President David O. McKay Believed That Joseph Smith Wrote The Book of Mormon

[MG 2.0]

Imagine if McKay were to tell MG that.

Unless MG is going to accuse Tanner, Nibley, or Prince, of making the whole thing up, then McKay did just tell him that.

In his diaries there isn't anything to support this.

https://mormonstudies.as.virginia.edu/d ... of-Mormon/

He also said that the Book of Mormon was:

"an added witness to the divinity of Jesus Christ"

There is no credible witness such as diary entries, letters, or official minutes—that document McKay expressing disbelief in the Book of Mormon.

He was church president during the time of Thomas Ferguson and the New World Archeological Foundation (I think that is what it was called). There were a number of folks that were disillusioned in regards to Book of Mormon historicity during that time as a result of Ferguson's lack of 'evidence in the dirt'. It wouldn't surprise me that the personal opinions of some intellectuals and the surrounding milieu played a part in third hand speculations as to what David O. Mckay thought...and may have even put words in his mouth.

But again, there is no direct evidence that David O. McKay disbelieved in the Book of Mormon. One would think that in his extensive personal diaries there would be mention of that.

By the way, years ago I read Greg Prince's biography of McKay. Great book.

Regards,
MG

[Moksha]

He was church president during the time of Thomas Ferguson and the New World Archeological Foundation (I think that is what it was called). There were a number of folks that were disillusioned in regards to Book of Mormon historicity during that time as a result of Ferguson's lack of 'evidence in the dirt'.
Regards,
MG

Imagine Ferguson's disappointment at spending more than a decade of his life and not finding even a shard of Nephite pottery. Of course, he did confine his search to Earth One, and he did use the RLDS/FARMS geographical model.

[Doctor Scratch]

Wow... you have to wonder what the Mopologetic explanation is for this? I assume that they wouldn't care one iota about what this says re: Joseph Smith or President McKay, but this is *devastating* to the Witnesses, and *THAT* is something that they are absolutely obsessed about.

[Doctor CamNC4Me]

Imagine if McKay were to tell MG that.

It would crush MG. It might even drive him back into the comforting arms and solace he once found from a bottle of Snapple Iced Tea.

No. It wouldn’t. Watch it. Post directly to Mental Illness that David O. McKay said that. Watch. Not a chance it makes a dent in his thick nugget.

- Doc

[MG 2.0]

Imagine if McKay were to tell MG that.

I don't think he would have.

Regards,
MG

[Everybody Wang Chung]

Wow... you have to wonder what the Mopologetic explanation is for this? I assume that they wouldn't care one iota about what this says re: Joseph Smith or President McKay, but this is *devastating* to the Witnesses, and *THAT* is something that they are absolutely obsessed about.

Agreed. President McKay completely discounted the Witnesses.

[Alphus and Omegus]

It would crush MG. It might even drive him back into the comforting arms and solace he once found from a bottle of Snapple Iced Tea.

No. It wouldn’t. Watch it. Post directly to Mental Illness that David O. McKay said that. Watch. Not a chance it makes a dent in his thick nugget.

- Doc

Considering that this is a third-hand account, I don't think it's going to make much of a ripple. It's very possibly true, but given that Nibley is far from prominent nowadays, I think the fact that this book came out years ago but doesn't seem to have caused a splash in the interim suggests that the account isn't going to be regarded as respectable.

[MG 2.0]

No. It wouldn’t. Watch it. Post directly to Mental Illness that David O. McKay said that. Watch. Not a chance it makes a dent in his thick nugget.

- Doc

Considering that this is a third-hand account, I don't think it's going to make much of a ripple. It's very possibly true, but given that Nibley is far from prominent nowadays, I think the fact that this book came out years ago but doesn't seem to have caused a splash in the interim suggests that the account isn't going to be regarded as respectable.

I agree.

Regards,
MG

[Morley]

Perhaps McKay had read the galley proofs of his soon-to-be famous niece's book. That might have convinced him that Smith was the author.

[Dr Exiled]

Seems like McKay had doubts based on how his posterity, his grandkids that I knew, reacted to Mormonism. They made fun of it in private and I partied a bunch with them. One of them was gay and really who cares now, but back then it was a big deal.