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CHAPTER 20

HISTORY AND HISTORY MAKING

What is History?

History is the accumulation of the experiences of the past as applied to every fact in life, whether it is the history of science and genesis of the earth, or the human family who inherit the earth. History as the term is generally used is confined to events pertaining to the human race.

This history is obtained through written records and through tradition. All records are history. All that deals with scientific truth, with art or literature, or anything that pertains to the welfare of man, his research, his study, his actions, all these are circumscribed by history.

The importance of history is apparent because through the study thereof we have advanced in knowledge. We profit by recorded experiences of other people's mistakes, but more especially by their discoveries of new truths.

Without the history and knowledge of other lands and other nations and of God's dealings with his children, the civilized people of today would be no better than the savage. This is very clearly set forth in the Book of Mormon by Nephi in his writings. He tells the story of how the Lord gave commandment to his father to send him and his brothers back to Jerusalem that they might bring the brass plates with them from Jerusalem to the land of promise. That record contained the genealogy of Lehi's family; it contained the five books of Moses and the prophecies of the prophets of old down to Isaiah and even some of the words of Jeremiah. This record was obtained under difficulties and it was the foundation for the Nephite civilization in this new world.

On the other hand the Mulekites, came from Jerusalem, but without any record. Instead of increasing in knowledge and wisdom the opposite was the case with them, and when they were discovered by the Nephites they were found in a semi-civilized condition. They had to be taken by the

Nephites and taught in knowledge and wisdom. The Nephite people were out-numbered by their Mulekite relatives, but being wiser and having more knowledge they absorbed the less fortunate nation.

The Lord has always impressed upon his people the necessity of keeping records. In Adam's day, we are informed by Moses, the Lord commanded that records be kept. We read in the Pearl of Great Price that a book of remembrance was kept in the language of Adam and by him his children were taught to read and write having a language which was pure and undefiled. “Now this same Priesthood, which was in the beginning, shall be in the end of the world also. Now this prophecy Adam spake, as he was moved upon by the Holy Ghost, and a genealogy was kept of the children of God. And this was the book of the generations of Adam, saying: In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him." And so they were commanded to keep records. They were not only commanded to keep a record of important events, but they were also to keep a record of their families, and preserve it that it might be of benefit in time to come.

The very prevalent thought and teachnig in the world today that in the beginning man had no written language, is both false and viciously misleading. It was through transgression and by turning from this channel of truth, that men lost the power to record their thoughts and to properly express them; and it is not the fault of God nor does it show any defect in his work.

Accuracy.

The most important item in the recording of history, is accuracy. It has been said that history is what historians declare it shall be and many historians write with that purpose as their aim.

Take history written fifty years ago by some writers of the North in relation to the civil war, and compare it with the writings of someone who wrote at that time from the Southern States and a vast difference is found. If we go back 100 years and take histories of the United States

and read the account in them of the struggles for independence and compare them with histories published by the British and we will find many differences, because men's minds are prejudiced and their pre-conceived ideas enter into their writings. So in reading history we do not know always whether we are reading the truth or not.

The newspapers and ordinary magazines are the most unsatisfactory source of historical information. When the President of the United States delivers a message, and it is released to the papers it is given verbatum and is so published. When a newspaper repeats this speech there is some assurance that it is correct; but when a speech is left to the mercy of some enterprising reporter we don't know anything about it. When an account is given of any historical incident, or matter of importance, in the present-day newspaper, we may not know whether we are reading the truth or not, for few reporters regard the accuracy of facts about which they write. They write to attract attention and to sell the paper. It ought to be the purpose of every publication to state the truth, to record facts and to give the reader reliable information.

True Versus False History.

The Historain's Office in Salt Lake City has collected whole rows of books about the Latter-day Saints, written by those not of our faith, with scarcely a true statement in one of them. The histories of Rome, Greece, or any of the ancient nations may or may not record the events which actually took place. That depends upon the historian.

This condition should not obtain among the Latter-day Saints. Certainly it is not the case with the records which were written under the inspiration of the Lord.

Latter-day Saints who read the Book of Mormon know they are reading the truth. Why? Because God directed men to write events as they occurred and he gave them the wisdom and inspiration to do this. These records were engraved by men who believed in God. They never fell into the hands of apostates; but the historians wrote and spoke as they were moved upon by the Holy Ghost, and what they

wrote is true because the Lord sanctioned and approved the records and the translation thereof made by the Prophet Joseph Smith. The Bible, as written by the prophets, was a record that could be relied upon as being true because it was done under the supervision and direction of our Father in Heaven.

The Historian's Office gathers a good many things which are not true. The Church Historians were commanded to take notice of the expressions and statements of the enemies of the people; they are assembled and preserved in our library as the Lord has commanded. They remain as a testimonial of false history. The history of the Church when compiled will be accurate, and if errors creep in it the Lord himself will provide means whereby they will be corrected, for he holds records sacred, as he states in many of our revelations.

The Hebrew record has done more to influence this world than any other one thing. Nothing has had the force and power upon the human race all down through the ages as has this Hebrew record. Some men ridicule the Bible; they make fun of the prophets of old, and yet the Bible is the foundation upon which our civilization is built.

Church History and Records.

In this day, the Lord has given many items regarding our duty, in relation to record keeping. The very day the Church was organized the Lord gave a revelation in which he said: "Behold there shall be a record kept among you, and in it thou shalt be called a seer, [referring to Joseph Smith] a translator, a prophet and apostle of Jesus Christ, an elder of the Church through the will of God the Father, and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ." From that first day, this commandment has been repeated in many ways.

On the 8th day of March, 1831, the Lord gave another revelation in which he said: "Behold, it is expedient in me that my servant John [Whitmer] should write and keep a regular history and assist you, my servant Joseph, in transscribing all things which shall be given you, until he is called to further duties."

Oliver Cowdery was the first one appointed to assist Joseph in transcribing and keeping a history of the Church, John Whitmer took his place, when Oliver Cowdery was given something else to do. Filed in the Historian's office are found records in the hand-writing of Oliver Cowdery, the first historian, or recorder, of the Church.

In November, 1832, the Lord said: "It is the duty of the Lord's clerk, whom he has appointed, to keep a history and a general church record of all things that transpire in Zion." (See whole Section 85, Doc. and Cov.)

There are a great many duties required of the Church historian: the chief one is to make accurate records, recording not only events that take place, but the biographies of the people, illustrating their faith, and works, and their diligence in keeping the commandments of the Lord. This labor goes forward daily in the Church Office.

There is a very good system of keeping records in the Church and it has been developed because of the commandments which have been given by the Lord.

The Lord is withholding a great many truths that he would gladly reveal if the people were ready to receive them. A portion of the record from which the Book of Mormon was translated is sealed and the prophet was not permitted to break the seals, nor will the Church receive the sealed record until the time comes when the people will show by their faith their worthiness to receive it.

It is the duty of the Saints to make themselves familiar with the things revealed in the standard works of the Church and to know what the Lord has said regarding our duties and our exaltation and how it may be obtained. If all that has been written by inspired historians were available then we would have the truth concerning the Gospel of Jesus Christ in such a way that it would astonish the world. Because of unbelief the Lord withdrew from the people many truths and so they were left without the knowledge concerning the principles of the Gospel and the true Church of Jesus Christ. The Bible speaks of a great many books now not

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