I have also done some Bible
reading today. I began trying to find out just what Paul is talking about in
his Epistle to the Hebrews and it is not so easy. His discussion is evidently
to meet questions raised by the Jews ad their doubts, and also to exhort them.
I then did what I have threatened to do for a long time—arranged a
chronological list of the Gospels and Epistles. I am inclined to think that a
useful study might be made by taking up the New Testament books and studying
them in the order in which they were written. But I have no time for that now,
though I am going to make a list which I can paste in my Bible, so that I can
refer to it conveniently on the matter of dates when any [illegible] passage
was written. I am again impressed that Paul’s doctrine of grace—certainly as
interpreted by Protestants—lies at the basis of a lot of their false doctrine.
I should like to study it sometime. They seem to think that when Paul speaks of
law, he means all law—whereas I feel sure that a careful examination will show
he mans the Mosaic law. My, there are so many things about that one does
not know where to start. So perhaps it is to be with me as others.—never start.
(J. Reuben Clark, Jr., Journal, February 12, 1934, in The Diaries of J.
Reuben Clark, 1933-1961 Abridged, comp. D. Michael Quinn [Digital Edition;
Salt Lake City, 2015], spelling from original retained)
