Question:
Mormons? A cult?
2006-04-25 20:38:36 UTC
Is this seriously some kind of a sick joke? So today makrs the day that I was presented with some anti-mormon lierature.

Why do people beat on the Mormons and say we are a cult? We are not. My best friend was a part of a cult growing up. Do you know what they did to her sister? They told her that God wanted her to commit suicide and so she did. Have Mormons ever done that? NO!!! Im shaking with anger right now. Im furious at all of the people who wont just let people believe in their religions. We have our freedom to choose. Why do people insist on making it difficult. Mormonism is a Christian religion. >I< am a christian. I believe in God and Jesus Christ. I KNOW that Joseph Smith found the Book of Mormon. The next person who is visited by God and Jesus Christ, ask THEM whether they visited Joseph Smith. You cant tell me that they didnt. I have studied more than any anti-mormon. And the funny thing is, when I study, I dont study anti-mormon literature. I study the true stuff.
Thirteen answers:
knuckleheadcd74
2006-04-25 20:45:34 UTC
I had Elder Bednar come to my stake confeerence last sunday and he explained so much to me. I know how you feel about this but if someone starts telling you that Mormons belive this and that just say "Dude, I am a Mormon. I know what I believe, I don't need you telling me what I believe." The world is becoming more and more wicked. Thats not to say that there aren't good people its that we are becoming outnumbered.

You just need to ignore what other people say. Don't let that that get in your way. You need to have a testimony and no one can take that away.



It drives me crazy when people put our church down. We DO NOT DO THAT TO THEM. Just think is there any Anti-Catholic literature? The adversary is trying hardest to make your faith waver. Keep your faith strong.



No way Joseph Smith could have written The Book of Mormon He translated it. Prophets of old times wrote it just like the Bible.

If any one tries to sway you with Anti-Mormon Literature its them who have not studied about the truth of our religion.



I recently heard that another religion told a mother that because her baby wasn't baptized it was damned to hell and she'd never see it again. That is horrible, Why would anyone continue in a faith that told you that? Can you imagine what that must be like for her? I'm not a mother but still.
?
2006-04-25 21:32:15 UTC
OK I have to start with a reply to Buttercup, dear, Jesus wasn't a good man give me a break, He was the SON of GOD the only Begotten of GOD the Father, He came here to Atone for the sins of everyone here. You, me your neighbor everyone. I don't know where you've gotten your info but He is so much more and, We also know the He is in the GODHEAD. The only difference is that we believe that God the Father and Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost are three seperate beings one in purpose. But no way will I let you say that we just think he was a good man. Give me a break.

Now on to the cult issue. We are not, but yes you will get alot of people out there who have been filled with truth intermingled with lies. That is why the anti-mormons are able to get away with so much. Anyone who doesn't know our religion would not know the truth, but they've heard just enough to be lead to believe what the anti-mormons pass out because of it. The funny thing is, is that they are so willing to read and believe the anti-mormon literature without trying to even find out if what's been given to them is in all actualality true or false. Gee believe stuff given to them by someone who hates the Mormons, sounds stupid to me, but it's a case of ignorance is bliss.

Satan is hard at work girlfriend and it is only going to get worse. He wants to win this battle and the only way to do that is to convince people that we're all crazy and just that, a cult. If he poisons them with just enough doubt that they won't listen to the message then he has won.

Continue to study and learn, many don't realize just how powerful the gift of the Holy Spirit is. To have him testify and bear witness to you is an amazing thing. It will get much worse. There will come a time when you will truly have to choose. Remember to arm yourself with the whole armor of God. We see scripture coming to pass and it is also a reassurance of the truthfulness of the gospel. Hang in there. It's just begining. Get the series BOOK of MORMON Made Easier by David Ridges it is great. I came away with a whole new perspective. He has taught for over 35 years and has helped with the Church curriculum, it is reading the scriptures and particapating in a discussion all at once. Check it out. I can't say enough about how much I learned and how I got a deeper understanding of everything that the scriptures talk about.
mycathisses
2006-04-25 20:43:29 UTC
This may sound harsh, but Christianity and Mormonism are two totally different things. Mormons don't believe the same thing about Jesus that Christians do, and Christians absolutely do not believe there was anything special about Joseph Smith. He was nothing more than a man that made up his own religion and very cunningly convinced many people that he was not lying, which in all actuality he was.



You should do some digging into the history of your religion. I think you'd be surprised as to what you found.
?
2016-10-20 08:28:48 UTC
in accordance to the e book international Religions & Cults one hundred and one by Bruce Bickel & Stan Jantz, Mormons are the most important cult global. they say that they are Christians, yet: *The Mormon beliefs and practices are far different from Chrisitnaity in purely about each and every way. *The founder claimed that an angel named Moroni (get rid of the i & what do you've?) appeared to him and printed the region of two golden plates that contained an account of the authentic gospel. *they believe that the e book of Mormon is God's ideal revelation to guy, that each and each person different Bibles are corrupt. *they believe that God become once a guy, and guy can develop into God. *in the Mormon theory equipment, Jesus isn't God, although the first spirit being of tens of millions of spirit toddlers, Jesus & devil are brother. *in basic terms Mormons receives into the proper aspect of heaven (they believe there are 3 degrees.) This e book is a high-quality examine, it compares all religions, and their beliefs.
2006-04-25 20:46:16 UTC
mormonism isnt a dangerous religion in my view. i dont have a problem with it. BUT, it is irritating when mormons try to convert you. i didnt convert b/c it didnt answer a lot of valid questions and also, to the outsider, it sounds like joseph smith was misleading people if not outright lying about some things b/c not only is there no proof at all to some of his assertions, but some aspects of his discoveries etc are just plain shady. it just seems, in my opinion, that he took advantage of good, faithful and trusting people.
2006-04-25 20:46:44 UTC
I don't care if you follow Jevovah or if you are religious. Be you. Hey if you follow Satan, that's your journey, I might be scared, but I really wouldn't know enough about it to even know how you do that. (I don't hang out with people I can't accept because I'm not out to change anyone). From what I know, Mormons seem to have alot of rules, but some people like that structure in their lives. The people that follow this path seem pretty nice to me. Follow your heart.
2006-04-25 20:45:49 UTC
Mormons are fine people, but believe in the wrong

things. They think Jesus was a "good man" only, but

not a part of God. They also believe in praying for

a dead person's spirit to depart to heaven (or somewhere).

Christians believe if you haven't accepted Christ before

you die, bud, it's too darned late. There are no second

chances.
Joe
2006-04-25 20:42:33 UTC
if all you study is mormon literature how do you know the anti-mormon stuff isn't true. I agree the Mormons are not a cult, but they are out there.
mormon_chic
2006-04-27 17:58:58 UTC
I don't know why people always bash us. But I agree with you completely...it makes me so sick to hear all the mumbo jumbo people make up about us without knowing a single fact of truth about us. Weren't we told that we would recieve a lot of junk from ignorant fools. And I completely agree with your testimony.
atreadia
2006-04-25 20:59:33 UTC
All I am going to say is that according to their own writings/prophets, and the Bible Mormanism is not Christianity.
righteous992003
2006-04-26 00:59:16 UTC
No it is Definately not.

www.mormon.org
2006-04-26 05:10:10 UTC
Jeniferami is spreading many untruths knowingly about the LDS faith



We can become like God and rule over our own universe.

This statement was purposly meant to "decieve" you and have you form a biased veiw of the LDS church why do I say that because this statement itself is not true!

We can never be like "GOD" nor do we claim we can we will always be under his rule! this statment is meant to decieve!As Latter-day Saints, we adhere to the teachings of Christ which tell us we can become like our Father in heaven by being perfected in him through his Son Jesus Christ. There have been terrible accusations towards the LDS faith claiming that Mormons try to "make themselves into Gods" in an attempt to diminsh the glory of the Father, hence the movie "The Godmakers!" Our true beliefs, which focus on Jesus Christ and our Father in heaven, are not nearly as abnormal or unorthodox as many Protestant churches would like to portray. This article is aiming to show that human deification is a biblical principle and very much accepted by most of the early Christian fathers.When I was investigating the church the most common charge that I was presented with against the LDS faith was the idea that Mormons believe "they will become Gods EXACTLY like our God and have their own little "planet", rule over millions that don't make it to heaven, eternally impregnate their wives, and we will be completely independent from our God." These accusations were always the prized weapon against Mormonism and as a common Christian, hearing such things frightened the inner soul (as they were intended to do). Many churches taught this as Mormon "Fact" without a doubt, quoting many notorious books such as "Kingdom of the Cults" and the "Godmakers". It was not until years later that I realized there was little substance in what I was being taught by my "Christian" peers. However sensationalistic and dramatic their claims about Mormon beliefs were, the doctrine as they stated is simply unfounded in LDS theology. First of all, Mormons do not believe that we will ever be independent from God or no longer be subject to him. We also reject the notion of "taking away his glory", but believe we are only adding to it by following the teachings of Christ. We believe that for us, there is and always will be only ONE God the Eternal Father, the "God of gods and Lord of lords," as indicated in Deuteronomy 10:17. He is the One whom we worship and always will worship.

I believe deeply that the main difference in our theologies is that the LDS position takes the Bible literal when it speaks of the promises given and the rewards we will recieve if we are faithful in his name and endure till the end, whereas most other churches that deny the potential for godhood refuse to acknowledge these biblical truths. We are told that we have an inheritance if we would but claim it. So indeed it is our position that our doctrine derives from the Bible and not from a lack of Bible input or acceptance. We believe that by being born again in Christ and obeying his word, we are promised many wonderful things. For example, we are told that we will recieve the "fullness of God" through the grace of Christ (Ephesians 3:19). Christ said that we can become ONE with him, as he is with his Father (John 17:20-23). Paul said that Christians can become "joint heirs with Christ" and be glorified with him (Romans 8:14-18). Peter said that through Christ, we can "put on the DIVINE NATURE" and recieve great and precious promises (2Peter 1:3-4). Those who follow Christ can become "like him" (1John 3:2), can "inherit all things" (Rev 21:7), and can be kings and priests before God (rev 1:6), sitting with Christ in his throne (Rev 3:21).

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE GOD?

"What do we call those who have attained eternal salvation in Christ and have been given the full inheritance, are allowed to share his throne, and are "partakers of the divine nature"? Most of us would like to refer to them as ANGELS who serve and represent God. However, the word that is used in the Bible and in LDS sources to describe such beings is not generally angels, but the much more controversial term, GODS. (In Doctrine and Covenants 132, "gods" are clearly higher than the angels--but they are children of God and subject to Him as well.) The terms "gods", when used in a Biblical and LDS sources are meant in a more limited sense. Not hardly the true sense of God according to Greek philosophy (absolute, ultimate, uncreated, independent beings.) Accept our apologies, but the choice of the term gods is not ours."(Lindsay) Jesus christ spoke of humans when he quoted Psalms 82:6 and said, in John 10:34, "Ye are gods, and children of the most high God." He was not suggesting that they were Gods like our One and only God in heaven, but he was responding to an attack in calling himself the Son of God. We believe that all of mankind has the same potential and that we are all literally children of God. It is for this reason the Bible refers to us as not only children, but the "OFFSPRING" of God (Acts 17:28). The greek word for offspring in this passage of scripture is "GENOS", which literally means RACE or SPECIES. If we are actually the same race and species as God the Father, then all of these principles and truths come into harmony, and making sense. Indeed we are all "gods in embryo" so to speak, if we completely understand our potential through the grace of Christ.

Not only angels, but even humans can recieve the label "gods" in the scriptures. For example, the term "elohim"="gods" is used to describe human judges in Exodus 21:6 and 22:8-9. Here humans servants of God are called "gods"--again in a limited sense. Also Adam, when he gained knowledge of good and evil, was said to have become "as one of us" by God in Gen 3:22. If the scriptures label mortals who are representatives of God as "gods", then Bible believing people should not be outraged when Latter-day saints use that term in much the same way. Our use of the term is clearly in a limited sense, referring to angelic, resurrected beings who recieve great blessings and power from God, but remain subject to Him and serve and worship Him forever. The terms "gods", when used in a Biblical and LDS sources are meant in a more limited sense. Not hardly the true sense of God according to Greek philosophy (absolute, ultimate, uncreated, independent beings.)Certainly the mere thought of oneself as being greater or even equal to our God in heaven is unimaginable. Despite many years of rebuttals and explanations on the true LDS position by Mormon scholars and historians, these strange and exaggerated stories on Mormons wanting to take over God in heaven continue. The big question is do Mormons actually believe that they can become EXACTLY like God? In my nine years in the Church and conversations with many knowledgable LDS scholars, I must conclude "most certainly not." The most popular source for their so called "proof" and unveiling of the "truth", lies within the King Follet discourse of Joseph Smith. "As man is, God once was, as God is man may become" is the famous quote used by anti-Mormons across the world in proving that Mormons believe they are going to be EXACTLY like God. First of all it says "AS" God is, man may become", but becoming AS God is the same terminology used in the Bible. For example, Genesis 3:22 states, "man has become AS one of us." To suggest that the discourse of Joseph Smith means EXACTLY like God is not holding the Bible to the same standard of scrutiny. We believe that we are to become "AS" God in almost every way, but certainly not EXACTLY like him. 1 John 3:2 tells us that not only are we to become "like him", but that whoever has this "Hope, purifies himself", God ("Heavenly Father") has at least one wife, our "Mother in Heaven," but she is so holy that we are not to discuss her nor pray to her...

we beileve he has one wife thank you!

Jesus and Satan ("Lucifer") are brothers, and they are our brothers - we are all spirit children of Heavenly Father

This is true we beileve God created all spirits here, even lucifer... who do you think created him?Just because your child makes a choice to follow the wrong path doesn't mean you did not make them... Also although we are all spirit children Jesus is the only begotten son

the whole firing squad thing

I think you are refering to Gary Gilmore. His father was Catholic and his mother LDS. Gilmore's "last rites" were administered by Monsignor Meersman at the Utah State Prison where he got to choose way of exacusion. It is not clear why Gilmore chose death by a firing squad, but he himself stated it was not for any LDS reason. Gilmore declared he believed in the idea of reincarnation and apparently looked forward to another immediate life instead of years of imprisonment.

There are many gods, ruling over their own worlds.

we do accept the biblical teaching that there is more then one God yesIt is a common practice for anti-Mormon critics to search through the sermons of early leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and pull out quotes that are shocking or disturbing to the more genteel sensibilities of Latter-day Saints. This is typically done without giving context for the quoted material

Blood Atonement

Several early Church leaders, most notably Brigham Young, taught that in a complete theocracy the Lord could require the voluntary shedding of a murderer´s blood-presumably by capital punishment-as part of the process of Atonement for such grievous sin. This was referred to as "blood Atonement." Since such a theocracy has not been operative in modern times, the practical effect of the idea was its use as a rhetorical device to heighten the awareness of Latter-day Saints of the seriousness of murder and other major sins. This view is not a doctrine of the Church and has never been practiced by the Church "AT ANY TIME" They used hyperbole in their speeches in their efforts to stamp out evil and build a righteous society

Early anti-Mormon writers charged that under Brigham Young the Church practiced "blood Atonement," by which they meant Church-instigated violence directed at dissenters, enemies, and strangers. This claim distorted the whole idea of blood atonement—which was based on voluntary submission by an offender—into a supposed justification of involuntary punishment. Occasional isolated acts of violence that occurred in areas where Latter-day Saints lived were typical of that period in the history of the American West, but they were not instances of Church-sanctioned blood Atonement.Unfortunately the heinous act of murder is committed by members of all units of society, including religious groups. Periodically, it seems, somewhere an unhinged mind hears "voices" telling the per- son to murder a particular individual, perhaps for "religious" reasons. Members or former members of a particular religious group (including Mormons) are not immune from the possibility of such derangement or mental illness, but to blame religion in general or a particular religious group when one of its members (or, especially, former members) sins in spite of that church's teachings is like blaming lawyers, businessmen, union members, families, and so forth, when one of their members commits a crime. Even to blame a particular law firm, company, union, or family would be completely unjustified.

The Temple thing

In the Hebrew Bible we find the self-imprecation "So may God do to me and more also!" (2 Sam 3,35, 1 Kgs 2,23, etc.). In many cases, the phrase is immediately conditioned: "So may God do to me and more also, if you will not be the commander of the army" (2 Sam 19,14). God may punish the speaker, if the latter fails his promise. Ancient Mesopotamian sources suggest that the word "So" in the Hebrew expression originally referred to a gesture in use when taking an oath: the touching of the throat.

The symbolic thing

in Ruth 1:17, when Ruth says "the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me," the statement was probably accompanied by a gesture across the throat. The new article in Biblica adds further insight to the issue.

I'm perfectly happy with the elimination of the "penalties" from the modern Temple, since these optional instructive tools are easily misunderstood and probably just too ancient, foreign, and even offensive for many modern folks. But their earlier use in the Temple again points to ancient Semitic roots.

On The attorney and a ex member of the Latter-day Saints

Packham claims that chiasmus in the Book of Mormon is not real evidence at all, as chiamsus can appear in English writings. He uses “Green eggs and ham” and writings by LDS leaders to demonstrate this. Nonethless, he is grossly mistaken. It is rare and sporadic for English writings to have any more than a 3x3 or 4x4 chiastic pattern. The Book of Mormon has often much larger and extensive “text-book” examples of chiasmus.

As a demonstration of the weaknesses in his position, here is an e-mail correspondence with someone who brought up a similar criticism:

Regarding chiasmus, as the Book of Mormon is so wordy (as noted by Mark Twain in “Roughing it” where he said it was “chloroform in print”), wouldn't examples of chiasmus be expected to crop up due to repetition? I refer to this page for example:

http://www.lds-mormon.com/chiasm.shtml.

Here a post on chiasmus from ARM [alt.religion.mormon] is replicated that demonstrates that the examples of chiasmus cited by Mormon apologists sich [sic] as Jeff Lindsay (e.g. Alma 36) is not really evidence at all and can occur in any publication (see the end of the page for an example of this occurance)



The Reply:



You raise an interesting question regarding chiasmus. The problem is one of misunderstanding. Many, like your author of the LDS-Mormon.com article, interpret chiasmus as merely a repetition of words. As one anti-Mormon author stated, "What's so big about chiasmus, I can find chiasmus on every page of the phone book." But, the mere repetition of words in a stylistic sequence would not be chiastic, unless those words were the only ones used.



The LDS-Mormon.com author uses as his example John Welch's treatment of Alma 36 (well, that's what he says he is using, he just leaves out John Welch's treatment of chiasmus). First, he implies that Welch is using some simplified definition of chiasmus that the experts in the field would not accept. John Welch is the expert in this field. He is the author of "Chiasmus in Antiquity" (Hildesheim:Gerstenberg, 1981), which is the text used by most every University course which treats the subject. Welch does provide an "overview of the chiastic structure" of Alma 36 which approximates what is given in LDS-Mormon.com; however, Think has, in most cases, stripped it of all but a word or phrase from of the outline phrases. Welch refers to this outline as the "main girders" of the chiastic structure. That outline is the easiest to present and my presentation provides little beyond that outline. However, That outline (and not just LDS-Mormon’s list of words) represent only level one of Welch's six level analysis of this chiasmus. That analysis ("Rediscovering the Book of Mormon," Chapter 11, pp 114-131) includes:



Level 2) The full text of Alma 36, in which the full text is divided into 24 chiastically related segments (12-paired sections). Here he demonstrates a complex structure within each segment and describes a very deft linkage from each segment to the next (note that this 12 step chiastic structure is different that the 17 step outline, but it is related to and closely tied to that outline).



Level 3) Detailed relations between the paired sections: Here Welch amplifies on the relationship between the pairs. Yes, there are common words, but more importantly there are related concepts; the pairs either contrasting or amplifying one another.



Level 4) Weaving factors: The sections are not disjoint, but flow naturally; the ending words of each section providing a natural connection with the next section.



Level 5) Degree of Chiastic: Now Welch gets somewhat complex as the professor (he is a professor of Jurisprudence in the BYU School of Law) proceeds to measure this chiasmus against twelve criterion of chiastic quality: Objectivity; Purpose, climax, and centrality; Boundaries; Length; Density and dominance; Mavericks and random repetition; Balance; Return; Stylistic compatibility; Aesthetics; Setting; and Internationality. In each of these criterions this expert finds that Alma 36 rates as one of the very best of all known examples of chiastic structure.



Level 6) Comparison of form and style: This is a comparison of other examples of the same writer's work, particularly on the same subject. It is principally a further investigation of the last of these chiastic criterion and arguable the most significant, "internationality." Welch compares two other instances in the Book of Mormon where Alma tells of this same experience. He demonstrates that, while common expressions appear in each of these telling, there is no hint of a chiastic or other formal structure in either of these other presentations. In other words, this was not "just the way the man writes." Rather, it suggests a significant and wilful departure from his normal expression. At the same time, there are several other example of chiastic writing by Alma. Each having its own unique form and structure.



Dr. Welch, the expert on chiastic structure, concludes that Alma 36 ranks with the very best examples of chiasm that have been found anywhere in world literature. It is definitely not a coincidental relationship existing between common words and phrases. It is a very carefully crafted literary work, which demonstrates a very sophisticated familiarity with this ancient form of literary expression.



The author of the ARM post is right. Joseph Smith had no idea that this structure was there. There may have been no one in America at that time that had even heard of chiasmus. The first book in English on the subject was not printed until the 1860s. That book, and a book in German, published in the early 1800s, demonstrated the existence of chiasmus in the Hebrew text of the Old Testament. Very few of these example are apparent in the English translation (Leviticus 24:13-23 is the most striking exception). This makes the chiastic structures of the Book of Mormon even more remarkable. Not only did Alma produce remarkable examples of chiastic writing, Joseph Smith, knowing nothing of chiasmus, preserved that structure in his translation. I see this as clear testimony that Joseph was only dictating to Oliver those words that were given him by the Lord. The Lord was the translator; Joseph was little more than the receptor and voice in that most exquisite process.



Bottom Line: Critics cannot depreciate the examples of chiasmus as hand waving on the human minds ability to find patterns or mere repetition of words. The examples of chiasmus found in the Book of Mormon are compelling indications that the authors of the text had a Semitic background and rules out the book as a product of a 19th century environment as Packham attempts to do.





You will be advised not to read any material which is "not faith-promoting," that is, which may be critical or questioning of the church or its leaders, or which might place the church or its leaders in an unfavorable light.





You will be advised not to associate with "apostates," that is, former Mormons. (You will be asked in your "worthiness" interview about this.) NOTES





If you are unmarried, you will be encouraged to marry a good Mormon as soon as possible. When you do marry, in a wedding ceremony in the temple, your non-Mormon family members and friends will not be allowed to attend the ceremony, because only "worthy" Mormons are allowed to enter the temple.





If you should ever decide that you made a mistake in joining the church and then leave it, you will probably find (judging from the experiences of others who have done so) that many of your Mormon friends will abandon and shun you. If you are unable to convince your family members to leave the church with you, you will find that the church has broken up your family and your relationship with them may never recover. NOTES



Clearing up jeniferamis statements



The "First Vision" story in the form presented to you was unknown until 1838,



Unfortunately for anti-Mormons, the credibility of the 'revision theory' is seriously damaged by the very same collection of documents that they have used to construct it. On the timeline that is found on this slide I have plotted out a set of non-Mormon individuals who recited what Joseph Smith, Jr. and his close associates told them about the coming forth of the Book of Mormon in the year 1827. I have also prepared other slides which are not shown here but which cover the years 1828 through 1830. If anyone will put forth the effort to carefully examine the content of all the relevant documents that are connected with these non-Mormon individuals they will see a hitherto unrecognized pattern emerge; they will see a nearly complete version of the story that Joseph Smith published before the world in the mid-1830's and early-1840's. In other words, these non-Mormon documents have preserved and confirmed the traditional LDS version of events. Following is a summary of things that Joseph Smith, Jr., his father, and Martin Harris reportedly said to people, who were not sympathetic to their cause, between June and December in the year 1827.95



An angel told Joseph where he could procure a set of gold plates.

The plates were concealed in a hill south of Palmyra, New York.

The plates had beautiful engravings on both sides of them.

The plates had three rings running through their back edges.

The plates were a record of a group of ancient Israelites.

The plates were "of immortal importance in [their] consequences to the world"; they "contained revelations in regard to the last days."

Joseph found a big pair of spectacles with the plates which were to be used to translate the plates.

Joseph was told that "if he remained faithful, he would be the chosen prophet to translate [the plates for] the world."

In the forepart of September 1827 Joseph was expecting to obtain the set of gold plates soon and so he tried to obtain a chest to store them in.

Joseph took his wife (at night, in the early morning hours) to the hill where the plates were hidden. They went to their destination in a one-horse wagon.

When Joseph obtained the plates he was met by an angel and saw a multitude of devils who wanted to deter him.

Joseph was instructed not to allow anybody else to see the plates or their would be a penalty of death.

Joseph wrapped the plates in a piece of cloth before he brought them to his home.

As Joseph was bringing the plates to his home somebody tried to take them from him. He knocked this person down and got away but had several other skirmishes as he continued toward his residence.

Joseph was severely bruised by one of his attackers. When he finally made it to his home he was very fatigued.

The plates were hidden underneath the hearthstone in the Smith family's house.

When Joseph moved from Palmyra, New York to Harmony, Pennsylvania at the end of 1827 he hid the plates in a barrel of beans in order to prevent them from being discovered. http://www.fairlds.org/FAIR_Conferences/2004_Anti-Mormons_and_Documentary_Sources.html







It is true that we have little in writing from Joseph Smith before 1832, when he wrote his earliest account of the First Vision, and it is true that the main account we use of the 1820 First Vision was written in 1838. We must remember that the stories of heavenly visitations were both sacred, private, and controversial, so he had little incentive to publish them at the time. His first experience telling a minister about them in public led to immediate persecution, persecution which persisted throughout his life. However, we do have evidence that he had told others of this experience long before 1832, including ample evidence that his story of angelic and divine visitations were a major reason for the persecutions he faced before 1832. (See, for example, Richard Lloyd Anderson, "Circumstantial Confirmation of the First Vision through Reminiscences," Brigham Young University Studies, Vol. 9, Spring 1969, pp. 373-404.)



Some LDS people may have been really surprised when Jerald and Sandra Tanner distributed a report in 1961 claiming that they had "discovered that the teaching that God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith was not apart of early church doctrine until after the death of Brigham Young" ("Joseph Smith Speaks on the First Vision," Jerald and Sandra Tanner, available in the BYU library, as cited by Nibley, Collected Works, Vol. 11, p. 89). They quote Brigham Young as saying:



"The Lord did not come . . . . But he did send His angel to this same obscure person, Joseph Smith, Jun., . . . and informed him that he should not join any of the religious sects of the day, for they were all wrong."

What Brigham Young actually said in Journal of Discourses, Vol. 2, p. 171, is this:

But as it was in the days of our Savior, so was it in the advent of this new dispensation. It was not in accordance with the notions, traditions, and pre-conceived ideas of the American people. The messenger did not come to an eminent divine of any of the so-called orthodoxy, he did not adopt their interpretation of the Holy Scriptures. The Lord did not come with the armies of heaven in power and great glory, nor send his messengers panoplied with aught else than the truth of heaven, to communicate to the meek, the lowly, the youth of humble origin, the sincere enquirer after the knowledge of God. But he did send his angel to this same obscure person, Joseph Smith, Jr., who afterwards became a Prophet, Seer, and Revelator, and informed him that he should not join any of the religious sects of the day, for they were all wrong; that they were following the precepts of men instead of the Lord Jesus; that he had a work for him to perform, inasmuch as he should prove faithful before him.







The revivals in 1817 and 1824 better fit what Smith described

Some critics argue that the religious revivals Joseph mentions did not occur in 1820, a year for which we have no definitive records of revival activity in Palmyra, but later in 1824 and 1825. They note that a letter from Oliver Cowdery said that Rev. George Lane, a Methodist, had been influential on Joseph, obviously prior to the First Vision. Reverend Lane was in Joseph's area for major revivals in 1824-25. Pointing to an alleged absence of religious activity in 1820, long-time anti-LDS writer, Wesley Walters, brands Joseph's story as "a gross fabrication." The argument, as usual, is quite deceptive. Matthew Roper offers an answer in Review of Books on the Book of Mormon, Vol 4. (1992), pp. 78-92, where he critiques recent charges from Mr. Walters for more on the subject http://72.14.203.104/custom?q=cache:5jjB9UlXugkJ:www.jefflindsay.com/LDSFAQ/FQ_first_vision.shtml+revivals&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=1&ie=UTF-8









Smith applied for membership in a local Methodist church



Apparently there is a publication (a newspaper, I believe) called the Amboy Journal in which a minister, Joshua McKune, claimed that Joseph Smith sought membership in the Methodist church at Harmony, Pennsylvania, in 1828. That issue is dated April 30, 1879 (according to Marvin Hill in Dialogue, Vol. 15, No.2, pp. 37-41, 1982). A later issue of the same publication dated June 11, 1879, cited Michael Morse, a brother-in-law to Joseph Smith, in support of that claim. This evidence has been used by the Tanners and other anti-Mormons as proof that Joseph cannot be trusted about the First Vision, otherwise why would he join another church 8 years after being told that they were all wrong and that he should join none of them?

How seriously must we take the claims of two critics of Joseph Smith coming forward 35 years after his death, during a time of intense anti-Mormon sentiment? 1879 was near the peak of anti-Mormon hostility over the polygamy issue, a time when the newspapers and politicians were calling for the destruction of the Church. Is there any contemporary, credible evidence that Joseph became a Methodist? I'm not aware of any.



It is possible, of course, that Joseph attended other churches after the First Vision. I would not expect Joseph to simply attend no church at all until the Restoration had taken place. I don't mind attending other churches when time permits or when there is no LDS church around or when I am with others of another faith. And even if someone signed him up for the membership roles of another church - a well-meaning family member, perhaps, who did not yet understand the full implications of what Joseph had shared with them of the First Vision - it's no reason to think that Joseph was not sincere about his experience.



http://www.jefflindsay.com/LDSFAQ/FQ_first_vision.shtml#join







1826 on a charge of moneydigging

There was an 1826 hearing--not a trial--for charges against Joseph Smith, in which Joseph was acquitted, but Anti-Mormons have employed some outrageous tactics to convert that hearing and acquittal into a trial and conviction for the crime of "glass looking." Malin L. Jacobs has written an excellent and thoroughly documented article entitled An Analysis of Wesley Walters'"Joseph Smith's Bainbridge, N.Y., Court Trials", available at the SHIELDS site. This document is also available in PDF form. 2004 Update: A excellent new resource is "The 1826 Trial of Joseph Smith" by Russell Anderson, presented at the 2002 FAIR Conference. Anderson delves into the details of the historical documents, witnesses, and cultural setting for the 1826 examination (not an actual trial). Also see his article, "Just the Facts: The 1826 Trial (Hearing) of Joseph Smith."

I'll summarize several key issues below, drawing upon some additional resources.



Some historical background for this topic is provided in the Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Vol.2, in the article "History of the Church," which describes young Joseph's activities prior to actually receiving the golden plates in 1827:



The events of the four-year interval between 1823 and 1827 doubtless helped Joseph Smith to mature in preparation for the responsibilities and challenges that subsequently came to him. There is some evidence that his father was involved in treasure hunting, a common activity among poor New England farmers who hoped through the use of magic to discover buried money, and it was necessary for Joseph to extricate himself from the mistaken notions of that superstition. The angel told Joseph that one of the reasons for the delay in giving him the gold plates was that he had dwelt on their monetary worth (PWJS, p. 7). In November 1825, Joseph and his father worked briefly with a man named Josiah Stowell of South Bainbridge (Afton), New York, who believed a Spanish treasure was located in Harmony, Pennsylvania, near the Susquehanna River. The project failed, and the Smiths gradually separated themselves from the money-digging activities of their neighbors to concentrate on the religious mission described by the angel. As a happy outgrowth of the Harmony project, while working there Joseph met Emma Hale, whom he married on January 18, 1827. In the meantime, his older brother Alvin died; Joseph was arrested in 1826 as a "glass looker" [actually, this may not have been the charge at all - see below] under a New York law that made it a crime "to tell fortunes, or where lost or stolen goods may be found" (see the legal definition of "Disorderly Persons," The Justice's Manual, Albany, New York, 1829, p. 144 ...); and his parents lost their farm through their inability to make the last mortgage payment. These misfortunes, along with other experiences, deepened and strengthened the young man as he learned to discern between good and evil and to endure opposition.

As for this 1826 hearing, critics of the Church point to it as evidence of Joseph's poor character. It is often said that he ran afoul of the law in such questionable activities. This line of attack is based upon the persistent work of Rev. Wesley P. Walters, a professional anti-Mormon, who published a legal document from 1826 that supposedly shows that Joseph was convicted of glass looking. However, the highly questionable provenance and handling of this document raises the possibility of fraud, while even if the document is accepted at face value, its puzzling contents do not support the claim that Joseph was convicted. These issues are addressed in some detail by Russell C. McGregor and Kerry A. Shirts in "Letters to an Anti-Mormon," FARMS Review of Books, Vol. 11, No. 1, 1999, pp. 177-180 (the whole article spans pp. 90-298), from whose work the following analysis is drawn, in part.

Let's consider the questionable origins and handling of the document. When Walters found the relevant documents among historical records in a county office, he dishonestly removed the evidence from its lawful custodians without their permission, according to McGregor and Shirts. They make the case that he may have essentially stolen the documents that he found and took them--or a subset of them--to Yale University. The lawful custodians of the documents did not get them back for three months, and had to apply legal pressure to induce the return. The county authorities whose documents had been illegally removed only learned of the theft because Mr. Walters published at least some of them. There was no written description of the documents before he removed them, and no witnesses who could describe what he found to compare it what he returned. Thus, the possibility exists that the documents have been tampered with, or that important pieces of evidence were removed or destroyed, leaving only what might be construed as damaging.



Further, the evidence of the alleged conviction for a crime is not what Walters says it is, even if we accept his document. Misdemeanor trials were not recorded in New York at that time, just felony trials. Thus, the document Walters has provided, which lists "misdemeanor" as the charge by Joseph's name, cannot be an official court transcript of a trial. If it were, it would require the signatures of witnesses who gave testimony, but there were no such signatures. Even Walters would later admit that this was not a genuine trial, but a pretrial hearing. Yet the document, whose provenance and authenticity cannot be guaranteed due to Walters' questionable handling, ends with this statement: "And therefore the Court find [sic] the Defendant guilty." Such language cannot come from a pretrial hearing of any kind. Something seems rather odd about the unauthenticated document produced by Mr. Walters.



Even if we accept the document as authentic, it does not prove that Joseph was being tried for being a "glass looker" or for any other allegedly occult practices. Several defendants are listed, each with a charge to the side of their names. Joseph has a charge of simply "misdemeanor" at the side of his name. The label "glass looker" appears below his name, not beside it. As far as we know, it could not have been a charge because there was no such crime as glass looking in New York at that time (though fortune telling and magically finding lost objects were crimes).



There was a judge, King Noble, who is quoted as saying that Joseph was bound over for trial. But Judge Noble did not hear the case and can only be reporting hearsay. Judge Noble is reported to have said that Joseph avoided a full regular trial by fleeing from the area, but it's much more likely that he was acquitted, as McGregor and Shirts explain (p. 179):



I mentioned Justice Neely's costs of $2.68. There is also an amount of $0.19 listed as "warrants." Another document that Walters ran down was a bill presented by Constable De Zeng for that amount. Now it happens that $0.19 was the prescribed amount for a pretrial mittius (warrant of commitment back to prison for lack of bail), as set down in A Conductor Generalis of 1819. In other words, it was the amount the constable would charge for bringing an accused person in. If Justice Neely had found that there was a case for Joseph to answer, he would have ordered him bound over for trial at the next court of General Sessions, and De Zeng would have charged an additional $0.25, which was the prescribed amount for a posttrial warrant of commitment. But the charge was not levied: therefore, Joseph was not remanded to the custody of the constable, and so he was, in all probability, acquitted. That is precisely what Oliver Cowdery reported in Latter Day Saints' Messenger and Advocate 2 (October 1835): 202.

Some kind of hearing occurred, certainly. But there is little reason to trust Mr. Walters and his analysis. The most plausible scenario is that Joseph was accused and acquitted.

But even if all these arguments fail, convictions and even imprisonment for alleged crimes is not the sort of thing that we should use to reject those claiming to be prophets of the Lord. Seems like a number of chosen prophets of God in the Bible did actually "run afoul of the law"--and for charges more serious than any misdemeanor. Moses fled his Egyptian home, apparently with a murder charge hanging over him--and even with a genuine dead body to support the charge. Joseph in Egypt and Jeremiah in Jerusalem spent serious time in jail. Elijah, Isaiah, Paul, and others were accused of misdeeds by the governments of their days. And please don't forget the Savior, who was convicted by the false testimony of others and even executed for His alleged crimes. In fact, the false charge of treason would prove to not only be instrumental in the martyrdom of Jesus Christ, but also of a prophet of Jesus Christ named Joseph Smith.



Matthew Roper also gives a brief but good discussion of the issue of the trial in Review of Books on the Book of Mormon, Volume 4, 1992, pp. 80-82, in an article reviewing Weldon Langfield's 1991 book, The Truth about Mormonism: A Former Adherent Analyzes the LDS Faith. Roper notes that Mormon scholars have been "understandably skeptical" of anti-Mormon claims based on Walters' work, since the three previously known versions of the trial "were contradictory on some essential details, such as who brought charges against Joseph, the nature of the charges, who testified, or whether there was a conviction at all.... While less renowned critics such as Langfield continue to rely upon the mistaken conclusions of Walters and the Tanners, recent research demonstrates that those conclusions were ill founded and that Joseph was acquitted of any crime." He also notes that "W. D. Purple, who claimed to have kept notes at the trial, declared that Joseph was acquitted" (see Marvin S. Hill, "Joseph Smith and the 1826 Trial: New Evidence and New Difficulties," Brigham Young University Studies, vol. 12, Winter 1972, pp. 226-230). (Roper also quotes Chenango County Historian Mae Smith about Walters' illegal activities and the steps they had to take to get the documents back, citing a letter of Mae Smith to Ronald Jackson, February 6, 1986, with a photocopy in Roper's possession.)



Anti-Mormon critics such as the Tanners, in their attempts to make Joseph look bad, also claim that Joseph took "leg bail" from the trial, saying that he was allowed to escape with the promise that he would stay out of town. That's a very odd claim, given that Joseph and Emma were married in that town 10 months later by a justice of the peace. The Tanners can't explain how this could be. But it's simple: Joseph was "discharged" as W.D. Purple said (Chenango Union newspaper, May of 1877). He took notes at the trial and appears to be the only eyewitness that wrote anything about it. He said, "It is hardly necessary to say that, as the testimony of Deacon Stowell could not be impeached, the prisoner was discharged, and in a few weeks left the town." That's the most reliable first-hand, non-Mormon evidence available. Joseph was discharged, not convicted, and did not take "leg bail," but simply left freely a few weeks later.



Some recent authors have again tried to make much of the 1826 trial. In reviewing the work of one such author, Richard Turley made the following observation:



Referring to Joseph Smith's well-known 1826 trial, for example, Krakauer asserts that "a disgruntled client filed a legal claim accusing Joseph of being a fraud" (Jon Krakauer, Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith (New York: Doubleday, 2003), p. 39). This assertion shows Krakauer's unfamiliarity with basic aspects of the trial in question, as well as his tendency to spin evidence negatively. In actuality, the trial resulted not from "a disgruntled client" but from persecutors who had Joseph hauled into court for being a disorderly person because of his supposed defrauding of his employer, Josiah Stowell. As a modern legal scholar who carefully studied the case has noted, however, Stowell "emphatically denied that he had been deceived or defrauded" (Gordon A. Madsen, "Joseph Smith's 1826 Trial: The Legal Setting," Brigham Young University Studies 30 [Spring 1990], 105). As a result, Joseph was found not guilty and discharged (ibid.)..

A key resource on this topic is the paper by Gordon Madsen cited above ("Joseph Smith's 1826 Trial: The Legal Setting"). Joseph was acquitted.

Another useful article on this topic is "An Analysis of Wesley Walters' 'Joseph Smith's Bainbridge, N.Y., Court Trials'," by Malin Jacobs at Shields-research.org. Also see Joseph Bentley's "Legal Trials of Joseph Smith," which is the last section of that page. Update: Russell Anderson has provided Joseph Bentley's article in stand-alone form.

But doesn't the trial itself and other witnesses prove that Joseph dabbled in or condoned magical practices? Doesn't that rule him out as a prophet? [index]

Hmmm. What if we applied your standard to other prophets of the Bible? Could Moses and Aaron have withstood your criticism, with Aaron turning his rod into a serpent and back into a rod again, or Moses inflicting curses on Egypt that resulted in magical changes (water to blood, etc.)? And some of these things were in imitation of what worldly or evil magicians did. Do you feel compelled to reject Moses and Aaron for engaging in the magical practices of a pagan nation? And what about Joseph of old doing divination with a silver cup (Gen. 44:1-5), or the apostles selecting Matthias as a replacement for Judas by casting lots (Acts 1:26), or believers being healed by handkerchiefs that Paul had touched (Acts 19:11-12)?

And where do you draw the line between miracles and magic? To critics, walking on water or turning water to wine or making lots of food appear from a small quantity can all be classed as magical or occult acts.

joseph admits to faults in his youth. There is no claim to perfection or infallibility. If, as a young man, he was superstitious or dabbled in the practice of "glass looking," what would that tell us about him later in the role of prophet? Regardless of any foibles or unhealthy curiosities as a youth, he grew to become a great prophet, one through whom Jesus Christ restored the true Priesthood, brought back modern revelation, and instituted the restored Church of Jesus Christ on the earth. And powerful evidence for those claims can be found, among other places, in the Book of Mormon. A great miracle - not magic. Got a copy? Read it yet? And have you carefully thought about it and then prayed to know if it's true? (Oh, and please don't listen to those anti-Mormon pros who are absolutely horrified at the thought of somebody praying to get wisdom from God instead of from them. Pray, ask, think - but be sure to pray.) http://www.jefflindsay.com/LDSFAQ/FQ_prophets.shtml



witnesses to the golden plates

The credibility of the Three Witnesses has been dealt with on numerous occasions by many competent authors, all of whom demonstrate that not one of these three men ever denied their testimony of the Book of Mormon even in spite of hardships, threats, excommunication, bad feelings, and persecution. McKeever and Johnson even note that "David Whitmer claimed that none of the three witnesses ever denied the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon."19 And (I suppose to their credit) McKeever and Johnson never attempt to show that they did deny their testimonies. Instead, they try to impugn the integrity of the witnesses by questioning their character as reliable witnesses.



Evidence



While critics continue to chant their mantra, "No evidence, no evidence...," faithfully ignoring the impressive Book of Mormon evidence from the Old World, there are quite a few things from the New World that merit attention. The best work on geography of the Book of Mormon puts its setting in a small area in Mesoamerica (southern Mexico, Guatemala), and that is where we can expect to find the most relevant evidence. I've already mentioned evidence concerning fortifications, gardens, and temples above. But look at the many other things that we know about this region that fit in with the Book of Mormon (some of which are discussed in An Ancient American Setting for the Book of Mormon by John L. Sorenson, Deseret Book Comp., Salt Lake City, UT, 1985): it's the only place in the New World with a long tradition of written language, as the Book of Mormon would require; it's a place where significant cities suddenly sprung up, consistent with the concept of an immigration from a city-building people and roughly consistent with the times of the Jaredite and Nephite/Lamanite eras; it's a place that anciently was filled with kings and kingdoms, wars and politics, trade and merchants, religious disputes and philosophical inquiry, all consistent with the cultural milieu presented in the Book of Mormon.

Consider, for example, the cultural implications of 3 Nephi 6:11-13:

10 But it came to pass in the twenty and ninth year there began to be some disputings among the people; and some were lifted up unto pride and boastings because of their exceedingly great riches, yea, even unto great persecutions;

11 For there were many merchants in the land, and also many lawyers, and many officers.

12 And the people began to be distinguished by ranks, according to their riches and their chances for learning; yea, some were ignorant because of their poverty, and others did receive great learning because of their riches.

If Joseph Smith were describing what he knew of Native American culture in the frontier of upstate New York, why would he introduce such foreign ideas into his text? Attributing merchants, officers, lawyers, costly learning, and so forth to ancient Americans was outlandish if he were using his own knowledge of the natives in the land. But these verses accurately describe aspects of Mesoamerican society. Was this just a lucky guess? It certainly wasn't common knowledge in 1830.

Just another example of many, the political systems described in the Book of Mormon point to a hierarchy of cities as the organizing factor in Nephite and Lamanite government (see Brant A. Gardner, FARMS Review of Books, Vol. 13, No. 2, 2001, pp. 44-45, reviewing John L. Sorenson, Nephite Culture and Society, Salt Lake City: New Sage Books, 1997). We even see Lamanite kings in cities being subject to higher kings. As Gardner suggests, if Joseph Smith fabricated the Book of Mormon using what he knew, one might expect to see a federal system of government or divisions between city, county, state. Instead, we encounter a system based on a hierarchy of cities--just as we find in ancient Mesoamerica.

Mesoamerica is also a place with legends of a Great White God who visited the people anciently and promised to return, just as the Book of Mormon reports. And it's a place that had legends of ancient emigrations by boat. For example, a native American prince in the 1500s named Ixtlilxochitl wrote:

"Those who possessed this new world in this third age were the Ulmecas and Xicalanas; and according to what is found in their histories, they came in ships or barques from the east to the land of Pontochan from which they began to settle." (Ixtlilxochitl, Fernando de Alva "Obras Historicas," Editora Nacional, S.A. Mexico, 2 vols., 1950, p. 19, as cited by John K. Wise, "Clouds Without Water, Zeal Without Knowledge," Journal of Mormon Apologetics, Vol. 1, 1999, pp. 116-140.)

That fits reasonably well with the Book of Mormon description of the Jaredites, who came from the old world in enclosed barges or boats, at a time that fits in well with the rise of the Olmec civilization.

Cortez reported that the Aztec king Montezuma, at the first meeting of white men with the natives of Texcoco, said:

"For a long time and by means of our writings, we have possessed a knowledge, transmitted from our ancestors, that neither I nor any of us who inhabit this land are of native origin. We are foreigners and came here from very remote parts. We possess information that our lineage was led to this land by a lord to whom we all owed allegiance. He afterward left this [land] for his native country ... but we have ever believed that his descendants would surely come here to subjugate this land and us who are, by rights, their servants. Because of what you say concerning the region whence you came, which is where the sun rises ... we believe and hold as certain that he must be our rightful lord...." (Nuttal, Zelia, "Some Unsolved Problems in Mexican Archaeology," American Anthropologist, XIII, 1, 133-149, 1906, p. 135, as cited by Wise, op. cit., p. 129.)

Bernardino de Sahagun, a Spanish priest in the 1500s, after extensive study of Aztec and Mayan records (most of which the Spaniards burned), wrote:

It has been innumerable years since the first settlers arrived in these parts of New Spain which is almost another world, and they came in ships by sea, landing at the port which is to the north." (Bernardino de Sahagun, Historia General de las Cosas de Nueva Espana, S.A. Mexico, 3 vols., 946, II, 306, as cited by Wise, op. cit., p. 129.)

Though one must be cautious to sort the authentic from the questionable when it comes to reports of ancient legends among the native inhabitants of the Americas, there are numerous accounts that appear to have derived from the ancient visit of Christ to the Americas, as reported in the Book of Mormon. Legends from Mesoamerica seem particularly interesting in this regard. The Mayan practice of baptism encountered by the Spaniards, for example, has numerous parallels with baptism as taught by Christ and His prophets in the Book of Mormon. See Diego de Landa, Relación de las cosas de Yucatan, 1566, translated by William Gates and published as Yucatan Before and After the Conquest, New York: Dover Books, 1978, pp. 42-45, which I quote and discuss in more detail on my LDSFAQ page of Questions about LDS Baptism. This rite was associated with confession to a priest, purity, being born again, doing away with sins, gaining access to a better afterlife, and was called by a name meaning "the descent of the god." Combine that with early legends of the Great White God or related figures who were said to have visited peoples in Mesoamerica, and we've got something worth pondering.

In fact, on the basis of numerous legends among native peoples, one non-LDS writer became convinced that Christ was once in the Americas and compiled these accounts in a book, He Walked the Americas, Amherst, Wisconsin: Amherst Press, 1963. A few excerpts from the book are available on the Web at http://www.geocities.com/willow1d/amer.html. L. Taylor Hansen apparently had Masters Degrees in Archaeology, Anthropology and Geology from Stanford University and spent significant time with Native Americans to better understand their traditions and legends. The book is still in print and maybe available at your local library.



Though remnants of some inspired practices such as baptism may have persisted in Mesoamerica, there were many forms of evil among the ancient Book of Mormon peoples whose Mesoamerican remnants are more easily discovered. For example, the Book of Mormon describes human sacrifice as practice of some of the most corrupt groups--an evil which is widely attested in ancient Mesoamerica, including the concept of sacrificing blood (alluded to in Alma 34:11, as if it were a known cultural practice). "Secret combinations"--particularly secret mafia-like societies for gaining power and wealth--are described in detail in Ether 8 and other portions of the Book of Mormon, and are also attested in Mesoamerican culture. Indeed, the details given agree remarkably well with what is known of such secret societies from modern scholarship and criminal investigations. Cultural practices, the structure of society, the types of buildings and cities, patterns of warfare, roads and cement, patterns of trade, gardens and markets, etc., mentioned in the Book of Mormon can be found in ancient Mesoamerica, a place that must have been largely unknown to Joseph Smith when the Book of Mormon was translated.



Further, Joseph Smith and his peers almost certainly did not know about the great civilizations of ancient Mesoamerica when the Book of Mormon was published. In fact, the idea of ancient advanced civilizations on this continent was so utterly foreign at the time that the witnesses of the Book of Mormon worried that it would be rejected for that reason. David Whitmer, in an 1883 interview with James H. Hart, said:



When we [the Witnesses] were first told to publish our statement, we felt sure that the people would not believe it, for the Book told of a people who were refined and dwelt in large cities; but the Lord told us that He would make it known to the people, and people should discover evidence of the truth of what is written in the Book.

(Interview with James H. Hart, Richmond, Mo., Aug. 21, 1883, as recorded in Hart's notebook, reprinted in Lyndon W. Cook, David Whitmer Interviews: A restoration Witness (Orem, Utah: Grandin Book, 1991), p. 76, as cited by Daniel C. Peterson, FARMS Review of Books, Vol. 9, No. 1, 1997, p. xxvi.)



Many other interesting details in the Book of Mormon find support in what is now known about ancient Mesoamerica. One example involves the story of Ammon who fought and literally disarmed bandits, whose arms were presented to the king as proof of the battle. Details are available in the article, "Ammon and the Mesoamerican Custom of Smiting off Arms," Journal of Book of Mormon Studies, Vol. 8, No. 1, 1999.

For more information on just how little was known about Mesoamerica in 1830, see my "Book of Mormon Nugget" on Joseph's Knowledge of Mesoamerica and "Joseph Smith and the Beginning of Book of Mormon Archaeology" at AncientAmerica.org. Also see "The Book of Mormon and the Writings of Alexander von Humboldt." For extra credit, see my satirical skit, "One Day in the Life of Joseph Smith, Translator Extraordinaire of the Book of Mormon."

Book of Mormon were supposedly devout Jews

Contrary to anti-Mormon claims, DNA evidence does not refute the Book of Mormon. The issue requires more analysis than I wish to fit on this page, so I have a separate lengthy page on the issue at http://www.jefflindsay.com/LDSFAQ/DNA.shtml. (I am happy to report that the Nov. 16, 2003 version of that essay that I converted to a PDF file has been posted on the LDS.org Web site at http://www.lds.org/newsroom/files/jeff_lindsay_dna.pdf--also see other resources on this topic on one of their "Mistakes in the News" pages.)

In my article, I point out that there are genes found in Native Americans that are also found in Jews, including mitochondrial DNA haplotype X (found among some Israelis and Europeans) and a Y chromosome haplotype called "1C". These genes can also be found in Asia, and so don't prove that people from the Middle East came to the Americas--but that possibility most certainly is NOT excluded by the DNA evidence. Other data may point more directly to Middle Eastern origins for some of the many genes in the Americas, including an analysis of ancient skulls from the Americas and HLA genes. But even without the discovery of such evidence or of the possibly relevant DNA haplotypes, a proper understanding of what the Book of Mormon actually says and what the scientific data actually say rapidly leads one to the conclusion that the DNA-based attacks on the Book of Mormon are without merit. The scientific data may challenge some popular misinterpretations of the Book of Mormon, but they do not challenge the text itself. For details, see "Does DNA evidence refute the Book of Mormon?"

In spite of the popular "Asia only" paradigm for Native American origins, evidence for ancient transoceanic contact exists and the Bering Strait theory appears to be unable to explain the origins of all ancient Americans. I discuss transoceanic contact and the Bering Strait in my page on the Smithsonian Institution's 1996 Statement Regarding the Book of Mormon.

published in 1830 "correct," many changes have been made in later editions. Besides thousands of corrections of poor grammar and awkward wording in the 1830 edition

If the 4,000 minor changes in the Book of Mormon make it without value, what do the 24,000 differences in the Bible do to its worth? Some detractors would probably be aghast if they read about the number of changes to the Bible. Do detractors feel differently about their conviction that the Bible is the word of God because of these changes? We would think not. http://www.lightplanet.com/response/answers/changes.htm

Joseph Smith died not as a martyr

Being a martyr means being a witness willing to suffer for principle - but it does not require that one make murder easy for one's enemies - especially when they are trying to kill others as well. The Apostle Paul, for example, used legal means to try to resist the persecution of those who sought to stop him. He didn't give in easily. His life became a powerful witness for Christ, with no question of his willingness to suffer for the cause.

Joseph smith gave his life as a final witness to the truthfulness of his prophetic mission, sealing his testimony with his blood. But there were others with him as a mob attacked him and his small group of helpless prisoners being held illegally in a jail, and Joseph successfully sought to save some of their lives, though he knew his would be taken. It is true that somebody had brought a small pistol to Joseph for self-defense, but his desperate efforts to save others hardly detracts from the fact that he gave his life, or that a mob of vile conspirators, stirred by some of the best anti-Mormon ministers of the day, deliberately murdered the prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum.

introduced by Smith in May, 1842, just two months after he had been initiated into Freemasonry

There is no question that many early LDS people found Masonry interesting and positive as a fraternal organization. Joseph Smith himself became a Mason in 1842 - clearly after the Church was reorganized (1830) and most LDS doctrine had been established (including the Books of Abraham and Moses, with many temple-related concepts). It is true that the LDS Endowment ceremony was officially introduced two months after Joseph became a Mason, but the essence of the Temple concept and practice had been revealed or foreshadowed in the 1830s. Temple construction among Latter-day Saints began in the early 1830s. The fullness of temple worship was restored over a period of years, culminating in the 1840s, but "[a]lmost from the organization of the Church [in 1830], Joseph promised the people a higher endowment, a continuation of that received in baptism. . . . At the dedication [of the Kirtland temple in 1836], some ordinances were given preparatory to the fuller endowment to come. There was nothing new about temple work when it came in its greater completeness. It was expected" (John A. Widstoe, Evidences and Reconciliations , 1960, p. 111).

Section 124 of the Doctrine and Covenants offers noteworthy evidence that the LDS temple was not derived from Masonry. This revelation was written on Jan. 19, 1841, over one year before Joseph became a Mason, yet makes mention of many key elements that would be found in the Nauvoo temple. This list, taken from Matthew B. Brown ("Of Your Own Selves Shall Men Arise," FARMS Review of Books, Vol. 10, No. 1, 1998, pp. 97-131, with the citation from pp. 125-126), includes:

baptisms for the dead (v. 32,33,39)

washings (v. 39)

anointings (v. 39)

the keys of the Holy Priesthood (v. 34,95,97)

memorials of Levitical sacrifices (v. 39)

solemn assemblies (v. 39)

oracles, conversations, statues and judgments (v. 39)

ordinances that have been kept hidden (v. 40-41)

the fullness of the priesthood (v. 28).

Joseph's personal involvement with Masonry was extremely limited. Critics often say that he became "a master Mason" or make much of the fact that Joseph and his peer, Sidney Rigdon, achieved the "sublime degree" (equivalent to the rank of Master) in Masonry, as if that represents serious and lifelong involvement in the organization. The fact is that both Joseph and Sidney attended three meetings over a period of two days in a Masonic lodge under the leadership of non-LDS Grand Master Abraham Jonas. That exposure, however, would have introduced Joseph to elements that are found in both Masonry and the Temple - but those common elements also have common ancient sources, and many of the most significant elements of the Temple are not found in those degrees of Masonry. Nevertheless, it is possible that some elements of Masonry that fit the revealed Temple concept were used as a vessel or framework, or even that some things were found to be appropriate vehicles for conveying revealed concepts - but that is a long ways from explaining the origins of the LDS Temple.

http://www.jefflindsay.com/LDSFAQ/FQ_masons.shtml

You will be expected to donate at least ten percent of your income to the church as tithing. Other donations will be expected as the need arises

tithing Contributions are to be voluntary, not under compulsion

the Lord does command that we pay a tithe, just as he commanded in ancient times. Through the prophet Malachi, he promised blessings from heaven for tithe payers and said that he would "rebuke the devourer . . . and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground" (Malachi 3:10-11). Even in the early Christian church, we read of a man and his wife whom the Lord slew because they did not give all that they had promised, "and great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things" (Acts 5:1-11).



the church keeps its finances secret, even from its members



acually one of those "unpaid jobs" your were talking about is the acountent!not bishops and not a general authority,if you are trying to say the church misuses there funds your wrong...
2006-04-25 21:15:10 UTC
The following statement is out of the mouth of Brigham Young. I guess you're not too familiar with the concept of blood atonement. Brigham taught that certain sins including adultery necessitated spilling of the sinners blood (ie. killing them) so they could get into heaven. The blood of Jesus was considered insufficient. Of course those that were not willing to kill themselves for such a sin, had a fine member of the Mormon church to do it for them.



That is why Utah had the firing squad for so long for capital punishment, so the murderer's blood could fall on the ground and he could be forgiven. When doing away with that style of execution, the Utah representatives asked the Mormon church for its opinion because they knew the church had cared so much about blood atonement in the past.









Brigham stated:

"I could refer you to plenty of instances where men have been righteously slain, in order to atone for their sins ... This is loving our neighbor as ourselves, if he needs help, help him, and if he wants salvation and it is necessary to spill his blood on the earth in order that he may be saved, spill it." (Journal of Discourses, vol. 4, p. 220). [Many were killed under what is called the "Blood Atonement Doctrine" Leaving Mormonism was one of the sins that the blood of Jesus could not atone for, and a person's own blood must be shed by Mormon priests as an atonement for sin.]http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/Cults/mormon.htm





As an aside, sn't nice that until the mid 1990s, your lovely sacred endowment ceremony had one symbolically slit their throat and disembowel themselves, as a sign of not violating their promises. No wonder you guys liked to keep your ceremonies secret. I understand that your church no longer advocates killing apostates and adulterers. Of course there are some who in the 70s and 80s relied on the Mormon scriptures to commit some blood atonement murders. Not that the church still sanctions that, but that they relied on your scripture of blood atonement and Brigham Young's words. And his day, killings were most certainly done to adulterers and apostates at the direction of those in charge of the Mormon church



And yes Mormonism is a cult. It must hurt to find out your whole religous identity is based on false beliefs. I know you are in extrmeme denial. But the truth is the truth. The Jesus of the Bible is the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but through Him.







TO THOSE WHO ARE INVESTIGATING "MORMONISM"



By RICHARD PACKHAM

Revisions as of May 14, 2005



If you are investigating Mormonism (the "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" or "LDS Church"), you are probably studying it in private meetings in your home with missionaries from that church. Here are some of the key things that they are probably telling you:



Mormonism began in 1820 when a teen-aged boy in western New York named Joseph Smith was spurred by a Christian revival where he lived to pray to God for guidance as to which church was true. In answer to his prayers he was visited by God the Father and God the Son, two separate beings, who told him to join no church because all the churches at that time were false, and that he, Joseph, would bring forth the true church. This event is called "The First Vision."





In 1823 Joseph had another heavenly visitation, in which an angel named Moroni told him of a sacred history written by ancient Hebrews in America, engraved in an Egyptian dialect on tablets of gold and buried in a nearby hill. Joseph was told it was the history of the ancient peoples of America, and that Joseph would be the instrument for bringing this record to the knowledge of the world. Joseph obtained these gold plates from the angel in 1827, and translated them into English by the spirit of God and the use of a sacred instrument accompanying the plates called the "Urim and Thummim." The translation was published in 1830 as The Book of Mormon, now revered by Mormons as scripture, along with the Bible.





The Book of Mormon is a religious and secular history of the inhabitants of the Western Hemisphere from about 2200 BC to about 421 AD. It tells the reader that the American Indians are descended from three groups of immigrants who were led by God from their original homes in the Near East to America. One group came from the Tower of Babel, and two other groups came from Jerusalem just before the Babylonian Captivity, about 600 BC. They were led by prophets of God who had the gospel of Jesus Christ, which is thus preserved in their history, the Book of Mormon. Many of the descendants of these immigrants were Christians, even before Christ was born in Palestine, but many were unbelievers. Believers and unbelievers fought many wars, the last of which left only degenerate unbelievers as survivors, who are the ancestors of the American Indians. The most important event during this long history was the visit of Jesus Christ to America, after his crucifixion, when he ministered to (and converted) all the inhabitants.





Joseph Smith was directed by revelation from God to reestablish ("restore") the true church, which he did in 1830. He was visited several times by heavenly messengers, who ordained him to the true priesthood. He continued to have revelations from God to guide the church and to give more knowledge of the Gospel. Many of these revelations are published in the Doctrine and Covenants, accepted by Mormons as scripture, along with the Bible and the Book of Mormon.





Joseph Smith and his followers were continually persecuted for their religious beliefs, and driven from New York State to Ohio, then to Missouri, then to Illinois, where Joseph Smith was murdered in 1844 by a mob, a martyr to his beliefs. The church was then led by Brigham Young, Joseph's successor, to Utah, where the Mormons settled successfully.





The LDS church is led today by the successors of Joseph Smith. The present president of the church is a "prophet, seer and revelator" just as Joseph Smith was, and guides the members of the church through revelations and guidance from God.





The modern LDS church is the only true church, as restored by God through Joseph Smith. Other churches, derived from the early Christian church, are in apostasy because their leaders corrupted the scriptures, changed the ordinances of the original church, and often led corrupt lives, thus losing their authority.





By accepting baptism into the LDS church you take the first step necessary toward your salvation and your ultimate entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven (the "Celestial Kingdom").





WHAT THE MISSIONARIES WILL NOT TELL YOU

Until recently, the missionaries were required to present Mormonism in six "discussions", which were a series of memorized sales talks. They are now encouraged simply to "follow the spirit" in their presentations. The basic message and approach, however, is still essentially the same. A thorough, thoughtful and balanced discussion of each of the six "official" lessons as the missionaries formerly presented them to investigators is at http://www.lds4u.com, together with the techniques and strategies which the missionaries are instructed to use. (The actual texts of the discussions were also on this site at one time, but the Mormon church threatened the webmaster with a lawsuit, and he removed them; click on "next" at each window to read a summary and commentary.)

Here is a summary of important facts about the Mormon church, its doctrine, and its history that the missionaries will probably not tell you. We are not suggesting that they are intentionally deceiving you --most of the young Mormons serving missions for the church are not well educated in the history of the church or in modern critical studies of the church. They probably do not know the all the facts themselves. They have been trained, however, to give investigators "milk before meat," that is, to postpone revealing anything at all that might make an investigator hesitant, even if it is true. But you should be aware of these facts before you commit yourself.



Each of the following facts has been substantiated by thorough historical scholarship. And this list is by no means exhaustive! For links to articles substantiating each of these points, CLICK on the word NOTES following the item.



The "First Vision" story in the form presented to you was unknown until 1838, eighteen years after its alleged occurrence and almost ten years after Smith had begun his missionary efforts. The oldest (but quite different) version of the vision is in Smith's own handwriting, dating from about 1832 (still at least eleven years afterwards), and says that only one personage, Jesus Christ, appeared to him. It also mentions nothing about a revival. It also contradicts the later account as to whether Smith had already decided that no church was true. Still a third version of this event is recorded as a recollection in Smith's diary, fifteen years after the alleged vision, where one unidentified "personage" appeared, then another, with a message implying that neither was the Son. They were accompanied by many "angels," which are not mentioned in the official version you have been told about. Which version is correct, if any? Why was this event, now said by the church to be so important, unknown for so long? NOTES





Careful study of the religious history of the locale where Smith lived in 1820 casts doubt on whether there actually was such an extensive revival that year as Smith and his family later described as associated with the "First Vision." The revivals in 1817 and 1824 better fit what Smith described later. NOTES





In 1828, eight years after he supposedly had been told by God himself to join no church, Smith applied for membership in a local Methodist church. Other members of his family had joined the Presbyterians. NOTES





Contemporaries of Smith consistently described him as something of a confidence man, whose chief source of income was hiring out to local farmers to help them find buried treasure by the use of folk magic and "seer stones." Smith was actually tried in 1826 on a charge of moneydigging. NOTES It is interesting that none of his critics seemed to be aware of his claim to have been visited by God in 1820, even though in his 1838 account he claimed that he had suffered "great persecution" for telling people of his vision.





The only persons who claimed to have actually seen the gold plates were eleven close friends of Smith (many of them related to each other). Their testimonies are printed in the front of every copy of the Book of Mormon. No disinterested third party was ever allowed to examine them. They were retrieved by the angel at some unrecorded point. Most of the witnesses later abandoned Smith and left his movement. Smith then called them "liars." NOTES





Smith produced most of the "translation" not by reading the plates through the Urim and Thummim (described as a pair of sacred spectacles), but by gazing at the same "seer stone" he had used for treasure hunting. He would place the stone into his hat, and then cover his face with it. For much of the time he was dictating, the gold plates were not even present, but in a hiding place. NOTES





The detailed history and civilization described in the Book of Mormon does not correspond to anything found by archaeologists anywhere in the Americas. The Book of Mormon describes a civilization lasting for a thousand years, covering both North and South America, which was familiar with horses, elephants, cattle, sheep, wheat, barley, steel, wheeled vehicles, shipbuilding, sails, coins, and other elements of Old World culture. But no trace of any of these supposedly very common things has ever been found in the Americas of that period. Nor does the Book of Mormon mention many of the features of the civilizations which really did exist at that time in the Americas. The LDS church has spent millions of dollars over many years trying to prove through archaeological research that the Book of Mormon is an accurate historical record, but they have failed to produce any convincing pre-columbian archeological evidence supporting the Book of Mormon story. In addition, whereas the Book of Mormon presents the picture of a relatively homogeneous people, with a single language and communication between distant parts of the Americas, the pre-columbian history of the Americas shows the opposite: widely disparate racial types (almost entirely east Asian - definitely not Semitic, as proven by recent DNA studies), and many unrelated native languages, none of which are even remotely related to Hebrew or Egyptian. NOTES





The people of the Book of Mormon were supposedly devout Jews observing the Law of Moses, but in the Book of Mormon there is almost no trace of their observance of Mosaic law or even an accurate knowledge of it. NOTES





Although Joseph Smith said that God had pronounced the completed translation of the plates as published in 1830 "correct," many changes have been made in later editions. Besides thousands of corrections of poor grammar and awkward wording in the 1830 edition, other changes have been made to reflect subsequent changes in some of the fundamental doctrine of the church. For example, an early change in wording modified the 1830 edition's acceptance of the doctrine of the Trinity, thus allowing Smith to introduce his later doctrine of multiple gods. A more recent change (1981) replaced "white" with "pure," apparently to reflect the change in the church's stance on the "curse" of the black race. NOTES





Joseph Smith said that the Book of Mormon contained the "fulness of the gospel." However, its teaching on many doctrinal subjects has been ignored or contradicted by the present LDS church, and many doctrines now said by the church to be essential are not even mentioned there. Examples are the church's position on the nature of God, the Virgin Birth, the Trinity, polygamy, Hell, priesthood, secret organizations, the nature of Heaven and salvation, temples, proxy ordinances for the dead, and many other matters. NOTES





Many of the basic historical notions found in the Book of Mormon had appeared in print already in 1825, just two years before Smith began producing the Book of Mormon, in a book called View of the Hebrews, by Ethan Smith (no relation) and published just a few miles from where Joseph Smith lived. A careful study of this obscure book led one LDS church official (the historian B. H. Roberts, 1857-1933) to confess that the evidence tended to show that the Book of Mormon was not an ancient record, but concocted by Joseph Smith himself, based on ideas he had read in the earlier book. NOTES





Although Mormons claim that God is guiding the LDS church through its president (who has the title "prophet, seer and revelator"), the successive "prophets" have repeatedly either led the church into undertakings that were dismal failures or failed to see approaching disaster. To mention only a few: the Kirtland Bank, the United Order, the gathering of Zion to Missouri, the Zion's Camp expedition, polygamy, the Deseret Alphabet NOTES. A recent example is the successful hoax perpetrated on the church by manuscript dealer Mark Hofmann in the 1980s. He succeeded in selling the church thousands of dollars worth of manuscripts which he had forged. The church and its "prophet, seer and revelator" accepted them as genuine historical documents. The church leaders learned the truth not from God, through revelation, but from non-Mormon experts and the police, after Hofmann was arrested for two murders he committed to cover up his hoax. This scandal was reported nationwide. NOTES





The secret temple ritual (the "endowment") was introduced by Smith in May, 1842, just two months after he had been initiated into Freemasonry. The LDS temple ritual closely resembles the Masonic ritual of that day. NOTES Smith explained that the Masons had corrupted the ancient (God-given) ritual by changing it and removing parts of it, and that he was restoring it to its "pure" and "original" (and complete) form, as revealed to him by God. In the years since, the LDS church has made many fundamental changes in the "pure and original" ritual as "restored" by Smith, mostly by removing major parts of it. NOTES





Many doctrines which were once taught by the LDS church, and held to be fundamental, essential and "eternal", have been abandoned. Whether we feel that the church was correct in abandoning them is not the point; rather, the point is that a church claiming to be the church of God takes one "everlasting" position at one time and the opposite position at another, all the time claiming to be proclaiming the word of God. Some examples are:



- The Adam-God doctrine (Adam is God the Father); NOTES

- the United Order (all property of church members is to be held in common, with title in the church);

- Plural Marriage (polygamy; a man must have more than one wife to attain the highest degree of heaven); NOTES

- the Curse of Cain (the black race is not entitled to hold God's priesthood because it is cursed; this doctrine was not abandoned until 1978); NOTES

- Blood Atonement (some sins - apostasy, adultery, murder, interracial marriage - must be atoned for by the shedding of the sinner's blood, preferably by someone appointed to do so by church authorities); NOTES



All of these doctrines were proclaimed by the reigning prophet to be the Word of God, "eternal," "everlasting," to govern the church "forevermore." All have been abandoned by the present church.





Joseph Smith's early revelations were collected and first published in 1833 in the Book of Commandments. God (as recorded in the Doctrine and Covenants Sections 1 and 67) supposedly testified by revelation that the revelations as published were true and correct. Because the Book of Commandments did not receive wide distribution (most copies were destroyed by angry opponents of the Mormons in Missouri, where it was published), they were republished - with additional revelations - as the Doctrine and Covenants in 1835 in Kirtland, Ohio. However, many of the revelations as published in Kirtland differed fundamentally from their versions as originally given. The changes generally gave more power and authority to Smith, and justified changes he was making in church organization and theology. The question naturally arises as to why revelations which God had pronounced correct needed to be revised. NOTES





Joseph Smith claimed to be a "translator" by the power of God. In addition to the Book of Mormon, he made several other "translations":



- The Book of Abraham, from Egyptian papyrus scrolls which came into his possession in 1835. He stated that the scrolls were written by the biblical Abraham "by his own hand." Smith's translation is now accepted as scripture by the LDS church, as part of its Pearl of Great Price. Smith also produced an "Egyptian Grammar" based on his translation. Modern scholars of ancient Egyptian agree that the scrolls are common Egyptian funeral scrolls, entirely pagan in nature, having nothing to do with Abraham, and from a period 2000 years later than Abraham. The "Grammar" has been said by Egyptologists to prove that Smith had no notion of the Egyptian language. It is pure fantasy: he made it up. NOTES



- The "Inspired Revision" of the King James Bible. Smith was commanded by God to retranslate the Bible because the existing translations contained errors. He completed his translation in 1833, but the church still uses the King James Version. NOTES



- The "Kinderhook Plates," a group of six metal plates with strange engraved characters, unearthed in 1843 near Kinderhook, Illinois, and examined by Smith, who began a "translation" of them. He never completed the translation, but he identified the plates as an "ancient record," and translated enough to identify the author as a descendant of Pharaoh. Local farmers later confessed that they had manufactured, engraved and buried the plates themselves as a hoax. They had apparently copied the characters from a Chinese tea box. NOTES





Joseph Smith claimed to be a "prophet." He frequently prophesied future events "by the power of God." Many of these prophecies are recorded in the LDS scripture Doctrine and Covenants. Almost none have been fulfilled, and many cannot now be fulfilled because the deeds to be done by the persons named were never done and those persons are now dead. Many prophecies included dates for their fulfillment, and those dates are now long past, the events never having occurred. NOTES





Joseph Smith died not as a martyr, but in a gun battle in which he fired a number of shots. He was in jail at the time, under arrest for having ordered the destruction of a Nauvoo newspaper which dared to print an exposure (which was true) of his secret sexual liaisons. At that time he had announced his candidacy for the presidency of the United States, set up a secret government, and secretly had himself crowned "King of the Kingdom of God." NOTES





Since the founding of the church down to the present day the church leaders have not hesitated to lie, to falsify documents, to rewrite or suppress history, or to do whatever is necessary to protect the image of the church. Many Mormon historians have been excommunicated from the church for publishing their findings on the truth of Mormon history. NOTES





Mormonism includes many other unusual doctrines which you will probably not be told about until you have been in the church for a long time. These doctrines are not revealed to investigators or new converts because those people are not yet considered ready to have more than "milk" as doctrine. The Mormons also probably realize that if investigators knew of these unusual teachings they would not join the church. In addition to those mentioned elsewhere in this article, the following are noteworthy: NOTES





God was once a man like us.

God has a tangible body of flesh and bone.

God lives on a planet near the star Kolob.

God ("Heavenly Father") has at least one wife, our "Mother in Heaven," but she is so holy that we are not to discuss her nor pray to her.

We can become like God and rule over our own universe.

There are many gods, ruling over their own worlds.

Jesus and Satan ("Lucifer") are brothers, and they are our brothers - we are all spirit children of Heavenly Father

Jesus Christ was conceived by God the Father by having sex with Mary, who was temporarily his wife.

We should not pray to Jesus, nor try to feel a personal relationship with him.

"God" ("Jehovah") in the Old Testament is the being named Jesus in the New Testament.

In the the highest degree of the celestial kingdom some men will have more than one wife.

Before coming to this earth we lived as spirits in a "pre-existence", during which we were tested; our position in this life (whether born to Mormons or savages, or in America or Africa) is our reward or punishment for our obedience in that life.

Dark skin is a curse from God, the result of our sin, or the sin of our ancestors. If sufficiently righteous, a dark-skinned person will become light-skinned.

The Garden of Eden was in Missouri. All humanity before the Great Flood lived in the western hemisphere. The Ark transported Noah and the other survivors to the eastern hemisphere.

YOUR LIFE AS A MORMON

If you should decide to become a member of the LDS church, you should be aware of what your life in the church will be like. Although you will find yourself warmly accepted by a lively community of healthy, active and generally supportive people, many of whom are very happy in Mormonism and could not imagine their lives without it, there is another side:



You will be continually reminded that to enter the highest degree of heaven (the "Celestial Kingdom"), you will have to go through the endowment ceremony in the temple and have your marriage to your Mormon spouse "sealed." (If your spouse is not Mormon, or if you are not married, you cannot enter the highest degree of heaven.) To get permission to have these ceremonies performed in the temple, you must prove yourself to be a faithful and obedient member of the church and do everything commanded by the church authorities, from the Prophet down to the local level. You will have to undergo a personal "worthiness" interview with the local church authorities inquiring into your private life and your religious and social activities. NOTES





You will be expected to donate at least ten percent of your income to the church as tithing. Other donations will be expected as the need arises. You will never see an accounting of how this money is spent, or how much the church receives, or anything at all about its financial condition; the church keeps its finances secret, even from its members. NOTES





You will be expected to give up the use of alcohol, tobacco, coffee, and tea. NOTES





You will be expected to fulfill any work assignment given to you. These assignments may be teaching, record keeping, janitorial work, cannery or farm work, helping in the Sunday nursery - any job that needs to be done. Each task you perform successfully will make you eligible for others, with more responsibility and more demands upon your time. The members who perform these jobs, even those involving sensitive pastoral counseling, receive no formal training whatsoever (there is no paid, trained clergy). You will be told that God has called you to your assignments. Many Mormons find much of their spare time taken up with church work, trying to fulfill the numerous assignments that have been given them.





You will be expected to be unquestioningly obedient to church authorities in whatever they might tell you to do. "Follow the Brethren" is the slogan, and it means to follow without doubt or question. Discussion of whether a decree from above is correct is discouraged. You will be expected to have faith that the leaders cannot possibly lead you astray. Even if they should tell you something which contradicts what a previous prophet may have said, you will be told "A living prophet takes precedence over a dead prophet." NOTES





You will be able to "vote" on those who have been called to positions of authority over you, but the voting will be by the show of hands in a public meeting. Only one candidate for each office will be voted on (the one "called by God"). The voting is therefore almost always unanimous in favor of the candidate.





You will be advised not to read any material which is "not faith-promoting," that is, which may be critical or questioning of the church or its leaders, or which might place the church or its leaders in an unfavorable light.





You will be advised not to associate with "apostates," that is, former Mormons. (You will be asked in your "worthiness" interview about this.) NOTES





If you are unmarried, you will be encouraged to marry a good Mormon as soon as possible. When you do marry, in a wedding ceremony in the temple, your non-Mormon family members and friends will not be allowed to attend the ceremony, because only "worthy" Mormons are allowed to enter the temple.











If you are a male over 12 years of age and "worthy" (that is, if you are obedient, attend meetings, do not masturbate NOTES, etc.), you will be ordained to one of the levels of priesthood, and, if you continue to be faithful and obedient, you will gradually advance through the priesthood ranks. If you are female, you will receive the benefits of priesthood authority only indirectly, through your Mormon father or your Mormon husband. The role of the Mormon woman is to be a wife and mother and to obey and honor her priest husband (or father). NOTES





If you prove yourself to be faithful, hard working and obedient, you will eventually be considered worthy to "receive your endowment" in a Mormon temple. You will not be told in advance exactly what to expect in this lengthy ceremony, except that the details of the ritual are secret (Mormons prefer to say they are just "sacred," but they treat them as though they are secret). As part of that ceremony you will be required to swear a number of oaths, the penalty for violation of which is no longer stated but until 1990 was death by various bloody methods, such as having your throat slit from ear to ear. You will be given the secret signs and passwords which are required to enter heaven. (Although most Mormons who have not received the endowment know very little about the ceremony, the entire liturgy is now available on the Internet to Mormon and non-Mormon alike.) After receiving the endowment you will be required to wear a special undergarment at all times. NOTES





If you should ever decide that you made a mistake in joining the church and then leave it, you will probably find (judging from the experiences of others who have done so) that many of your Mormon friends will abandon and shun you. If you are unable to convince your family members to leave the church with you, you will find that the church has broken up your family and your relationship with them may never recover. NOTES





Consider very carefully before you commit yourself, and remember that any doubts you may have now will likely only increase.



Examine carefully both sides of the Mormon story. Listen to the stories of those who have been through an unhappy Mormon experience, not just those Mormons who may speak glowingly of life in the church. NOTES



The Mormon missionaries are often charming and enthusiastic. They have an attractive story to tell. At first it sounds wonderful. But remember the old saying, "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!" Be careful not to fall into the trap of believing something simply because you want it to be true. Mormons may tell you that those who criticize the church are lying, misquoting and distorting. If you examine the sources used by the critics, however, you will discover that most of their source material is from official or semi-official Mormon writings. You, too, should examine those sources.



Is Mormonism a "cult"? Many experts on religious cults see in Mormonism the same fundamental characteristics as cults which have entrapped the unsuspecting, even though most people think of "cults" only as small, unknown groups. Use a "cult checklist" to evaluate Mormonism, or any group, before you commit yourself. NOTES



To get more information about the other side of Mormonism, or to see the evidence supporting any of our statements about the church, feel free to contact us. Our only aim is to make sure that you hear both sides. We promise not to preach at you, but only to provide you with facts to balance the Mormon story. Click here for the names and e-mail addresses of people to contact. Click here to read personal stories of people who have left Mormonism.





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For a version of this INVESTIGATOR'S INFORMATION TRACT which can be downloaded and printed for handing out or mailing click here. It contains instructions on how to edit it for use as a hand-out.



NOTES AND LINKS TO MORE FACTS

DISCLAIMER: Some of the links and references listed here, in addition to containing valuable material about Mormonism, also contain Christian proselytizing material. Their inclusion here is not intended as an endorsement of any religion or religious organization.



GENERAL REFERENCES



INTERNET SITES AND LISTS OF LINKS

http://www.exmormon.org/goodsite.htm Links to other sites.

http://www.mormonismi.info/jamesdavid/table.htm An alphabetical list, by topic, of Mormon-related links; many articles. Originally by James David.

http://www.lds-mormon.com Articles and links; one of the oldest and most extensive Internet sites on Mormonism.

http://www.josephlied.com Mike Norton's excellent analysis of Mormon problems.

http://utlm.org/ Many articles by Jerald and Sandra Tanner, especially from their newsletter The Salt Lake City Messenger. Also several complete books are online here, including their complete book The Changing World of Mormonism.

http://www.2think.org/hundredsheep/mormon.shtml Text of many early Mormon publications, including the 1830 version of the Book of Mormon and the original Book of Commandments. Curt Van Den Heuvel's site.

http://www.irr.org/mit "Mormons In Transition," sponsored by the Insitute for Religious Research, with many articles; Christian orientation; an on-line newsgroup, (MIT-Talk) with evangelical basis

http://www.mrm.org The "Mormon Research Ministry," an evangelical Christian group headed by Bill McKeever; many good articles on Mormonism

http://www.bcmmin.org/ The "Berean Christian Ministry," headed by John Farkas; many articles, a useful chronology of church history, and a long refutation of a Mormon scholar's attempt to discredit critics of the church.

http://www.realmormonhistory.com A collection of historical quotations from Mormon leaders themselves which cast doubt on Mormonism.

http://www.i4m.com/think/ "Rethinking Mormonism" - an excellent site by former Mormon "Deconstructor"

http://trialsofascension.net/mormon.html "20 Truths About Mormonism" by Jim Day, Ph. D.

Opposing Religions Views - LDS More links on Mormonism

http://www.TheShelf.com Convenient side-by-side listing of internet articles on both sides of controversial Mormon issues - maintained by Cora Judd



BOOKS



Listed here are only a few "must read" books. There are hundreds of others. If your local library does not own them, your librarian can obtain them for you on interlibrary loan, usually for a very small fee. Most books listed are linked to on-line reviews or order information.



No Man Knows My History: The Life of Joseph Smith by Fawn M. Brodie, 2nd ed., Knopf, New York, 1993. The most authoritative biography of Joseph Smith. Brodie is a well recognized historian.



Mormonism: Shadow or Reality by Gerald and Sandra Tanner, 5th edition, Utah Lighthouse Ministry, 1987, Salt Lake City. The Tanners have done extensive research on early Mormon history and made many rare publications available by publishing photocopies of them at a low price. This book is a good summary of the contradictions and problems of Mormonism. Available from Utah Lighthouse Ministry, where a catalog of their publications is available. Also published in a slightly smaller version as The Changing World of Mormonism, Moody Press, Chicago, 1981 (now online).



Inventing Mormonism: Tradition and the Historical Record by H. Michael Marquardt and Wesley P. Walters, Signature Books, Salt Lake City, 1994. A detailed examination by historians of Mormonism's origins.



Joseph Smith and the Origins of the Book of Mormon (Second edition) by David Persuitte, McFarland & Co., 2000



Farewell to Eden: Coming to Terms With Mormonism and Science by Duwayne R. Anderson, Authorhouse, 2003 - a scientist and former Mormon examines Mormonism's scientific claims



Losing a Lost Tribe: Native Americans, DNA, and the Mormon Church by Simon G. Southerton (DNA scientist, former Mormon bishop), Signature Books, 2004



An Insider's View of Mormon Origins by Grant Palmer (Mormon, retired instructor in the church's educational system); a frank disclosure of many aspects of early Mormon history.



For Any Latter-day Saint: One Investigator's Unanswered Questions by Sharon I. Banister, Star Bible Publications, Fort Worth, 1988 (available from the author, Rt 1 Box 20, Ladonia, TX 75449, for $8.00 postpaid). Over 600 problematical questions about Mormon history and doctrine, very clearly presented, with many photographic reproductions of the relevant Mormon books and diaries. (See my review here.)



REFERENCES TO SPECIFIC TOPICS



THE "FIRST VISION"

http://www.irr.org/mit/fvision.html The official version, and why it is a fiction

http://www.i4m.com/think/intro/must_believe_vision.htm The church insists that belief in the validity of the "First Vision" is the basis of Mormonism

http://www.irr.org/mit/First-Vision-Accounts.html All of the early (and contradictory) accounts, from Mormon sources

http://utlm.org/topicalindexc.htm#First Vision

http://www.mrm.org/multimedia/text/first-vision.html

http://www.bcmmin.org/firstv.htm and

http://www.bcmmin.org/firstv2.htm

http://www.irr.org/mit/inventbk.html (a review of the book Inventing Mormonism)



THE 1820 REVIVAL

The question of whether there was a revival in 1820 matching Smith's story has been hotly debated by Mormon and non-Mormon scholars. See the exchange between Richard L. Bushman (Mormon) and Wesley P. Walters (non-Mormon) in Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, (Spring 1969) 4:1:58ff. A summary of the opposing points of view (by a Mormon scholar) is Marvin Hill, "The First Vision: A Critique and Reconciliation," Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, (Summer 1982) 15:31-46.

http://utlm.org/onlinebooks/mclaims1.htm

http://www.xmission.com/~research/about/index.htm (Michael Marquardt's site)

The following three links are about Marquardt's book Inventing Mormonism, a scholarly investigation into Mormonism's early years:

http://www.xmission.com/~research/about/contents.htm

http://www.xmission.com/~research/about/summary.htm

http://www.xmission.com/~research/about/reviews.htm



JOSEPH SMITH AND THE METHODISTS

For Smith's connection with the Methodists, see Inventing Mormonism, pp 54-55, citing Turner, History of Phelp's and Gorham's Purchase, p. 214, which relates that Smith was an informal "exhorter" at Methodist camp meetings before 1822; Pomeroy Tucker, The Origin, Rise and Progress of Mormonism (NY 1867), p 18: Smith joined the "probationary class" of the Methodist church; there was no Methodist church in Palmyra until July 1821 (Inventing Mormonism, p 60 n 41);

http://utlm.org/topicalindexc.htm#Methodist Church



JOSEPH SMITH AND "MONEYDIGGING"

http://www.xmission.com/~country/reason/ny_js.htm The report of Smith's 1826 arrest and court appearance for being a "glass-looker"

http://www.saintsalive.com/mormonism/necromantic.html

http://utlm.org/topicalindexc.htm#Money-Digging and Magic





BOOK OF MORMON "WITNESSES"

http://www.irr.org/mit/bomwit1.html

http://www.saintsalive.com/mormonism/testimonyof3.htm

http://www.exmormon.org/file9.htm

http://www.irr.org/mit/address1.html The book by David Whitmer, An Address To All Believers in Christ, testifying that God revealed to him that Joseph Smith is a fallen prophet.

(Also at http://utlm.org/onlinebooks/address1.htm

http://www.xmission.com/~research/about/docum4.htm (Martin Harris interview in Tiffany's magazine)

http://utlm.org/onlineresources/anthon.htm (Martin Harris' visit to Professor Anthon with a copy of characters from the gold plates)



METHOD OF TRANSLATION OF THE BOOK OF MORMON

http://www.irr.org/mit/address1.html (David Whitmer's Address To All Believers in Christ; see p. 12, 30)

http://utlm.org/topicalindexa.htm#Black Hole The significance of the 116 pages of lost manuscript for testing the authenticity of the book

Martin Harris, Millennial Star 6 Feb 1882, cited in Robert N. Hullinger, Joseph Smith's response to Skepticism, p 9-14, Salt Lake City 1992, said that the plates were not needed, also quoted by John Clark, Gleanings By the Way, 1842, p 228, cited in Hullinger p 11, n 23.



BOOK OF MORMON ARCHAEOLOGY

http://www.irr.org/mit/bomarch1.html

http://www.saintsalive.com/mormonism/bomproblems.htm

http://utlm.org/topicalindexa.htm#Archeology

http://www.bcmmin.org/bomarch.htm

http://www.lds-mormon.com/bomquest.shtml

http://mormonscripturestudies.com/bomor/twm/lamgen.asp Recent study by DNA expert Tom Murphy, for which he was threatened with excommunication from the Mormon church, showing that the American Indians are not Semitic

Losing a Lost Tribe by Simon Southerton, former Mormon bishop and professional DNA expert; excellent book explaining the science and how it disproves the Book of Mormon

"Answers to Apologetic Claims about DNA and the Book of Mormon" by Simon Southerton

http://mormonchallenge.com More on DNA studies, including offer of a video about DNA's relationship to the Book of Mormon's claims

http://www.nowscape.com/mormon/zindler1.htm "How Do You Lose a Steel Mill" by Frank R. Zindler



JEWISH LAW AND THE BOOK OF MORMON

Salt Lake City Messenger, Issue #74, February 1990, available from Utah Lighthouse Ministry

http://lds-mormon.com/feast.shtml "Feasts in the Book of Mormon"



BOOK OF MORMON CHANGES; OTHER CHANGES

http://www.saintsalive.com/mormonism/bomchanges.htm

http://www.bcmmin.org/bmchg.htm

http://utlm.org/topicalindexa.htm#Changes Changes made in revelations after their first publication, to reflect Smith's changes in doctrine.

The original texts of the Book of Mormon 1830 edition and the 1833 Book of Commandments (predecessor to the Doctrine and Covenants can be found at http://www.2think.org/hundredsheep/



PRESENT MORMON DOCTRINE CONTRARY TO BOOK OF MORMON

http://www.mrm.org/multimedia/text/test.html

http:/home.sprynet.com/sprynet/chatm/doctrn1.htm

http://www.bcmmin.org/bmchg.htm

http://www.mrm.org/multimedia/text/birth.html On the Virgin Birth, how Jesus was conceived.

http://www.irr.org/mit/CHANGOD.html The changing concept of God.

http://www.bcmmin.org/bcm2.htm Changing doctrines of Mormonism.



THE 1825 BOOK View of the Hebrews by Ethan Smith

http://www.irr.org/mit/Books/View-Hebrews/viewhe1a.html (text of View)

http://www.2think.org/hundredsheep/voh/voh.shtml (text of View)

http://www.2think.org/hundredsheep/bom/written.shtml Could Joseph Smith have written the Book of Mormon?

http://www.lds-mormon.com/voh.shtml Parallels between View and the Book of Mormon. See also http://www.exmormon.org/bofmorm.htm

http://www.irr.org/mit/bhrobert.html B. H. Roberts' conclusions.



FAILURES OF GOD-INSPIRED PROJECTS

Failure of the Kirtland Bank:

http://utlm.org/topicalindexc.htm#Kirtland Bank

Gathering of Zion:

http://home.teleport.com/~packham/prophet.htm

Polygamy - see notes at: #POLYGAMY

Deseret Alphabet:

http://www.omniglot.com/writing/deseret.htm

http://home.teleport.com/~packham/byoung.htm#PROPHECIES



THE HOFMANN MURDER SCANDAL

The Mormon Murders: A True Story of Greed, Forgery, Deceit, and Death by Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith, Weidenfeld & Nicolson, New York, 1988. The role of the Mormon church leadership in this scandal is carefully documented here.

A Gathering of Saints: A True Story of Money, Murder and Deceit by Robert Lindsey, Simon and Schuster, New York, 1988. Another book on the Hofmann scandal.

Salamander: The Story of the Mormon Forgery Murders by Linda Sillitoe and Allen Roberts, 2nd edition, Signature Books, Salt Lake City.

http://utlm.org/topicalindexb.htm#Hofmann, Mark



THE MORMON TEMPLE CEREMONY (THE "ENDOWMENT")

http://home.teleport.com/~packham/temples.htm: "Mormon Temples and Temple Rituals" - a detailed overview of this most secret part of Mormonism.

The next five links contain the actual text of the ceremony in the various forms it has had since the early days of the church.

1931 Version: http://home.teleport.com/~packham/endow31.htm

1984 Version: http://home.teleport.com/~packham/endow84.htm

1990 Version: http://home.teleport.com/~packham/endow90.htm

2005 changes: http://home.teleport.com/~packham/endow05.htm

(See also http://i4m.com/think/temples/temple_ordinance.htm for a discussion of the significance of the 2005 changes)

http://www.lds-mormon.com/veilworker/endowment.shtml

http://utlm.org/topicalindexc.htm#Temple Ceremony

http://i4m.com/think/temples/ Several articles on temples

http://www.mrm.org/multimedia/text/garments.html A description of the sacred undergarment which Mormons are required to wear after receiving the endowment.

http://www.nowscape.com/mormon/undrwrmo.htm More on "garments"

http://www.mrm.org/multimedia/text/temple-ceremony.html

http://www.nowscape.com/mormon/mormcr1.htm

http://www.saintsalive.com/mormonism/templechanges.htm

http://www.lds-mormon.com/veilworker/recommend.shtml The questions that are asked in the "worthiness interview" to determine whether a member is worthy to receive admission to the temple.



MASONIC INFLUENCE ON MORMONISM

http://www.masonicmoroni.com Paul Graham's comprehensive site, with many links from all points of view

http://www.mormonismi.info/jamesdavid/masendow.htm

http://www.mormonismi.info/jamesdavid/masonry.htm

http://www.irr.org/mit/masonry.html

http://utlm.org/onlinebooks/changech4.htm#Joseph Smith's Magic Talisman Joseph Smith's magical talisman

http://www.saintsalive.com/mormonism/nohelp.html

http://www.mrm.org/multimedia/text/masonic-influence.html



THE "ADAM = GOD" DOCTRINE

http://www.mrm.org/multimedia/text/theory.html

http://www.bcmmin.org/adamgod.htm

http://www.bcmmin.org/evolut4.htm The changes in the Mormon doctrine about God.

http://www.mrm.org/multimedia/text/adam-god.html (Text of Brigham Young's 1852 sermon)

http://home.teleport.com/~packham/byoung.htm#ADAMGOD More statements by Brigham Young

A good discussion, with photocopy of Bruce R. McConkie's private admission that Brigham Young did teach the doctrine, is in Tanner, LDS Apostle Confesses Brigham Young Taught Adam-God Doctrine, available from Utah Lighthouse Ministry. Similar material is in Banister's book For Any Latter- Day Saint

http://www.mrm.org/multimedia/text/mcconkies-letter.html The text of McConkie's letter admitting that Brigham Young did teach that Adam was God

See also: Adam is God??? by Chris A. Vlachos, pamphlet available from Utah Lighthouse Ministry





POLYGAMY ("CELESTIAL MARRIAGE")

http://www.irr.org/mit/enigma.html A review of Mormon Enigma: Emma Hale Smith, by Linda King Newell and Valene Tippett Avery, University of Illinois Press, 1994; a biography of Joseph Smith's first wife, relating the development of Smith's ideas on polygamy and her opposition to it.

In Sacred Loneliness: The Plural Wives of Joseph Smith by Todd Compton, Signature Books

http://www.wivesofjosephsmith.org/home Biographies of all of Joseph Smith's wives

http://utlm.org/topicalindexb.htm#Polygamy

http://www.nowscape.com/mormon/polyg.htm

http://www.mormonismi.info/jamesdavid/denpract.htm Smith's public (and untruthful) denials of the rumors about his practice of polygamy.

http://www.mormonismi.info/jamesdavid/menwives.htm Documentation of Smith's seduction of other men's wives.

http://www.xmission.com/~country/reason/clndest2.htm An early and generally unknown revelation about polygamy

Mormon Polygamy: A History by Richard S. Van Wagoner, Signature Books, Salt Lake City. An excellent history of its theory and practice, reviewed at http://www.lds-mormon.com/polygamy.shtml.

http://www.polygamy.org Home page of Tapestry of Polygamy, a group of formerly polygamous women who are exposing its evils as practiced by some Mormon groups today.



THE "CURSE OF CAIN": THE CHANGING DOCTRINE ON SKIN COLOR

http://www.saintsalive.com/mormonism/africanamerican.htm

http://utlm.org/topicalindexa.htm#Blacks

http://www.exmormon.org/blacks1.htm

http://www.lds-mormon.com/racism.shtml

http://home.teleport.com/~packham/byoung.htm#***** Brigham Young's Doctrines on the Black race



THE DOCTRINE OF "BLOOD ATONEMENT" AND THE DANITES ("AVENGING ANGELS")

http://www.saintsalive.com/mormonism/bloodatonement.htm

http://utlm.org/topicalindexa.htm#Blood Atonement

http://www.exmormon.org/bloodatn.htm

http://www.exmormon.org/violence.htm

http://www.mormons.org/response/history/index.htm

http://www.saintsalive.com/mormonism/murder.html

http://www.irr.org/mit/faulring.html



The role of violence in Mormonism is the subject of Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith by Jon Krakauer, Doubleday, 2003; this book was on the best-seller lists for a number of weeks.

The authoritative work on the Mountain Meadows Massacre has been Juanita Brooks, The Mountain Meadows Massacre, Univ. of Oklahoma Press, 1991.

Brooks is now supplemented by new evidence in Will Bagley, The Blood of the Prophets: Brigham Young and the Massacre at Mountain Meadows, Univ. of Oklahoma Press, 2002.

J. F. Gibbs's complete book Mountain Meadows Massacre is online at http://utlm.org/onlinebooks/meadowscontents.htm



THE BOOK OF COMMANDMENTS

http://www.2think.org/hundredsheep/boc/boc_main.shtml The complete text of the Book of Commandments, showing the revisions made to them in the Doctrine and Covenants



THE BOOK OF ABRAHAM

http://www.irr.org/mit/boapage.html The complete book By His Own Hand Upon Papyrus by Charles M. Larson

http://www.mrm.org/multimedia/text/abraham.html

http://www.mormonismi.info/jamesdavid/index.htm

http://utlm.org/topicalindexb.htm#Book of Abraham

http://home.sprynet.com/sprynet/chatm/seer2.htm

http://www.xmission.com/~research/about/abraham.htm

http://www.xmission.com/~research/about/alphabet.htm The text of Smith's so-called Egyptian Alphabet & Grammar



THE "INSPIRED REVISION" OF THE BIBLE

The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, (RLDS, now renamed "Community of Christ") has long used the version by Smith.

http://utlm.org/topicalindexc.htm#Inspired Revision of the Bible



THE KINDERHOOK PLATES

http://www.mormonismi.info/jamesdavid/indekind.htm

http://utlm.org/topicalindexb.htm#Kinderhook Plates

http://www.nowscape.com/mormon/kindrhk/kindrhk.htm



JOSEPH SMITH'S PROPHECIES

http://home.teleport.com/~packham/prophet.htm A listing of many of Smith's unfulfilled prophecies

http://www.saintsalive.com/mormonism/falseprophetjs.htm

http://www.mrm.org/multimedia/text/civilwar.html Joseph Smith's famous prophecy of the Civil War

http://www.lds-mormon.com/civilwar.shtml Another article on the Civil War prophecy

http://utlm.org/onlinebooks/changech13.htm#Rocky Mountain Prophecy Joseph Smith's prophecy about the Mormon move to the Rocky Mountains



For some of Brigham Young's failed prophecies, see:

http://home.teleport.com/~packham/byoung.htm#PROPHECIES



JOSEPH SMITH'S DEATH

http://www.solomonspalding.com/docs/exposit1.htm The text of the Nauvoo Expositor, the opposition paper which Smith destroyed, thus leading to his imprisonment and death. It contains all the true accusations which Smith wanted suppressed

http://utlm.org/onlinebooks/changech17.htm#Destruction of Expositor The destruction of the Nauvoo Expositor



For a detailed discussion of Smith's political ambitions, his title "king" and his secret government, see the book by D. Michael Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: [Volume 1] The Origins of Power, Signature Books, Salt Lake City, 1994. (Quinn was excommunicated from the Mormon church for his historical researches, but remains a believer)



MORMON FALSIFICATION OF MORMON HISTORY

http://www.xmission.com/~country/reason/mormhist.htm D. Michael Quinn's Talk "On Being A Mormon Historian" in which he urges the church authorities to be more open in telling the entire history of the church, without coloring it. Rather than follow his advice, the church excommunicated him.

http://www.xmission.com/~country/reason/legacy1.htm An evaluation of the propaganda film Legacy, produced by the church.

http://www.bcmmin.org/persecutor.htm An evaluation of the church's claim that it was persecuted.

http://www.xmission.com/~country/reason/dunn.htm The uncovering of the lies told by a high-ranking Mormon official

http://www.xmission.com/~country/reason/mantle.htm A speech by Boyd K. Packer, a high-ranking church official, on how the church justifies its distortion of its history. Also discussed at http://www.exmormon.org/disease.htm

http://www.xmission.com/~country/reason/purge.htm The recent purge of Mormon historians who told too much

http://www.exmormon.org/lying.htm A discussion of speech by Dallin Oaks, a high-ranking church official, on the need for withholding the whole truth.

http://www.exmormon.org/apology.htm

http://www.lds-mormon.com/lying.shtml

http://home.teleport.com/~packham/gbh-god.htm The present "prophet" Gordon B. Hinckley lies about church doctrine in two interviews for the news media.

http://home.teleport.com/~packham/lying.htm More examples of Mormon lying.



A good example of the church's distortion of history is its long cover-up of the Mountain Meadows Massacre. See Juanita Brooks, The Mountain Meadows Massacre, Univ. of Oklahoma Press, 1991.



UNUSUAL DOCTRINES

- God was once a man like us: http://home.teleport.com/~packham/gbh-god.htm

- God has a tangible body of flesh and bone: D&C 130:22

- God lives on a planet near the star Kolob: Book of Abraham 3:3-16

- God has at least one wife, our "Mother in Heaven": Joseph Fielding Smith, Man, His Origin and Destiny, p 348-355: "All men and women are in the similitude of the universal Father and Mother..." (More citations in The Changing World of Mormonism, Chapter 7)

- We can become like God and rule over our own universe. http://home.teleport.com/~packham/gbh-god.htm

- There are many gods, ruling over their own worlds: Citations in The Changing World of Mormonism, Chapter 7

- Jesus and Satan ("Lucifer") are brothers: D&C 76:25, Moses 4:1-4

- Jesus Christ was conceived by God the Father by having sex with Mary: Citations in The Changing World of Mormonism, Chapter 7

- We should not try to feel a personal relationship with Jesus: "Our Relationship With The Lord" by Apostle Bruce R. McConkie

- God ("Jehovah") in the Old Testament is the same being named Jesus in the New Testament: D&C 110:2-4; Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, article "Jehovah"; 1 Nephi 19:10

- In the the highest degree of the celestial kingdom some men will have more than one wife: D&C 132:63

- "Pre-existence": See Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. 1, ch 4, esp pp 60-61

- Dark skin is a curse from God: 1 Nephi 12:23, 2 Nephi 5:21, Alma 3:6, Jacob 3:8, 3 Nephi 2:15, Morm 5:15.

- The Garden of Eden was in Missouri: D&C 116:1; see also D&C 107:53.



PROHIBITION ON COFFEE, ETC. (THE "WORD OF WISDOM")

The text of the Word of Wisdom is in the Doctrine and Covenants Section 89

http://www.xmission.com/~country/reason/w_wisdom.htm Problems and inconsistencies with this revelation.

http://utlm.org/onlinebooks/mclaims8.htm#The Word of Wisdom



TITHING, CHURCH WEALTH

http://www.mrm.org/multimedia/text/tithing.html

http://www.mormonismi.info/jamesdavid/tithing.htm

On the wealth of the church, see: Anson Shupe, Wealth and Power in American Zion, Lewiston NY 1992, or John Heinerman and Anson Shupe, The Mormon Corporate Empire, Beacon, 1988.



OBEDIENCE: "FOLLOW THE BRETHREN"

http://www.xmission.com/~country/reason/cannon.htm Excerpts from Under The Prophet In Utah by Senator Frank J. Cannon, showing how the church leaders exert power over members.

http://www.zionsbest.com/fourteen.html A speech by Ezra Taft Benson, a recent prophet and president, instructing members to obey the prophet without questioning and without checking his advice against scripture.

http://www.lds-mormon.com/mothink.shtml

http://www.lds-mormon.com/thinking.shtml A critical article on the church's mind control.

http://www.xmission.com/~country/reason/purge.htm The recent mass excommunications of intellectuals and historians who questioned church authority.

http://www.zionsbest.com/heresies.html Bruce R. McConkie on the heresy of evolution.



HOMOSEXUALS, MASTURBATION

http://www.affirmation.org The website of Affirmation, an organization for Mormons with homosexual leanings. Much information about the church's stance on sex.

http://www.exmormon.org/byuhis.htm The treatment of male homosexuals at the church university

http://www.affirmation.org/masturbation.htm A talk by Mormon apostle Mark E. Petersen, on how to prevent masturbation.

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/9156/WSWWB.HTM A critical article by Jeffery R. Jensen, M.D., on the harm done by the church with its stance on homosexuality.

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/9156/HLDSSS.HTM Another article by Dr. Jensen, criticizing the church's department of social services

http://www.zionsbest.com/only.html A speech by Boyd K. Packer on the evils of masturbation in young men, and how to prevent it.

http://www.qrd.org/religion/judeochristian/protestantism/mormon/mormon- masturbation



POSITION OF WOMEN IN THE CHURCH

Books by two exmormon women describing their difficulties with the church's treatment of women:

Deborah Laake, Secret Ceremonies, Dell, 1993

Sonia Johnson, From Housewife to Heretic, Doubleday, 1981. Johnson was excommunicated for her activism in favor of the Equal Rights Amendment.

http://www.exmormon.org/mormwomn.htm A woman's viewpoint.

http://www.lds-mormon.com/lying.shtml How the church misrepresents its stance on the role of women.

"Mormon Women, Prozac, and Therapy" by Kent Ponder Ph.D. explores the causes for so many Mormon women being on anti-depressant medications.



PERSONAL STORIES BY FORMER MORMONS

http://www.exmormon.org/ has the personal stories of over two hundred people who left the church and their many different reasons for doing so.

For briefer comments from former Mormons, see http://home.teleport.com/~packham/voices1.htm

See also these longer accounts:

Mary Ann Benson (granddaughter-in-law of Ezra Taft Benson, president of the church): http://www.exmormon.org/mormon/mormon146.htm

Steve Benson (grandson of Benson, Mary Ann's husband): http://www.lds-mormon/com/benson2.shtml

Ken Clark (former teacher in the Church Educational System): http://www.exmormon.org/whylft129.htm



For longer (booklength) accounts, see:

Suddenly Strangers: Surrendering Gods and Heroes by the Morin brothers.(http://suddenlystrangers.com - click on "Excerpts")

Beyond Mormonism: An Elder's Story by James R. Spencer, who converted to Mormonism and left it to become a Christian minister

Martha Beck (daughter of Mormon apologist Hugh Nibley), Leaving the Saints, Crown, 2005, ISBN 0609609912



IS MORMONISM A CULT?

The following links are to checklists and other guidelines, to help you to evaluate whether any group (not just Mormonism) is a "cult."

http://www.csj.org/infoserv_cult101/checklis.htm

http://www.csj.org/infoserv_cult101/cult101.htm

http://www.freedomofmind.com/ The home page of Steve Hassan, an authority on cults and brainwashing.

"[Hassan's] BITE Model Applied Toward Mormonism"

http://www.caicusa.org/zentry1.htm Jan Groenveld's Cult Awareness Centre

http://www.factnet.org FACTnet, resources on psychological coercion and mind control





Comments: packham@teleport.com

Please let me know if you find that any links are out-dated, or if you can suggest additional links. Thanks!





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© 1998, 2002, 2005 Richard Packham Permission granted to reproduce for non-commercial purposes, provided text is not changed and this copyright notice is included











See also



Archeological and historical summary:

1. No Book of Mormon cities have been located.

2. No Book of Mormon names have been found in New World inscriptions.

3. No genuine inscriptions have been found in Hebrew in America.

4. No genuine inscriptions have been found in America in Egyptian or anything similar to Egyptian, which could correspond to Joseph Smith's 'reformed Egyptian.'

5. No ancient copies of Book of Mormon scriptures have been found.

6. No ancient inscriptions of any kind in America which indicate that the ancient inhabitants had Hebrew or Christian beliefs have been found.

7. No mention of Book of Mormon persons, nations, or places have been found.

8. No artifacts of any kind which demonstrates the Book of Mormon is true has been found.

9. Rather than finding supportive evidence, Mormon scholars have been forced to retreat from traditional interpretations of Book of Mormon statements.

Archaeology and the Book of Mormon by Hal Hougey, p. 12







Recent DNA research:

The Book of Mormon is based on the concept that Meso-America was an uninhabited land that was peopled by Jews who floated across the ocean in an a boat of sorts that resembled two large dishes fastened together to form a hollow [with holes in both the bottom and the top for air].

In "Losing a Lost Tribe: Native Americans, DNA, and the Mormon Church" (Signature Books), research scientist and former Mormon Bishop, Simon G. Southerton of Canberra, Australia, peels back the “faith promoting” fantasies about these pilgrims in a dish and their loathsome offspring, the Lamanites, dark-skinned American Indians.

Along with other research studies, (see: DNA Evidence and the Book of Mormon) the author puts a final nail in the coffin of the Book of Mormon myth. The book is reviewed in Christianity Today magazine. Losing a Lost Tribe is available from Amazon.com and other book retailers.



Logical Conclusion:

All Mormons agree that the Book of Mormon is the foundation of the Mormon religion.

All Mormons agree that without the Book of Mormon, there is no basis for the Mormon religion.

Based on the historical and archeological facts and evidence, it's clear that the Book of Mormon is a work of fiction, heavily plagiarized from books freely available at the time. In fact, it's simply a rework of a stolen manuscript (Manuscript Found) that was meant to be nothing more than a romantic fiction novel of the American Indians.

The Book of Mormon is not the translation of an ancient document, regardless of any feelings, emotions, "burning in your bosom," or testimony. "Knowing" that it's true doesn't correlate with the historical and archeological facts and evidence. Wanting it to be true doesn't change the facts and evidence.

The Book of Mormon was not from God.

Again...

•"Mormonism, as it is called, must stand or fall on the story of Joseph Smith. He was either a prophet of God, divinely called, properly appointed and commissioned, or he was one of the biggest frauds this world has ever seen. There is no middle ground." Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, Page 188.





Mormon Theology

(...which is actually irrelevant and a non-issue if the Book of Mormon is a plagiarized fiction novel. However let's assume, arguendo, for a moment, that the BOM is true, and delve into Mormon theology.)

Which Jesus do Mormons worship?

Let's see what Mormon leaders say about that...

"It is true that many of the Christian churches worship a different Jesus Christ than is worshipped by the Mormons or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." LDS Quorum of the Seventy member Bernard P. Brockbank, The Ensign, May 1977, p. 26

"In bearing testimony of Jesus Christ, President Hinckley spoke of those outside the Church who say Latter-day Saints 'do not believe in the traditional Christ.' 'No, I don't. The traditional Christ of whom they speak is not the Christ of whom I speak. For the Christ of whom I speak has been revealed in this the Dispensation of the Fullness of Times. He together with His Father, appeared to the boy Joseph Smith in the year 1820, and when Joseph left the grove that day, he knew more of the nature of God than all the learned ministers of the gospel of the ages.'" LDS Church News, June 20, 1998, p. 7

"Christ was not begotten of the Holy Ghost...He was not born without the aid o


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