Matthew Watkins
@ITalkOfChrist • 5,462 subscribers
Child of God. Child of the Covenant. Disciple of Christ. Author (https://t.co/iT3UtPSYHu). Podcaster (https://t.co/PHZVjf86EQ). I #ThinkCelestial.
Videos
!["What are the fruits of Joseph Smith?" There are dozens of good fruits I can list-- our language training program the government tries to copy, our ministering program other faiths try to copy (and fail), our youth and missionary culture-- and so much more. But I'll focus on the three most important fruits: 1. The Book of Mormon I can't overemphasize this one. The Book of Mormon is the keystone of our whole religion-- a "sudden death proposition." All our claims live or die based on the veracity of that book. If it's a fraud, then Joseph, his revelations, the church he organized, priesthood authority, Joseph's successors-- everything goes with it. On the other hand, if it's true (as I know it is), then all that it implies is true, too: living Prophets and Apostles, priesthood, revelation, temples, dorky prom invites and carrots in your jello (obvious jk on those last two 😉). For 196 years, this book has been critically analyzed perhaps like no other book in modern religious history. No critic can account for how an uneducated farm boy correctly wrote inexplicable Hebraisms, dozens of short and long Near Eastern style poems, a story more intricate than Lord of the Rings with an internally consistent geography, verified distinct wordprints across characters, hundreds of names, interwoven storylines, rich theology, etc. Then to leave easter eggs for archaeologists and linguists to discover centuries later. He supposedly made scores of ridiculous (at the time) guesses about the Old and New World that were eventually corroborated by archaeology—making Joseph an astronomically good guesser if he wrote the thing. Oh, and he dictated one of history's most rich and complex religious texts in a single draft over about 65 work days. When you begin to study it, you'll find the case for the Book of Mormon is deeply impressive. The evidence, in the words of Farrer, "does not create belief, but it maintains a climate in which belief may flourish." For those who say "Well the Bible says any other scripture is impossible," we respectfully suggest that you're reading that message into 2-3 Bible verses when it's not there, and we'd be happy to explain why there is ample space in the Bible for continued revelation. 2. The lives of the people Charles Dickens (yes, that Charles Dickens) boarded a ship of Latter-day Saint immigrants. He fully expected to find the "Mormons" would fit the stereotypes he'd heard, and was prepared to write about all the horrid things he saw. But after observing the Saints, he wrote: "To my great astonishment they did not deserve it; and my predispositions and tendencies must not affect me as an honest witness. I [felt] it impossible to deny that, so far, some remarkable influence had produced a remarkable result, which better known influences have often missed... [they are] in their degree, the pick and flower of England." Most people who join our Church don't become interested by an ad for a free copy of the Book of Mormon or a 19-year-old in a suit. It's because they knew members of our Church and could tell, like Dickens, that there was something wonderfully different in their lives. And it's not anecdotes; it's quantifiable. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints produces higher outcomes in longevity, marital happiness, family togetherness, income, education, health, and virtually every other positive socioeconomic indicator there is. They are more devoted to God and more biblically literate than any other Christian faith per Pew Research. If you're interested in the stats, Clint Teeples has made it his hobby to accumulate all that data-- check his account for the receipts. Latter-day Saints are happier, more devoted to God, and successful in their personal lives than virtually any other group in America. That's because of the truths we build our lives on-- the truths we learned from the revelations of Joseph Smith. What about the "bad fruits?" "He was a con man, a fraud, an adulterer, etc!" None of those things are true. Dig past Reddit anti-Mormonism and look at the actual history. It's not that hard-- this was the nineteenth century-- not the ninth, after all. Thousands and thousands of documents-- journal entries and meeting minutes and newspaper accounts, etc. And I'm sure it will come as a shock 😉, but most credentialed historians aren't Latter-day Saints. Yet what do they see when they study his life? A get-rich-quick scheme? No. He lived and died penniless (and often houseless). He died in debt in large part because he was too generous with people who came asking. And he broke the mold by insisting members not be paid for their part-time service in the Church. A sorcerer and a gold-digger? No. He was as superstitious as other 19th-century rural Americans as a youth, then abandoned his superstitions when he began his work as a prophet. A philanderer? No. And the inspired, temporary practice of polygamy is a subject deserving a much longer explanation than a few sentences here. Historians as a group do not accept Joseph as a Prophet. But they almost universally acknowledge Joseph was sincere-- that Joseph truly believed God had spoken to him, that he believed the revelations he received. Even to the extent that as he knew he was about to die, he turned to the Book of Mormon (which he supposedly fabricated) for comfort and inspiration as he went to his Maker. Get past the sound bytes and caricatures and get to know Joseph Smith. 3. The ultimate fruit: Revelation I have studied the fruits of the Book of Mormon for 30 years. I have studied the fruits of Church membership for a little longer than that. I have studied Joseph's life and read the gamut of literature from apologetic to apoplectic. Most importantly, I have prayed to God about these things and received pure light and knowledge to my mind-- not "some warm fuzzies," but a divine witness, a seal, confirming to my spirit and my intellect the authenticity of the Book of Mormon and all that it implies. I echo all the words of Elder Jeffrey R. Holland below and likewise ask that my testimony "be recorded by men on earth and angels in heaven." I wish I could make the whole world know that I know. The Book of Mormon is true. And Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God.](https://image.24vids.com/tw-2038820841790521857/amplify_video_thumb/2038819396295233537/img/GdtoQAQS3FKxVKfx.jpg)
"What are the fruits of Joseph Smith?" There are dozens of good fruits I can list-- our language training program the government tries to copy, our ministering program other faiths try to copy (and fail), our youth and missionary culture-- and so much more. But I'll focus on the three most important fruits: 1. The Book of Mormon I can't overemphasize this one. The Book of Mormon is the keystone of our whole religion-- a "sudden death proposition." All our claims live or die based on the veracity of that book. If it's a fraud, then Joseph, his revelations, the church he organized, priesthood authority, Joseph's successors-- everything goes with it. On the other hand, if it's true (as I know it is), then all that it implies is true, too: living Prophets and Apostles, priesthood, revelation, temples, dorky prom invites and carrots in your jello (obvious jk on those last two 😉). For 196 years, this book has been critically analyzed perhaps like no other book in modern religious history. No critic can account for how an uneducated farm boy correctly wrote inexplicable Hebraisms, dozens of short and long Near Eastern style poems, a story more intricate than Lord of the Rings with an internally consistent geography, verified distinct wordprints across characters, hundreds of names, interwoven storylines, rich theology, etc. Then to leave easter eggs for archaeologists and linguists to discover centuries later. He supposedly made scores of ridiculous (at the time) guesses about the Old and New World that were eventually corroborated by archaeology—making Joseph an astronomically good guesser if he wrote the thing. Oh, and he dictated one of history's most rich and complex religious texts in a single draft over about 65 work days. When you begin to study it, you'll find the case for the Book of Mormon is deeply impressive. The evidence, in the words of Farrer, "does not create belief, but it maintains a climate in which belief may flourish." For those who say "Well the Bible says any other scripture is impossible," we respectfully suggest that you're reading that message into 2-3 Bible verses when it's not there, and we'd be happy to explain why there is ample space in the Bible for continued revelation. 2. The lives of the people Charles Dickens (yes, that Charles Dickens) boarded a ship of Latter-day Saint immigrants. He fully expected to find the "Mormons" would fit the stereotypes he'd heard, and was prepared to write about all the horrid things he saw. But after observing the Saints, he wrote: "To my great astonishment they did not deserve it; and my predispositions and tendencies must not affect me as an honest witness. I [felt] it impossible to deny that, so far, some remarkable influence had produced a remarkable result, which better known influences have often missed... [they are] in their degree, the pick and flower of England." Most people who join our Church don't become interested by an ad for a free copy of the Book of Mormon or a 19-year-old in a suit. It's because they knew members of our Church and could tell, like Dickens, that there was something wonderfully different in their lives. And it's not anecdotes; it's quantifiable. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints produces higher outcomes in longevity, marital happiness, family togetherness, income, education, health, and virtually every other positive socioeconomic indicator there is. They are more devoted to God and more biblically literate than any other Christian faith per Pew Research. If you're interested in the stats, Clint Teeples has made it his hobby to accumulate all that data-- check his account for the receipts. Latter-day Saints are happier, more devoted to God, and successful in their personal lives than virtually any other group in America. That's because of the truths we build our lives on-- the truths we learned from the revelations of Joseph Smith. What about the "bad fruits?" "He was a con man, a fraud, an adulterer, etc!" None of those things are true. Dig past Reddit anti-Mormonism and look at the actual history. It's not that hard-- this was the nineteenth century-- not the ninth, after all. Thousands and thousands of documents-- journal entries and meeting minutes and newspaper accounts, etc. And I'm sure it will come as a shock 😉, but most credentialed historians aren't Latter-day Saints. Yet what do they see when they study his life? A get-rich-quick scheme? No. He lived and died penniless (and often houseless). He died in debt in large part because he was too generous with people who came asking. And he broke the mold by insisting members not be paid for their part-time service in the Church. A sorcerer and a gold-digger? No. He was as superstitious as other 19th-century rural Americans as a youth, then abandoned his superstitions when he began his work as a prophet. A philanderer? No. And the inspired, temporary practice of polygamy is a subject deserving a much longer explanation than a few sentences here. Historians as a group do not accept Joseph as a Prophet. But they almost universally acknowledge Joseph was sincere-- that Joseph truly believed God had spoken to him, that he believed the revelations he received. Even to the extent that as he knew he was about to die, he turned to the Book of Mormon (which he supposedly fabricated) for comfort and inspiration as he went to his Maker. Get past the sound bytes and caricatures and get to know Joseph Smith. 3. The ultimate fruit: Revelation I have studied the fruits of the Book of Mormon for 30 years. I have studied the fruits of Church membership for a little longer than that. I have studied Joseph's life and read the gamut of literature from apologetic to apoplectic. Most importantly, I have prayed to God about these things and received pure light and knowledge to my mind-- not "some warm fuzzies," but a divine witness, a seal, confirming to my spirit and my intellect the authenticity of the Book of Mormon and all that it implies. I echo all the words of Elder Jeffrey R. Holland below and likewise ask that my testimony "be recorded by men on earth and angels in heaven." I wish I could make the whole world know that I know. The Book of Mormon is true. And Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God.
Matthew Watkins13,916 görüntüleme • 2 ay önce
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