(Apostle - Mormon Doctrinal Scholar)

~ "Come, follow me." ~

Three simple words, words spoken by the Savior as an invitation to the faithful saints of God, to do as He did. Yet, when the humble practice this admonition, they are often accused of being sheep, blindly following, without thought or mind of their own. And when the list of known authorities reaches the more contemporary authorities, such as Elder Bruce R. McConkie, the charge comes that he is just repeating that which Joseph Fielding Smith, or what some other authority has stated without taking thought of his own. Thus the academic ivory tower of Book of Mormon scholarship of our modern era does not take into account such renderings as Bruce R. McConkie's as his own, but that of another earlier authority. 'He just believes it because so and so stated it and believed it.' Is such what the makings of testimony is all about? I believe the Book of Mormon to be true. Do I believe it because some previous Church Authority says so? I think not. That testimony is personal to me. It has been reveled to me and I concur because of that personal witness, not because of what has been previously said by someone else on the matter. Yet the world would label me a sheep, just following the LDS flock. After all, I was born in the Church. But I am not a 'sheep' blindly following. I have come to know of myself. And Bruce R. McConkie is not such a sheep. When he puts a statement into a publication under his own name, regardless of who may have said it before or first, he is stating his personal belief and testimony in the matter. And so it is with Cumorah.

Cumorah

See BOOK OF MORMON, GOLD PLATES. Both the Nephite and Jaredite civilizations fought their final great wars of extinction at and near the Hill Cumorah (or Ramah as the Jaredites termed it), which hill is located between Palmyra and Manchester in the western part of the state of New York. It was here that Moroni hid up the gold plates from which the Book of Mormon was translated. (Morm. 6; Ether 15.) Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, and many of the early brethren, who were familiar with all the circumstances attending the coming forth of the Book of Mormon in this dispensation, have left us pointed testimony as to the identity and location of Cumorah or Ramah. (Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 3, pp. 232-241.)

(Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 2d ed. [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1966], 174.)

---

Rev. 8-1-01

Hit Counter:

Return to Book of Mormon Geography Home Page
Return to Cumorah is Cumorah Home Page