FAIR is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing well-documented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice, and history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Difference between revisions of "Prophets and Church leaders/Revelation after Joseph Smith/Thomas S. Monson/Claims that President Monson doesn't bear witness of foundational doctrines"
m (→) |
m (→2009) |
||
| Line 41: | Line 41: | ||
* We express our gratitude for the ushering in of a new dispensation, even the dispensation of the fulness of times, by Thine own appearance and the appearance of Thy Beloved Son to the boy Joseph Smith, to open the heavens and to restore to the world the knowledge of Thee and Thy Son and Thy holy purposes." - Dedicatory prayer for Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple, 21-23 August 2009, cited in {{Periodical:Church News|date=29 August 2009|pages=4}} | * We express our gratitude for the ushering in of a new dispensation, even the dispensation of the fulness of times, by Thine own appearance and the appearance of Thy Beloved Son to the boy Joseph Smith, to open the heavens and to restore to the world the knowledge of Thee and Thy Son and Thy holy purposes." - Dedicatory prayer for Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple, 21-23 August 2009, cited in {{Periodical:Church News|date=29 August 2009|pages=4}} | ||
* "We thank Thee for the Prophet Joseph Smith and for the Restoration, and that Thou did appear to him in person to open the heavens and to restore to the world the knowledge of Thee and Thy Son and Thy holy purposes" - Dedicatory prayer for Draper, Utah temple, 28 March 2009, cited in {{Periodical:Church News|date=28 March 2009|pages=6}} | * "We thank Thee for the Prophet Joseph Smith and for the Restoration, and that Thou did appear to him in person to open the heavens and to restore to the world the knowledge of Thee and Thy Son and Thy holy purposes" - Dedicatory prayer for Draper, Utah temple, 28 March 2009, cited in {{Periodical:Church News|date=28 March 2009|pages=6}} | ||
| + | * "Regarding a desire to find truth during an uncertain period of life, President Monson spoke of the answer to Joseph Smith's prayer: He saw the Father and the Son, and the Father commanded Joseph to hear the Son (see Joseph Smith 1. 10-13). 'Joseph listened, Joseph learned. His question had been answered,' President Monson testified." - {{Periodical:Church News|date=17 January 2009|pages=3}} [Reference to CES satellite broadcast to college-age adults, 11 January 2009.] | ||
| + | |||
==2008== | ==2008== | ||
Revision as of 11:24, 21 December 2013
- REDIRECTTemplate:Test3
Contents
Questions
It has been claimed that President Thomas S. Monson does not bear testimony of such foundational concepts as the truth of the Book of Mormon, the reality of Joseph Smith's First Vision, and so forth. Some have wondered if this means that he intends to downplay such doctrines, or if he does not believe strongly in them:
- Since [being sustained as President of the Church, in February 2008], he has given 51 talks in 12 Semiannual General Conferences and during the two years prior, he gave 10 talks in 4 such Conferences. In many of these 61 talks over the last eight years, he has borne witness of his beliefs, in keeping with LDS custom and doctrine. Interestingly, however, in none of them has he testified of the church’s unique foundational claims, including the historicity of the Book of Mormon, the divine calling of Joseph Smith, the restoration of the priesthood, or the status of the church’s top leaders as prophets, seers, and revelators.[1]
To see citations to the critical sources for these claims, click here
Answer
A review of President Monson's writings and talks demonstrates that he does bear such testimony. The implication, then, that he does not believe such things or is trying to down play them is thus shown to be false.
Detailed Analysis
These citations are reported from latest to earliest.
Quotations from tenure as President of the Church
2014
Pending
2013
2012
2011
2010
- "We thank Thee for the Prophet Joseph Smith and that Thou did appear to him in person to open the heavens and to restore to the world the knowledge of Thee and Thy Son and Thy holy purposes" - Re-dedicatory prayer for Hawaii Temple, 21 November 2010, cited in Church News (27 November 2010), 6.
2009
- We express our gratitude for the ushering in of a new dispensation, even the dispensation of the fulness of times, by Thine own appearance and the appearance of Thy Beloved Son to the boy Joseph Smith, to open the heavens and to restore to the world the knowledge of Thee and Thy Son and Thy holy purposes." - Dedicatory prayer for Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple, 21-23 August 2009, cited in Church News (29 August 2009), 4.
- "We thank Thee for the Prophet Joseph Smith and for the Restoration, and that Thou did appear to him in person to open the heavens and to restore to the world the knowledge of Thee and Thy Son and Thy holy purposes" - Dedicatory prayer for Draper, Utah temple, 28 March 2009, cited in Church News (28 March 2009), 6.
- "Regarding a desire to find truth during an uncertain period of life, President Monson spoke of the answer to Joseph Smith's prayer: He saw the Father and the Son, and the Father commanded Joseph to hear the Son (see Joseph Smith 1. 10-13). 'Joseph listened, Joseph learned. His question had been answered,' President Monson testified." - Church News (17 January 2009), 3. [Reference to CES satellite broadcast to college-age adults, 11 January 2009.]
2008
Quotations which predate his Presidency
== Notes ==
- [note] TruthIsReason [pseudonymn], "Monson's Refusal to Testify," [original posted 7 January 2012, published at www.mormoncannon.com on 11 April 2012, most recent update 20 October 2013]