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 > > //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// // > /// ZION LIST CHARTER: Please read it at /// > /// http://www.zionsbest.com/charter.html /// > //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// / > ==^================================================================ > This email was sent to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?aaP9AU.bWk5tu.Sm9uLlNw > Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > TOPICA - Start your own email discussion group. FREE! > http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/create/index2.html > ==^================================================================ > > > ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// /// ZION LIST CHARTER: Please read it at /// /// http://www.zionsbest.com/charter.html /// ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// --^---------------------------------------------------------------- This email was sent to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?aaP9AU.bWix1n.YXJjaGl2 Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] TOPICA - Start your own email discussion group. FREE! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/create/index2.html --^----------------------------------------------------------------
