 Reviews by Robert B. White - If You Haven't Got This in Your Library ...
We Believe: Doctrines and Principles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints I have had the privilege over the years, to have been called to teach the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ in many capacities. Occasionally a question is asked that either I cannot answer or shouldn't. In the first instance it may be that I recognize I don’t know the answer; in other instances I may not feel spiritually settled about the answer. Do I really know, or only think I know? Those who have also taught the gospel (in various settings) can doubtless relate. The proper answer of course is either "I really don't know", or "I'm not settled about it". Sometimes another class member will feel sure about the answer, and volunteer it. As teachers we have a sacred obligation to ensure that only pure testimony is born, and true doctrine taught in the class over which we have stewardship. If we simply defer to the opinion of another, we have neglected our sacred duty. So, we confess our ignorance, and promise to find the answer, if answer there is. But where to go? The Topical Guide or the Bible Dictionary may yield an answer, but not always. We survey our library of books, check the indexes of three or four. One may have a paragraph directly to point. But who wrote it and who is he quoting? If one of the Brethren is quoted then universal counsel is to find a second witness by another of the Brethren. With two such witnesses we can be confident we have correct doctrine. This scenario, repeated scores of times each week, highlights the sacred duty of a gospel teacher and the magnitude of the task. This isn't a job for a couple of hours Saturday night! In fact, the Lord has defined the time commitment in these terms: "Treasure up in your minds continually the words of eternal life..." ‘We Believe’ in continuous revelation, and the Lord may have given light and knowledge on a particular subject of which we are unaware. Enter HELP (at last): We Believe: Doctrines and Principles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Unlike Doctrines of Salvation and Mormon Doctrine, each of which are treasured attempts to give Latter-day Saints reasonably ready access to the doctrines of the Kingdom, modern technology has made it possible to compile an unprecedented vast resource of information, from many sources. “We Believe” should be in every latter-day home--not only as a resource for teaching, but as an aid of incalculable value as we engage in our personal, prayerful study of the scriptures - without which no day can be complete and no soul safe. Instead of moving past subjects we do not understand - hoping that some day "the clouds of error [will] disappear", we can consult these volumes with a high probability that we'll find therein, tutoring by the Brethren. At some point in our lives we must stop the regime of "ten pages per day" and read to understand. I have heard President Packer say at least a half-dozen times in meetings with the seventy, that "one verse, properly understood by the power of The Holy Ghost, can change a life," I am a witness that he is right. “We Believe” is always on my desk, ready to refer to when someone asks me a doctrinal question I’m not certain I understand, and on the dozens of occasions when I have such questions myself. I have seldom been disappointed. A digital copy of the work is included to simplify printing out quotes and to use when preparing talks etc. While I admit these two volumes are not cheap, they don't cost more than a night for two at the movies, and for the price of a hockey game you could get a set with cash left over. Besides, "What doth it profit a man if he gain the whole world and loose his soul; or what shall a man give in return for his soul?" Well, on that subject “We Believe” .... - Brother Bob If You Haven't Got This in Your Library ..... Massacre at Mountain Meadows - September 2009 I buy and read a lot of books. I mean, a lot! About 200 a year. And that doesn't count the ones I buy, start reading, can't stand, and get rid of. This is why an actual bookstore beats Amazon hands down. Amazon sometimes gives you a peak inside a book if you're lucky, but at a bookstore you can see the whole book, and even read a chapter to see if it grabs and holds you. Well, I recently purchased from Generations a book that I never thought I'd read: Massacre at Mountain Meadows by Ronald W. Walker, Richard E. Turley and Glen M. Leonard, all highly credible in their fields and recognized as leading authorities on the subject. For as long as I can remember, until President Hinckley held out his hand in apology and reconciliation, as a people we've either passed by this subject in embarrassed silence, or repeated some folk tale excuse or other. For President Hinckley, that wouldn't do. He had a monument built; he met with the descendants of the victims--and there were victims--and he expressed the deepest regret to them on behalf of all Latter-day Saints. Now, if that weren't enough, he gave Brothers Walker, Turley and Leonard open access to the Church archives, and encouraged them to write the whole story of what happened in a beautiful mountain valley, near We owe it to ourselves as Latter-day Saints to purchase and to read this book. It silences our critics who for decades have tried to implicate Brigham Young in what happened. The fact is that immediately upon learning that there might be trouble, he dispatched a messenger, on what can only be described as a heroic ride, with a letter signed by him stating: "Leave those people alone!" It is important for each of us is to follow the narrative of these very skilled writers as they, and as we, try to understand how a group of otherwise honourable priesthood holders, husbands and fathers, who had been living lives of decency and even charity - murder men, women and children, in cold blood, face to face, with little more than a handshake's distance between them. It certainly wasn't because of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or the restored gospel it presents to the world, and it wasn't because Mormons are bad people. So what did happen? and why? and how? To be knowledgeable and honest about our history as a people, this is something we need to know. President Hinckley thought so; and who am I to think otherwise? This is an important book, of unquestionable integrity. I'm glad I put down my money and bought the book and took it home. And when I got it there, I'm glad I picked it up and read it through. I think you would be, too. If I didn't have this book in my hands, I wouldn't delay in getting it there. - Robert B. White Note: All books reviewed in this column are selected for purchase at full retail price by the column's writer, Robert B. White. The writer receives no compensation of any kind for these reviews. The personal views expressed are the responsibility of the writer and are not necessarily shared by Generations, its owners or staff, or of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
|
