CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCES.
The evidences to be presented for the truth of the Book of Mormon
naturally separate into two great divisions, each of which will admit
of a number of subdivisions. The two great divisions of the evidence
are:
1. External Evidences.
2. Internal Evidences.
Of course, by evidences in general I mean those facts or things which
either directly or indirectly, considered separately or collectively,
constitute proof of the truth to be contended for in these pages--the
truth of the Book of Mormon.
By external evidences I mean those facts outside the book itself, which
tend to establish its truth; such as the testimony of the Special
Witnesses whom God raised up and qualified by direct revelation to
testify of the truth of the book. Also the testimony of those who by
reason of seeing and handling the Nephite plates, were made competent
to testify of their existence and appearance. This evidence will
include the agreement between the Book of Mormon location of ancient
American centers of civilization and the existence of the ruins of
temples, pyramids, mounds, works of old fortifications, roadways and
cities--in a word, the evidence of American archaeology. The evidences
of the traditions and customs of the inhabitants of America found in
possession of the land at the advent of the Europeans, and who are in
large part the descendants of the enlightened people of whom the Book
of Mormon is an abridged history. The evidences to be found in the
revelations, prophecies, and promises of the Hebrew scriptures--the
evidence of the Bible, in other words, to the truth of the book. The
institutions to which the book may be said to have given birth--the
testimony which the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints bears
to its truth.
By Internal Evidence I mean those facts which may be gathered from the
book itself, from its structure, and its consistency with the theory
of its construction; from its doctrines and their agreement with the
revelations of God in the Jewish scriptures; from its moral tone and
spiritual influence; from the manner in which it interlocks with the
history of the past, and is entwined with the future purposes of God as
made known in the revelations of God to man; from the fulfilment of its
prophecies and promises; from the general character of its contents,
the truths it emphasizes, and the importance of its message to mankind.
I shall have occasion to speak of direct and indirect evidences; of
positive and presumptive evidences; but all this will be developed as
the statement of the evidences and the argument proceed. I would say,
however, before closing these preliminary remarks, that it is not my
intention to rely upon any one branch of the evidence to establish the
truth of the Book of Mormon; it is intended that the evidence shall be
cumulative; and I certainly hope, by a careful consideration of all
the evidence, external and internal, direct and indirect, under each
division, to so establish the truth of the Book of Mormon that all
fair-minded people will see reasonable grounds for faith in it as an
additional volume of Holy Scripture, another Witness for the Truth as
it is in Christ Jesus our Lord.