Read and study the words and teachings of lds general authority jeffrey r. Holland is a renowned scholar of american religious history and an associate professor of american religious history at harvard divinity school. Just as the arch crumbles if the keystone is removed, so does all the church stand or fall with the truthfulness of the book of mormon. My testimony of the book of mormon by elder jeffrey r. Holland gave a stirring address about the power of physical evidence. Elder hollands 10 best talks of all time utahvalley360. Elder hollands mission president seminar on the book of mormon. Name the last nineteen early church books you read that number is not because shes been taking the softball projects, eithershes worked some of the most doorstopworthy volumes weve ever done, including scrap book of mormon literature vol. Holland who shares his apostolic witness of the central figure of the book of mormon the lord jesus christ. Of course our quick rejoinder to that has been, now you have seen the show, read the book. Holland who shares his apostolic witness of the central figure of the book of mormon the. He wrote a thesis on selected changes to the text of the book of mormon to complete his masters degree in religious education from byu, while also teaching religion classes parttime.
The book of mormon explicit by original broadway cast on. The book of mormon is truly another testament of jesus christ. It was given by elder holland to the new mission presidents in 1997. He dodged, lied, and generally seemed to be irritated and took offense at any question that might put tscc in a bad light. A modernday apostle describes the unwavering faith churchs founders showed, even in the face of death.
As a boy he enjoyed sports especially baseball and played on every kind of team he could. This conference, held on august 16, celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the discovery of chiasmus in the book of mormon. Brother phillips, the stake presidency is considering formal disciplinary action in your behalf, including the possibility of disfellowship or excommunication, because you are reported to have participated in conduct unbecoming a members of the church and evil speaking of the lords anointed. President joseph fielding smith 18761972 encouraged us to ponder the depth of jacob 5. Jeffery holland is extremely knowledgeable about his subject matter. If we do it right, we end up sharing everythingall our hopes, all our fears, all. Today, mormon leaders rely on the same weak personal characteristics to keep the show going. He received a bachelors degree in english and masters. God always provides safety for the soul, and with the book of mormon, he has.
Holland was ordained an apostle of the church in june of 1994 and became a member of the quorum of the twelve apostles later that year. Elder jeffrey r holland safety for the soul general conference talk from the church of jesus christ of latterday saints 179th semiannual. Reply from elder holland mormon apostle to my letter. He served as the ninth president of brigham young university and is a. It is part of a collection that includes book of mormon evidences, part two, book of mormon evidences, part three, and book of mormon nuggets. Holland is a member of the quorum of the twelve apostles and a former president of brigham young university. Sep 03, 20 there was a recent mormon message very similar to this, showing excerpts from elder holland s powerful conference talk, safety for the soul. My letter to elder holland re book of mormon heres your reply, assuming youre still a member. We build enduring faith in jesus christ by making the book of mormon accessible, comprehensible, and defensible to the entire world. Book of mormon evidences, part one discusses some of the many factors supporting the plausibility of the book of mormon as an ancient document. The messianic message of the book of mormon holland, jeffrey r. Elder holland s mission president seminar on the book of mormon. Those who were intelligent, mature and outspoken were driven away or left once they figured out smith was a fraud.
I like mormon and pauls language that says one who truly loves is not puffed up. Christ is our salvation, and the book of mormon declares that message unequivocally to the world. Elder jeffrey r holland safety for the soul general conference talk from the church of jesus christ of latterday saints 179th semiannual general conference, october 2009. The night before, he turned to the book of mormon for comfort. Reply from elder holland to my letter that was no surprise, just based on the bbc interview i saw. The book of mormon, a record of holy scripture written by ancient prophets, gives an account of gods dealings with the former inhabitants of the american continent. The parable of zenos, recorded by jacob in chapter five of his book, is one of the greatest parables ever recorded. At the time of this call, elder holland was serving as a member of the first quorum of the seventy, to which he had been called on april 1, 1989.
My letter to elder holland re book of mormon very long. But the talk was so powerful, i wanted to show more. It appears to be a culmination of years of personal scripture study, of many many sessions of putting thoughts and impressions onto paper, and trying to make sense of the scriptural text. The book of mormon made quite a splash when it first appeared on broadway. Holland was called to be an apostle for the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, his brother dennis remarked that he was not surprised.
Titles include for times of trouble, broken things to mend, christ. Holland was ordained a member of the quorum of the twelve apostles of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints on june 23, 1994. I have uploaded one of the best talks i have ever heard on the book of mormon to our youtube channel. Holland the book of mormon is the keystone of our religion primarily because it is the most extended and definitive witness we have of the. Holland also draws attention to some of the limitations of an open canon. An analysis of selected changes in major editions of the book of mormon, 1830.
But not much of what the press is calling the mormon moment will have meaning if one doesnt understand the basic things that make us the religion that we are. Holland of the quorum of the twelve symposium on the book of mormon, 9 august 1994, byu. Elder holland was born on december 3, 1940, and grew up in st. Ive read a couple of books and ive been to a pretty good school, and i have chosen to be in this church because of the faith that i feel and the inspiration that comes. He is a member of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints and has the distinction of being the first latterday saint professor at harvard divinity school. This parable in and of itself stamps the book of mormon with convincing truth. Introducing a major new doctrinal work written by elder jeffrey r. He served as the ninth president of brigham young university and is a member of the quorum of the twelve apostles of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church. Jeffrey r holland book of mormon lds conference talk oct. This book is an excellent reference manual for anyone seriously wanting to get better acquainted with the lord jesus christ and the prophesies concerning his role before, during, and after his mortal life.
His testimony highlights that modern apostolic witnesses have born testimony of the nephite record. Sacred borders is not an apologia for joseph smith and his heirs in any traditional sense. For most of a decade, elder holland has read the book of mormon repeatedly and thoroughly, focusing on all references to the savior and his teachings. One of the most powerful testimonies of the book of mormon. Apr 06, 2011 the book of mormon ruptured the biblical canon in more ways than one.
The mormon texts project free, highquality ebooks of. David hollands sacred borders by common consent, a mormon blog. He is one of the few people i really trust to tell it like it is. There was a recent mormon message very similar to this, showing excerpts from elder hollands powerful conference talk, safety for the soul. They have the gift of being able to take a controversial subject and mock it almost to the point of being offensive without actually crossing the. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which, according to adherents, contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the american continent from approximately 2200 bc to ad 421. Holland told the story of a rock climber who was hanging precariously from a steep canyon ledge, with nothing to keep him from falling to his death. Jeffrey r holland book of mormon lds conference talk oct 2009. Jeffrey roy holland born december 3, 1940 is an american educator and religious leader. Lds church members have always regarded themselves as christians, but there are some differences between them and institutional christianity. Holland of the quorum of the twelve apostles from safety for the soul, ensign, nov. Look, this is how the mormon cult was started and grew. Holland gave a stirring address about the power of physical evidence in defending the gospel at the chiasmus conference sponsored by book of mormon central and byu studies. Oct 08, 2009 elder jeffrey r holland safety for the soul general conference talk from the church of jesus christ of latterday saints 179th semiannual general conference, october 2009.
Elder holland undertakes to outline the book of mormon s central character and primary subject. Not unlike the book of mormon musical, andersens musings aim to initiate rather than alienate, to praise rather than punish. Holland transferred to byu where he graduated with a bachelors degree in english. I love elder holland and his special witness of the savior and of the book of mormon. Holland of the quorum of the twelve symposium on the book of mormon, 9 august 1994, byu my beloved brothers and sisters of the church educational system, what a delight it is for pat and for me to be back with you tonight in a religious education setting. The result is an intelligent observation and thorough study of the book of mormon s contribution to our understanding of christ. It contains the words of jesus christ, and even has an account of a visit that jesus christ made to the american continent after his resurrection. All jeff ever wanted to do was teach the gospel to students in a classroom, he said. Holland, october 2009 safety for the soul let me quote a very powerful comment from president ezra taft benson, who said, the book of mormon is the keystone of our testimony. Holland is a member of the quorum of the twelve apostles of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints.
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