Item Detail
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13783
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1
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0
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English
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Joseph Smith and the Problem of Evil
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Brigham Young University Speeches
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1999-2000
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27-35
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The concept of 'evil' was considered in three ways: (1) the logical approach as to whether there is a contradiction between the world's evil and a loving God, (2) the soteriological (doctrine of salvation) problem considers the gap between some Christian ideas of salvation and a loving God, and (3) the practical concept of evil which challenges one to live faithfully in the presence of overwhelming evil. Joseph Smith provided some insights into these problems and gave meaning to personal struggles, suffering, sin, and death. His revelatory concepts of the creation differ from the classical Christian ideas. He taught from the Book of Mormon that 'men are, that they might have joy' (2 Nephi 2:25). He personally knew sorrow and was able to overcome the evil that threatened his work even though at times he wondered if God was there. He was a prophet of God; he survived the test of evil and found eternal meaning in his suffering and trials