The power of evidence in the nurturing of faith was the topic addressed by John W. Welch, professor of law at BYU, at the Sidney B. Sperry Symposium Oct. 7.
"Without diminishing the essential power of the Holy Ghost, and knowing that we cannot prove anything in absolute terms, I still speak favorably about the power of evidence," he asserted. "Evidence is an important ingredient in the Lord's plan of happiness."Brother Welch said Elder John A. Widtsoe taught that evidence can remove honest doubt and gives assurances that build faith. Further, he said, Elder Joseph Fielding Smith affirmed that evidence, as convincing as in any court in the land, proves "that Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery spoke the truth."
Quoting a 1976 prediction by Elder Neal A. Maxwell, "There will be a convergence of discoveries (never enough, mind you, to remove the need for faith) to make plain and plausible what the modern prophets have been saying all along," Brother Welch remarked: "I believe this prophecy has been amply fulfilled in the last 20 years. Things that might at first have appeared outrageous, on closer inspection turned out to be right on target."
He added: "The ancient Jaredite transoceanic migration that lasted 344 days (Ether 6:11) ceases to seem so fantastic when that turns out to be exactly the length of time it takes the Pacific current to go from Asia to Mexico. The oddity of Nephi also making new arrows when only his bow had broken suddenly becomes plausible when one realizes that arrows and bows must match each other in weight, length and stiffness. The bizarre ritual of chopping down the tree as part of Zemnarihah's execution (3 Ne. 4:28) fits right into place alongside Jewish law that required the tree to be chopped down on which a person was hanged, making `plain and plausible' what the Book of Mormon has said all along."
