Five major factors should be considered before one commits to believing historical source documents as completely valid or true. While we cannot fully understand what may have influenced the LDS historical statements, documents and memories of centuries ago, we can (and probably should) reduce the chances of being misinformed as much as possible. This episode looks at the basic factors that can help determine credibility or risk when it comes to LDS source material.
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Show Notes – Analyzing LDS Church History
These five factors are the biggest things to consider in trying to determine the authenticity and reliability of historical documents.
1. Latency
Latency answers the question: “when did the event happen and how ling afterwards was it discussed?”
✅ Contemporary
Written or spoken within the current time frame of the events being discussed.
? Early Recollections
Recorded months or within a few years after the event, while the subject being discussed is still somewhat relevant.
⛔ Late Recollections
Recorded several years or even decades after the event.
2. Proximity
Proximity deals with “how close was the source to the events being described?“
✅ 1st Hand
Author had first-hand knowledge of the events being described, seeing, hearing or experiencing the event themselves as it unfolded. Generally credible, but not immune to false witness.
? 2nd Hand
Author is retelling something that they heard someone else say, without being a witness themselves to the events being discussed. Use discernment. Citing first hand records helps.
⛔ 3rd Hand+
Author receives hearsay or altered versions of the story (“telephone game”) where information degrades with each retelling. Rarely reliable for details. Not considered evidence.
3. Verbatim
Verbatim solves the question of “what level of detail is reported and how possible is the ability to recall such?”
✅ Scribal Verbatim
Source author was present & wrote the words spoken at the event. What is written is usually credible, but often missing the totality of information. Original source material more credible than rewrites and copies.
? Phrase Verbatim
Author is remembering short and concise ideas or statements. Shorter more general phrases are more believable than lengthy, detailed excerpts. Reading published sources (newspapers, scripture, minutes) is best.
⛔ Dialogue Verbatim
Recollection of detailed, lengthy verbatim is proven impossible, except with concerted efforts of memorization are made. Retelling long verbatim conversations (not reciting “scribal verbatim”) is impossible and easily dismissed.
4. Origination
This one is a matter of “is this an original source, and if not, how far removed is this copy from the original?”
✅ Original document
The originating documents exists and are available for handwriting sampling, paper & ink authentications & critical analysis by experts, historians and curious people.
? Copy, edit, re-write
No original copy exists. Copies are claimed but unverifiable. Details should exist around who copied it, where, when and under what circumstances. Does the copy match the original?
⛔ Copies of copies
No original copy exists, or copy is several versions removed from original. Not uncommon to destroy original documents after new copies are altered. True copiers often preserve originals.
5. Incentives (Bias)
What biases or reasons to produce this witness might the author have?
✅ Truth’s sake
Declarations of truth with no personal gain. Often done in effort to declare truth or correct falsehood. Backed with precedent, scripture, witnesses and drama-free storyline.
? Gainsaying
Gainsaying statements for social or monetary gain, or else gossip designed at weakening others’ influences. “Me too” recollections, unfounded and boastful storytelling, campaigning for power, etc.
⛔ Avoiding punishment
Contrived or campaign-driven statements or witness collection efforts to avoid incarceration, excommunication, financial loss, loss of power, embarrassment, etc. Collusion & secrets.
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