Defending the Faith: Let's not overcorrect doctrinal differences

By Daniel Peterson, For the Deseret News

Published: Thursday, Nov. 1 2012 5:00 a.m. MDT

Photo

View 1 photo »

For the Deseret News

Summary

Many years ago, tracting during my first weeks as a missionary in German-speaking Switzerland, my companion and I were finally admitted into an apartment. The family who lived in it were eastern Europeans, and devoutly Catholic. In fact, it soon became apparent they were unusually devoted to the Virgin Mary; their living room was decorated with several statues and images of the mother of Jesus.

But they also can't be found in the actual text of the Book of Mormon. The Nephite record describes much humbler defensive walls (e.g., at Alma 50:1-6) — and such structures have, in fact, been identified in the Pre-Columbian New World.

"Seek not to declare my word," the Lord counseled Hyrum Smith in Doctrine and Covenants 11:21, "but first seek to obtain my word, and then shall your tongue be loosed."

Daniel C. Peterson is a professor of Islamic studies and Arabic at BYU, where he also serves as editor in chief of the Middle Eastern Texts Initiative. He is the founder of MormonScholars Testify.org, the general editor of "Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture" online at www.mormoninterpreter.com, and he blogs daily at www.patheos.com/blogs/danpeterson.

«Prev
Page:
1
2

Featured Comments

See all 43 comments »

Mountanman

Hayden, ID

I was recently on a team teaching assignment with one of our full times missionaries and he was magnificent! The lady we were teaching recoiled upon hearing his recounting of the first vision and stated emphatically, " I don't need your More..

9:44 p.m. Nov. 1, 2012
Top comment

procuradorfiscal

Tooele, UT

Re: "If we all approached religion from the position that we just might be wrong, the world would be a far better place."

You might be wrong.