If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. Deut. 18:22
The Mormon church places a great deal of
emphasis upon the presumed truthfulness, inerrancy, and divine inspiration
of its prophets
.
-
THROUGHOUT THIS STUDY REMEMBER THE
FOLLOWING QUOTES
B) "The Lord will never permit me or any other man who stands
as President of this church to lead you astray. It is not
in the program. It is not the mind of God."
(Ezra Taft Benson, Doctrine and Covenants, 1982 ed., p.292; According to
a letter from F. M. Watson, Sect. to the First Presidency, this statement
is considered scripture by the Mormon hierarchy) emphasis added
C) "The living prophet is more vital to us than the standard
works. ...(T)he Mormon prophet speaks for the Lord in everything ...
on any matter - temporal or spiritual. The most casual of the prophet's utterances
have to be treated as doctrines, not merely formal revelations preceded by
the traditional phrase, 'Thus saith the Lord. ... Nothing a Mormon president
says can be incorrect... (he)must be obeyed even when he contradicts scripture
or statements of past presidents. ...The prophet and the presidency-the living
prophet and the first presidency follow them and be blessed - reject them
and suffer.""
(Ezra Taft Benson, 2/26/1980, 10:00 AM MST, at BYU devotional assembly. Found
in the 'Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophets,' p.3 & 13; also
see Ogden Standard Examiner, 2/26/80, p. 2A) emphasis added
D) "I will make a statement here that has been brought against me as a crime...that Brigham Young has said, 'when he sends forth his discourses to the world they may call them 'Scripture'.' I say now when they are copied and approved by me they are as good Scripture as is couched in this Bible." (Brigham Young, found in Journal of Discourses, Vol. 13, p.264)
E) "... thou shalt give heed unto all his (the prophet's) words
and commandments ... for his words ye shall receive as from mine (God's)
own mouth."
(parenthesis added, BirghamYoung giving a prophecy claiming divine inspiration
for all of his revelations, found in Doctrine & Covenanvts, 21:4-5)
F) "...if the prophet of God should tell me that a certain principle
or theory which I might have learned was not true... I should consider it
my duty... to abandon that principle or theory."
(Wilford Woodruff, found in Journal of Discourses, Vol. 5, p. 83)
G) "Any Latter-day Saint who denounces or opposes... any plan or
doctrine advocated by the prophets, seers, and revelators of the Church is
cultivating the spirit of apostasy.... When our leaders speak, the thinking
has been done. When they propose a plan - it is God's plan. When they point
the way there is no other which is safe."
(The Improvement Era, June 1945, p. 354, Deseret News, Church Section, May
26, 1945, see also The Ensign, November, 1978 p. 108, and The Ensign, August
1979, p. 2-3)
-
Some Interesting Examples of Joseph Smith's "Prophecies"
(Dated August 16, 1834, found in History of the Church, Vol. 2, p.145) emphasis added.
According to this prophecy, Zion was to be redeemed no later than September 11, 1837. It still has not happened!!!
2) "Behold the destroyer I have sent forth to destroy and lay waste
mine enemies; and not many years hence they shall not be left
to pollute mine heritage, and to blaspheme my name upon the lands..."
(found in Doctrine & Covenants 105:15) emphasis added.
Joseph Smith's 'enemies' killed him in 1844, and many 'enemies' of the Mormon church are still around today.!!!
3) "...I shall triumph over all my enemies, for the Lord God hath spoken it." (found in Doctrine & Covenants 127:2) emphasis added
Less than two years later, on July 27,1844 this prophecy was proven false because, as noted above, Joseph Smith's enemies killed him !!!
4) "Behold, I, the Lord, have brought you together that the promise
might be fulfilled, that the faithful among you should be preserved and
rejoice together in the land of Missouri. I the Lord, promise the
faithful and cannot lie."
(found in Doctrine & Covenants 62:6) emphasis added
The "you" referred to above was Smith's party which had arrived in Missouri to settle. However, two years after this "prophecy" was given by Smith, the Mormons were driven from Missouri and several of his original party were killed and others had their homes burned. So much for being preserved in the land of Missouri!!!
5) "And it shall come to pass in due time that I will give this
city into your hands, that you shall have power over it... and its wealth
pertaining to gold and silver shall be yours."
(found in the 1981 ed. of Doctrine and Covenants) emphasis added
This prophecy was proclaimed by Smith while he, his brother Hyrum, Sidney Rigdon, and Oliver Cowdery were in Salem, MA in 1836 investigating a rumor that they could obtain a large sum of money for the church in this city. No such sum was obtained!!!
6) "President Smith then stated that the meeting had been called,
because God had commanded it... it was the will of God that those who went
to Zion... should be ordained to the ministry, and go forth to prune the
vineyard for the last time, for the coming of the Lord, which was nigh -
even fifty-six years should wind up the scene."
(found in History of the Church, Vol. 1, p 182) emphasis added
This prophecy was given February 14, 1835. Fifty-six years later was February 14, 1891. Needless to say, the Lord did not come on February 14, 1891 and "wind up the scene"!!!
7) "...Verily this is the word of the Lord, that the city New Jerusalem
shall be built by the gathering of the saints, beginning at this place, even
the place of the temple, which temple shall be reared in this generation.
For verily this generation shall not all pass away until an house shall be
built unto the Lord..."
(found in Doctrine and Covenants 84:1-5) emphasis added
This prophecy was given in September 1832. Jackson County, Missouri was at that time considered to be Zion by the Mormon church, and the city of Independence was the New Jerusalem. Obviously, no Mormon temple has ever been erected on the spot spoken of by Joseph Smith. Since every person alive in September 1832 has passed away, it goes without saying that this is a false prophecy.
The present day Mormon leadership cannot accept this fact. Therefore, they maintain that the term 'generation' did not refer to those who were alive in 1832, but to a 'dispensation' (see Doctrine and Covenants Commentary, p.497) The problem with this interpretation is that it is unquestionably an attempt to close the barn door after the horse has left.
You see, as recently as 1963, Mormon prophets such as Joseph Fielding Smith maintained that the term 'generation' referred to those who were alive at the time the church's founder Joseph Smith uttered this prophecy in 1832. Another prophet, George Q. Cannon declared earlier: "The day is near when a Temple shall be reared in the Center Stake of Zion, and the Lord has said his glory shall rest on that House in this generation, that is in the generation in which the revelation was given." (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 10, p.344). Still another prophet, Orson Pratt stated: "God promised in the year 1832 that we should, before the generation then living had passed away... return and build up the temple of the Most High where we formerly laid the cornerstone." (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 10, p.344). emphasis added That generation is gone - where is the temple!!
8) "Zion shall not be moved out of her place, notwithstanding
her children are scattered ... And behold, there is none other place appointed
than that which I have appointed; neither shall there be any other
place appointed than that which I have appointed, for the work
of gathering of my saints - Until the day cometh when there is
found no more room for them; and then I have other places which I will
appoint unto them, and they shall be called stakes, for the curtains or the
strength of Zion."
(found in Doctrine and Covenants 101:17, 20 & 21) emphasis added
This revelation was given December 16, 1833. Keep in mind that this
prophecy was given by Joseph Smith inspite of the fact that the Mormons had
been kicked out of Jackson County, MO in November of that same year. Notwithstanding
there expulsion, Jackson County was (according to this prophecy) Zion, and
no other place could be considered Zion until JacksonCounty was so packed
with Mormons that there was no longer room for them. Nine years later however,
Smith declared "The whole of America is Zion from North to South" (History
of the Church, Vol. 6, p.318). Brigham Young declared that Zion was, "...at
the City of the Great Salt Lake, in the valleys of the Mountains, in the
settlements of Utah Territory." (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 2, p.253). Needless
to say, the Mormons have moved Zioneven though there is plenty of room in
Missouri!!
-
Some Interesting Examples Of Brigham Young's "Prophecies"
(found in Journal of Discourses, Vol. 4, p.40) emphasis added
This prophecy was made in 1856. Needless to say, Mormon elders do not enjoy this level of prestige!!!
2) "In twelve years I will either be President of the United
States or will dictate who shall be."
(found in Orrin Porter Rockwell: Man of God, Son of Thunder, by Harold Schindler,
University of Utah Press, 1966, p. 250) emphasis added.
As any student of American history knows, this prophecy was never
fulfilled!!!
-
Modern "Prophecies"
( emphasis added, Answer to Gospel Questions, Vol. 2, p. 188, given by Joseph Fielding Smith in 1958)
The Mormon church admitted blacks to the priesthood in 1978, only
20 years after Smith's prophecy. Needless to say, this was done here on the
earth and not on some distant planet!!!
For there is one God and one mediator between
God and men, the man Jesus Christ. I Tim. 2:5
I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be
saved. John 10:9
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is
no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. Acts. 4:12
He who has the Son has life; he who does not have
the Son of God does not have life. I John 5:12
Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing
was made that has been made. John 1:3
The preceding verses of the Bible clearly set forth the Christian belief that it is Jesus Christ and only Jesus Christ who holds the key to salvation for mankind. Without a doubt though the following statements made by Mormon leaders (including two by Joseph Smith himself) clearly indicate that within the Mormon church Joseph Smith is given what can only be termed equal standing.
1) "If Joseph Smith was verily a prophet, and if he told the truth...
No man can reject that testimony without incurring the most dreadful consequences,
for he cannot enter the kingdom of God ."
( Doctrine of Salvation, Vol. 1. p.190, made by Joseph Fielding Smith)
2) "They may say that they acknowledge him (Jesus) until doomsday,
and He (Jesus) will never own them, nor bestow the Holy Spirit upon them
... unless they acknowledge Joseph Smith is sent of God." (parenthesis added)
(Journal of Discourses, Vol. p.176-177, made by Brigham Young)
3) "...no man or woman in this dispensation will ever enter into
the celestial kingdom of God without the consent of Joseph Smith... every
man woman must have the certificate of Joseph Smith... as a passport to their
entrance into the mansion where God and Christ are..."
(Journal of Discourses, Vol. 7, p.289, Gospel Truth' Vol. 255 in "He That
Receiveth My Servants, Receiveth Me" p. 54, see also 'Search These Commandments'
1984, emphasis added )
4) "It is because the Lord called Joseph Smith that salvation is
again available to mortal men."
(Mormon Doctrine, p.396, "A Witness For The Articles of Faith" p. 1)
5) "You call us fools; but the day will be ... when you will prize
brother Joseph Smith ... and look upon him as a God"
(Journal of Discourses, Vol. 5 p. 88, made by Herber Kimball) emphasis added
6) "Joseph Smith, ... played a part in the great creative enterprise."
(Mormon Doctrine, p. 169, made by Bruce R. McConkie)
7) "God made Aaron to be the mouthpiece for the children of Israel,
and he will make me to be god to you in his stead, and the elders to be mouth
for me; and if you don't like it, you can lump it!"
(Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 363, made by Joseph Smith)
8) The Mormon hymn "Praise To The Man" speaks of Joseph Smith's
shed blood 'pleading unto heaven'. Another hymn "The Seer, Joseph, The Seer"
speaks of Joseph dying at the hands of the mob in Carthage, IL with a love
for his followers which was a "Savior's love."
Let us therefore examine some of the facts concerning Joseph Smith which the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not want either the general public or it's own members to know.
Joseph Smith was born on December 23rd, 1805 in Sharon Vermont. He was the third son of a family of nine children. As to his early years, his neighbors had this to say:
1) "At this period in the life of Joseph Smith, or 'Joe Smith,' as he was universally named ... he is distinctly remembered as a ... prevaricating boy ... by reason of the extravagances of his statements, his word was received with the least confidence by those who knew him best. He could utter the utmost palpable exaggeration or marvelous absurdity with theutmost apparent gravity." (Pomeroy Tucker, 'Origin, Rise and Progress of Mormonism', p. 16 New York 1867)
Sixty two residents of Palmayra, New York, the town where the Smith's lived from 1815 to 1819 each signed the following statement:
2) "We, the undersigned, have been acquainted with the Smith family
for a number of years, while they resided near this place. We have no hesitation
in saying that we consider them destitute of that moral character which ought
to entitle them to the confidence of any community. They were particularly
famous for visionary projects; spent much of their time in digging for money
which they pretended was hid in the earth, and a large excavation may be
seen in the earth not far from their residence where they used to spend their
time in digging for hidden treasure. Joseph Smith Sr. and his son Joseph,
were in particular considered entirely destitute of moral character and addicted
to vicious habits."
(E.D. Howe, 'Mormonism Unveiled', p. 261, Zanesville OH 1834; see also The
Maze of Mormonism, Vision House Publishers)
According to even his own mother, Joseph could be very convincing in the manner in which he told tall tales. She said that:
3) "During our evening conversations, Joseph would occasionally give us some of the most amusing recitals that could be imagined. He would describe the ancient inhabitants of this continent, their dress, mode of traveling, and their animals upon which they rode; their cities, their buildings, with every particular; their mode of warfare; and also their religious worship. This he would do with as much ease, seemingly as if he had spend his whole life with them." (History of Joseph Smith by his Mother, p. 83, 1954 edition). Note, Joseph's mother said that he could describe the inhabitants of ancient America BEFORE he supposedly received the revelation of the golden plates !!!
Even Mormon Historian B.H. Roberts admitted that Joseph Smith possessed what can only be described as a "...vivid and creative imagination". One which was fully capable of producing the Book of Mormon merely by consulting already existing literature. (B. H. Roberts, Studies of the Book of Mormon, pp. 243 and 250)
The problem with Joseph's ability to spin tall tales is that many of them have been taught as part of Mormon doctrine!!! Remember, Mormon doctrine states that it's prophets cannot be wrong, nor would God allow them to mislead the faithful.
4) Joseph Smith taught that the throne of god is located near a planet he called 'Kolob' (Pearl of Great Price, Abraham 3:3,4,9,16 and 5:13)
5) Joseph Smith not only taught that the Moon was inhabited by a race of people who live to be 1,000 years old, were all 6' tall, and dress like Quakers, but in bestowning a patriarchal blessing upon O. B. Huntington, Smith stated that Huntington would preach the gospel to the inhabitants of the moon. (The Young Woman's Journal, published by the Young Ladies Mutual Improvement Association of Zion, 1892, Vol 3. pp. 263-264.) editor's note: Brigham Young, Smith's successor within the LDS church, taught that the sun was inhabited as well as the moon (July 24, 1870, Journal of Discourses, Vol 13, p. 271
6) Joseph Smith also taught that the Gulf of Mexico was formed when god removed a chunk of the earth in order to form the celestial city of Enoch. This heavenly body is the home of Enoch and the members of the lost 10 tribes of Israel. He also taught that the reason the earth does not rotate on its true axis is beause it was thrown off center when this occured. (see Elisa Snow's hymn, published in 1891 edition of Sacred Hymns and Songs of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints {she was one of Joseph's wives}, see also LDS publication - San Diego State News Digest, Vol 5, #7, August, 1959 and 'Waiting For World's End, The Diaries of Wilford Woodruff', edited by Susan Staker - p. 298, 1993.
7) Joseph Smith taught that Adam lived out his last days 80 miles north of Independence, MO (Waiting for World's End, ibid p. 305).
8) Joseph Smith also taught that Noah's Ark was built in the Carolinas. Smith's integrity, or at the very least his ability to keep his stories straight, is called into question when his own accounts of the beginnings of the Mormon church are carefully examined. (editor's note: Smith's first vision supposedly occurred in 1820) The canonized account of Smith's first vision states that when Joseph and his family moved from Palmyra, NY to Lanchester in 1819, his sister Lucy was with them (Pearl of Great Price, Joseph Smith History, 1:3-5). However, Lucy was not born until July 18, 1821 (Biographical Sketches of Joseph Smith the Prophet, and His Progenitors for Many Generations, p. 41) Therefore, in one place Joseph claims that Lucy was born before the first vision, but states in another place that she was born afterwards.
However, this is not the only problem found in his various accounts of the first vision. There are 9 recorded accounts of Smith's first vision including the official one contained in the Pearl of Great Price. These accounts are as follows:
Account # 1 1831-1832 version found in 'BYU Studies', Spring 1969, p. 277-278, see also Dean Jesse 'The Personal Writing of Joseph Smith', p.3-6.
Account # 2 1835 version told to Oliver Cowdery recorded in 'Messenger & Advocate', Feb. 1835 p. 78-79.
Account # 3 another 1835 version found in 'Diary of Joseph', see Dialogue VI #1, p. 87.Account # 4 1837 version told to Orson Pratt recorded in 'William Appleby's Diary', p. 30-31.
Account # 5 1838 version, official LDS version found in Pearl of Great Price, originally found in 'Times & Seasons', April 1, 1842, p. 748-749.
Account # 6 1841 version told by Joseph's brother William to James
Murdock of the Hartford Observer, reprinted in F. Kirkham's 'A New Witness
For Christ.'
Account # 7 1842 version found in letter from Joseph Smith to John Wentworth
recorded in 'Times & Seasons', March 1, 1842, p. 706-707.
Account # 8 1843 version taken from an interview with Joseph Smith by reporter from Pittsburgh Gazette, reprinted in NY Observer, Sept. 23, 1843, partially reprinted in 'Dialogue' Autumn 1966, #3, p. 43.
Account # 9 1844 version found in the Niebaur Journal account of Joseph Smith telling the story of his first vision. Reprinted in part in 'Dialogue' idid.
PROBLEM = Smith's age at the time of first vision varies
considerably.
Account # 3,5 & 8 say 14 Account #1 says 16, Accounts #2 & 6 say
17,
PROBLEM = Who or what did Smith see during first vision?. Account #1 says it was Jesus, and he was alone. Account #2 says not Jesus, but a messenger from god. Account #6 says it was an angel (singular). Account #4 says it was angels (plural). Account #3 & #7 say it was 2 beings but does not say who they were. Account #5 says it was Father & Son. Account #9 says that one person was blue eyed and one identifies the other as his beloved son.
PROBLEM = What new information about existing Churches did Smith obtain? Account #1 says Smith already knew from his reading of the Bible that all existing Churches were wrong. Account #5 says he had to be told all were wrong. Account #9 says that Smith was told that the Methodists were not God's people.
PROBLEM = According to historical records the revival which is referred to in the first vision actually took place in 1824. Account #2 says it was 1823. Account #4 says 1822. Account #5 says 1820
These four additional problems alone would be enough to cast a shadow of doubt over the truth and accuracy of Smith's vision, but there are other areas of Smith's life which are highly questionable.
As to the charge that Joseph would tell people he could find buried treasure for a fee, even Joseph himself had to admit the truth of this allegation.
9) When asked directly if he had been a money digger Joseph said "Yes" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 120)
The method which he used in these fortune hunting ventures points toward Joseph's dabbling in the occult. According to a letter which the LDS has in it's possession, Joseph suggested the use of a glasslooking stone in order to find hidden treasure. (AP story, `Mormons Admit Having Joseph Smith Letter' Albuquerque Journal, Monday, May 6, 1985)
In fact, on March 20 1826 in the case of People v. Joseph Smith, Brainbridge New York, Joseph Smith plead guilty to a criminal charge of being a "Glass Looker". This was just four years prior to his supposed translation of the Book of Mormon. On that occasion he was accused of peering into a glassy "seerstone" in order to pinpoint the location of buried treasure. (Frazer's Magazine, February 1873 pp. 229-230, this account has been verified by the discovery of additional court documents in the County Jail in Norwich, New York in 1971.) Please note the similarity between this event and the method Smith supposedly used in translating the Book of Mormon wherein he used seer stones (see citations under quotation # 11 in the section of this study entitled 'The Book of Mormon').
Shortly before his death on June 27, 1844 Smith uttered the following blasphemous statement:
10) "I have more to boast of than ever any man had. I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam. A large majority of the whole have stood by me. Neither Paul, John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did it. I boast that no man ever did such a work as I." (History of the Church, Vol 6, p 408-409).
Despite the foregoing, as was seen in the previous section of this study, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints holds Smith in what can only be described as the highest esteem. They even refer to him as a martyr in that he was killed by a mob of angry citizens after his arrest in Carthage, IL in 1844. LDS Church history speaks of the
11) "...martyrdom of Joseph Smith the prophet" (Doctrine & Covenants 135:1, see also Doctrine & Covenants Commentary p. 855 and Doctrine & Covenants 135:7 and A New Witness for the Articles of Faith, p. 7)
Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary and the Random House Dictionary of the English Language define 'martyr' as: "One who voluntarily suffered death for refusing to renounce his religion" and "one who willingly suffers death rather than renounce his religion." (emphasis added) Jesus specifically fits this description, for Acts 8:32 describes Him as being like "...a sheep to the slaughter... he did not open his mouth." However, the facts surrounding Joseph's death definitely do not qualify him as a martyr. When the mob attacked the Carthage jail where Joseph, his brother Hyrum, and several others were being held under suspension of inciting the destruction of an anti-Mormon newspaper in Nauvoo, IL, Joseph was anything but silent. As reported by John Taylor...
12) "I shall never forget the deep feeling of sympathy and regard manifested ... in Brother Joseph as he drew nigh to Hyrum, and, leaning over him, exclaimed, 'Oh, my dear brother Hyrum!' (Hyrum had just been mortally wounded) He however, instantly arose and with a firm, quick step, and a determined expression of countenance, approached the door, and pulling the six shooter left by Brother Wheelock from his pocket, opened the door slightly, and snapped the pistol six successive times... I afterwards understood that two or three were wounded by these discharges, two of whom, I am informed died." (History of the Church, Vol 7, p. 102- 103, parenthesis and emphasis added)
13) "Joseph Smith died bravely ... (he made) a handsome fight
in the jail." (History of the Church, Vol 6 p. XI parenthesis and emphasis
added)
Now, while I am not blaming Smith for defending himself while he was being
attacked by a lynch mob, how can his deadly counterattack be viewed as the
actions of a martyr?
Every Word of God is flawless... do not add to His Words or He will rebuke you. Prov.30: 5-6
Not withstanding the foregoing verse from the Bible, every time a stranger is approached by a representative of the Mormon church they are told that the Book of Mormon contains another testimony of Jesus. For those readers who are unfamiliar with the Book of Mormon, the following is a,
-
Brief Summary of the Book of
Mormon
According to the Book of Mormon, today's Native American population are direct descendants of the Lamanites; whereas, the Nephites were destroyed in a series of battles with the Lamanites. The last Nephite leader, a man named 'Moroni' collected the records of his people and inscribed them on golden plates. He then buried the plates on a hill in what is now Manchester county, New York. In 1827 the 'angel' Moroni" appeared to Joseph Smith and told him where to find these plates. Moroni also told Smith how to use the special seer stones (Urim and Thummim) to translate the golden plates into English. Later Moroni took the golden plates back from Joseph Smith and retains possession of them to this day.
The existence of these golden plates was testified
to originally by three witnesses, to wit: Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer &
Martin Harris.
The following quotes set forth the official position of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints concerning the importance of this book to their
theology and its trustworthiness:
1) "The Book of Mormon is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the Bible." (Book of Mormon, Introduction, first sentence, 1981 edition) emphasis added
2) "... the Book of Mormon contains the fullness of the everlasting Gospel." (Bruce McConkie, A New Witness for the Articles of Faith, p. 399; see also Doctrine & Covenants, 20:9; 27:5; 42:12; 135:3) emphasis added {"Fullness of Everlasting Gospel" defined as "Those laws, doctrines, ordinances, powers, and authorities needed to enable men to gain the fullness of salvation" Mormon Doctrine p. 333} emphasis added
3) "...the laws and principles leading to the highest salvation are found recorded in that book (The Book of Mormon)" (Mormon Doctrine, p 333) parenthesis & emphasis added
4) "... the greatest, plainest, and most glorious Messianic prophecies, were given by Nephite prophets and are found in the Book of Mormon." (Mormon Doctrine, p. 489)
5) "...In ninety five of ... one hundred cases, the Book of Mormon teaching is clearer, plainer, more expansive, and better than the biblical word." (A New Witness for the Articles of Faith, p. 467) emphasis added
6) "Almost all of the doctrines of the gospel are taught in the Book of Mormon with much greater clarity and perfection than those same doctrines are revealed in the Bible. Anyone who will place in parallel columns the teachings of these two great books (Bible and Book of Mormon) will find conclusive proof of the superiority of Book of Mormon teachings." (Mormon Doctrine, p. 99) emphasis added
7) "Practically all of the religious truths taught and practiced in any Gospel dispensation are given in a clear and forceful way in the Book of Mormon. In fact, many of the principles are presented more clearly in that record than in any of the other ancient scriptures." (The Gospel Through the Ages, p. 86) parenthesis & emphasis added
8) "The Book of Mormon is the greatest single tool which God has given us to convert the world." (Ezra Taft Benson, Ensign, Nov. 84, p. 7) emphasis added
9) "The nature of the message in the Book of Mormon is such, that if true, no one can possibly be saved and reject it." (Orson Pratt's Works, "Divine Authenticity of the Book of Mormon", Deseret News Press, 1945, p. 107) emphasis added
10) "I (Joseph Smith) told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts than by any other book." (History of the Church, Vol 4, p. 461) parenthesis & emphasis added
11) "Joseph did not render the writing on the Gold plates into the English language in his own style of language as many people believe, but every word and every letter was given to him by the gift and power of God. So it is the word of God and not of Joseph Smith, and it was done in this way... The Lord caused each word spelled as it is in the book to appear on the stones in short sentences or words, and when Joseph had uttered the sentence or wordbefore him and the scribe had written it properly, that sentence would disappear and another appear. And if there was a word wrongly written or even a letter incorrect the writing on the stones would remain. Then Joseph would require the scribe to spell the reading of the last spoken and thus find the mistake and when corrected the sentence would disappear as usual." (Journal of Oliver B. Huntington, p. 168 Utah State Historical Society.) emphasis added. see also B.H. Roberts 'Comprehensive History of the Church' Vol I, p. 129 wherein it is stated that Smith used both Urim/Thummin and the 'Seerstone' he found while money digging back in 1822. see also Andrew Jensen, 'Historical Record' p. 216 and a letter from Emma Smith to her son, recorded in `The Saint's Herald' May 19, 1888, p. 310 and George Q. Cannon 'Life of Joseph Smith' p. 56 for additional verification of this fact.
12) When Joseph Smith supposedly finished translating the Book of Mormon from the Golden plates, he stated that he and the three witnesses (whom I will discuss later) went to pray about the completed work. In the process he said, "... we heard a voice from out of the bright light above us, saying, 'These plates have been revealed by the power of God, and they have been translated by the power of God. The translation of them which you have seen is correct, and I command you to bear record of what you now see and hear." (History of the Church, Vol 1. pp 54-55) parenthesis & emphasis added
13) "Read the first edition of the Book of Mormon as it came from the Prophet in its original, unchanged condition." (preface to reprint of original Book of Mormon, by Wilford C. Wood in 1958) emphasis added
THEREFORE, BASED UPON THE FOREGOING STATEMENTS
THE FOLLOWING SHOULD BE TRUE OF THE
BOOK OF
MORMON, TO WIT:
I The Book of Mormon should remain essentially unchanged from its original edition in 1830. Furthermore, like the Bible itself, from a literary standpoint, the Book of Mormon should be a superior work.
II The Book of Mormon should compliment and support the other three standard works of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter - day Saints. (As a corollary to this, the reader should be able to assume that at the very least, the Book of Mormon would not directly contradict these works.)
III Since the Book of Mormon is said to contain the 'fullness of the Gospel,' it should contain all the major doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter - day Saints, or at least refer favorably to them.
IV The Book of Mormon should not contradict itself.
V The Book of Mormon should be verifiable
LET US NOW EXAMINE THE ABOVE FIVE ASSUMPTIONS IN
GREATER DETAIL
I CHANGES IN THE BOOK OF MORMON & IT'S LITERARY
VALUE
A) Between the first edition of 1830 and it's 1964 edition there have been more than 3,913 documented changes. These changes have been made in spite of points # 10, 11 & 12 above. (Remember, this has occurred even though the golden plates from which it was supposedly translated were taken back from Joseph Smith by Moroni himself. As such, they have not been available to consult when these changes were made)
B) "That errors of grammar and faults in dictation do exist in the Book of Mormon (and more especially and abundantly in the first edition) must be conceded; and what is more, while some of the errors may be referred to inefficient proof-reading, such as is to be expected in a country printing establishment, yet such is the nature of the errors in question, and sointerwoven are they throughout the diction of the Book, that they may not be disposed of by saying they result from inefficient proof-reading or referring them to the mischievous disposition of the 'typos' or the unfriendliness of the publishing house... Indeed the first edition of the Book of Mormon is singularly free from typographical errors." (Defense ofthe Faith, by B.H.Roberts, p; 280-281; reprinted in A New Witness For Christ in America, by Francis W. Kirkham, v. I, pp 200-201) Note: B.H. ROBERTS IS A NOTED MORMON HISTORIAN, parehthesis in original, other emphasis added
C) Significant changes: Here are merely a few examples of
the changes which have partially affected the teachings of the church.
I Nephi 13:40 "... These last records... shall make known to all... that
the
Lamb of God is the Eternal Father, and Savior ... (1830 edition
p. 32)
"... These last records... shall make known to all... that the Lamb
of God is the Son of the Eternal Father, and Savior (1964 edition
p. 25) UNDERLINED WORDS WERE ADDED
Mosiah 21:28 "...king Benjamin had a gift from God... (1830 edition
p.200)
"...king Mosiah had a gift from God... (1964 edition p.28)
CHANGED NAME FROM BENJAMIN' TO 'MOSIA
2 Nephi 30:6 "...many generations shall not pass away among them
save they
shall be a white and delightsome people (1830 edition p. 117)
"...many generations shall not pass away among them, save they
shall be a pure and delightsome people (1981 edition p. 112)
{Note: this verse was used to teach that dark skinned 'gentiles'
could become white skinned if they accepted Mormon gospel,
obviously it didn't work that way, so THE WORD 'WHITE'
WAS SUBSEQUENTLY CHANGED TO 'PURE'
BECAUSE OF IT'S RACIST CONNOTATION.}
Alma 32:30-31 35 words have been added to this verse.
Compare page 15
of 1830 edition to page 290 of 1981 edition.
I Nephi 20:1 "Hearken and hear this, O house of Jacob, which are
called by the
name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah,
which swear by the name of the Lord" (1830 edition p .52)
"Hearken and hear this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the
name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, or
out of the waters of baptism, who swear by the name of the
Lord" (1981 edition p.46) UNDERLINED WORDS WERE
ADDED TO STRENGHTEN MORMON CLAIM THAT
OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS PRACTICED BAPTISM.}
D) In addition to these changes, there have been thousands of grammatical changes. It has been argued that the only place the Book of Mormon 1830 edition was grammatically correct is when it plagiarized verbatim from the King James Version of the Bible.
-
Examples of this plagiarism are as
follows
2. Compare 3 Nephi 11:27 & 36 with I John 5:7 KJV
3. Compare 2 Nephi 14 with Isaiah 4 KJV
4. Compare 2 Nephi 12 with Isaiah 2 KJV
E) Is this good literature? Or is it absurd?
2 Nephi 29:3 "And because my words
shall hiss forth - many of the Gentiles
shall say: 'A Bible! A Bible! We have got a Bible, and there
cannot be any more Bible." (Do God's words 'hiss forth'?)
4 Nephi 1:6 "And thus did the
thirty and eighth year pass away, and also the
thirty and ninth, and forty and first, and the forty and second,
yea, even until forty and nine years had passed away, and
alsothe fifty and first, and fifty and second; yea, and even until
fifty and nine years had passed away" (This verse takes 57
words to say that 21 years went by!)
Ether 2:18-20 "...I have made the barges according as thou hast
directed me
...And the Lord said unto the brother of Jared: Behold, thou
shalt make a hole in the top, and also in the bottom; and when
thou shalt suffer for air thou shalt unstop the hole and receive
air. And if it be so that the water come in unto, behold, ye shall
stop the hole..." emphasis added. (Didn't the Mormon god
know that if you pull the plug in the bottom of boat water
would come in? Why did he say "...if it be that the water
come in."?)
Ether 15:31 "And it came to pass that
after he had smitten off the head of
Shiz, that Shiz raised up on his hands and fell; and after that
he
had struggled for breath and died." (emphasis added, How do
you struggle for breath after your head has been cut off!)
Alma 46:15 "And those who did belong to
the church were faithful; yea, all
those who were true believers in Christ took upon them, gladly
the name of Christ, or Christians as they were called, because
of their belief in Christ who should come." (emphasis added.
Since the Book of Mormon was supposedly written several
hundred years BEFORE Jesus Christ was born and
the word 'Christ' is of Greek derivation, not Hebrew, how
could anyone be called 'Christians' before the birth of
Jesus?)
II CONTRADICTIONS BETWEEN BOOK OF MORMON AND
OTHER STANDARD WORKS OF THE LDS
Book of Mormon Other Standard Works
A) God dwells in hearts of men
God does not dwell in men's hearts
Alma 34:36
Doctrine & Covenants 130:3
B) There is one God
There are many Gods
Alma 11:22 & 26-29,39,44
Doctrine & Covenants 121:32,
132:18-19 Pearl of Great Price,
Abraham Cha 4 & 5
C) God is creator of all
God had a father who begat him
Mosiah 4:9
Gospel Truth, Cannon p. 128
D) One God created all
Many Gods created all
2 Nephi 2:14
Pearl of Great Price - Abraham 4:3- 4
E) God is a spirit
God has a body of flesh and bones
Alma 7:10
Doctrine & Covenants 130:22
F) God is three in one
Father, Son & Holy Spirit = 3 separate
2 Nephi 31:21
Gods
Article of Faith p. 41
G) Jesus conceived by
Jesus' conceived by physical act of
supernatural act of Holy Spirit
Father
Alma 7:10
Journal & Discourses Vol 1, p.51
H) Polygamy is an abomination
Polygamy is justified
Jacob 2:24; Jacob 3:5
Doctrine & Covenants 132:1
I) Born again before baptism
Born again after baptism
Alma 36:23
Mormon Doctrine p. 101
J) God's decrees are unalterable
God's decrees can & will be changed
Alma 41:8
Doctrine & Covenants 56:4-5
K) God does not change
God changes
Moroni 8:18
Teaching of the Prophet Joseph Smith,
p.345
L) Dead have no second chance
Baptism for dead necessary
Alma 34:32, 35
Doctrine & Covenants 128:17-18
Mormon Doctrine p. 673
M) Punishment of soul eternal
Punishment temporary
Alma 42:16
Doctrine & Covenants 19:6
N) Garden of Eden in Assyria
Garden of Eden in Spring Hill,
Moses 3:14
Missouri
Doctrine & Covenants 107:53-55;
116; 117:8
O) Jesus born in Jerusalem
Jesus born in Bethlehem
Alma 7:10
Doctrine & Covenants and Pearl of
Great Price
III BOOK OF MORMON SILENT ON OTHER MAJOR
DOCTRINES OF LDS CHURCH
Silent on 3 degrees of glory
3 degrees of glory
Doctrine & Covenants Sec. 76
Silent on celestial marriage
Celestial marriage necessary for full celestial
glory
Doctrine & Covenants 141:1-4, 132:4
Silent on Temple marriage
Temple marriage necessary for
& other temple rites
celestial glory
Doctrine & Covenants 131:1-3
Silent on Baptism for dead
Baptism for dead is gospel principle
Doctrine & Covenants 124:27-30
Silent on man's progression
Men can progress to become Gods
Mormon Doctrine p 331
IV INTERNAL CONTRADICTIONS WITHIN THE BOOK OF
MORMON & FALSE PROPHECIES
A) While there are numerous internal contradictions within the Book of Mormon, none are more blatant or obvious than 2 Nephi 5:15 & 16
verse 15 reads: "And I did teach my people to build buildings,
and to work in
all manner of wood, and of iron and of copper, and of brass,
and of steel and of gold, and of silver, and of precious ores,
which were in great abundance." emphasis added
verse 16 reads: "And I, Nephi did build a temple; and I did
construct it after
the manner of the temple of Solomon save it were not built of
so many precious things for they were not to be found upon
the land..." emphasis added
B) 2 Nephi 3:14-15 contains a prophecy of the coming of Joseph Smith. In these verses he is listed as the 'Seer.' More importantly, it is prophesied that Joseph Smith would be from the lineage of Joseph, son of Jacob, son of Issac, son of Abraham. "And thus prophesied Joseph, saying: Behold, that seer will (be) ... of the fruit of my loins..." (parenthesis & emphasis added). Therefore, Joseph Smith must be either a Jew, or an American Indian(the Mormons believe that the Indians are descendants of Abraham) Yet Smith's own genealogical records show that he is of English descent, neither Jewish nor American Indian. THEREFORE, EITHER JOSEPH SMITH IS NOT THE 'SEER' PROMISED IN THE BOOK OF MORMON, IN WHICH CASE THE SMITH TRANSLATION OF THE BOOK OF MORMON IS A FRAUD, OR THE BOOK OF MORMON CONTAINS A FALSE PROPHECY AND CANNOT THEREFORE BE CONSIDERED THE WORD OF GOD!!!
V BOOK OF MORMON IS NOT VERIFIABLE FROM ANY
EXTERNAL SOURCE
A) Not a single Book of Mormon city, lake, river, or mountain range, has ever been found. The Book of Mormon Student Manual 1981 ed, p.354,460 acknowledges that the Book of Mormon is not a geography book, or a history book (see also Church News April 30, 1988 p. 10).
B) Not a single artifact verifying the existence of any of the peoples mentioned in the Book of Mormon has ever been found. ("The bare facts of the matter are that nothing, absolutely nothing has ever shown up in any New World excavation which would suggest to a dispassionate observer that the Book of Mormon,... is a historical document relating to the history of early migrants to our hemisphere." Smithsonian Institute Archaeologist, Michael Coe, cited in Denver Post Magazine, November 21, 1982, p.61)
C) Not a single manuscript of any kind attributable to these people has ever been found. According to "A Statement Regarding the Book of Mormon" prepared by the Department of Anthropology, Smithsonian Institute, 1988 the Book of Mormon is useless as a guide to archaeological exploration)
D) The Mormons teach that Native Americans are the descendants of the Lamanites and are therefore of Jewish heritage (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith p. 92; Discourses of Brigham Young, p. 122; Articles of Faith, p. 260; Teachings of Spencer Kimball p. xix). However, geneticists have proven that all Native Americans are descended from three or four groups of people who are only found in the Americas or Asia. ie. they are not Semitic in origin, but Asian. (The Atlanta Journal, Feb. 13,1993).
E) The three witnesses to the Book of Mormon to wit:, Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris, whose testimonies still appear in present day editions of the book WERE EACH EXCOMMUNICATED FROM THE LDS CHURCH. They have been referred to variously as "wicked" (Doctrine & Covenants 3:12-13; 10:6-7), "drank to much" (History of the Church Vol 2, p. 26), apostatized (Journal of Discourses vol 7, p. 114-115), and "too mean to mention" (History of the Church, Vol 3, p 232). Yet we are expected to accept their testimony.
In point of fact, Martin Harris later stated
that in regards to the golden plates, "Well I did not see them just
as I see the penholder, but I saw them with the eye of faith. I saw
them as plainly as I see anything whatever about me, although at the time
they were covered over with cloth." (as recorded in 'Gleanings By the
Way', 1842, Philadelphia, PA by Rev. J.A. Clark) emphasis added
Furthermore, by 1845, of the remaining eight witnesses listed
in the introduction to the Book of Mormon, only Joseph Smith's father (Joseph
Smith Senior), and his two brothers (Hyrum and Samuel) remained in the church.
Peter and Christian Whitmer had died, and John Whitmer and Hiram Page had
all left the church in disgust.
Finally, the first 12 Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints also swore to the integrity of the Book of Mormon, yet eight of them were either excommunicated, disfellowshipped, or apostatized by 1845, including William Smith, Joseph's own brother!!! (Orson Hyde - disfellowshipped August 4, 1835, John F. Boynton - apostatized December 1837: History of the Church, Vol 2. p.528; Luke S. Johnson - apostatized December 1837: bid; Lyman Johnson - excommunicated April 13, 1838: History of the Church Vol 3. p. 20; William E. McLellin - excommunicated May 11, 1838: History of the Church Vol. 3. p. 31 see also footnote; Thomas Marsh - excommunicated March 17, 1839: History of the Church Vol 3. p. 284; Orson Pratt - excommunicated in 1842: Nauvoo: Kingdom on the Mississippi p. 269-270).
All of the foregoing shows the reader that not only does the Book of Mormon cntradict many of the teachings of the Mormon Church, but in spite of the church's claim that it contains the 'fullness of the Gospel' it fails to even mention the very doctrines which the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints claim are necessary to comply with in order to attain the highest levels of glory. Rather than containing "Another Testament of Jesus Christ", the Book of Mormon contains the testimony of "Another Jesus."
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