This explanation restates the New Testament principle of the law of the harvest:
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. (Matt. 7:15–20)
We always have a choice to believe or not to believe, and frequently choosing not to believe is much easier than believing. How do we know? “Every good tree bringeth forth good fruit” (Matt. 7:17) and “whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do good is of me” (Ether 4:12). Those are the Lord’s tests.
The Lord does not discount science or disdain history. The Lord does not intend that we believe in spite of all secular evidence. But none of belief’s supports are the full answer. Spiritual things require spiritual witnesses. Even if our secular reasons might lead toward a spiritual faith, only the spiritual witness will transform our hearts.