"The Book of Mormon is concrete and solid, they can hold it, and they can visualize that they have to pray to decide if this physical thing is true. There is no room for interpretation"
About this Quote
That cleanliness is the point. Missionary culture in Latter-day Saint life is built around repeatable patterns of conversion: read, ponder, pray, receive confirmation. Scott’s framing makes the process feel less like joining a tradition and more like verifying a claim. By emphasizing “this physical thing,” he converts an abstract theological question into an encounter with evidence, borrowing the aura of empiricism without actually submitting the text to empirical scrutiny. The “decision” is internal, but the setup feels objective.
“No room for interpretation” is where the subtext sharpens. It signals a suspicion of plural readings and a preference for certainty managed through authorized procedure. Interpretation is messy; it produces factions, dissent, and the uncomfortable realization that sincere people can read the same words differently. Scott offers a workaround: don’t argue about meanings, ask God if the object is true. That collapses hermeneutics into obedience.
Historically, this fits a church that prizes clarity, correlated messaging, and a direct line from personal spiritual experience to institutional authority. The quote reassures investigators and members alike: the ground won’t shift under you, because the method - and the conclusion it’s meant to yield - is already built in.
Quote Details
| Topic | Faith |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Scott, Richard G. (2026, January 15). The Book of Mormon is concrete and solid, they can hold it, and they can visualize that they have to pray to decide if this physical thing is true. There is no room for interpretation. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/the-book-of-mormon-is-concrete-and-solid-they-can-165698/
Chicago Style
Scott, Richard G. "The Book of Mormon is concrete and solid, they can hold it, and they can visualize that they have to pray to decide if this physical thing is true. There is no room for interpretation." FixQuotes. January 15, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/the-book-of-mormon-is-concrete-and-solid-they-can-165698/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"The Book of Mormon is concrete and solid, they can hold it, and they can visualize that they have to pray to decide if this physical thing is true. There is no room for interpretation." FixQuotes, 15 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/the-book-of-mormon-is-concrete-and-solid-they-can-165698/. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.


