I thought I might respond to this email, although it is old. Having been
gone a lot lately (50 mile hike, work, etc.), I have just gotten to this
place in my email.
Joseph Smith's First Vision did happen. It is a fact. How do I know? I
know from my own testimony. I know from the hundreds of confirmations and
scores of miraculous events that have occurred in my life, starting with my
conversion from the Bible is mythology to Joseph Smith was a prophet of
God 10 years ago next month (when I was all by myself, and quite by
surprise - a very interesting conversion story for another time).
I know from the blessings I have given to others by virtue of the
Priesthood, that have and are coming true, that I could not have know or
predicted, and that ran counter to my intuition and intellect.
I know. What should this mean to others? That is up to them. But I also
know that when I am with someone and I feel the presence of the Holy Ghost
strongly, and I tell them that they are feeling the HG at that moment, and
they are surprised that I know what they are feeling - in that case, my
testimony can mean a lot to them.
Things of the Spirit cannot be proven by intellectual means. All of the
scientific confirmation of the Book of Mormon cannot give someone a
testimony - but it can start them on the search for spiritual proof. People
do not trust a spiritual proof because they don't trust themselves. One of
the greatest gifts of the Spirit to me was the certainty that some things
are absolute, and that I can know that for a certainty. The rest is up to
me (making sense of what to do with my life and how to make the most of it).
Jon
- Original Message -
From: John W. Redelfs [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Tuesday, July 01, 2003 7:06 PM
Subject: [ZION] Fraud, A Similarity of Views
Our whole strength rests on the validity of that vision. It [The First
Vision] either occurred or it did not occur. If it did not, then this work
is a fraud. If it did, then it is the most important and wonderful work
under the heavens. --Gordon B. Hinckley, General Conference October 2002.
Mormonism must stand or fall on the story of Joseph Smith. He was either
a
Prophet of God, divinely called, properly appointed and commissioned or he
was one of the biggest frauds this world has ever seen. There is no middle
ground. If Joseph was a deceiver, who willfully attempted to mislead
people, then he should be exposed, his claims should be refuted, and his
doctrines shown to be false... (Joseph Fielding Smith. DOCTRINES OF
SALVATION, Vol 1, p. 188)
I found these two quotes by different Presidents of the Church strikingly
similar. What do you think?
John W. Redelfs [EMAIL PROTECTED]
===
There is no place in this work for those who believe only
in the gospel of doom and gloom. The gospel is good
news. It is a message of triumph. --Gordon B. Hinckley
===
All my opinions are tentative pending further data. --JWR
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