The FAITH model and more Dartmouth

The FAITH model of analysis (Facts, Assumptions, Inferences, Theories and Hypotheses) works in most fields of research, debate, conversation, etc., including apologetics. It's an ideal way to avoid contention in the pursuit of clarity, charity and understanding. Once we separate facts from the other elements of a hypothesis, we can all see why we have different views and we can understand one another clearly, all in the spirit of charity. 

The FAITH model eliminates the compulsion to content. We can achieve "no more contention."

I posted an example on my apologetics blog, here:

https://ldsapologists.blogspot.com/2026/04/multiple-working-hypotheses-at-work.html

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Given the topic of this blog, we can see how people derive a variety of hypotheses about the setting of the Book of Mormon. I call these "multiple working hypotheses."

Every one of them starts with the identical facts, in this case the text of the Book of Mormon.

Then people make assumptions and inferences about the text that are consistent with their respective theories. On this blog we've given lots of examples.

Here are two main ones. 

1. Cumorah. 

Facts. We can all read what the text says about Cumorah/Ramah. Those passages are a fact. We can also all agree that Oliver Cowdery declared it is a fact that the hill Cumorah in western New York where Joseph got the plates is the identical hill Cumorah/Ramah mentioned in the text.

Assumptions. Some Latter-day Saints assume Oliver told the truth. Others (such as M2Cers) assume he did not. 

Inferences. Some Latter-day Saints infer that Oliver knew it was a fact because he had visited the repository in the hill (as Brigham Young explained), because he interacted with one or more of the 3 Nephites, or for other reasons. Others infer that Oliver had no reason to make his declaration and this infer he spoke from pure speculation.

You can see how these elements lead to multiple working hypotheses.

2. Narrow neck. We can all read the text. Some Latter-day Saints assume that there is one "narrow neck" described by three different terms: "narrow neck," "small neck of land" "narrow neck of land." Other Latter-day Saints assume that different terms refer to different things. Those assumptions drive the multiple working hypotheses we all see.

All the other debates/discussions/interpretations of the text follow the same type of analysis.

When we apply the FAITH model it is easy to separate facts from assumptions, inferences, etc.

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Speaking of the FAITH model, the Dartmouth topic generated some excellent work by Stephen Kent Ehat, which I posted here:

https://www.mobom.org/dartmouth-collection-stephen-ehat

For background on the Dartmouth topic, see 

https://www.mobom.org/dartmouth-college-and-moors-school