So, Who Ya Gonna Believe...?

I had an interesting conversation the other day with a good friend of mine on the topic of religion and why, when so many of his friends reach age 40 or so, they start doubting the Church, their faith, and all things therein. It was an engaging conversation, to say the least. How to do you respond to people who have "learned" something that in some way disproves the authenticity of the Church, or that Joseph Smith was a prophet and saw and did what he said he did. Many of the people I (and he) know who leave the Church are very intelligent "thinkers" who have learned or uncovered something that, at least on the surface, appears to be at odds with their faith or the teachings or history of the Church. And in the face of scientific or other "proof" they can't live a lie and leave thinking that it is the right (only) thing to do.


One example is that of the Book of Mormon and the "Spaulding Papers." Now, I have to admit some level of ignorance on this subject, but from what I can tell, these papers are a fictional and historic account of the Native American mound-builders, and includes some parallels to some accounts given the Book of Mormon. There, some would say, evidence that Joseph Smith was a fraud and not a prophet, after all, the Spaulding papers were written (though unpublished) before the Book of Mormon. Right? Not quite. Without countering with proof and evidence of my own to "prove" the Book of Mormon correct (which, by the way, cannot be done) I offer this simple question: Is it possible that the adversary, knowing full well what was about to happen, could have "inspired" a story similar to that of the accounts contained in the Book of Mormon? Isn't it probable that he would do everything in his power to discredit the works of God even before they were completed? If you are spiritual and religious at all, you have to admit that this is possible. So, who are you going to believe?


And then there is all that scientific evidence that might cause some doubt about the truth of Christianity, Joseph Smith, the ancient American inhabitants and their connection to the Book of Mormon accounts, and the list goes on and on. What can you say when the evidence and proof is right there? Again, who ya gonna believe? According to James Burke, renowned science historian, throughout history and at any give point in time that upwards of 90% of scientific facts, what the world knew to be true, was dead wrong. His PBS series and book, The Day the Universe Changed, illustrates this point very well. If science has been wrong 90% of the time at any give point in time, what makes our time so different. Isn't it possible that what we have learned, what has been proved (theoretically or otherwise) could be incorrect?



We live in the last days, where "evils and designs...do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days...." Why are so many so quick to accept "facts" to disprove or discredit good men and their faith and turn their backs on spiritual matters. To borrow from the prophet Alma, "if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?" And then from Moroni, the counsel to "remember" what the Lord has done for the children of men since the beginning of time. He is unchanging, unlike science and its "facts." So why are the opponents fo the Church always assumed to be "right"? Who made them the "experts" on our faith?



But in the end, it is not about physical or scientific proof, anyway. These same people, often Christians, who try to disprove the miraculous events surrounding the restoration of the Gospel because of a lack or contrary "evidence" fail to remember that they based their own beliefs on faith, without any hard evidence to support them, as well. We all believe that Jesus died, was buried, and then rose again the third day--but where is the proof? There isn't any. All we have is spiritual evidence. When Jesus told his apostles that was leaving them but he was not leaving them alone--he would send them the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, to testify of the truth. He didn't leave an 800 page account "proving" that he was the savior of the world--he left them, and us, the Holy Spirit.


It is what I have said many times over the years, sometimes we have to answer the "right" question or the question that should have been asked. It is not our burdon to "prove" the Church is true, or that Joseph Smith was a prophet, or that doctrine has remained constant--in fact, we couldn't even if we tried. Sometimes we may "learn" things that seem contrary to the teachings, beliefs, or faith that have and we have an obligation to search them out in our mind and then to pray about them. The Lord will answer our petitions, and will fill us with that comfort that we are, indeed, following in faith.