--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Joseph Fielding Smith collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 33 number: 11 published: 1930-09 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: "Joseph Fielding Smith, “The Historicity of Jesus,” *Improvement Era* 33, no. 11 (September 1930): 725–726." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera3311unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera3311unse start_page: 725 end_page: 726 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1930-09) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera3311unse publication_year: 1930 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1930, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # The Historicity of Jesus THE IMPROVEMENT ERA £S£ Vol. 33-41 SEPTEMBER, 1930 No. 11 "The Historicity o£ Jesus" By JOSEPH FIELDING SMITH of the Council of the Twelve IN the March Era there appeared an article by Elder J. M. Sjo- dahl on "Jesus as a Personage in History," and in the July num- ber another article, by Dr. William J. Snow, on "The Historicity of Jesus;" each of these writers deal- ing with evidence that Jesus Christ is a real personality in answer to the modern critics who say that there is no authentic evidence that he ever lived, and that the stories of his life and ministry, as por- trayed in the Gospels, are based on a myth. I would like to add a few reflec- tions for the benefit of our young people who may be disturbed by this modern criticism of the his- toricity of Jesus Christ, for it is admitted that some distinguished scholars have advocated this as- tonishing and, to us, impossible view. Evidence produced of the time of our Savior and immediately following, has been presented con- clusively in the articles mentioned. It is not my purpose to cover the same ground, except to say that many who deny the divinity of Jesus Christ are convinced of his historicity. One of the most per- sistent and determined foes of Jesus Christ in modern times admits that the evidence is beyond reasonable dispute and that Jesus Christ lived and taught the people of Judea. Moreover, he declares, Paul, the chief writer of epistles and advo- cate for Jesus Christ, was a real personality who came in contact with the Christians within the first decade after the death of Christ. "Paul * * * habitually speaks of Cephas and others who were actual companions of Jesus. We have to deny the genuine- ness of all the epistles to doubt this * * *. So he (Paul) joined the Christian body and mingled with them in Jerusalem, within less than ten years of the execu- tion of Jesus. No Jew there seems to have told him that Jesus was a mere myth. In all the bitter strife of Jew and Christian the idea £ee}ms to (have occurred to nobody. Setting aside the Gospels entirely, ignoring, all the Latin writers are supposed to have said in the second century, we have a large and roughly organized body of Christians at the time when men were still alive who remembered events of the fourth decade of the century. "I conclude that it is more reasonable to believe in the historicity of Jesus. I T would be as easy for a gnat to trace the history of time back to its origin as for man to fathom the First Cause of all things, lift the veil of eternity and reveal the mysteries that have been sought after by philosophers from the be- ginning. What, then, should be the calling and duty of the children of men? ..Instead of inquiring after the origin of Gods — instead of try- ing to explore the depths of eterni- ties that have been, that are, and that will be — instead of endeavoring to discover the boundaries of boundless space, let them seek to know the object of their present existence and how to apply, in the most profitable manner for their mutual good and salvation, the in- telligence they possess. Let them seek to know and thoroughly un- derstand things within their reach, and to make themselves well ac- quainted with the object of their being here, by diligently seeking unto a superior power for infor- mation and by the careful study of the best books." — Brigham Young in J. of D. 7:284-5. There is no parallel in history to the sudden growth of a myth and its con- version into a human personage in one generation. * * * From the earliest mo- ment that we catch sight of Christians in history the essence of their belief is that Jesus was an incarnation, in Judea, of the great God of the universe. * * * So it seems to me far more reasonable, far more scientific, far more consonant with the facts of religious history which we know, to conclude that Jesus was a man who was gradually turned into a God."1 HTHE point I wish to make, how- ever, is that we have "a more sure word of prophecy," as Peter might put it, "whereunto we do well that we take heed," by which we may know that Jesus Christ lives and is indeed the. Only Be- gotten Son of God. The Book of Mormon, while an ancient record, has come to light within the knowledge of this gen- eration. We all know how it was revealed and how it was trans- lated, and that the Lord raised up witnesses, "as seemeth him good," who testified "to the truth of the book and the things there- in." Moreover, the Book of Mor- mon was preserved, as it is re- corded, to come forth in the latter days to bear witness of the truth of the record of the Jews (Bible) , and to bear witness, "to the con- vincing of the Jew and Gentile that JESUS is the CHRIST the ETERNAL GOD, manifesting himself unto all nations." The Book of Mormon bears record of the personality and reality of Jesus Christ, both by prophecy uttered hundreds of years before he was born and also of his personal ap- pearance among the ancient people 1 Joseph McCabe — "The Story of Re- ligious Controversy," p. 228. 726 The Improvement Era for September, 1930 on this American continent. In this sacred volume we have his words recorded and the testimony of witnesses who saw him and unto whom he ministered after his resurrection. TJOWEVER, are we not depen- dent upon the writings and the testimony of men who lived and wrote in ancient times? Al- though we accept their sayings, we have the testimony of witnesses of our own time. Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, Sidney Rigdo:i, and others, have borne witness to the world — as they were com- manded to do — that they saw Jesus Christ, conversed with him, were ministered to by him and received from him instruction. These facts are recorded as they were written at the time. This testimony has gone forth into all the world and has been before the world for one hundred years. Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery were in the pres- ence of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Kirtland Temple, April 3, 1836, and heard his voice. Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon were in his presence February 16, 1832, and have given their testimony as follows: "And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him; That he lives! "For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Be- gotten of the Father — "That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God.2 HTHIS testimony has gone forth into all the world. There are thousands who know it is true for they too have had witness borne in upon their souls. There are thousands who believe in the promise of the Lord, "that every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am."3 And this promise is unto all men everywhere so that all may know if they will. 2Doctrine and Covenants 76:22-23. 3Ibid 93:1. -«ic^3|sV>ti Words of President Joseph F. Smith T BELIEVE it to be the duty ■*■ of the Church to recognize and acknowledge every man that holds an official position in it, in his sphere and in his calling. I hold to the doctrine that the duty of a Teacher is as sacred as the duty of an Apostle, in the sphere in which he is called to act, and that every member of the Church is as much in duty bound to honor the Teacher that visits him in bis home as he is to honor the office and counsel of the presiding quo- rum of the Church. They all have the Priesthood, they are all acting in their place, because the Lord has appointed them and set them in his Church. We cannot ignore them; or, if we do, the sin will be upon our heads. * * * "BRETHREN and sisters, we want you to be united. We hope and pray that you will go from this conference to your homes feeling in your hearts and from the depths of your soul to forgive one another, and never, from this time forth, to bear mal- ice towards another fellow crea- ture, I do not care whether he is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or not, whether he is a friend or a foe, whether he is good or bad. It is extremely hurtful for any man holding the Priesthood and enjoy- ing gifts of the Holy Ghost to harbor a spirit of envy, or malice, or retaliation, or intolerance to- ward or against his fellow-man. We ought to say in our hearts, let God judge between me and thee, but as for me, I will forgive. I want to say to you that Latter- day Saints who harbor a feeling of unforgiveness in their souls are more guilty and more censurable than the one who has sinned against them. Go home and dis- miss envy and hatred from your hearts; dismiss the feeling of un- forgiveness; and cultivate in your souls that spirit of Christ which cried out upon the cross, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." This is the spirit that Latter-day Saints ought to possess all the day long. The man who has that spirit in his heart and keeps it there will never have any trouble with his neighbors; he will never have any difficulties to bring before the Bishop, nor the High Council; but he will al- ways be at peace with himself, at peace with his neighbors, and at peace with God. It is a good thing to be at peace with God. (""NNE year ago today, as near as I can recall, we were honored by the presence, and with the priv- ilege to hear the voice of President Snow. Shortly after he was called home to his final account before the great Judge of the quick and the dead. The Lord preserved his life to a goodly age, and I want to say that the Lord Al- mighty accomplished some things through President Lorenzo Snow that neither President John Tay- lor nor President Wilford Wood- ruff accomplished in their day. Although the same questions had been brought before them, yet they were never thorough- ly decided and settled until Pres- ident Snow did it. Therefore I say, 'all honor and praise be unto that instrument in the hands of God of establishing order in the midst of uncertainty, and cer- tain rules by which we know our bearings. I wish to mention this, because I feel in my heart to thank the Lord for President Snow, and to honor him as the instrument in his hands of accomplishing his mission, for which the Lord pre- served him so long in life. * * * [ WANT to say a few words to the Mutual Improvement asso- ciations. You young men and young women, officers of the Mu- tual Improvement associations, I implore you to go from this con- ference and do your duty. Look after the wayward, the disobedi- ent, the thoughtless, and the in- different. It is necessary that they should be guarded and looked af- ter. As it has been expressed here time and again, it is better for us to save our own boys who are being misled at home, than it is for us to go out into the world and (Continued on page 762)