There are many reasons why there is no archaeological evidence to support the Book of Mormon. I will look at my view on why we will never find archaeological evidence. The reason I have concluded is that it is a spiritual guide first and a physical guide second. The Book of Mormon is a spiritual book, not a historical book. I take the position that the Book of Mormon is a spiritual story and not a literal story.
The reason we have not found any physical evidence to support the Book of Mormon is because we will never find any. The only evidence we have and will ever have for the Book of Mormon is mountains of spiritual evidence. Although this doesn't make the Book historically accurate, we can still draw spiritual strength from the Book of Mormon.
I believe that Joseph Smith told the story of the Book of Mormon in a format that people of his time could understand. That explains the golden plates, and the angel Moroni. Folklore in upstate, NY was filled with stories of buried treasures guarded by spirits.
This doesn't make Joseph Smith a false prophet. I still believe that God revealed to us a message through Joseph Smith and Joseph Smith simply took it upon himself to select the format at which he would present it.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Friday, June 22, 2007
My Conversion Story
I thought I would open my blog with my own personal conversion story.
I grew up in the Mormon church. However, I still consider myself a convert to the Mormon church. You see, as a young child, I was never convinced that the church I belonged to was true. I knew that Jesus Christ was the savior of the world, but I was unsure that the church I belonged to was the only true church. As I hit my teen years, I reluctantly kept attending church, but only because my parents forced me. I didn't take it seriously and decided it was a waste of my time. I would frequently ditch Sunday school to go across the street to the local doughnut store (I think the other deacons, teachers and priests kept the place in business). There I was stuck in a religion I didn't understand, dragging my feet and felt I had better things to do.
When I was about 16, I had an experience that changed my life in a profound way. This experience made me realize that I had not ever read the Book of Mormon, Not once. How could I know if the church was true, or experience this "burning in the bosom" that everyone was talking about if I have never read the Book of Mormon? I decided that night to crack open my copy of the Book of Mormon and begin reading it. Although the words were very difficult to understand, I felt something that night. It is something that I can't explain fully, but it was a feeling of peace and joy within my heart. From that moment on, I understood what this whole "burning in the bosom" was. I realized the only way to know if something is true or not is to read it and pray about it to see if it is true.
From that moment on, my testimony grew exponentially. My faith turned into a knowledge of the truthfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that God lives, that Jesus Christ is the savior of the world, that God the father and Jesus Christ had a message to give us through Joseph Smith. Now the manner at which Joseph gave us this message was done with his own free agency, which I will expand upon as I go.
No amount of evidence or proof can convince me to believe otherwise. DNA, archaeology and church history have no impact on me as to the truthfulness of the gospel. Men are imperfect, but the church is perfect, because it is directed by God. If God himself appeared before me and told me the Mormon church was not true, I wouldn't believe it, I would know I was hallucinating, because I already know the church is true.
I have read many arguments against the church, and one thing that people can not refute with facts and evidence is how the church has affected my life, or how I feel inside.
I grew up in the Mormon church. However, I still consider myself a convert to the Mormon church. You see, as a young child, I was never convinced that the church I belonged to was true. I knew that Jesus Christ was the savior of the world, but I was unsure that the church I belonged to was the only true church. As I hit my teen years, I reluctantly kept attending church, but only because my parents forced me. I didn't take it seriously and decided it was a waste of my time. I would frequently ditch Sunday school to go across the street to the local doughnut store (I think the other deacons, teachers and priests kept the place in business). There I was stuck in a religion I didn't understand, dragging my feet and felt I had better things to do.
When I was about 16, I had an experience that changed my life in a profound way. This experience made me realize that I had not ever read the Book of Mormon, Not once. How could I know if the church was true, or experience this "burning in the bosom" that everyone was talking about if I have never read the Book of Mormon? I decided that night to crack open my copy of the Book of Mormon and begin reading it. Although the words were very difficult to understand, I felt something that night. It is something that I can't explain fully, but it was a feeling of peace and joy within my heart. From that moment on, I understood what this whole "burning in the bosom" was. I realized the only way to know if something is true or not is to read it and pray about it to see if it is true.
From that moment on, my testimony grew exponentially. My faith turned into a knowledge of the truthfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that God lives, that Jesus Christ is the savior of the world, that God the father and Jesus Christ had a message to give us through Joseph Smith. Now the manner at which Joseph gave us this message was done with his own free agency, which I will expand upon as I go.
No amount of evidence or proof can convince me to believe otherwise. DNA, archaeology and church history have no impact on me as to the truthfulness of the gospel. Men are imperfect, but the church is perfect, because it is directed by God. If God himself appeared before me and told me the Mormon church was not true, I wouldn't believe it, I would know I was hallucinating, because I already know the church is true.
I have read many arguments against the church, and one thing that people can not refute with facts and evidence is how the church has affected my life, or how I feel inside.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
