FAIR is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing well-documented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice, and history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Book of Mormon/B.H. Roberts' testimony
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Contents
Criticism
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.
Source(s) of the Criticism
- John Ankerberg and John Weldon, Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Mormonism (Eugene, OR: Harvest House, 1992), 280, 301–3.
- John R. Farkas and David A. Reed, Mormonism: Changes, Contradictions, and Errors (Grand Rapids, Mich. : Baker Books, 1995), 222.
- James R. Spencer, "The Disappointment of B. H. Roberts: Five Questions That Forced a Mormon General Authority to Abandon the Book of Mormon" (Boise, Idaho: Through the Maze, 1991).
- Jerald and Sandra Tanner, The Changing World of Mormonism (Chicago: Moody Press, 1980), 126–8.
- James White, Letters to a Mormon Elder (Southbridge, MA: Crowne, 1990), 140–142.
Response
The response should be brief and summary in nature.
Conclusion
The best 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.
Further reading
FAIR wiki articles
FAIR web site
External links
- Links to external web pages
Printed material
- Anonymous, A Sure Foundation: Answers to Difficult Gospel Questions (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1988), 60-74.
Truman G. Madsen, "B. H. Roberts and the Book of Mormon," in Book of Mormon Authorship: New Light on Ancient Origins, edited by Noel B. Reynolds (Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University Religious Studies Center, 1982), 7–31. Truman G. Madsen, ed., "B. H. Roberts: His Final Decade: Statements About the Book of Mormon (1924-1933)" (Provo, Utah: FARMS, n. d.). Truman G. Madsen and John W. Welch, "Did B. H. Roberts Lose Faith in the Book of Mormon?" (Provo, Utah: FARMS, 1985). John W. Welch, "Finding Answers to B. H. Roberts's Questions," (Provo, Utah: FARMS, 1985).