Emotional Reasoning

Excerpt from a 2007 interview with Apostle M. Russell Ballard:¹

M. Russell Ballard, “Transcript of Interview with Elder M. Russell Ballard,” Mormon Newsroom, 2007.

Is there scientific proof authenticating the Book of Mormon?

I don’t believe that’s how people will ever come to know whether or not the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I remember an experience that I had as mission president some years ago when I presided over the affairs of the Church in Eastern Canada. I met with about 30 different ministers of different religions and then I let them ask me questions and the very first question I was asked was by a fine minister who said, “Mr. Ballard, if you just give us the gold plates and let us see that they exist, then we would know that the Book of Mormon is true.” And I looked at him and I said, “Father, you know better than that. You’re a man of the cloth. You know that God has never revealed religious truth to the heart and soul of a man or a woman except by the power of the spirit. …” … “My question to you; have you ever read the Book of Mormon?” And he said, “No, I haven’t.” That’s how people will come to know whether or not the Book of Mormon is true. You will not get to know it by trying to prove it archeologically or by DNA or by anything else in my judgment. Just pick it up and read it and pray about it and you will come to know religious truth is always confirmed by what you feel and that’s the way Heavenly Father answers prayers.

Are you Christian? What is the role of Jesus Christ in your faith?

It’s a privilege to bear witness and testimony to the whole world that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God. He is the Savior and the Redeemer of the world and in our doctrine He is the head of the Church.

From a Wikipedia article on emotional reasoning: ²