The history behind The Book of Mormon translation is based on written records. Who writes the history and what they have to say has a strong impact on how the events are understood. It is assumed that history comes fully formed in a textbook or what was written by an author who did the studies. For the modern historian, no history exists unless it is written down and somehow explained. Some physical evidence can be used to corroborate or refute the written record, but only words explain human thoughts and experience. People can only write from their perspective, and sometimes they lie or remember incorrectly. The Urim and Thummim found with the gold plates has a lot of evidence, while the stone in a hat a few strong statements. What can be known about the translation of the Book of Mormon depends on who and what to believe.

Remember that no one other than Joseph Smith was allowed to see, save perhaps Oliver Cowdery, the gold plates or Urim and Thummim before the translation was finished. The Lord had warned that anyone who saw them before given explicit permission would be destroyed. A warning of destruction applied to Joseph Smith if he showed them to anyone. To protect against this he always had the items covered or placed in a safe place, unless in use. After the translation the Lord gave permission to show the holy items to a select few. When the Book of Mormon was published, it contained the testimony of Three Witnesses that an angel showed them the gold plates. It also contained the testimony of eight other witnesses that they handled the plates. All official copies of the Book of Mormon through to the most recent contain the witness signed declarations. None of them ever denied the printed testimonies. On the contrary, the Three Witnesses later testified independently they saw the gold plates, the Interpreters, and other items.

How the translation was accomplished is a complete mystery known only to God, Joseph Smith, and possibly Oliver Cowdery when he was once given permission by revelation to try. Any statements about what Joseph Smith did or saw to translate the gold plates come second hand. None of them claim to be direct quotes from the Prophet, although they sometimes say that is where they got the information. Almost all of the descriptions are of a rigid reading. Mistakes found in the original manuscript pages that have survived refute such exact renderings; except for proper names and places. Whenever Joseph Smith does explain the translation in his own words, it is in the vaguest of terms. He does make it clear that the translation was from the plates using the Urim and Thummim that came with them by the Power of God. This implies having both together was essential to the translation work. Either he is absolutely truthful in his descriptions or he deliberately left out the stone in a hat portion of the process.

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This is an interview with Dan Liddicott, who is LDS and the former Chairman of the Libertarian Party UK.

1. Could you describe how you joined the Church and talk about your testimony?  Are you married in the temple and do you go to the temple in England?  If you are married, how many children?  What do you do for a living?  

I’m what is usually called a life-long member of the Church and grew up with family and friends both in and out of the Church. 

In the UK, where I was born, it’s normal to be very much in the minority regarding Church membership. Being a religious minority gives one a perspective all of its own. Growing up with and attending school with others of different faiths and none endowed me with a broad multicultural and multi-faith perspective that I am grateful for. I feel kinship to all people of goodwill, I feel no prejudice or resentment towards any by virtue of their race, nationality, colour or creed. I believe my upbringing, and gospel teachings that I grew up with are a huge influence on this perspective I have.

I’ve remained an active member my whole life, I graduated Seminary, served honourably in the Ireland Dublin Mission, and eventually married my wonderful wife in the Preston England Temple. We have two sons.

2. Please describe your political conversion to libertarianism and what role you have in the libertarian movement in the UK.  

I began to awaken to politics in my first years as a College student in the 90s. During this time I would probably be best described as leaning towards Christian conservative – with a small ‘c’, since I never signed up to the Conservative Party over here. 

I spent probably too much time in message groups arguing for conservative values, which agreed with my religious principles, when I should have been studying. At this young age I’d not yet fully understood that authoritarianism isn’t good just because it agrees with you. I was learning. It was as a student that I began to formulate my fledgling view of the relationship between left and right, and the various political parties in the UK. I also learned a great deal about the dual standards of so-called liberalism, calling for free speech to promote their views but quickly pulling up the ladder after them, attempting to deny voice to their opponents. Little has changed in that regard in 30 years other than greater polarisation and more extreme measures being taken in seeking to silence others. 

I opposed ID cards when they were mooted in the UK in the early 2000s, and my interest in the effect politics had on everyday life continued to grow. A good friend of mine pointed me to the writings of Ezra Taft Benson, but I still made no political commitment to any party.

My political dormancy remained for many years, but I began to more fully awaken when the Brexit question became a real possibility for a referendum in the UK. 

I am not someone who wants to draw a wall around my spiritual life separating it from the rest of my life. As Brexit became more and more prominent, I began to study to know where my allegiances should be, and my question was this: “what form of Government would God want us to have on this earth?” I sought to approach the question as completely openly as I could, rejecting any preconceptions as best as I could.

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I continue to be astounded at the new temples being announced at General Conference.

As a reminder, in April 2021 the Church announced new temples in 20 locations:

• Oslo, Norway 
• Brussels, Belgium 
• Vienna, Austria 
• Kumasi, Ghana 
• Beira, Mozambique 
• Cape Town, South Africa 
• Singapore, Republic of Singapore 
• Belo Horizonte, Brazil 
• Cali, Colombia 
• Querétaro, Mexico 
• Torreón, Mexico 
• Helena, Montana 
• Casper, Wyoming 
• Grand Junction, Colorado 
• Farmington, New Mexico 
• Burley, Idaho 
• Eugene, Oregon 
• Elko, Nevada 
• Yorba Linda, California 
• Smithfield, Utah 

On Sunday, President Nelson announced new temples in:

• Kaohsiung, Taiwan
• Tacloban City, Philippines
• Monrovia, Liberia
• Kananga, Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Antananarivo, Madagascar
• Culiacán, México
• Vitória, Brazil
• La Paz, Bolivia
• Santiago West, Chile
• Fort Worth, Texas
• Cody, Wyoming
• Rexburg North, Idaho
• Heber Valley, Utah

Who knew there was a need for a temple in Cody AND in Casper? (I say this as somebody who lives near the Wyoming border and goes there all the time).

It seems only one of two things can be possible: Church membership is expected to grow, or the existing members are paying more in tithing. Or perhaps both are happening at the same time?

What do you make of this massive temple building project announced during the pandemic?

There are many important messages from General Conference so far, but the one that struck me the hardest and seemed so urgent was Elder Kopishke’s message on mental health.

Elder Kopishke shared a very personal message regarding his son who had to cut his mission short because of anxiety. I have three sons who will be hopefully leaving on missions in the coming years, and I imagined how difficult it would be for me and my wife to see our son return early because of such issues. Obviously, as Elder Kopishke pointed out, such a result would also be devastating for our son.

The truth is that many people, including myself, can sometimes be impatient with people suffering through mental health issues. I was raised in the 1960s and 1970s when the primary message from those in authority was: “get over it and suck it up.” People in general had very little patience for what they called “excuses” in those days. Remember that many of these people in authority in those days lived through the Great Depression, World War II and the Korean War. There was not much time for mental health breaks during those days. Survival was at stake. (Check out Clint Eastwood’s character in the movie “Gran Torino” to get a hint at the personalities of many people from that generation).

Our times are easier in many ways — but more difficult in other ways. I have been struck by how many people around me these days are suffering through mental health crises of one kind or another. I think the pandemic and the response to the pandemic are partly to blame, but I also think there are a variety of other reasons for health problems around us.

It seems like we are living in a time when the entire world appears to be in commotion in unexpected ways: “And all things shall be in commotion; and surely, men’s hearts shall fail them; for fear shall come upon all people.” (D&C 88:91).

So, Elder Kopishke’s message is an important reminder that we need an extra dose of charity these days towards those suffering mental health crises. The Church has some great resources for those suffering mental health issues and those whose family members are suffering mental health issues. Please check out this page here.

Even while hoping this note finds many of you anticipating a restorative and rejuvenating weekend, I know the reality. So many of us – including in our own faith community – are angry. And weary. And fearful. And suspicious.

I felt a prompting this last weekend to interview several neighbors who, like me, have harbored some serious questions about prevailing pandemic policies, and sincere wonderings at why the Church has been so willing to adopt and encourage them. Each of them went through an experience lately of feeling softened by their own communion with God over the matter. I was so touched by the conversations that I decided to write it up in a piece that ran Thursday in Public Square and Meridian Magazines: COVID-19 Vaccination as an Abrahamic Test.

As one woman, Jocelyn, said about her experience: “I felt layers upon layers of hardness on my heart peel off. I could just feel it come off my heart. I didn’t even know that hardness had been there.”

I’ve felt the same just in witnessing their experiences. I can’t deny that peace these brothers and sisters have felt from God in doing something that felt terrifying. They speak of arriving at the vaccination clinic, for instance, fully conscious of the possibility that their life could be harmed – but wanting more than any other consideration to trust the peace they had felt from God.

Who cannot be touched by such faith?

At the end of the essay, I brought attention to the experience of others who have exercised their own faith and felt different guidance in their own individual situation. Then I asked: “Do you have faith to take the vaccine, even if your bias is against it, if the Spirit gives you peace to proceed? And do you have faith to not take the vaccine if you feel so guided by the same Spirit, even if you are going to get some push-back from those around you?”

These have been good questions for me to ask. And I’m grateful for the greater peace that has come as I’ve allowed my heart to soften and trust a little more.

Perhaps this whole struggle can even soften us on other issues that we’re clenching our hearts against each other about. For instance, Mandi, a staunch conservative said, “This whole experience has given me a lot of compassion for people who have struggled with LGBT+ stuff.”

As I said at the end of the essay, I repeat here:

As a final note, if you find yourself fixated on this issue and grappling in your heart with frustration towards brothers and sisters, or even the prophets themselves, please take a moment to remember the full range of things Latter-day prophets have been sharing with the world  (here’s one summary we put together, Prophets on Pandemic). It’s a beautiful message—and I’m confident, the most hopeful message anywhere in the world. Don’t let that gloominess or hardness ruin this upcoming conference weekend! Heaven (literally) knows we all need some uplift and rejuvenation!  So, please don’t let yourself go into the weekend looking for more reasons to be frustrated. God wants more for you, and all of us. 

Happy conference, everyone. If God has something to place on your heart and mind this weekend – including peace, comfort, love or knowledge – my prayer is that NOTHING will stand in the way of that happening.

Hurrah for Israel!