Today's email is somewhat of a follow-up from last week.
I was
unprepared for the quantity and varied nature of the comments about Mormonism
that followed. There seems to be a renewed interest in displacing what I would
call a willful ignorance of Mormonism. It is likely to be because of Mitt Romney's being a Mormon. We live in a funny world.
Most churches are so afraid of sounding negative they just leave their members
wallowing in ignorance.
I am reminded of another time...
Hosea 4: 6. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.
By the same token, the behavior of the original
Mormons was so inappropriate that most Mormons just do not want to know either! I have always thought how
sad it was that Mormon leaders really have had to hide much of their history
from their members. The Bible deals directly with this mindset.
“The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?” Jeremiah 5:31
Now a Mormon wants to be president and people
don’t know whether they should be afraid or not.
To make a long story short, a couple years back, our high school class was asking some pointed
questions about the origins of the various churches. They also
wanted to know how one church could be as good as another! Logically our young people were properly
concluding that just couldn’t be so. They knew they were correct
and were asking for a basis to judge various churches as adults. Well,
we don't leave our children ignorant. This is the material I used in that class.
Providentially at about the same time, I was studying with some young Mormon elders that had come to my door. These 20 year old “elders” complained that all they heard was negative things said about the Mormons. They elaborated that people just read bad things about the LDS church. I thought about it awhile and decided that part of their complaint was fair. It is important to know what Mormons really say, rather than what others say they say… I determined that I would concentrate on finding my material in the LDS documents rather than just from others.
Sadly, after
I went to the work of presenting Mormon material describing these events…
they chose to continue in ignorance. That is the one political
implication of this religious discussion. If Romney hides from reality in
order to continue to be a Mormon… Would he make a poor president?
I.E. Since
Romney is a Mormon, does it mean he would hide from the evidence and the real
world when he becomes president? Will he squander verifiable
documentation?
Interesting
isn’t it? I really don’t’ consider most political
leaders to be conscientious Christians, do you? They try to claim it
so… to gain votes. Most of the “Christianity” that I
see coming forth from politicians is hypocritical. Here’s the rub. . . I would be nervous about voting for a Mormon, not
because he was hypocritical, but because he may not be! In order for a
grown man to be a Mormon and to remain so, he absolutely must hide from Joseph
Smith the man. Running from truth, is not a good thing in a president, is
it?
Sorry! That’s as political as I am going to get. I
focus my articles on Christianity rather than Politics.
The bottom
line is that most of the study material below, while it may come off as negative, it is Mormon documentation of the Mormon
founders’ behavior. In other words, it is
contemporaneous material from Mormonism. Much of it is what the Mormons
said about themselves, to themselves. This was put out, before later
generations started using selective memory.
Be sure that you find the following sections:
- The conversation the Mormons preserved for you about how Joseph Smith and Hyrum, his brother tried to convince Joseph's wife, Emma to accept polygamy. (I just had to laugh when I found this one.)
- Smith's prediction for the end of the world in the 1800's.
- The Mormon’s so called “prophets’” description of the people that they said lived on the Sun. Note; If one of Christ’s apostles said something this foolish, every university going would have a field day with it! The Bible just doesn’t make these mistakes! The Book of Mormon admits to this silliness.
One other
note, this makes two long emailings in a row. (i.e. Much longer than normal).
This article
is a chapter from my workbook on the origins of various churches. I had
to cut the documentation/supplements section off. (It would have been 32 pages long otherwise.) For those of you that want documentation, I’ll
be glad to provide it. Send an email back with
“documentation” in the subject line and I’ll set my computer
to collect you for a mini mailing. (There are 18000 of you).
Most of you
won’t want those copies of minutes from meetings, books
etc… but for those of you that do, email back.
Yours in Christ
Jerry Blount
Lesson 11
The Mormons
The Mormons
represent an entirely different group of churches than those we have looked at
thus far. The Mormon
churches have added a supplement to their Bible that in practice bypasses or
makes obsolete much of the Bible teaching.
Smith further
claimed these plates to be written in “reformed Egyptian.”
Not to worry… he miraculously translated these plates into English.
Numerous people claimed to have seen these plates… but every one of these
“witnesses” fell away from the church before they died!
Joseph was
somewhat of a charlatan using peep stones and “magic” talisman
looking for buried treasure… prior to the time that he supposedly found
the book of Mormon. He never quite gave it up. He had a
talisman for Jupiter (the Greeks called him Zeus) on his person when he was
shot to death.
In 1826 he was
tried in a court of law because (much like fortune telling), these mystical
practices were actually against the law in those days. He was found guilty but
was not sentenced if he would leave the community. (see article in the
supplements section)
Published in 1830,
the book of Mormon claims to be further revelation of Jesus Christ.
It weaves quite a tale mixing fact and fiction indiscriminately.
Fictional characters Lehi, and Nehi for example, are described in the opening
pages as dwelling in Jerusalem during the reign of Zedekiah (a
legitimate king of Judah.)
I have met many times with “Mormon Elders”
and discussed the viability of their claims. Normally the “proof
“ these elders provide to back up their claims is to “pray
fervently and God will convict you of it’s truth.”
Here is a scan from my
1908 copy of the Book of Mormon.
Virtually all these
witnesses either Left LDS, or were excommunicated by the church before they
died!
“ Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” I John 4:1
The Mormon faith
is actually a moving target. Even though they claim the Book of Mormon is
from God it has had thousands of changes since its introduction as
“scripture.” The original Mormon approach was to “buy
up” the old copies and to destroy them.
The errors are so
extensive and the overall text so contradictory that the introduction to the
Book of Mormon itself says, “And now if there are faults, they are the
mistakes of men; wherefore condemn not the things of God, that ye may be found
spotless at the judgment-seat of Christ.”
One amusing
example of such is the text of Alma 15 pg 303 “Yea, I know that he alloteth
unto men, ye, decreeth unto them decrees
which are unalterable, according to their wills.
This verse in my
1908 edition drops out the underlined words… Why do you suppose
Smith edited this out? It was actually dropped in 1840. It was put
back in 1981???
So we have an
example of having to drop it out because of all the arbitrary revisions…
then an established church eventually puts it back in. The story
doesn’t end here however.
In 1831 Joseph Smith supposedly received a revelation
that is today contained in Doctrine and covenants 56:2 (a-c)
“Behold, I the Lord commandeth, and he that will not obey shall be cut off in mine own due time; and after that I have commanded and the commandment is broken, wherefore I the Lord command and revoke, as it seemeth me good, and all this to be answered upon the heads of the rebellious, saith the Lord; wherefore I revoke the commandment which was given unto my servants Thomas B. Marsh and Ezra Thayre, and give a new commandment unto my servant Thomas, that he shall take up his journey speedily to the land of Missouri; and my servant Selah J. Griffin shall also go with him: for, behold, I revoke the commandment which was given unto my servants Selah J. Griffin and Newel Knight, in consequence of the stiffneckedness of my people which are in Thompson; and their rebellions.”
Now we have the Mormons being inconsistent inside
their scriptures. Before, they were contradicting their scriptures by
constantly revising them. Now they have their scriptures contradicting
themselves. Which is worse?
Again it doesn’t stop there… Note what 56:3 says, “And again, verily I say unto you, that my servant Ezra Thayre must repent of his pride, and of his selfishness, and obey the former commandment which I have given him concerning the place upon which he lives; and if he will do this, as there shall be no divisions made upon the land, he shall be appointed still to go to the land of Missouri; otherwise he shall receive the money which he has paid, and shall leave the place, and shall be cut off out of my church, saith the Lord of hosts; and though the heaven and the earth pass away, these words shall not pass away, but shall be fulfilled.”
Again it doesn’t stop there… Note what 56:3 says, “And again, verily I say unto you, that my servant Ezra Thayre must repent of his pride, and of his selfishness, and obey the former commandment which I have given him concerning the place upon which he lives; and if he will do this, as there shall be no divisions made upon the land, he shall be appointed still to go to the land of Missouri; otherwise he shall receive the money which he has paid, and shall leave the place, and shall be cut off out of my church, saith the Lord of hosts; and though the heaven and the earth pass away, these words shall not pass away, but shall be fulfilled.”
Here are a
few of the Mormon conflicts…
Mormonism vs. Bible
Book of Mormon: "If there are faults, they are mistakes of men"… intro. BOM
Bible: "One jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law …Matt 5:18
Book of Mormon: Absurdity: "Bretheren, adieu" Jacob 7:27 (French in 544-421 BC???)
Bible: Nothing comparible
Bible: "One jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law …Matt 5:18
Book of Mormon: The Witnesses fell away…
Bible: None of them is lost but the son of perdition that the scripture may be fulfilled… Jn 17:12
Book of Mormon: Eyewitnesses didn’t see
Bible: Eyewitnesses saw
Book of Mormon: Testimony misleading ….. BOM Martin Harris later admitted eyes were only in form of vision
Bible: "We have not followed cunningly devised fables but were eyewitnesses..." I Pt 1:16
Book of Mormon: Scientifically Inaccurate: Brigham Young prophesied “men on Moon and sun” JOD 13:271 Oliver B Huntington described inhabitants of moon in detail. Journal of Oliver Huntington vol II pg 166
Bible: Accurate: “hangeth earth on nothing” Job 26:7 "Sits on the circle of the earth" Isa 40:22
Book of Mormon: False Prophecies:
- End of the world in 1835 - Joseph Smith said in 56 yrs all would be fulfilled, History of church vol 2 pg 182.
- Joseph Smith said in 1843 "Those of the rising generation will not taste death til Christ comes" History of the church vol 5 pg 336 (partly deleted in current edition)
- Joseph Smith said in 1843 "Not... til I'm 85 years old 48 years hence or about 1890
- Brigham Young: "The Civil War will not free the slaves" -JOD vol 10 pg 250
Bible: Accurate Prophecy
- "This generation shall not pass til (destruction of Jerusalem) Mt 24
- "Watch therefore for ye know neither the day nor the hour..." (end of the world) Mt 25:23
Book of Mormon: Absurdity: "Bretheren, adieu" Jacob 7:27 (French in 544-421 BC???)
Bible: Nothing comparible
****************************
The outright
dishonesty of many of the Mormons in dealing with their own teachings is more
than a little unnerving. For example, Mormon apostle Parley Pratt
describes the process of revelation to us,
“Each
sentence,' says he, 'was uttered slowly and very distinctly, and with a pause
between each, sufficiently long for it to be recorded by an ordinary writer in
long hand. This was the manner in which all
his written revelations were dictated and written. There was never any
hesitation, reviewing, or reading back, in order to keep the run of
the subject; neither did any of these communications undergo revisions, interlinings
or corrections. As he dictated them so they stood, so far as
I have witnessed.” (History of the church, Vol. 1 pg
173 footnote)
Compare this to the scan of the original Book of
Commandments obtained by the Tanners in 1961. They were allowed to start
scanning Wilford Woodruff’s personal copy. They had only
managed to copy 41 pages when the hierarchy of the Mormon church stopped
them from proceeding further ( The case against Mormonism Jerald and Sandra
Tanner 1967 pg 135). They included copies of said scans in their
book. It is easy to see why the Mormons do not want the public to see
these originals of something that obviously is not inspired. It is edited
to the max!
The book of commandments was originally published in
1833. A mob destroyed the printing press before the run could be
completed. In 1835 it was republished as the “Doctrine and
Covenants.” You can see for yourself how extensive the revisions
were.
1) Read Matthew 5:17-19
How does Jesus” statement of scripture match up
with the scan above? _____________ How does the description above
of how Joseph Smith’s revelations were supposedly made compare to
Jesus’ comment? ________________ So, would it be fair to say that
Parley Pratt understood (presumably from scripture) how Joseph Smith should
have been able to reveal God’s Word if Smith were actually a prophet?
________________ Covering up for your friends… Is that the way the
godly are supposed to act?
2) Read II Timothy 3:13-17 Vs 13 How are
impostors described? _________________________ So what is one earmark of
an impostor? _______________ Vs 14ff Where are we directed to avoid such as
this? ________________________
3) Read II Corinthians 11:1-5 Is it
possible for one to come and preach “another Jesus?”
_________________ What about an “different spirit?” __________________ What about a “different gospel?”
________________ Vs 2 What is the implied reason that Paul is worried
about this? ______________________________
Joseph Smith was an
arrogant and self-centered man. Ask yourself if this sounds like someone
promoting the glory of Jesus Christ to the world?
“In all these affidavits, indictments, it is all of the devil—all corruption. Come on! ye prosecutors! ye false swearers! All hell, boil over! Ye burning mountains, roll down your lava! For I will come out on the top at last. I have more to boast of than ever any man had. I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam. A large majority of the whole have stood by me. Neither Paul, John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did it. I boast that no man ever did such a work as I. The followers of Jesus ran away from Him; but the Latter-day Saints never ran away from me yet. You know my daily walk and conversation. I am in the bosom of a virtuous and good people. How I do love to hear the wolves howl! When they can get rid of me, the devil will also go.” (History of the church, pg 408 “Address of the Prophet—His Testimony Against the Dissenters at Nauvoo.(Sunday, May 26, 1844)”
4) Read II Corinthians 4:1-7
What was the apostle’s attitude toward the ministry entrusted to them?
_____________________________
5) Read the scan from the journal of
discourses. According to the Mormons who holds the key for going to
heaven? _______________________ Who gives permission or issues a
“passport” into heaven? _______________ When the
Catholics were trying such things, what did they call them? _____________
Who did the Catholics claim held the
“keys to the kingdom?” _____________________
6) Read John 14:1-6 According
to Jesus who holds the way into heaven? __________________ Who is
the truth? _____________________________
7) Ephesians 5:6-11 Vs 6
What caution does scripture hold for all this? ____________________
Vs 9 The fruit of light consists of ____________________, ___________________,
and __________________ Vs 11 what is the scripturally defined role for
you? ____________________________
8) Ephesians 4:11-14 What is
the stated reason for the church Vs 14? _______________________ Does it
matter what foundation a church is built on? _____________________
Excerpt from Joseph Smith’s 1826 trial
manuscript.
“That at Palmyra he pretended to tell by looking at this stone where coined money was buried in Pennsylvania, and while at Palmyra had frequently ascertained in that way where lost property was of various kinds; that he had occasionally been in the habit of looking through this stone to find lost property for three years, but of late had pretty much given it up on account of its injuring his health, especially his eyes, making them sore; that he did not solicit business of this kind, and had always rather declined having anything to do with this business.” Fraser's Magazine, February, 1873, vol. VII, (see supplements section)
Joseph Smith admitted doing this in
court… Pretending to be able to tell by looking at a stone,
hmm this sounds like the same line he told concerning his so-called revelation
of the Book of Mormon.
9) Read II Timothy 3:1-13 Will we be
exempt from dealing with false prophets? _________________
Focus on vs. 2. What are the relevant characteristics to the Joseph
Smith’s personality described? _________________
Let’s look at the games played by Joseph over
manipulating his wife, Emma Smith, into the polygamy doctrine.
““On the morning of the 12th of July, 1843; Joseph and Hyrum Smith came into the office... They were talking on the subject of plural marriage. Hyrum said to Joseph, 'If you will write the revelation on celestial marriage, I will take it and read it to Emma, and I believe I can convince her of its truth, and you will hereafter have peace.' Joseph smiled and remarked, 'you do not know Emma as well as I do.' (History of the Church, Joseph Smith, Volume 5, Introduction )
Well, to make a long story short, they tried this approach. How far do you suppose it would get with your wife? William Clayton and Joseph Smith waited in Joe’s office while Hyrum did the deed. When he returned he reported, “He had never received a more severe talking to in his life” (ibid). Smith’s response was, “'I told you, you did not know Emma as well as I did…” (ibid)
Pinning the Mormons down on this is a moving
target. For example look at the following Doctrine and Covenants entry.
9) Continued: Focus on the last phrase of II Timothy 3:4 How does this description relate to the behaviors described? ____________________ Does it also describe the antics of the folks around Joseph? ________
“Inasmuch as this church of Christ has been reproached with the crime of fornication, and polygamy: we declare that we believe, that one man should have one wife; and one woman, but one husband, except in the case of death, when either is at liberty to marry again.” (D&C 104) They removed it from the 1876 edition.
Note that if Joseph had convinced his wife, everyone else would have to be obligated to the same! "And again, as pertaining to the law of the priesthood—if any man espouse a virgin, and desire to espouse another, and the first give her consent, and if he espouse the second, and they are virgins, and have vowed to no other man, then is he justified; he cannot commit adultery for they are given unto him; for he cannot commit adultery with that that belongeth unto him and to no one else." (Doctrine and Covenants 132:61)
Like Mohammed, Joseph considered these so called
regulations to apply to everyone other than him. According to his own
so-called revelations, Joseph had a double affair with two ladies that were living
with him. Here is their report of said “marriage.”
A contemporary cartoon, lampooning the mourning for Bringham Young. IE: 12 widows crying in one bed...
A contemporary cartoon, lampooning the mourning for Bringham Young. IE: 12 widows crying in one bed...
“We had been there about a year when the principle of plural marriage was made known to us, and I was married to Joseph Smith on the 4th of March 1843, Elder Heber C. Kimball performing the ceremony. My sister Eliza was also married to Joseph a few days later. this was done without the knowledge of Emma Smith. Two months afterward she consented to give her husband two wives, providing he would give her the privilege of choosing them. She accordingly chose my sister Eliza and myself, and to save family trouble brother Joseph thought it best to have another ceremony
performed. Accordingly on the 11th of May, 1843, we were sealed to Joseph Smith a second time, in Emma's presence!” (Historical Record, p. 240)
9) Continued: Focus on II Timothy
3:5-9 Who is to harmed by their behavior? ____________ One of the
great powers of Christianity demonstrated on earth is the Christian home.
What are these people doing? _____________________ When we look
closely at their behavior what is the result Vs 9? ______________ The women within the ranks of Mormonism understandably
rebelled. From my present day discussion with Moslems I can pretty much
guess the reaction even without documentation, can’t you? Regularly
I have brought up the multiple wife thing to Moslems, and they tell me the
probable universal reaction in America is “I’d kill
him!” I have actually lost track of how often I have heard that
reaction. Apparently the Mormons were having the same problem.
Finally Brigham Young decided to handle the “problem.” He
delivered the following ultimatum:
“I wish my own women to understand that what I am going to say is for them as well as others, and I want those who are here to tell their sisters, yes, all the women of this community, and then write it back to the States, and do as you please with it. I am going to give you from this time to the 6th day of October next, for reflection, that you may determine whether you wish to stay with your husbands or not, and then I am going to set every woman at liberty and say to them, Now go your way, my women with the rest, go your way. and my wives have go to do one of two things; either round up their shoulders to endure the afflictions of this world, and live their religion, or they may leave, for I will not have them about me. I will go into heaven alone, rather than have scratching and fighting around me. (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 4. Brigham Young sermon, Pg 55 ff (Also published in the Deseret News)).
Let’s see, “get on board with this
polygamy thing or get out”! Doesn’t that pretty much sum it
up? “You have two weeks.” Perhaps there were a few more out
there like Smith’s Emma!
“Prepare yourselves for two
weeks from to morrow; and I will tell you now, that if you will tarry with your
husbands, after I have set you free, you must bow down to it, and submit
yourselves to the celestial law. You may go where you please, after two weeks from to-morrow; but, remember, that I
will not hear any more of this whining.” (ibid)
10) To follow false teaching what must you be willing
to sacrifice? ___________________________
11) Read Ephesians 5:25-33 What specific command is
being tossed out here? _____________________
12) Read Acts
15: 13-16 When James evaluated the conclusion reached by Peter, what standard
did James apply to determine whether it was true?
______________________________
Some of their dealings with scripture would be
downright comical, if it were not so serious! “When our father Adam
came into the garden of Eden, he came into it with a celestial body, and
brought Eve, one of his wives with him.” (Journal of Discourses, Brigham
Young, Vol. 1, page 50)
13) Read Jeremiah 14:11-15 Would it be fair to
say that God had given up on these people? _______________
What is Jeremiah’s complaint to God? Vs 13
_____________ _________________________ What is God’s response to
these people? ______________________________
Some of it is disgusting.
““I discover that some of the Eastern papers represent me as a great blasphemer, because I said, in my lecture on Marriage, at our last Conference, that Jesus Christ was married at Cana of Galilee, that Mary, Martha, and others were his wives, and that he begat children. (Journal of Discourses, Orson Hyde Mormon Apostle, Vol. 2, page 210)
Now, one obvious question that is often asked by Mormons
as they meet with you is, “How can you account for the Book of
Mormon?” Let’s note at least one possible explanation.
It is important to note that you do not necessarily need to know what or where
something came from in order to know what it is not. For example I do not
need to know the age of the earth in order to dispute the claim that it is 4.5
billion years old. I do not need to know all about the workings of the
Holy Spirit in order to know that Smith and Rigdon’s so-called
revelations did not come from Him. For the record, I do not know how David
Copperfield performs his acts of “magic.” I absolutely
know that Copperfield’s theatrical behavior is not the work of the Holy
Spirit!
That said, one of the most plausible explanations to
me is that it is in fact an altered form of the Solomon Spaulding novel,
“Manuscript lost.” I believe the evidence suggests that Joe
Smith and Sidney Rigdon cooked up this scheme together. Rigdon was
originally a Baptist preacher that was heavily influence by the restoration
movement. He even did some traveling and working with Alexander
Campbell. They seemed to have had a falling out over Rigdon’s
proposal to set up a quasi communal situation within the church. Campbell
denounced such. It seems plausible that Rigdon had the Spaulding
manuscript sometime between the years 1820-1823.
Solomon Spalding had originally delivered the
manuscript to a printer (then known as Patterson & Hopkins
Booksellers) in 1812. This firm changed hands through bankruptcies
and reorganization multiple times. Finally in 1823 the firm then
known as Patterson & Lambdin went into bankruptcy and was liquidated.
When the Book of Mormon came out, various of
Spaulding’s neighbors or acquaintances had signed statements saying the
book was actually a remake of Spaulding’s work. The key points that
seem to have resonated with the contemporaries were the strange names in both
Spaulding’s book and the Book of Mormon. Lehi, Nehi, Mormon
etc. These names, both unique and peculiar, were what stuck out.
Numerous statements, including one from Spaulding’s widow were collected
to preserve these “memories” for posterity.
False
prophecies.
The false prophecies of Smith and the other
“prophets” around him are numerous. We’ll deal with
only a few of them.
“SECTION 84Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Kirtland, Ohio, September 22 and 23, 1832. HC 1: 286—295. During the month of September, elders had begun to return from their missions in the eastern states and to make reports of their labors. It was while they were together in this season of joy that the following communication was received. The Prophet designates it a revelation on priesthood.1 A REVELATION• of Jesus Christ unto his servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and six elders, as they united• their hearts and lifted their voices on high.2 Yea, the word of the Lord concerning his church, established in the last days for the restoration of his people, as he has spoken by the mouth of his prophets•, and for the gathering• of his saints to stand upon Mount• Zion, which shall be the city of New• Jerusalem.3 Which city shall be built•, beginning at the temple• lot, which is appointed by the finger of the Lord, in the western boundaries of the State of Missouri, and dedicated• by the hand of Joseph Smith, Jun., and others with whom the Lord was well pleased.4 Verily this is the word of the Lord, that the city New• Jerusalem shall be built by the gathering of the saints, beginning at this place, even the place of the temple, which temple shall be reared• in this generation•.5 For verily this generation shall not all pass• away until an house• shall be built unto the Lord, and a cloud• shall rest upon it, which cloud shall be even the glory• of the Lord, which shall fill the house.”
14)
Was the “temple” raised in Independence, Missouri? _______________ Is everyone that
was alive in 1832 now dead? _______ Did Smith’s prophecy of a
New Jerusalem, complete with a temple in his generation come true? ______
Where is the “temple today?” _________________________
From THE DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS SECTION 114Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Far West, Missouri, April 17, 1838. 1—2, Church positions held by those who are not faithful shall be given to others. 1 VERILY thus saith the Lord: It is wisdom in my servant David W. Patten, that he settle up all his business as soon as he possibly can, and make a disposition of his merchandise, that he may perform• a mission unto me next spring, in company with others, even twelve including himself, to testify of my name and bear glad tidings unto all the world. 2 For verily thus saith the Lord, that inasmuch as there are those among you who deny my name, others shall be planted• in their stead• and receive their bishopric•. Amen.
Note
the date of the prophecy. Here is the point. David Patten, the one
supposed to “go on a mission next spring,” died in October.
He didn’t live to “next spring!”
The end of the world! 1896??? The minutes of the Kirkland High
Council February
14, 1835 (See
supplements for complete transcript.)
“To go on mission … God had not designed all this for nothing, but he had it in remembrance yet, and those who went to Zion, with a determination to lay down their lives, if necessary, it was the Will of God, that they should be ordained to the ministry and go forth to prune the vineyard for the last times, or the coming of the Lord which was nigh, 56 years to the end (1896) even fifty six years, should wind up the scene.
From this hour…”
Note,
this prophecy shows up several places. Virtually the same wording
shows up in History of the
Church, volume 2, page 182.
Like
today, they “knew in their hearts” that the end would come.
As you read the supplement, you’ll see that Joe described the meeting and
the subsequent revelations as from the “Holy Spirit.”
Smith taught similar things repeatedly. For
example, in History of the Church,
volume 1, page 323: Smith claimed “I asked of him a father's
blessing, which he granted by laying his hands upon my head, in the name of
Jesus Christ, and declaring that I should continue
in the Priest's office until Christ comes." January 23, 1833
15)
I John 4:1-6 Why do you suppose so many followed after Smith?
______________________________
16)
Deuteronomy 18:18-22 What is the classic standard by which we are to test a
prophet? ________________
Does
Joe pass the test? ___________________ What is God’s assessment of
Joe? _______________________
17)
Matthew 7:1-6 Should you “judge” Joe?
____________ From this section of scripture, what terminology would Jesus
use to describe Joseph Smith? ________________________ Matthew 7:13-23
Some of the “multitude” today look up to the Mormons as a standard
of moral excellence. Is this a legitimate standard by which to judge them
Vs 13-14? What terminology would Christ apply them in this section Vs
15-20? _________________________ What are some the fruits?
_________________________ Have these people done “great
things” for “God” Vs 21-23 ?
________________________ What is Christ’s assessment?
________________________
Smith
also tried his hand at bank fraud. He attempted to set up a bank. The
state refused him a charter, so he called it an anti-bank and started issuing
these worthless bank notes. Joseph and Sidney Rigdon were tried for violating
said banking laws, found guilty, and fined $1000 each.
The “assassination” of
Joseph and Hyrum Smith is a matter of perspective. For
Mormons it is a sign of religious persecution. For those outside of
Mormonism it is an example of rebellion against religious and political
tyranny. Assassination or rebellion is a matter of lively debate.
Joe had set himself up as Mayor, Mormons also
lopsidedly controlled the city council. When warrants had been served on
Smith he had used a writ of Habeas Corpus to invalidate them. A group of
ex-Mormons headed by William Law founded a anti-Mormon paper called the Nauvoo
Expositor. Law had been offended when Smith tried to seduce his wife into
a “plural marriage” arrangement. Law apparently confronted
said wife and she confirmed that Smith had “revealed” to her that
half her love was for her husband, and half for Smith. This newspaper was
only allowed to print one edition….
Be that as it may be…
The Mormon city council declared the paper a
“public nuisance” and order it destroyed. The warrants were
served on Smith then squelched. Smith ultimately declared martial law and
ordered his Nauvoo Legion to be called out. This was his private army of
about 5000.
The Illinois governor Thomas Ford
offered to guarantee Smith safety for a trial at Carthage, Illinois.
Smith had to either surrender or face all out war. Once there, both Hyrum
and Joe Smith were not only charged with riot, but for treason.
They were to be held without bail. If convicted they faced the death penalty.
On June 27, 1844 a group of about 200 men with painted faces stormed the jail. Smith had a six shooter and
went out in a blaze of glory. Three of his shots misfired, but he got the
other three off.
"I shall never forget the deep feeling of sympathy and regard manifested in the countenance of Brother Joseph as he drew nigh to Hyrum, and, leaning over him, exclaimed, 'Oh! my poor, dear brother Hyrum!' He, however, instantly arose, and with a firm, quick step, and a determined expression of countenance, approached the door, and pulling the six-shooter left by Brother Wheelock from his pocket, opened the door slightly, and snapped the pistol six successive times; only three of the barrels, however, were discharged. I afterwards understood that two or three were WOUNDED by these discharges, TWO of whom, I am informed DIED." (History of the Church, Vol. 7, pp. 103)
18) John 10:17-19 Is it fair to
compare the death of Joseph with the death of Jesus? __________
What is the difference? ______________________________
19) Read John 18:6-11 What is
different in attitude? ______________________________
Hi I am glad you stopped by our blog. These articles are from an emailing that we did several years ago. Today most of our work is on facebook
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If you wish to worship with us....
Las Vegas church of Christ
709 Dora Celeste
Las Vegas, NM 87701
Our meeting times are
10am Sunday morning for Bible study.
11am Sunday morning for the worship service.
6pm Wednesday evening for Midweek Bible study.
If you wish to contact me...
yakipreacher@gmail.com
Be well
Jerry Blount
