Occam was a friar who believed that "Only faith gives us access to theological truths. The ways of God are not open to reason, for God has freely chosen to create a world and establish a way of salvation within it apart from any necessary laws that human logic or rationality can uncover." He didn't believe Occam's razor could be applied to faith.

Another interesting quote:

"Ockham’s razor is perhaps the most widely accepted example of an extraevidential consideration. Many scientists accept and apply the principle in their work, even though it is an entirely metaphysical assumption. There is scant empirical evidence that the world is actually simple or that simple accounts are more likely than complex ones to be true. Our commitment to simplicity is largely an inheritance of 17th-century theology."

Applying Occam's Razor--which explanation for the origin of the Book of Mormon is the simplest? : r/mormon

 They used professional credentialed historians to write them. Patrick Mason was familiar with the process and explained it.

They used professional credentialed historians from -outside- the Church history department historians.

They wrote long academic essays with sources like a peer-reviewed article would be with the same standards as a peer-reviewed article.

Then they realized that if it took 30 pages to answer a question, it might make looking for an answer worse.

I wish they attached the longer academic essays with the shorter brief answer.

But as it were they worried about peoples attention spans and if someone was trying to quickly answer a critic.

You think the answers are not enough? I went on my Mission in the early-mid 1990s. Want to know what I had to answer critical questions? Old Ensigns from closets of Missionary Departments, Members who were willing to answer questions, and that is about it. There was a "Missionary Pal" little book that had brief answer to "Evangelical Christian" type scriptural criticisms, but that was about it.

Why did Missionaries give poor, "Mountain Meadows was due to the victims poisoning wells and starting the fight" type answers... They did not have good resources.

The answers are not enough? They are much better than what we had on our Missions.

I am not saying this applies to you. But I worry sometimes that people want no controversy and easy answers.

Critic: "Smith practiced polygamy, and he likely engaged in Biblical relations with many of the women! The restoration cannot possibly be true!"

Essay: "Smith practiced polygamy, and he likely engaged in Biblical relations with many of the women! And the restoration is still true!"

I worry sometimes people want to find, "Smith never practiced polygamy, and the critics are lying liars." I have found critics lying. Or engaging in half-truths or hyperbole. It happens.

But people in faith crisis or facing serious questions who read or hear about a difficult to swallow historical fact then it is largely confirmed on the Essays... That is a tough situation.

I think the Essays are wonderful. I went on my Mission without the Essays or anything like it from the Church and it was hard to answer critics with truth. So I like them for providing answers. And i like them that they inoculate members from hard questions. The kids coming up now won't be phased by the kinds of questions people my age didn't know the answer to.

I was blessed because my Mom was super into Church history and wasn't scared of the hard questions. But even still I didn't know all of the answers to hard questions when I went on my Mission.

I recommend, "Planted" by Patrick Mason, PhD.

Fair is an excellent online resource with faithful answers.

Mormonr.

Evidence Central.

The Latter-day Saint (Mormon) Experience – Jeff Lindsay's Site and the Shake Well Blog

Saints Unscripted

Our Channels | More Good Foundation

Good luck. There are difficult to accept aspects of Church history. The Essays are a wonderful source for quick answers. One day the Church may publish the full essays, which will be cool. But there are some wonderful sources to answering difficult questions from Church history.

Podcasts I like:

Saints Unscripted Audio

Maxwell Institute

Church History Matters

Standard of Truth

Gospel Tangents Podcast

Faith Matters

Y Religion

Latter-Day Perspectives. It hasn't had an episode since Sis Hales passed. But it covered a lo-ot of Church history topics.

Good luck.

Surviving a faith crisis (and how Church members can help)

Surviving a faith crisis (and how Church members can help) - LDS Living

 Old Testament Prophets:

Moses - Yes, performed numerous miracles.

Joshua - Yes, involved in miraculous events like the crossing of the Jordan River.

Deborah (also a judge) - Not specifically associated with performing miracles.

Samuel - Not specifically associated with performing miracles, but served as a prophet and judge.

Nathan - Not specifically associated with performing miracles.

Gad - Not specifically associated with performing miracles.

Ahijah - Not specifically associated with performing miracles.

Elijah - Yes, performed many miracles, such as calling down fire from heaven.

Elisha - Yes, performed many miracles, including healing the sick and raising the dead.

Micaiah - Not specifically associated with performing miracles.

Jonah - Yes, involved in miraculous events like being swallowed by a great fish. Isaiah - Not specifically associated with performing miracles.

Jeremiah - Not specifically associated with performing miracles.

Baruch (scribe and prophet) - Not specifically associated with performing miracles.

Ezekiel - Involved in divine visions but not specifically noted for performing miracles.

Daniel - Involved in divine visions and interpretations but not typically associated with performing miracles.

Hosea - Not specifically associated with performing miracles.

Joel - Not specifically associated with performing miracles.

Amos - Not specifically associated with performing miracles.

Obadiah - Not specifically associated with performing miracles.

Micah - Not specifically associated with performing miracles.

Nahum - Not specifically associated with performing miracles.

Habakkuk - Not specifically associated with performing miracles.

Zephaniah - Not specifically associated with performing miracles.

Haggai - Not specifically associated with performing miracles.

Zechariah - Involved in divine visions and prophecies but not specifically noted for performing miracles.

Malachi - Not specifically associated with performing miracles.

Elishama (scribe of Jehoiakim, mentioned in Jeremiah) - Not specifically associated with performing miracles.

Uriah (prophet mentioned in Jeremiah) - Not specifically associated with performing miracles.

Shemaiah (mentioned in 1 Kings 12:22-24) - Not specifically associated with performing miracles.

Iddo (mentioned in 2 Chronicles 13:22) - Not specifically associated with performing miracles.

Hanani (mentioned in 2 Chronicles 16:7-10) - Not specifically associated with performing miracles. Jehu (son of Hanani, mentioned in 1 Kings 16:1-4) - Not specifically associated with performing miracles.

Eliezer (son of Dodavahu, mentioned in 2 Chronicles 20:37) - Not specifically associated with performing miracles.

Elijah the Tishbite (referred to in 1 Kings 17:1) - Yes, performed miracles like calling down fire from heaven.

Oded (mentioned in 2 Chronicles 28:9-15) - Not specifically associated with performing miracles.

Azariah son of Oded (mentioned in 2 Chronicles 15:1-7) - Not specifically associated with performing miracles.

Huldah (prophetess mentioned in 2 Kings 22:14-20) - Not specifically associated with performing miracles.

Nathan-Melech (mentioned in 2 Kings 23:11) - Not specifically associated with performing miracles.

Jehaziel (mentioned in 2 Chronicles 20:14-17) - Not specifically associated with performing miracles.

Eliezer son of Beor (prophet who confronted Balaam, mentioned in Numbers 22-24) - Not specifically associated with performing miracles.

Shemaiah the Prophet (mentioned in 1 Kings 12:22-24, 2 Chronicles 11:2-4) - Not specifically associated with performing miracles.

Here is a list of prophets mentioned in the Book of Mormon and whether they are associated with performing miracles:

Book of Mormon Prophets:

Nephi - Yes, performed miracles such as building a ship and having visions.

Jacob - Yes, had visions and preached with power.

Enos - Not specifically associated with performing miracles.

Jarom - Not specifically associated with performing miracles.

Omni - Not specifically associated with performing miracles.

Mosiah - Yes, performed miracles and had prophetic gifts.

Alma - Yes, performed miracles, converted many, and had spiritual experiences.

Helaman - Yes, performed miracles, including controlling the weather.

Nephi (son of Helaman) - Yes, had prophetic gifts and performed miracles.

Lehi (son of Helaman) - Not specifically associated with performing miracles.

Mormon - Not specifically associated with performing miracles.

Moroni - Not specifically associated with performing miracles.

Pearl of Great Price Prophets:

Abraham - Yes, performed miracles and had visions according to the Pearl of Great Price.

Moses - Yes, performed miracles and received divine revelations.

Enoch - Yes, performed miracles, preached repentance, and had visions.

Joseph Smith - Yes, performed miracles and received divine revelations.

Prophets who just taught. : r/latterdaysaints (reddit.com)