Preface

The search for truth should be one of active pursuit-not passive inquiry. Too often, when questions arise, Latter-day Saints are heard to say, “just pray about it.” While constant prayer is an essential ingredient in the quest for knowledge and wisdom, it should not be relegated to the status of a convenient cure-all for defending one’s faith. Our Heavenly Father expects us to do more than just to ask each time we lack understanding. Moroni (10:3) reminds us to “ponder” these things in our hearts before asking God for a manifestation. Some have presumed that exercising faith is not an intellectual function. However, the prophet Joseph Smith taught differently: “when a man works by faith, he works by mental exertion…” (See Lectures on Faith, Number 7, Section 3.)

Many years ago, Oliver Cowdery desired to receive spiritual communication as the Prophet Joseph Smith had been receiving. However, he “took no thought” except to ask God (D&C 9:7). The Lord’s answer was that Oliver should have studied those things out in his mind before simply asking for knowledge (D&C 9:8). Note that the experi­ence of gaining a confirmation or witness from God is not purely spiritual or psychological in nature, but an intense mental activity as well. Indeed, the Lord had told Oliver that “I will tell you in your mind and in your heart…” (D&C 8:2. Emphasis added.) God has asked us to open our minds-as well as our hearts-to receive the things of God. Indeed, the Lord has said that those who seek to obtain his word and who study it will have his spirit (D&C 11:21-22). He has also said that we should “seek learning by study and also by faith.” (See D&C 88:118; 109:7, 14. Emphasis added.) Hence, the evidences enumerated in this work provide intellectual nourishment for the mind while the spirit seeks for a confirmation from the heart.

It is not improper to seek for additional evidence that a given principle of the gospel is true, the Lord himself gave a “further witness” to Oliver Cowdery that the work of the restoration was under divine direction (D&C 6:22). As Austin Farrer said: “Though argument does not create conviction, the lack of it destroys belief. What seems to be proved may not be embraced, but what no one shows the ability to defend is quickly abandoned. Rational argument does not create belief but it maintains a climate in which belief may flourish.” In the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord further explained the importance of study for obtaining a testimony, and extended the realm of instruction to include external evidences.

And I give unto you a commandment that you shall teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom. Teach ye diligently and my grace shall attend you, that you may be instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are expedient for you to understand; Of things both in heaven and in the earth, and under the earth, things which have been, things which are, things which must shortly come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad; the wars and the perplexities of the nations, and the judgments which are on the land; and a knowledge also of countries and of kingdoms-That ye may be prepared in all things when I shall send you… (D&C 88:77-80. Emphasis added.) It is not improper to seek for additional evidence that a given principle of the gospel is true, the Lord himself gave a “further witness” to Oliver Cowdery that the work of the restoration was under divine direction (D&C 6:22). As Austin Farrer said: “Though argument does not create conviction, the lack of it destroys belief. What seems to be proved may not be embraced, but what no one shows the ability to defend is quickly abandoned. Rational argument does not create belief but it maintains a climate in which belief may flourish.” In the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord further explained the importance of study for obtaining a testimony, and extended the realm of instruction to include external evidences.

Of course the study of external evidence should never supplant daily study of the scriptures-only supplement the constant “feasting upon the word of Christ” (2 Nephi 31:20). Furthermore, until we have obtained our foundation of faith in the scriptures, the value of external evidences will not be fully realized. However, after having developed some level of familiarity with God’s word, it is expedient to strengthen our testimony with additional evidence. Elder Orson Pratt, one of the apostles in the early days of the Church, also explained the relationship between spiritual faith and the need for searching analysis.

Faith or belief is the result of evidence presented to the mind. Without evidence, the mind cannot have faith in anything. We believe that a stone will fall, when unsupported, on the evidence of past observation in relation to the falling of heavy bodies. We believe that day and night will continue on the evidence of past experience in regard to the uniformity of nature’s laws. We believe that space is boundless, and duration endless, on the evidence, presented by the mind itself, which at once perceives the absurdity of either space or duration being limited. We believe in all self-evident truths, on the evidence that all opposite propositions to these truths are absurd. We believe in all the great truths of science, either on the evidences of our own investigations, or on the researches of others. We believe in historical facts on the evidence of the historian. Faith in every fact, statement, truth, or proposition which we have confidence in, is, in all cases whatsoever, derived from evidence. Therefore, without evidence, faith can have no existence. (Quoted in N. B. Lundwall, Lectures on Faith [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, n.d.], p. 70.)