The Restoration of the GospelWidtsoe, Osborne J. P.
Religion
The Restoration of the Gospel
Widtsoe, Osborne J. P.
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
As a revelation containing an applicable test, section sixty-seven
is, then, of especial interest and value to us. The value is evident
and important, even without making an actual application of the test.
Let us suppose for a moment that Joseph Smith was never at any time
divinely inspired--that he was nothing better than an unscrupulous
impostor. It must be conceded then that he was a man of remarkable
ability, though his education was limited. The Book of Mormon alone
is a monumental work. In all its pages, from the lesser plates of
Nephi, from Mormon's abridgment of the greater plates, from the record
of Zeniff, from the story of Jared and his brother, and from other
interpolated parts, to the end, there is not a single contradiction,
not a single absurd doctrine or conclusion. On the other hand, the
book shows a steady growth and development of the story; it reveals a
philosophic system of theology; it displays perfect harmony between it
and the Holy Bible. Again, in the many revelations contained in the
book of Doctrine and Covenants, there are no contradictory statements,
there is no obscuration of the doctrine of the Christ, there is no
confusion in the duties of officers or members. On the contrary,
the book is so clear that the whole Church is built up after its
directions. There is no essential point of Church doctrine that was not
revealed by Joseph Smith; there is no point of Church organization or
discipline that was not provided for by Joseph Smith. Certainly then,
if he were an impostor, he must have been a man of clear insight, of
remarkable analytical power, of wonderful executive ability.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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