CREDENTIALS

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#CC9900" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="043005a0dwnjzk.gif"> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="EDWARD WATSONS WEBWORLD"><U><B>home</B></U></A><B> | </B><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><B>EDWARD WATS</B><B>ON'S WEBWORLD</B></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id118.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="INTRO"><U><B>INTRO</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id120.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="KNOWING TRUTH"><U><B>KNOWING TRUTH</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id121.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="WHY MORMONS?"><U><B>WHY MORMONS?</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id122.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="INTELLECTUAL APPEAL"><U><B>INTELLECTUAL APPEAL</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id123.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PURPOSE AND USAGE"><U><B>PURPOSE AND USAGE</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id124.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="ADAPTABILITY"><U><B>ADAPTABILITY</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id125.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="WHAT IS MORMONISM?"><U><B>WHAT IS MORMONISM?</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id126.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="THE CHURCH IS THE BRIDE OF CHRIST"><U><B>THE CHURCH IS THE BRIDE OF CHRIST</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id127.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BIBLICAL EXPERTS"><U><B>BIBLICAL EXPERTS</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id128.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="IS MORMONISM A CULT?"><U><B>IS MORMONISM A CULT?</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id129.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="HISTORICAL REFUTATION VS SCRIPTURAL REFU"><U><B>HISTORICAL REFUTATION VS SCRIPTURAL REFUTATION</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><B>CREDENTIALS</B><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id131.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BIBLICAL VIEW"><U><B>BIBLICAL VIEW</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id132.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PERSONAL NOTE"><U><B>PERSONAL NOTE</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id133.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BOOK OF MORMON"><U><B>BOOK OF MORMON</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id135.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="ABBREVIATIONS"><U><B>ABBREVIATIONS</B></U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> CREDENTIALS</div> <div> <A HREF="id118.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="INTRO"><U><B>Introduction</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id120.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="KNOWING TRUTH"><U><B>The best way to know the Truth</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id121.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="WHY MORMONS?"><U><B>Why are we called “Mormons”? </B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id122.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="INTELLECTUAL APPEAL"><U><B>The intellectual appeal of Mormonism</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id123.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PURPOSE AND USAGE"><U><B>What these books are for and how to use them</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id124.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="ADAPTABILITY"><U><B>The adaptability of Mormonism</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id125.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="WHAT IS MORMONISM?"><U><B>What is Mormonism?</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id126.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="THE CHURCH IS THE BRIDE OF CHRIST"><U><B>The Church is the Bride of Christ!</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id127.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BIBLICAL EXPERTS"><U><B>The four types of biblical experts</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id128.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="IS MORMONISM A CULT?"><U><B>Is  Mormonism a Cult?</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id129.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="HISTORICAL REFUTATION VS SCRIPTURAL REFU"><U><B>Historical refutation vs Scriptural refutation</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id130.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="CREDENTIALS"><U><B>The issue of credentials </B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id131.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BIBLICAL VIEW"><U><B>My view of the Bible</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id132.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PERSONAL NOTE"><U><B>A personal note</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id133.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BOOK OF MORMON"><U><B>Coming back to the Book of Mormon</B></U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>[MORMONISM. The Faith of the Twenty-first Century. Volume 1. Edward K. Watson. (Liahona Publications. Copyright © 1998 Edward K. Watson.) pp. lxxxiv-lxxxvii. MORMONISM: Series Introduction. All rights reserved.]</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The issue of credentials </B></div> <bR> <div>      Some people get terribly impressed when some refer to their academic achievements as proof their statements are true. I on the other hand, never use one’s academic accomplishments or lack thereof as means of accepting or disregarding what he/she says. Neither am I intimidated nor impressed when some use what kind of education they have to back up their statements. Their words speak for themselves.</div> <div>      I don’t have any degrees whatsoever, never took formal Greek or Hebrew instruction, never attended a day of college or university, but only took a one-year course in computer programming and computers in business for which I have two diplomas. All of the Greek and Hebrew translations found within my books are derived from over sixty biblical dictionaries, lexicons, and commentaries and over forty Bible versions created by those who have expertise in the pertaining fields. Should you disregard what I say <I>because</I> of my lack of formal education? Should we disregard Jesus, Peter, John, any member of the original Twelve, Joseph Smith, etc., simply <I>because</I> they lacked formal education available during their time? My writings are the source of my credibility. <B>Judge the validity of my writings based on their contents, not on what kind of paper I have framed on my wall.</B></div> <div>      This story would’ve been very different if I didn’t have to work to support my family and have nearly every spare time devoted to writing and finishing these books (which began on my mission in 1989).</div> <div>      Sure, there are issues I don’t have expertise on or currently only possess a small amount of knowledge of, such as Book of Mormon demographics; Reformed Egyptian; Book of Abraham hieroglyphics and facsimiles’ interpretation; ancient American writings, cultures, and archaeology. I leave those to the experts.</div> <div>      I believe in following common sense. If I don’t have proficiency in a certain field, I won’t pontificate on it based upon my knowledge. I would never dream of challenging an Egyptologist on the proper interpretation of hieroglyphics since I know nothing in the field, will never know anything in the field and have no desire to study it.</div> <div>      If I encounter a critic who has expertise in a particular field I know nothing of (such as Egyptian hieroglyphics) who claims various items in his field disproves certain aspects of Mormonism; I naturally disagree with this critic but admit I can never prove him wrong. I admit my bias but point out I maintain faith in the subject’s legitimacy by its association with items I do know are authentic. Since I’m familiar with works done by numerous LDS scholars who are in the same field as this critic who say the opposite, I will accept their interpretation instead of this critic because of my bias due to what I know is legitimate in linked items.</div> <div>      I don’t know of a single “expert” who says it’s possible for one who’s been dead for three or four days to come back to life with death’s accompanying cellular death and decomposition. Nonetheless, I believe Jesus was really resurrected not only because of my bias, but due to something I know is true which testifies he really was re-animated, the Scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon.</div> <div>      I admit there are historical accounts which cast doubt on  Joseph Smith’s divine calling. Despite knowing these documents, I still believe he was a true prophet of God. Mindless belief despite indisputable proof? No. Biased? Naturally, but with good reason.<B> I know the </B> <B>Book of Mormon is true due to God answering my prayer.</B> <I>I never expected or imagined it to be true. I didn’t want it to be true. But the answer I received testified it really was true.</I> If it is true; Joseph Smith has to be true. Simple logic. I know  Ezra Taft Benson was a true prophet due to an answered prayer. Since he existed long after Joseph Smith and was one of his successors; if he’s a true prophet, so is Joseph Smith by being the primary link of the chain. Again, simple logic. Even if I didn’t have a spiritual witness Joseph Smith is a true prophet (I do, by the way), I would still view him as such despite the conflicting historical documents concerning him because of his association with two other factors I know are true: the Book of Mormon and  Ezra Taft Benson. </div> <div>      <B>I don’t need spiritual and intellectual confirmation of every aspect of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. </B>One is enough. If I only received a spiritual witness of Ezra Taft Benson, I would’ve known all other aspects of the church are true as well. I don’t need God to answer every single item in “Mormonism” that may bother me since <I>I realize the church is true by association with items I know are true.</I></div> <div>      When I know something is true and know the references to back up my position; it doesn’t matter what intelligence or degree an anti-Mormon has to back up his position. I know 2+2=4 and can demonstrate it’s true. A disputer can’t intimidate me or cause me to change my view even if he has four doctorates since I can demonstrate the truth of my position. </div> <div>      This is my stance. I can demonstrate the consistency and compatibility of the Latter-day Scriptures with the Bible and their inspired nature. I can demonstrate the legitimacy of Joseph Smith by adherence to the biblical description of true prophets. I can demonstrate the logic, beauty and biblical nature of our doctrines based upon eternal principles. I can demonstrate the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is indeed, the only possible true church of Jesus Christ upon the earth today. <I>It is a matter of demonstration; not academic achievement. </I></div> <div>      Because of my reception of intellectual and scriptural verifications of LDS doctrines, I don’t fear rigorous intellectual examination of the issues provided the same standard applies to Jesus and the Bible. </div> <div>      This explains the sub title: “The faith of the twenty-first century.” As more people familiarize themselves with the truth about the Bible and Mormonism, the more will join the true church since the deeper one studies the Scriptures from a spiritual point of view, the more glaring the authenticity of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as being the only true church.</div> <div>  </div> <div> <A HREF="mailto:ewatson@shaw.ca" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:ewatson@shaw.ca"><U>e-mail me!</U></A></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>