Friday, May 3, 2024

Willing to be misunderstood

In 1834-5, with the help of Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery wrote and published 8 essays on early Church history. 

Both of them knew they had been misunderstood. Misunderstanding comes with the territory any time there is something new and innovative. But Joseph and Oliver wanted to articulate the truth about the Book of Mormon and the Restoration and publish it so anyone interested could read it for themselves.

Joseph had his scribes copy the essays into his journal as part of his life story. Six years later, he had the essays republished in Church magazines, including the Gospel Reflector, Times and Seasons, the Millennial Star, and The Prophet.

As expected, their contemporary Latter-day Saints accepted their truth claims, as did their successors in Church leadership. Extrinsic evidence corroborates what Joseph and Oliver said.

However, today, many prominent Latter-day Saint scholars reject key points that Oliver made, such as the fact that the hill Cumorah/Ramah of Mormon 6:6 is in western New York.

We can all read that part here from Joseph's journal: 

http://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/history-1834-1836/90

What do you think?

_____

“If you’re going to do anything new or innovative, you have to be willing to be misunderstood. And if you can't tolerate that, then... don't do anything new or innovative.”

~ Jeff Bezos

https://twitter.com/timjcarden/status/1786402861288767656

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