't want to print things that we haven't received direct revelation on because we are human. We will print or say something that isn't true, and the spirit will not confirm it, thus our testimonies won't be strengthened. There is a great quote from Elder McConkie:
"I have said the same things, and people write me letters and say, 'You said such and such, and how is it now that we do such and such?' All I can say is that it is time disbelieving people repented and got in line and believed in a living, modern prophet. Forget everything that I have said, or what President Brigham Young or President George Q. Cannon or whoever has said in days past that is contrary to the present revelation. We spoke with a limited understanding and without the light and knowledge that now has come into the world. We get our truth and light line upon line and precept upon precept (2 Ne. 28:30; Isa. 28:9-10; D&C 98:11-12; 128:21). We have now added a new flood of intelligence and light on this particular subject, and it erases all the darkness and all the views and all the thoughts of the past. They don't matter anymore."
There are some books that focus on the history of the church, these books I find interesting when doing research, like some of the institute manuals and the volumes of the History of the Church.
"What about the internet?"
Because of the almost non-exhaustive supply of anti-mormon literature on the internet, many members wouldn't dare search for some of these topics. I agree that the world could do with a few less of those types of sites, but there are surprisingly many good websites. As you continue researching more topics, you will begin to recognize the good and the bad. One thing I've always seen as a good sign that the site might be ok is an acknowledgement that they are not affiliated with the church, what they say is their opinion, not church doctrine. Take everything with a grain of salt and don't stop seeking the spirit; he will tell you when the 'back' button is the right choice.
"Now my faith will really increase!"
No, probably not. You will learn some cool facts, some of which you will think, wow, if they really meant what they said, that would be awesome (I'm thinking of some of my most favorite quotes/hearsay of President Young). President Eyring is right, stick to the basics, the spirit will testify that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, that the BoM is true, and that President Monson is a prophet of God. That is all you need to know to be on the right track.
"What advice then?"
I love researching these things, I wish I had a lot more time for it. But my testimony is not based on these experiences. I read (the scriptures) and prayed, and God answered me, just like most of you. There are topics that I have concerns with, there are things that I don't understand, but I'll stick with brother Perkins when he said:
"I was fortunate enough to learn probably the most crucial lesson of my life before I was baptized. When the Stake President said that he couldn't answer my question either, but if this book is true, holding up the Book of Mormon, that there are answers out there somewhere, I knew right then that my testimony would have to always be based on the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ alone, and not any other issue. That I would move forward based upon what I did know, and never be held back because of what I didn't know."
"Ok so you agreed with one of his points, what about the others (remember we were talking about that fireside)?"
I'm tempted to dive in, but I think my message has changed, it started out as relaying some of his ideas, and turned into some of mine. Oh well, I guess it leaves me with an easy out as I can end by saying study it out, search for it.
"All of the wonders of the internet, and not one link?"
Yes, that was on purpose (search for it):
click here
