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(→Claims a True Prophet must make: heading) |
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*His most important claims come with witnesses, not just people he convinced, but people who have seen what he had seen. This includes the three witnesses of the angel and the plates, the eight formal witnesses of the plates, other informal witnesses, and the important shared visions with Sidney Ridgon and Oliver Cowdery. | *His most important claims come with witnesses, not just people he convinced, but people who have seen what he had seen. This includes the three witnesses of the angel and the plates, the eight formal witnesses of the plates, other informal witnesses, and the important shared visions with Sidney Ridgon and Oliver Cowdery. | ||
*He reports ordinations to the priesthood following the pattern of Aaron. | *He reports ordinations to the priesthood following the pattern of Aaron. | ||
− | Teaching of Christ | + | ==Teaching of Christ== |
*He testifies that Jesus is the Christ, that he came in the flesh., that he will judge all men. | *He testifies that Jesus is the Christ, that he came in the flesh., that he will judge all men. | ||
*He talks about faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism. | *He talks about faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism. | ||
*He affirms the need for apostles and prophets. | *He affirms the need for apostles and prophets. | ||
*He affirms the Bible witness in his use of the Bible, his prayers, his identification with Paul, his fulfillment of the Bible prophecy of the sealed book. | *He affirms the Bible witness in his use of the Bible, his prayers, his identification with Paul, his fulfillment of the Bible prophecy of the sealed book. | ||
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==Character of Teaching== | ==Character of Teaching== | ||
*He teaches belief in God the Father, his Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, and that these constitute in unity One God. | *He teaches belief in God the Father, his Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, and that these constitute in unity One God. |
Those familiar with even Joseph Smith's 1838 testimony, as published in the Pearl of Great Price, the Articles of Faith, and the Book of Mormon should see much that indicates that his claims should be taken seriously in light of the Bible tests.
In comparison with the Biblical standard, all of this invites further consideration. Not only does Joseph Smith impress compared to the Biblical standard, but I have found no rival candidates that come close. This does not prove his claims, nor exhaust the testing that can and should be done. It should invite us to take Joseph Smith seriously, to consider his works, such as the Book of Mormon, to explore the testimony of the witnesses, to try living the gospel, to carefully compare LDS teaching with the scriptures, and to pray.
Participation in a religious tradition also demands a more total personal involvement than occurs in science. Religious questions are of ultimate concern, since the meaning of one’s existence is at stake. Religion asks about the final objects of a person’s devotion and loyalty, for which he will sacrifice other interests if necessary. Too detached an attitude may cut off a person from the very kinds of experience which are religiously most significant. Reorientation and reconciliation are transformation of life-pattern affecting all aspects of personality, not intellect alone. Religious writings use the language of actors, not the language of spectators. Religious commitment, then is a personal response, a serious decision implicating one’s whole life, a willingness to act and suffer for what one believes in.
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