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I came across this essay from former U of U history professor and LDS Church historian Davis Bitton. http://publications.mi.byu.edu/publications/review/16/2/S00017-5176ad2f5804e17Bitton.pdf The main thrust of the essay is that it is essential to have a testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ, not a testimony of a historical narrative, and discussion of how those two concepts are different and interrelated. One key concept that has frequently crossed my mind is the idea stated on page 339 that, even if I (as a non-historian) cannot answer the problematic questions in church history, I know there are historians who have wresteled with them and retained their testimonies of the Gospel. Maybe that feels like "leaning on the arm of man", but I don't feel that it is necessary for me to become an expert in every possible branch of study. I frequently find that it is sufficient for me to know that others have wrestled and are wrestling with church history and finding their faith intact. The other key concept that I resonated with me was the importance of grounding my testimony in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When pressed, I will usually cite Helaman 5:12 as my favorite scripture, because of Helaman's teaching that we must build our foundation on Christ and none other. Church history is interesting, and it describes a story of how the restored Gospel came to man in these latter-days (complete with human foibles and frailties), but it is not the Gospel.

Hello! I was raised in the LDS faith and later was given the freedom to explore other religious sections in my teens and early adulthood. I'm 31 now and would like to return to the LDS community because I love its emphasis on family values, rejection of drugs and unhealthy lifestyles, continual effort toward self-improvement, and helping others. I would be most happy if my husband would at least tolerate this venture with me, but he did not grow up in the faith and has serious reservations about becoming involved in the local LDS community because of some of the churches more far-reaching groundwork. Examples of this are the church's history of having leaders that practiced polygamy (and it still teaches believe polygamy will be practiced in the spirit world) and the fact that the archaeological record in North America does not collaborate with the Book of Mormon. These issues (especially when it comes to the historical record) trouble me as well, but I am able to look past them because of the present teachings of the church. The LDS people I know and have known have generally been nice, helpful and sincere people, and I rationalize these inconsistencies by pointing out that the faith obviously serves some people and drives them to be better versions of themselves. My husband, however, has become increasingly against my having any involvement with the church, and is presently at a place where he realizes he couldn't stop me from going alone, but he wouldn't go and wouldn't let me take our toddler, either. I live in a geographical area without a lot of religious diversity (most people here are catholic), and some of my motivation for wanting to reactivate in the church is social in nature. Am I interested in the church for the wrong reason? If not, what are some talking points I can use to help my husband understand where I'm coming from? Thanks in advance for your help!

Hi, I like to visit some historic sites of the Church in Septembre this year. But I can't find the Aera Map on lds.org. Can somebody give me a link of a site who has a map like this? Can somebody also give me a list in sequence with the adresses of the Historic sites? Thank for helpin me out.

January 17, 1836 Kirtland, Ohio. Joseph Smith performed three marriages to establish the Church’s right to marry by proclamation. Sources: History of the Church 2:376 January 17, 1843 Nauvoo, Illinois. At an overflowing public meeting at his home, Joseph Smith spoke at length on the kingdom of God and the manner of baptism performed by John the Baptist. Sources: Wilford Woodruff Journal v. 2 Jessee, BYU Studies 31.2