I was taken aback today when I read a statement by a friend who was pretty critical of the talk given by Elder Holland today. He accused him of using the story about his sacred experience during a near-death experience as:
- Tool for manipulation
- Virtue signaling
Elder Hollands Talk: Saturday Morning Session (churchofjesuschrist.org)
I am a faithful believing member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I believe that the prophets and apostles are special witnesses of Jesus Christ. Now, with that said, I am not sure that every one of them has physically witnessed Jesus Christ in the flesh. I would assume that Jesus Christ has manifested himself to each one of them at some point in their lives, and if not, at the beginning of their ministry as an apostle.
I would expect an apostle from time to time to witness that they had seen him. Like Joseph Smith saw him. Otherwise, why would they be a special witness? If they were called as special witnesses, and they had seen him, and they testified of those things, how is that virtue signaling? Was the criticism because they hinted at the experience instead of clearly stating I stared him in the eyeballs? How is fulfilling their divine calling virtue signaling? God bless them if they had not received that witness and still testified in faith until the day they did. Even if that day came at 95 years old prior to their death. Praise God that they received this greater witness in the flesh.
Could you imagine an Elder Holland testifying for all those years and never seeing Jesus Christ in the flesh until after his wife’s death? On top of that, while he was in the middle of a near-death experience? Rather I would speculate that he had seen the risen Lord at some point in his life, but this witness was something bigger and greater. I remember listening to Elder David B Haight share his vision of the final days of the Savior’s life. It was a powerful testimony. Maybe the vision Elder Holland received was more than a vision of Jesus Christ, but rather a witness of the life of Jesus Christ or the works and majesty of God. I would think such things would be hard to express unto man.
My friend went on to say the LDS community would:
- Embellish his talk
- Make Assumptions
- Claim he saw God
- Use the story as divine evidence
- Defend his controversial talk
I am not an intellectual. Just look at my writing, I suck at it. I am glad I am not an intellectual. I would imagine my ability to follow faithfully would potentially be drastically hampered by my over-analyzing and looking for flaws in messages.
I simply state that I am disappointed in my friend’s response to Elder Holland’s talk. And, I feel his response has the power to do the exact opposite of Elder Holland’s talk. While one was an expression of divine hope. His response was one of doubt and questioning truth. Sewing seeds of doubt in those who are already fragile. Giving support and validation to those who are already doubting to doubt further.
Whether a divine testimony was given in the temple, in a dream, or on someone’s deathbed. Why would it matter? Yes, I’m sure trauma and illness can contribute to unexplainable events. I do believe that our bodies being in a fragile state brings us closer to God. Why is it that the humble are quicker to hear and believe the word of God? Their hearts and minds are more receptive.
As one who has had what I would consider a substantial spiritual event take place, I declare, there is a God in Heaven and he will speak to man when and where he will. It is not up to us to decide because it did or didn’t fit into an acceptable package. For many years I didn’t share it with many and never in public. But I promised God in a dream one night that I would share it whenever I felt I should. It has rarely felt as though a setting was perfect and I have often feared as though talking about it frankly would come across as boasting or virtue signaling. I have learned to not care. I just speak it.
Oliver Cowdry said:
You have been indebted to other men in the first instance for evidence; on that you have acted; but it is necessary that you receive a testimony from Heaven for yourselves; so that you can bear testimony to the truth of the Book of Mormon, and that you have seen the face of God. That is more than the testimony of an angel. When the proper time arrives, you shall be able to bear this testimony to the world. When you bear testimony that you have seen God, this testimony God will never suffer to fall, but will bear you out; although many will not give heed, yet others will. You will, therefore, see the necessity of getting this testimony from Heaven.
Never cease striving till you have seen God face to face. Strengthen your faith; cast off your doubts, your sins, and all your unbelief, and nothing can prevent you from coming to God. Your ordination is not full and complete till God has laid His hands upon you. We require as much to qualify us as did those who have gone before us; God is the same. If the Saviour in former days laid his hands on his disciples, why not in latter days?
Minutes and Blessings, 21 February 1835, Page 159 (josephsmithpapers.org)
Minutes and Blessings, 21 February 1835, Page 160 (josephsmithpapers.org)
What Elder Holland did was not Virtue Signaling, it was testifying as an apostle of God.