Historians often grapple with the intersection of faith and reason, particularly when dealing with subjects deeply rooted in religious belief. This challenge was explored during a recent conference in Salt Lake City, where historians associated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints discussed methods for recognizing the influence of Jesus Christ within the Church’s historical narrative.
The panel discussion, titled “Methods to See the Redeemer in the Church’s Past,” featured Spencer McBride, Senior Managing Historian with the Church History Department, Brittany Chapman Nash, co-author of “Women of Faith in the Latter Days,” and Scott Hales, literary editor for the “Saints” histories. Petra Javadi-Evans, church history editorial manager, moderated the discussion.
Balancing Faith and Scholarly Rigor
A central question addressed by the panel was how to maintain scholarly standards while keeping Christ central to their work. Javadi-Evans noted a common concern within academic circles that focusing too heavily on Christ might compromise the perceived rigor of historical analysis.
Nash observed that the current academic climate often views faith as contradictory to scholarly rigor. However, she argued that this perspective is not universal across all historical periods. She suggested that historians of the past might view contemporary secular historians as misguided in their separation of faith and reason.
The Importance of Charity and Compassion
The historians emphasized that approaching history from a perspective of faith significantly impacts their work. Hales, drawing on his experience as a museum curator, likened contextualizing history to framing a painting. Just as a frame can enhance the viewing experience, the way history is contextualized can profoundly influence its interpretation. He contrasted two books about the martyrdom of Joseph Smith, one portraying him reverentially and the other presenting a cynical and disparaging account.
Nash emphasized the importance of drawing on Christ’s attributes when approaching historical situations. She shared her personal experience of seeking patience through Christ when navigating particularly challenging historical topics, such as polygamy.
Hales echoed this sentiment, advocating for approaching the past with Christian charity, compassion, and empathy. He stressed the importance of recognizing the shared humanity of historical figures, acknowledging that they, like all people, are striving to improve through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. This perspective allows historians to avoid judgment and instead view their subjects as children of God.
Nash described this approach as embodying the “two great commandments” in scholarly work, treating historical figures with compassion and charity while striving for understanding and truthfulness in their portrayal.
Forthrightness and Directness in Addressing Difficult Issues
McBride emphasized the importance of directness and clarity when addressing controversial or sensitive historical issues. He cautioned against using “mental gymnastics” or preemptive apologies, arguing that such approaches can erode trust. Instead, he advocated for stating the issue clearly and upfront, which he believes conveys honesty and empowers individuals to grapple with the information within their own faith journey.
However, McBride also cautioned against dismissing or invalidating the concerns individuals might have about difficult historical issues. He emphasized the importance of empathy and recognizing the validity of their feelings.
Embracing Discomfort and Grief
McBride challenged the notion that history should always be a source of positive feelings. He argued that “if history always makes you feel good, you are probably not learning real history.” He encouraged his students to normalize discomfort, grief, and sadness as integral aspects of Christian discipleship. He drew a parallel between the grief one might feel while ministering to someone struggling with the consequences of their choices and the grief one might feel when engaging with difficult or tragic events in the past.
McBride pointed to passages in scripture that depict people making poor choices, emphasizing that experiencing sadness and grief alongside the triumphs of life and history is a natural and acceptable part of the human experience. He suggested that these painful feelings should not be viewed as aberrations but rather as intrinsic to both contemporary life and the lives of those who came before.
History as an Exercise in Faith
The panel highlighted the inherent limitations of historical knowledge, emphasizing that even the most comprehensive accounts will inevitably contain gaps. Hales characterized studying history as “a great exercise in faith,” pointing to the unavoidable uncertainties and unanswered questions that arise from the historical record.
He acknowledged the difficulty of facing questions about the past to which there are no easy answers. However, he emphasized that “we are not commanded to know. We are commanded to believe and to hope.” He suggested that these gaps in historical knowledge should be viewed as “opportunities for faith,” trusting that God will ultimately provide the answers needed.
Bringing Christ to the Forefront
In closing, Hales reiterated the conference’s theme, reflecting on his experience ensuring that the “Saints” books reflected a strong witness of Jesus Christ. He recounted receiving feedback to “bring Christ more to the foreground” and initially resisting, believing that Christ was already present throughout the narrative. However, a thorough review of the manuscript revealed a surprisingly limited number of direct references to Jesus. This realization prompted a deeper examination of the sources and a concerted effort to more explicitly center the story on Christ.
By approaching history with faith, charity, compassion, honesty, and humility, historians can embody the attributes of Christ in their work, fostering a deeper understanding of the past and its relevance to the present.
