Holy Ghost or Elevation Emotion – Part 1 – Moroni 10:4

Is praying as explained in Moroni 10:4 to know if the Book of Mormon is true or not, the correct way for a person to know truth? Are we to rely upon our feelings and emotions to determine truth? Or, is the best approach to knowing if something is right, is to use the Bible as the standard of truth?

Ava

The Book of Mormon has a promise for its reader that I found very interesting.


Elder Smith

Are you referring to Moroni chapter 10 verse 4?


Ava

Yes.  Will you read it for me?

 

Elder Smith

Certainly!  “And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true;…”


Ava

Stop for a second!  I don’t mean to cut you off, but it says to “ask” or pray – “if these things” in the Book of Mormon “are NOT true.”   

I thought it interesting that the reader is to pray to know if the Book of Mormon “is NOT true.” 

 

Ava

So, if you’re praying to know that it “is NOT true” and the Holy Ghost confirms that it’s “NOT TRUE” – there’s your answer!

I wonder how many people thought they received that confirmation but didn’t understand that the answer was that – it’s not true? 

Perhaps that is why many Mormons who once believed it WAS true, later discover that the Holy Spirit was trying to convince them otherwise.  Just a thought.


Elder Young

I had never considered that before!


Ava

Go ahead, continue reading please.


Elder Smith

I’ll start over.  “And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.”


Ava

So, if the person praying meets certain conditions, the Book of Mormon promises the Holy Ghost will reveal the answer. 

 

Elder Smith

That is correct.  You must ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, and have faith in Christ to get an answer. 


Ava

What if a person is intentionally sincere, but doesn’t receive an answer?


Elder Young

Maybe they aren’t putting their faith in Christ? 

 

Ava

So, God won’t answer prayers unless you believe in Jesus?


Elder Smith

I don’t know about all that.  I think God answers the prayers of all people on earth – regardless of their religious beliefs.   


Ava

I couldn’t agree with you more, Elder.

We know from the Bible that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth.

How does the Holy Spirit, as it states in verse 4 – “manifest the truth?” 

 

Elder Young

You will experience a warm feeling in your bosom or heart. 


Ava

Can you show me in the Book of Mormon where it says that?

 

Elder Smith

Well, it doesn’t say that in the Book of Mormon. 

But, in a revelation through Joseph Smith to Oliver Cowdery – who had a strong desire to translate the Book of Mormon – God said in Doctrine and Covenants Section 9 verse 8, “But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right.”  

 

Ava

That doesn’t sound like something God would say.  He never gave instruction in the Old or New Testaments to rely on feelings as a determining factor of truth. 

Paul taught in 1 Thessalonians 5:21 “Prove (or test) all things; hold fast that which is good.” 

 

Elder Young

Yes, but how do you prove or test all things?

 

Ava

That was demonstrated by the people in the city of Berea – who when they heard Paul preach – it says in Acts 17:11 “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so (or true).”  

Those Bereans didn’t pray about it or rely on their feelings.  They had objective evidence of the Old Testament scriptures – being the standard for truth, by which they judged Paul’s teachings.  And Paul compliments them, because it’s good practice to check Scripture with Scripture.  It should be no different for us today. 

That is what a person should do with the Book of Mormon – examine it carefully.  Then search the Old and New Testaments to see if what you’re being told or what you are reading is true.  If it doesn’t align with the Bible, then it must be dismissed. 

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