“And a book of remembrance was kept, in the which was recorded, in the language of Adam, for it was given unto as many as called upon God to write by the spirit of inspiration;
And by them their children were taught to read and write, having a language which was pure and undefiled.”(Moses 6:5-6).
God’s people have always been a record-keeping people. The scriptures are a record of God’s dealings with people on Earth during various times and in various places. They include promises, commandments, covenants, blessings, and, all too often, stories of the consequences of wickedness. Scriptural records are so important to the Latter-day Saints we offer three more books of inspired scripture to the world as companions to the Bible.
In addition, the Church in every dispensation has kept records of membership, ordinances performed (blessings, baptisms, marriages, sealings), and genealogy (members and non-members), along with church and family histories. These records are considered to be very valuable and a significant ongoing effort is made to acquire, record, keep, store, maintain, and make them available.
When our leaders speak, especially in our twice-yearly General Conference, video, audio, and written records are kept and published to the world. It would be fair to say that some type of recording, transcript, notes, and/or minutes are kept every time an LDS Apostle speaks publicly.
It should go without saying that the accuracy of these records is of paramount importance. The Eighth LDS Article of Faith says, “We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly.” We depend on the scriptures, the words of the modern prophets, and the records of the Church for our very salvation.
And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. (Revelation 20:12)
Written records establish what has occurred– the truth. So it should come as no surprise that the current occupant of the White House does not value the keeping of accurate, timely, written records.
Former White House stenographer, Beck Dorey-Stein worked under both Barack Obama and Donald Trump and reports that whenever Obama spoke “on the record,” he always had a stenographer present recording audio which would then be typed and and sent to both the press and the presidential archive. The advantage of this “official record” was that it would prevent miscommunication and confusion and help keep the President from being misquoted by the Press.
Trump, on the other hand, often meets with members of the press without a stenographer present. Dorey-Stein believes, “He’s doing the American people a disservice.” She says, “It’s quite possible President Trump is actually doing it intentionally, because if there was a record of what happened, it would be hard for him to muddle the truth.”
Fortunately, many others are recording this disastrous presidency (and properly documenting their sources). His tweets will not be the final word on the history of this time.
Write the works of this people, which shall be, even as hath been written, of that which hath been.
For behold, out of the books which have been written, and which shall be written, shall this people be judged, for by them shall their works be known unto men. (3 Nephi 27:24-25)
Sources: Jason Breslow, “Ex-White House Stenographer: With No Official Transcript, Trump Can Muddle The Truth,” Morning Edition, National Public Radio, July 23, 2018.
Beck Dorey-Stein, “I Was a White House Stenographer. Trump Wasn’t a Fan,” Opinion, New York Times, July 17, 2018.