long ago ideas

“When we are tired, we are attacked by ideas we conquered long ago." - Friedrich Nietzsche. Long ago, Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery conquered false claims that the Book of Mormon was fiction or that it came through a stone in a hat. But these old claims have resurfaced in recent years. To conquer them again, we have to return to what Joseph and Oliver taught.

Wednesday, November 24, 2021

MOBOM newsletter; information brings inspiration

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If you have any questions, write to mobominfo@gmail.com.

Lots of great things are happening.

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Right before Thanksgiving, we can all be grateful for the information the Lord has given to us.

Whenever I do firesides, I like to start off with President Nelson's teaching that "good inspiration comes from good information." 

Recently the Church released a video featuring Elder Uchtdorf teaching the same principle in other words, titled "information brings inspiration."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCSViRFg8v8

This is an important principle on many levels. 

It has a scriptural basis.

It explains how Joseph Smith was prepared for his role as translator and prophet.

It explains how each of us is prepared for our own roles in life.

It explains why the prophets teach us to be "engaged learners" and study the scriptures and "best book" for ourselves.

It explains why deferring to scholars makes us "lazy learners." Scholars can give us good information, but too often they mingle it with their own philosophies, interpretations, assumptions, and conclusions.

We're all far better off studying the scriptures, the teachings of the prophets, and the original documents in Church history for context.

For example, you can get more "good information" about Cumorah from Letter VII than from all the speculation of modern intellectuals who never knew Joseph Smith, Moroni, John the Baptist, etc. 

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Some sample scriptures:

27 Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, 

(2 Nephi 2:27)

21 Seek not to declare my word, but first seek to obtain my word, and then shall your tongue be loosed; then, if you desire, you shall have my Spirit and my word, yea, the power of God unto the convincing of men.

(Doctrine and Covenants 11:21)

118 And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith.
(Doctrine and Covenants 88:118)

The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth.

(Doctrine and Covenants 93:36)


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