Restoration must be at the forefront of interfaith dialogue

PROVO, Utah — Mormons should push to openly talk about their differences

in interfaith dialogue rather than overlooking them, a British religious

scholar told listeners at BYU Studies' 50th Anniversary Symposium on

March 12.

"The important point is that, however other faiths are engaged with or

viewed, it must be against the background of the First Vision," James

Holt said. "Anything we do has to be informed by the Sacred Grove and

the events that took place there. It can't be simply dismissed, because

the Lord said it."

Holt, senior lecturer and subject leader in religious education at the

University of Chester in England, gave a presentation called "The

Dichotomy of Latter-day Saint Interfaith Commentary: A Way Forward" at

the Gordon B. Hinckley Alumni Center at BYU.

Holt presented how Mormons straddle the line between retrenchment and

assimilation, saying that this straddling started with the teachings of

the Prophet Joseph Smith.

In the Sacred Grove, Mormons believe Joseph Smith was told that the

sects of the day were false. In the first section of the Doctrine and

Covenants, the Lord tells members that they are part of "the only true

and living Church".

"Latter-day Saints had a desire to separate themselves from all other

forms of religions — they were different from any other organization of

religion, not the least because the Lord had told them that they

belonged to "the only true and living Church" (D&C 1:30)," Holt said.

"Latter-day Saints defined themselves not only by the unique beliefs