That is how I have felt this week. My recent blogs about some of the historical claims from the latest history, which I researched mainly through the online resources provided by the church, have caused expressions of concern for my faith. The irony is that it is my faith, my love for God, my deep esteem for the prophet Joseph Smith, my testimony by the Holy Ghost of his prophetic calling and unimpeachable character, and my experiences in dealing with the intelligentsia that motivated my blogs, not to challenge faith, but to defend it.
My point is simply that the latest history is just that, history…like a Comprehensive History of the Church, B. H. Roberts (1930) or the 7 volume History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1902) which preceded it. As with the current version, the earlier versions were also embraced by the Church, quoted by many general authorities in multiple settings including general conference, even found within its publications and manuals. However, none of the histories, have been or should be deemed scripture, doctrine, or absolute truth. Since current LDS historians have disputed, attacked, even mocked the former histories, they should not be surprised when others evaluate their work and point out their flaws.
My desire is that those who read the newest history, do not fall into the human-centric trend of our day and elevate it to the level of scripture, but rather to do as the 1st Presidency suggests in the front of the book and actually use the supplemental materials. Readers should check the sources, compare them to scripture, as well as other statements by apostles and prophet’s both past and present, and if any questions arise, take the issue to God, (as President Nelson recently taught), turning to the only source of absolute truth for the answer;
“You don’t have to wonder about what is true. You do not have to wonder whom you can safely trust. Through personal revelation, you can receive your own witness that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, that Joseph Smith is a prophet, and that this is the Lord’s Church. Regardless of what others may say or do, no one can ever take away a witness borne to your heart and mind about what is true. I urge you to stretch beyond your current spiritual ability to receive personal revelation, for the Lord has promised that “if thou shalt [seek], thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the mysteries and peaceable things—that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal.” Russell M. Nelson. April 2018
I sustain, support and love the 1st Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve as prophets, seers and revelators. To encourage caution in reading the works and researching the sources of current LDS historians is not sedition, it is merely a gentle reminder that REVELATION is the rock upon which the Church is built, not fallible academia.