Wednesday, August 24, 2022

Franklin L. West (LDS): Scriptures Inspire Faith in God

  

SCRIPTURES INSPIRE FAITH IN GOD. Much information and knowledge concerning God may be found in the Holy Scriptures. The reliability, accuracy, and dependability of such material is important. The New Testament was written comparatively soon after the events which it records occurred. Jesus’ life was so spectacular, and unusual; his teachings were so clear and forceful; and they were heard and seen by such multitudes of people that little difficulty was had in remembering and recording. As an oral tradition, its accuracy was preserved as it was checked and doublechecked by eyewitnesses as it was recited in the synagogue service. The harmony which exists between the different accounts recorded in the four separate Gospels is remarkable. Much of the data is recorded by persons who personally saw and heard that they wrote. Note what Peter said,

 

For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (2 Peter 1:16-21.)

 

Jesus, speaking to the Twelve Apostles, said,

 

Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me. (John 5:39.)

 

It was predicted that John the Baptist whose life is recorded in the scriptures would bring knowledge of salvation and show the path to peace. Zacharias said of him, “And thou, child, . . . [shalt] give knowledge of salvation. . . . To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (Luke 1:76-77. 79.) And Paul, writing of the scriptures, said to Timothy:

 

And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2 Tim. 3:15-16.) (Franklin L. West, The Apostles and the Primitive [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1964], 158-59)