Hallelujah, Bro Fogley! I, too, for decades have searched for a scholarly or inspired explanation of Moroni's curious wording of that all important invitation to know if The Book of Mormon is "not true". It is wonderful to have your thorough and insightful explanation that ties the entire chapter together so well.
I had contented myself to conclude: The Lord encourages people to trust Him and experiment on His word; and just prior to Moroni's closing is the injunction "...for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith" (Ether 12:6). Hence, when the Lord does not clearly reveal The Book of Mormon is untrue, the investigator is obligated to act upon the book's teachings as if they are true. In doing so, the investigator opens himself to the gifts of the Spirit and will shortly receive a positive confirmation that The Book of Mormon is a divinely inspired guide to bringing us back to Heavenly Father's presence through the grace of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
Thank you again for sharing your scholarly endeavors.
Ken MazzantiDecember 30, 2020
To the author:
Regarding the phrase "if these things are not true" The words in the entire book are those of Joseph Smith as he spoke in his own day. Joseph used the French language term "adieu" to bid farewell because it was in common usage in his day. The entire book is a direct transliteration from the reformed Egyptian that changed over 1,000 years of usage to the English language of his time. Imagine trying to communicate with an Englishman in the year 1020?
Regarding the term in question, try stating the phrase with the emphasis on 'true' rather than on 'not'. Hence, "If these things are not TRUE" and it makes better sense in our time.
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Andrew J. CurrieDecember 30, 2020
Hallelujah, Bro Fogley! I, too, for decades have searched for a scholarly or inspired explanation of Moroni's curious wording of that all important invitation to know if The Book of Mormon is "not true". It is wonderful to have your thorough and insightful explanation that ties the entire chapter together so well. I had contented myself to conclude: The Lord encourages people to trust Him and experiment on His word; and just prior to Moroni's closing is the injunction "...for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith" (Ether 12:6). Hence, when the Lord does not clearly reveal The Book of Mormon is untrue, the investigator is obligated to act upon the book's teachings as if they are true. In doing so, the investigator opens himself to the gifts of the Spirit and will shortly receive a positive confirmation that The Book of Mormon is a divinely inspired guide to bringing us back to Heavenly Father's presence through the grace of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Thank you again for sharing your scholarly endeavors.
Ken MazzantiDecember 30, 2020
To the author: Regarding the phrase "if these things are not true" The words in the entire book are those of Joseph Smith as he spoke in his own day. Joseph used the French language term "adieu" to bid farewell because it was in common usage in his day. The entire book is a direct transliteration from the reformed Egyptian that changed over 1,000 years of usage to the English language of his time. Imagine trying to communicate with an Englishman in the year 1020? Regarding the term in question, try stating the phrase with the emphasis on 'true' rather than on 'not'. Hence, "If these things are not TRUE" and it makes better sense in our time.
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