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− | ==Criticism== | + | =={{Criticism label}}== |
Critics charge that the 'problems' with the Book of Mormon made Brigham H. Roberts (an early LDS apologist and member of the First Quorum of Seventy) lose his faith in the its historicity. The primary source upon which this criticism is based originates with Roberts' manuscripts detailing his critical study of the Book of Mormon, which was published under the title [[B.H. Roberts and "Studies of the Book of Mormon"|''Studies of the Book of Mormon'']] years after his death. | Critics charge that the 'problems' with the Book of Mormon made Brigham H. Roberts (an early LDS apologist and member of the First Quorum of Seventy) lose his faith in the its historicity. The primary source upon which this criticism is based originates with Roberts' manuscripts detailing his critical study of the Book of Mormon, which was published under the title [[B.H. Roberts and "Studies of the Book of Mormon"|''Studies of the Book of Mormon'']] years after his death. | ||
{{CriticalSources}} | {{CriticalSources}} | ||
− | ==Response== | + | =={{Response label}}== |
It should be pointed out that even if Roberts ''had'' lost his testimony, this would represent nothing more than a personal tragedy for him. Truth is not determined by popular vote. | It should be pointed out that even if Roberts ''had'' lost his testimony, this would represent nothing more than a personal tragedy for him. Truth is not determined by popular vote. | ||
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It is difficult to see these as the words of one who has lost his faith in the Church, the Book of Mormon, or Joseph Smith. | It is difficult to see these as the words of one who has lost his faith in the Church, the Book of Mormon, or Joseph Smith. | ||
− | ==Conclusion== | + | =={{Conclusion label}}== |
An excellent argument against the claim that B.H. Roberts abandoned the Book of Mormon can be found in his last book, which he considered his masterwork. [B. H. Roberts, ''The Truth, the Way, the Life: An Elementary Treatise on Theology'', edited by John W. Welch (Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University Studies, 1994).] Given Roberts' clear respect for the Book of Mormon in this volume, there can be little doubt that he continued to believe in and treasure it. | An excellent argument against the claim that B.H. Roberts abandoned the Book of Mormon can be found in his last book, which he considered his masterwork. [B. H. Roberts, ''The Truth, the Way, the Life: An Elementary Treatise on Theology'', edited by John W. Welch (Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University Studies, 1994).] Given Roberts' clear respect for the Book of Mormon in this volume, there can be little doubt that he continued to believe in and treasure it. | ||
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:We who accept [the Book of Mormon] as a revelation from God have every reason to believe that it will endure every test; and the more thoroughly it is investigated, the greater shall be its ultimate triumph.{{ref|fn3}} | :We who accept [the Book of Mormon] as a revelation from God have every reason to believe that it will endure every test; and the more thoroughly it is investigated, the greater shall be its ultimate triumph.{{ref|fn3}} | ||
− | ==Endnotes== | + | =={{Endnotes label}}== |
#{{note|fn1}} B. H. Roberts to the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve, March 1923. (See ''Studies of the Book of Mormon'' (1992), p. 58. On page 33, note 65, the editor of this work states that the date on this letter should be 1922 rather than 1923.) | #{{note|fn1}} B. H. Roberts to the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve, March 1923. (See ''Studies of the Book of Mormon'' (1992), p. 58. On page 33, note 65, the editor of this work states that the date on this letter should be 1922 rather than 1923.) | ||
#{{note|fn2}}{{CR1|author=Brigham H. Roberts|date=April 1930|start=47}} | #{{note|fn2}}{{CR1|author=Brigham H. Roberts|date=April 1930|start=47}} | ||
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#{{note|fn3}}{{IE|author=B. H. Roberts|article=The Translation of the Book of Mormon|num=9|date=April 1906|start=435|end=436}} | #{{note|fn3}}{{IE|author=B. H. Roberts|article=The Translation of the Book of Mormon|num=9|date=April 1906|start=435|end=436}} | ||
− | ==Further reading== | + | =={{Further reading label}}== |
− | ===FAIR wiki articles=== | + | ==={{FAIR wiki articles label}}=== |
*[[BH Roberts | Brigham H. (BH) Roberts]] | *[[BH Roberts | Brigham H. (BH) Roberts]] | ||
*[[Book of Mormon and View of the Hebrews]] | *[[Book of Mormon and View of the Hebrews]] | ||
− | ===FAIR web site=== | + | ==={{FAIR web site label}}=== |
*{{tg|url=http://www.fairlds.org/apol/ai281.html|topic=Brigham H. Roberts / B.H. Roberts}} | *{{tg|url=http://www.fairlds.org/apol/ai281.html|topic=Brigham H. Roberts / B.H. Roberts}} | ||
− | ===External links=== | + | ==={{External links label}}=== |
*{{JBMS-8-2-8}} <!--Bitton--> | *{{JBMS-8-2-8}} <!--Bitton--> | ||
* {{BYUS|author=Truman G. Madsen|article=B. H. Roberts and the Book of Mormon|vol=19|num=4|date=Summer 1979|start=427|end=445}}{{link|url=http://byustudies.byu.edu/Products/MoreInfoPage/MoreInfo.aspx?Type=7&ProdID=1634}} | * {{BYUS|author=Truman G. Madsen|article=B. H. Roberts and the Book of Mormon|vol=19|num=4|date=Summer 1979|start=427|end=445}}{{link|url=http://byustudies.byu.edu/Products/MoreInfoPage/MoreInfo.aspx?Type=7&ProdID=1634}} | ||
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*{{Ensign1|author=John W. Welch|article=B. H. Roberts: Seeker After Truth|date=March 1986|start=56,Q&A on “Study of the Book of Mormon” and other points}}{{link|url=http://beta.lds.org/portal/site/LDSOrg/menuitem.b12f9d18fae655bb69095bd3e44916a0/?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=102aef960417b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1}} | *{{Ensign1|author=John W. Welch|article=B. H. Roberts: Seeker After Truth|date=March 1986|start=56,Q&A on “Study of the Book of Mormon” and other points}}{{link|url=http://beta.lds.org/portal/site/LDSOrg/menuitem.b12f9d18fae655bb69095bd3e44916a0/?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=102aef960417b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1}} | ||
− | ===Printed material=== | + | ==={{Printed material label}}=== |
*Anonymous, ''A Sure Foundation: Answers to Difficult Gospel Questions'' (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1988), 60-74. | *Anonymous, ''A Sure Foundation: Answers to Difficult Gospel Questions'' (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1988), 60-74. | ||
*{{newlight| author=Truman G. Madsen|article=B. H. Roberts and the Book of Mormon|start=7|end=31}} | *{{newlight| author=Truman G. Madsen|article=B. H. Roberts and the Book of Mormon|start=7|end=31}} |
== Critics charge that the 'problems' with the Book of Mormon made Brigham H. Roberts (an early LDS apologist and member of the First Quorum of Seventy) lose his faith in the its historicity. The primary source upon which this criticism is based originates with Roberts' manuscripts detailing his critical study of the Book of Mormon, which was published under the title Studies of the Book of Mormon years after his death.
To see citations to the critical sources for these claims, click here
====
It should be pointed out that even if Roberts had lost his testimony, this would represent nothing more than a personal tragedy for him. Truth is not determined by popular vote.
Roberts was an able scholar, and he was not afraid to play 'devil's advocate' to strengthen the Church's defenses against its enemies. In a presentation on some potential Book of Mormon 'problems' prepared for the General Authorities, Roberts wrote a caution that subsequent critics have seen fit to ignore:
Roberts felt that faith in the Book of Mormon was a given, and so did not consider any 'negative' points to be of ultimate concern, though he did seek for better answers than he then had. The critics have often published his list of of "parallels" between the Book of Mormon and Ethan Smith's View of the Hebrews, without informing modern readers that Roberts did not consider the problems insoluable, or a true threat to faith in the Book of Mormon. They also do not generally cite the numerous other statements in which, to the end of his life, he declared the Book of Mormon to be a divine record.
Roberts' studies also made him willing to modify previous conceptions, such as when he concluded that the Book of Mormon was not a history of the only immigrants to the New World.
In 1930, he enthused about the Book of Mormon a century after the Church's organization:
The book Discourses of B.H. Roberts of the First Council of the Seventy, compiled by Ben R. Roberts (Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book Company 1948) contains the last seven discourses delivered by Elder Roberts: four in Salt Lake City, one in San Francisco (on the radio), and the last two at the World Fellowship of Faith in Chicago, in August-September 1933. He died three weeks after the last discourse. Roberts had returned from a lengthy illness, which made him realize how precious life is. He determined to leave his testimony, especially for the youth of the church.
From the first of these addresses:[3]
Roberts then refers to a statement in David Whitmer, To All Believers in Christ, about the translation of the Book of Mormon being interrupted due to some problems between Joseph and Emma:
Roberts then refers to the Book of Moses in the Pearl of Great Price, which was revealed shortly after the Church was organized, in June 1830:
It is difficult to see these as the words of one who has lost his faith in the Church, the Book of Mormon, or Joseph Smith.
====
An excellent argument against the claim that B.H. Roberts abandoned the Book of Mormon can be found in his last book, which he considered his masterwork. [B. H. Roberts, The Truth, the Way, the Life: An Elementary Treatise on Theology, edited by John W. Welch (Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University Studies, 1994).] Given Roberts' clear respect for the Book of Mormon in this volume, there can be little doubt that he continued to believe in and treasure it.
Ironically for the critics, many of the issues which drew Elder Roberts' attention have now been solved as more information about the ancient world has become available. He expressed faith that this would be the case, and has been vindicated:
== Notes ==
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