|
God is. I find this to be the most correct way to express it in our language. And I say this not only because of the decades of my life spent studying everything I could get my hands on, the writings of great scholars and philosophers, the writings of our ancestors, a lifetime spent studying both our and others' religions, even, yes, that self-proclaimed 'un'-religion we call science, in which I, like you, I'm sure, was also steeped since birth. I say that God is for all those reasons, but mostly for this one reason: Joseph Smith. Joseph Smith is all that he ever claimed to be and more, prophet, seer, and revelator, the head of this dispensation, the unschooled prophet mighty in writing, the restorer, the sixth candle, the martyr, my all in all. And I know this not only because of the many, excellent treatises about him, and not only because of his own words, not only because of the reverence others held him in, AND the contempt his enemies held him in, not only because of the church. No, I know who Joseph is not only because of all these thing, but also because of the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon is all that it claims to be: A second witness of Christ, an olive branch to the Lamanites, an indisputable argument for the laying down of all contention, a history of the prior peoples of this land, an inestimable source of the word of God, and a prophecy and a warning to our day. And I know this, not only because of the overwhelming flood of information our electronic age has brought, because of the vast library of scholarly works, the enourmous treasure of archaeological discoveries, the sermons, the history, philosophy, and testimonies of others, but, above all these, because of that mighty miracle which appears so small to men, that small thing by which great things are brought to pass: The Liahona. Nowhere else, as far as I can tell, do we find, in holy writ or profane history, anything like the Liahona. Deus ex machina indeed! And yet, so perfectly described, so deftly woven into the story of the Book of Mormon, so perfect in its 'timing', so curious in its provenance, and so enlightening in its revelation is the Liahona that I stand in awe of how little attention it receives from those to whom it means the most. I absolutely marvel at that tiny device, and that so few ever spend any appreciable time on it, let alone explore it in any depth. How on earth could anyone, even a master of history, scripture, and engineering, have thought to insert that gem into this book, at that time, under those circumstances, for that purpose? The back-story of the Liahona hidden within the pages of the Book of Mormon is often more revealing that the more obvious one of Lehi's family, and, yet, the Liahona's story is too obvious to be overlooked. So why do so many? I doubt anyone fully appreciates that miracle, not even me. And yet, it compels me to believe. And I feel the spirit testifying to me of this truth even now as I write these words to you in the name of Jesus Christ. I believe. God is. |