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Difference between revisions of "Detailed response to CES Letter, Witnesses"
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|subject=Martin Harris repeatedly sought empirical proof | |subject=Martin Harris repeatedly sought empirical proof | ||
|summary=Critics claim that Martin Harris was a gullible believer in the supernatural. But, in fact, Martin repeatedly performed empirical tests to confirm Joseph Smith's claims. He came away convinced. | |summary=Critics claim that Martin Harris was a gullible believer in the supernatural. But, in fact, Martin repeatedly performed empirical tests to confirm Joseph Smith's claims. He came away convinced. | ||
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| + | ====Oliver Cowdery==== | ||
| + | {{CESLetterItem | ||
| + | |claim=The author states, "Oliver Cowdery was not an objective and independent witness. As scribe for the Book of Mormon and cousin to Joseph Smith, there was a serious conflict of interest in Oliver being a witness." | ||
| + | |answer= | ||
| + | *Oliver was indeed a distant cousin of Joseph Smith, but they had never met before the Book of Mormon was translated. How does this make him an unreliable witness? | ||
| + | *If Oliver was covering up a fraud on the part of Joseph Smith when he acted as a scribe during the translation of the Book of Mormon, or when he acted as one of the Three Witnesses, then why didn't he expose the fraud after he fell into disagreement with Joseph Smith and was excommunicated from the Church? | ||
| + | |quote= | ||
| + | *As a lawyer, well after he had left the Church and two years after Joseph's death, Oliver wrote the following to Phineas Young: | ||
| + | <blockquote> | ||
| + | I have cherished a hope, and that one of my fondest, that I might leave such a character, as those who might believe in my testimony, after I should be called hence, might do so, not only for the sake of the truth, but might not blush for the private character of the man who bore that testimony. I have been sensitive on this subject, I admit; but I ought to be so—you would be, under the circumstances, had you stood in the presence of John, with our departed Brother Joseph, to receive the Lesser Priesthood—and in the presence of Peter, to receive the Greater, and looked down through time, and witnessed the effects these two must produce,—you would feel what you have never felt, were wicked men conspiring to lessen the effects of your testimony on man, after you should have gone to your long sought rest. (Oliver Cowdery to Phineas Young, 23 March 1846, Oliver Cowdery Collection, "Scriptory Book of Joseph Smith Jr." (kept by George W. Robinson), 22, LDS Church Historical Department (published in Scott H. Faulring, ed, ''An American Prophet's Record.— The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith'' (Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 1989), emphasis in original; cited in Scott H. Faulring. “The Return of Oliver Cowdery”, FARMS Featured Paper, no date.) | ||
| + | </blockquote> | ||
}} | }} | ||
Revision as of 20:39, 12 July 2013
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| [[../Priesthood Restoration Concerns & Questions|Priesthood Restoration Concerns & Questions]] | A FAIR Analysis of:
[[../|Letter to a CES Director]] |
[[../Temples & Freemasonry Concerns & Questions|Temples & Freemasonry Concerns & Questions]] |
A FAIR Analysis of the online document Letter to a CES Director section "Witnesses Concerns & Questions"
Oliver Cowdery lived in a culture steeped in biblical ideas, language and practices. The revelation’s reference to Moses likely resonated with him. The Old Testament account of Moses and his brother Aaron recounted several instances of using rods to manifest God’s will (see Ex. 7:9-12; Num. 17:8). Many Christians in Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery's day similarly believed in divining rods as an instrument for revelation. Cowdery was among those who believed in and used a divining rod.
Jeffrey G. Cannon, "Oliver Cowdery's Gift," history.lds.org off-site
- Response to section: Magical Worldview
- Response to section: Witnesses [Work in Progress]
- Response to section: Martin Harris
- Response to section: David Whitmer [Work in Progress]
- Response to section: Oliver Cowdery [Work in Progress]
- Response to section: Second Sight [Work in Progress]
- Response to section: James Strang and the Voree Plates Witnesses [Work in Progress]
- Response to section: No Document of Actual Signatures [Work in Progress]
- Response to section: Conclusion [Work in Progress]
Response Section
Magical Worldview
Martin Harris
Oliver Cowdery