Holland was ordained an apostle of the church in june of 1994 and became a member of the quorum of the twelve apostles later that year. My testimony of the book of mormon by kristen duke this site is a participant in the amazon services llc associates program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to. Maybe elder holland was appealing to the nonlds scholars in the room, as well as other nonmembers who might hear or read his talk in the future, who have not accepted the testimonies of the twelve official witnesses to the book of mormon joseph smith, the three witnesses, and the eight witnesses. Holland by mormonblogger on tuesday, may 31st, 2016 no comments a modernday apostle describes the unwavering faith churchs founders showed, even in the face of death, to remain true to their testimonies of the book of mormon. This suggests that the book of mormon was translated from ancient text, he said, and not authored in the 1800s. This suggests that the book of mormon was translated from ancient text, he said, and not authored. Holland of the quorum of the twelve apostles from safety for the soul, ensign, nov.
My testimony of the book of mormon by elder jeffrey r. The value of the book of mormon lies not in the miracle of its translation, miraculous as it was. A modernday apostle describes the unwavering faith churchs founders showed, even in the face of death, to remain true to their testimonies of the book of mormon. If the book of mormon is true, our message to the world is truth. The book of mormon is the keystone of our testimony.
America reads and the book of mormon religious studies center. Interlude elder hollands powerful talk to a room full. Elder hollands powerful talk to a room full of unbelievers. Holland is no stranger to general authorities or general conferences. Testimony of the eight witnesses book of mormon central. As one of a thousand elements of my own testimony of the divinity of the book of mormon, i submit this as yet one more evidence of its truthfulness. During the saturday afternoon session of april 2020 general conference, latterday saints sustained nine new general authority seventies as well as the three members of a new young men general presidency and 58 new area seventies. Holland, shares his apostolic witness of the central figure of the book of mormonthe lord jesus christ. One of those claims is that the eight witnesses, whose printed testimony is included with every copy of the book of mormon, never really saw the gold plates, but only saw them covered by a cloth.
Goodly parents, i and my father, nahom, horses, word prints, chiasmus, thor heyerdahl goodly parents. I ask that my testimony of the book of mormon and all that it implies, given today under my own oath and office, be recorded by men on earth and angels in heaven. In elder hollands view, the reality of those plates, the substance of them if you will, and the evidence that comes to us from them in the form of the book of mormon is at the heart, at the very center, of the hope and testimony and conviction of this work. For most of a decade, elder holland has read the book of mormon repeatedly and thoroughly, focusing on all references to the savior and his teachings. This conference, held on august 16, celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the. Tom perry says, the book of mormon is a voice of warning to this generation. Interlude elder hollands powerful talk to a room full of.
I like elder hollands note that this is one of a thousand elements of his own testimony. I really hope people who are unsure what the balance is of human and divine content in the book of mormon wont feel his talk as rejection, or as a reason to distance themselves from the church. I have never heard that any one of the three or eight witnesses ever denied the testimony that they have borne to the book as published in the first edition of the book of mormon. Many latterday saints know the new general authority seventy as the son of elder jeffrey r. My letter to elder holland re book of mormon very long. Testimony of the book of mormon elder holland youtube. These early witnesses were nephi, jacob, and isaiah, and it is not by coincidence that their testimonies appear so conspicuously at the beginning of.
Holland of the quorum of the twelve symposium on the book of mormon, 9 august 1994, byu. While all three of the three witnesses and five of the eight witnesses later left the church for a time, none of them ever denied their sworn statements about seeing the plates. I was moved by elder hollands speech, and took it as eloquent testimony of his belief in the divine origins of the book of mormon. Oaks of the first presidency announced the calls following is a brief look at each of the new general authority. Nelson, his counselors, and the members of the quorum of the twelve apostles are the prophets, seers, and revelators in our day. Brother phillips, the stake presidency is considering formal disciplinary action in your behalf, including the possibility of disfellowship or excommunication, because you are reported to have participated in conduct unbecoming a members of the church and evil speaking of the. Aug 20, 2019 the value of the book of mormon lies not in the miracle of its translation, miraculous as it was. It is interesting to note that there were three earlier witnessesspecial witnessesnot only of the divine origins of the book of mormon but also of divinity himself. See more ideas about book of mormon videos, book of.
The church changed my life and inspired me to be baptized at the age of 26. At the beginning of the book of mormon, we have the testimony of joseph smith, the testimony of three witnesses, and the testimony of eight witnesses. Elder holland concluded with his personal testimony of the book of mormon. Jan 30, 2018 in elder hollands view, the reality of those plates, the substance of them if you will, and the evidence that comes to us from them in the form of the book of mormon is at the heart, at the very center, of the hope and testimony and conviction of this work. This conference, held on august 16, celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the discovery of chiasmus in the book of mormon. Oct 07, 2009 elder holland concluded with his personal testimony of the book of mormon. Seriously, passages like that are why we love elder holland.
The testimony of the eight witnesses was first published at the end of the 1830 edition of the book of mormon and has been printed in nearly every edition since, although most subsequent editions moved the statement to the front of the book and included minor grammatical corrections. As a prelude to my own testimony of the divinity of book of mormon origins and authorship, let me quote two readily recognizable paragraphs as to the centrality of the book to our faithits keystone role, if you will. See more ideas about book of mormon videos, book of mormon and book of mormon prophets. The ultimate list of lds classics every mormon should read. A common muslim testimony i bear you my testimony that i know the book of mormon is true, i know that joseph smith is a true prophet of god and i know that the church is the only true church i bear witness that there is no god but allah, and i bear witness that mohammed is the servant and messenger of allah. Later, when actually incarcerated in the jail, joseph the prophet turned to the guards who held him captive and bore a powerful testimony of the divine authenticity of the book of mormon. Not long after my call to serve as one of the twelve apostles, i was summoned to the office of the president of our quorum, president ezra taft benson. I love elder holland and his special witness of the savior and of the book of mormon. As i read the entire book, i could hear elder hollands distinctive voice in my mind. Holland bore powerful testimony of the divine authenticity of the book of mormon during the october 2009 general conference. Meet the 9 new general authority seventies church news. May 18, 2009 the entire book is a classic, but particularly in the final chapter, elder holland bears powerful witness of the book of mormon. I did not sail with the brother of jared in crossing an ocean, settling.
As i read the entire book, i could hear elder holland s distinctive voice in my mind. Christian whitmer one of the eight witnesses to the book of mormon was the eldest son of peter whitmer, sen. Mormon apostle misled members with his book of mormon prop. While all three of the three witnesses and five of the eight witnesses later left the lds church for a time, none of them ever denied their sworn statements about seeing the plates. Christ and the new covenant meet your next favorite book. There are only two of the witnesses to that book now living, to wit. My letter to elder holland re book of mormon heres your reply, assuming youre still a member. In the book of mormon chapter 8 verse 35, moroni writes, behold, i speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. One of the most powerful testimonies of the book of mormon. His testimony highlights that modern apostolic witnesses have born testimony of the nephite record.
Holland of the quorum of the twelve apostles visited eight middle eastern nations in april, 2011. My personal explanation of the book of mormon is one of testimony. The research and studies and reasonings that ive shared with you are not my testimony of the book of mormon, they are simply small facets of my testimony. This major doctrinal work written by elder jeffrey r. Biographies in preston nibley witnesses of the book of mormon deseret book co. Nephis parents were wealthy, so he was able to receive an education explaining why nephi can read and write. No matter what were bearing testimony of, the truth of the church and all its teachings are rooted in these five points of doctrine. Elder holland speaks at book of mormon chiasmus conference. The whole book is awesome, but the final chapter in which elder holland bears his testimony is magnificent. Apr 23, 2017 a shortened clip from elder holland s safety for the soul, in which he bears his testimony of the validity and truth of the book of mormon. The event was sponsored by book of mormon central and byu studies to commemorate the discovery of chiasmus in the book of mormon on august 16, 1967. As was true for the testimony of three witnesses, these names were included at the end of the book of mormon to place this seal of testimony upon the published record. That is the message with which the book of mormon begins, and that is the message with which it ends, calling all to come unto christ, and be perfected in him. In light of a recent conversation with several critics, i decided to type out a significant portion of that witness and post it here.
A shortened clip from elder hollands safety for the soul, in which he bears his testimony of the validity and truth of the book of mormon. Long post, but i really want to share this with yall. I want it absolutely clear when i stand before the judgment bar of god that i declared to the world in the most straightforward language i can summon, that the book of mormon is true, that it came forth the way joseph said it came forth, and was given to bring happiness. America reads and the book of mormon religious studies. Growth in the area prompted the division of the former manama bahrain stake into the manama bahrain district and the newly named abu dhabi stake. A powerful testimony of christ, the book of mormon, and joseph smith. It is a record of gods dealings with the ancient inhabitants of the americas and contains the fulness of the everlasting gospel the book was written by many ancient prophets through the spirit of prophecy and revelation.
Elder hollands 10 best talks of all time utahvalley360. Standing like sentinels at the gate of the book, elder holland concluded, nephi, jacob, and isaiah admit us into the scriptural presence of the lord. A more recent and very powerful comment to the same effect is from president ezra taft benson, who said. Apr 15, 2017 this major doctrinal work written by elder jeffrey r.
The great worth of the book of mormon is that it is another testament of jesus christ. At the beginning of the book of mormon, we have the testimony of joseph smith, the testimony of three witnesses, and the testimony of eight witnesses12 voices coming together to testify that the book of mormon is the word of god and another testament of jesus christ. I believe with all of my heart and mind that it is a sacred record, one authored by prophets through the ages, meant to establish and tie together eternal principles and precepts, rounding out basic doctrines of salvation ensign, jan 2004, faust, p. As peter and john said once to an ancient audience, i say. Its four major authorsnephi, jacob, mormon, and moroniwere all eyewitnesses of the lord, as was joseph, the inspired translator of that book. According to elder holland, one of the remarkable contributions of the book of mormon is that, unlike the bible, there is a seamless transition from the period before jesuss mortal ministry with the law of moses to the period after. Brother phillips, the stake presidency is considering formal disciplinary action in your behalf, including the possibility of disfellowship or excommunication, because you are reported to have participated in conduct unbecoming a members of the church and evil speaking of the lords anointed. The mormon testimony mormons claim that a personal feeling, a burning in the bosom, which is interpreted to be a manifestation of the holy ghost, is the only evidence needed to prove that the religion is true. He received a bachelors degree in english and masters. Our testimony as recorded in the book of mormon, is strictly and absolutely true.
During the trip, elder holland addressed several thousand members of the church. Holland gave a stirring address about the power of physical evidence in defending the gospel at the chiasmus conference sponsored by book of mormon central and byu studies. Missionary work 2 mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. Our heavenly father uses multiple witnesses to testify of truth see 2 corinthians. Jul 10, 2016 seriously, passages like that are why we love elder holland. I think it was elder holland who got up and spoke about, you guessed it, home teaching. Holland told a moving story of how, before leaving for carthage and eventual martyrdom, hyrum smith read from the book of mormon. Furthermore, you have more faith than you think you do because of what the book of mormon calls the greatness of the evidences. The testimony of the three witnesses and the testimony of the eight witnesses have been printed in every edition of the book of mormon since 1830. The eight witnesses were shown the plates by joseph smith. It is a record of gods dealings with the ancient inhabitants of the americas and contains the fulness of the everlasting gospel the book was written by many ancient prophets through the spirit of. The testimony of eight false historical claims continue to be put forward by critics of mormonism.
And like them, i lie not, god bearing witness of it. Therefore, it can be said that the book of mormon is not just a book supported by witnesses the three and eight witnesses but a book of witnesses nephi, jacob, and isaiah. The entire book is a classic, but particularly in the final chapter, elder holland bears powerful witness of the book of mormon. The book of mormon is the word of god like the bible. When you read the book of mormon, concentrate on the principal figure in the book from its first chapter to the last the lord jesus christ.
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