Joseph B. Wirthlin Quotes
Wherever I go throughout the world - no matter the language, no matter the culture - I thrill to hear the testimonies of the Saints.
Wirthlin, Joseph B. "Pure Testimony." Ensign, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Nov. 2000, p. 23.
The people of the Book refers to Jews and Muslims. This passage of the Koran is used to justify ecumenism with Muslims integrated with Jews and Christians. The Koran consists of Muhammed’s sayings, and he himself had opinions about Jews and Christians that differed from time to time. So although this passage signals a tolerant religion, in other places Muhammed preached violence against the people of the Book. At first Muhammed and his followers expected to see the people of the Book adopt Islam as their religion. When they did not, relations deteriorated somewhat.
What is interesting about this quotation is that there were many at the time who thought that different people in different parts of the world and cultures were of different species. Science at that point did not even realize that all humans had a common ancestor. It makes the quotation all the more interesting.
Joseph Bitner Wirthlin was an American businessman, religious leader and member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He was sustained to the Twelve on October 4, 1986, and ordained an apostle on October 9, 1986, by Thomas S. Monson. He became an apostle following the death of church president Spencer W. Kimball. As a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, Wirthlin was accepted by the church membership as a prophet, seer, and revelator.
