The BYU Institutions Need a Change of Direction

Spiritual and Academic problems at "The Lord's University" have slowly escalated over the years. All Brigham Young University schools became full of the World and less of the Spirit. The original mission to educate the Saints while committing to Spiritual development seems less equal. Worldly education has drastically overtaken teaching by the Spirit in each classroom. The places that should be a fortress against a sinful and Godless society turns to them as an example rather than The Savior. Of course, this shouldn't be a complete surprise considering where the Universities get their employees. They go out into the World to get "Higher Education" and then get brainwashed by an immoral society. In return they see BYU as easy access to a job while pretending (for they act and teach the opposite) to uphold the LDS Church standards. Wolves in Sheep's clothing taint and poison both the BYU school institutions and many of their student victims. It is time for the LDS Church to do some BYU housecleaning, changing the direction the schools have gone for over two decades.

Something of an uproar has happened after Elder Holland of the LDS Quorum of the Twelve Apostles read a letter with concerns about Brigham Young University. After stating his satisfaction with the Worldly accolades:

But, he added, “the real successes at BYU are the personal experiences that thousands here have had, personal experiences difficult to document or categorize or list.” Elder Holland also shared a few lines from another memo. “ ‘You should know,’ the writer says, ‘that some people in the extended community are feeling abandoned and betrayed by BYU. It seems that some professors (at least the vocal ones in the media) are supporting ideas that many of us feel are contradictory to gospel principles, making it appear to be about like any other university our sons and daughters could have attended. Several parents have said they no longer want to send their children here or donate to the school.

He tried to express the need to defend the LDS Church and its morals at BYU while not becoming over zeolous. The term "friendly fire" was used to express his desire not to get personal. As usual there is much that both sides can pick to try and either hold to the progressive wave or orthodox use as a relying cry. This will most likely not change anything until something is done to make changes.

Taking the Stone Out of the Hat

For several generations the story of how the Book of Mormon came about was taught the same way as Joseph Smith presented the translation. He was worried about religion and decided to pray for answers. A vision of the Lord and God appeared and instructed him not to join any church, but remain worthy of more knowledge. A short time later while again praying to know his standing with the Lord, an angel named Moroni visited him three times in the night before instructing him where a set of gold plates could be found. He searched and found the plates buried in a nearby hill, along with other objects. One of those objects was a set of spectacles to be used in translating the ancient gold plates with ancient engravings. About four years later he took the gold plates and spectacles home, and with the help of a writer taking down what he read translated the words into The Book of Mormon. Three witnesses were shown the gold plates, spectacles, and other objects by an angel of God. Another group of eight witnesses were shown the gold plates with no divine company. Now after so many years this narrative is challenged. Not by non-Mormons, but Mormon academics who think they know better. Instead of an ancient book translated by Holy instruments, its at least part of the time just a common rock put into a hat found in a well. This was a complete fabrication probably built around rumors. Despite their sophisticated words, the academics are wrong. The ancient Interpreters placed with the gold plates was the only instrument that Joseph Smith used to translate the Book of Mormon.

Any believing Latter-day Saints familiar with the Book of Mormon text knows there was only one set of instruments set aside to translate the ancient language on the gold plates. Book of Mormon prophecy explains in detail where the Interpreters came from and why they exist. God touched two white stones that The Lord gave to The Brother of Jared specifically to translate ancient records by the Power of God. They were handed down from generation to generation used at times, with a prophecy that they would be the means to translate the Nephite records. To claim any other instrument would be used is to speak against the Word of God. At around the time of the Tower of Babel a righteous man and his family were commanded to leave into a new promised land. They built eight boats to cross the waters, but they were sealed tight enough not to let in light. Concerned about this, a man known as "The Brother of Jared" went to a high mountain and prayed to God for guidance. When asked by God how he wanted to resolve the problem, the Brother of Jared suggested The Divine touch white stones and make them glow in the dark. Impressed with his faith, God showed Himself as the pre-mortal Jesus Christ. Along with this amazing vision, The Lord fashioned two stones "For behold, the language which ye shall write I have confounded; wherefore I will cause in my own due time that these stones shall magnify to the eyes of men these things which ye shall write" (see Ether, chapter 3). Several generations later in the Book of Mormon these same blessed stones were used to translate mysterious 24 gold plates found with other artifacts (see Mosiah, chapter 8), "and these interpreters were doubtless prepared for the purpose of unfolding all such mysteries to the children of men." The white stones touched by the Hand of the Lord are handed down, along with sacred writings that must be interpreted by them, to each generation (see Mosiah 28). These are the same stones specifically prophecied that Joseph Smith would use for interpretation of the ancient "gold plates" record.

Consider all the Scriptural history behind the Interpreters and then wonder why any other instrument would be used. The Lord wouldn't accept any old rock found in a stream or a well, or any other place, after all that time and effort for preservation. No other objects would be Holy enough to translate a record that was protected by God for the Last Days. For a thousand years they were used to translate ancient unknown languages. Another thousand years they were kept hidden to be revealed by an Angel. No matter what kind of "mistakes" were made, it is unreasonable that another instrument takes their place. The interpreters would either be returned because of repentance (as did happen), or the gold plates and Interpreters given to someone (or nobody) else more worthy. By itself the translation of the Book of Mormon with white stone Interpreters touched by the Power of God is strange enough. Try to claim a regular smooth dark brown stone thrown into a hat was the translation device and it changes the whole thing into near blaspheme. The first is a high religious concept while the other a common magic trick. Those who try to reconcile the two are forcing a square peg into a round hole.