View source for Criticism of Mormonism/Books/One Nation Under Gods/Chapter 18

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{{Resource Title|Response to claims made in "Chapter 18: Cover-Ups, Conspiracies, and Controversies"}}
{{FAIRAnalysisHeader
|title=[[../../|One Nation Under Gods]]
|author=Richard Abanes
|noauthor=
|section=[[../../Index|Index of claims]]: Claims made in "Chapter 18: Cover-Ups, Conspiracies, and Controversies"
|previous=[[../Chapter 17|Claims made in "Chapter 17: Is Mormonism Christian?"]]
|next=[[../Postscript|Claims made in "Postscript" (paperback only)]]
|notes={{AuthorsDisclaimer}}
}}

{{Epigraph|[T]he general public, especially outside America, still possesses little knowledge of the unsavory nature of Mormonism.<br>
&mdash;''One Nation Under Gods'', p. 403.}}
{{parabreak}}

====402 (PB) - Does the Mormon Tabernacle Choir "proselytize unsuspecting music lovers"?====
{{IndexClaimItemShort
|title=One Nation Under Gods
|claim=
Does the Mormon Tabernacle Choir "proselytize unsuspecting music lovers"?
|authorsources=
Author's opinion.
}}
This is simply an absurd claim.

====403 - "The general public, especially outside America, still possesses little knowledge of the unsavory nature of Mormonism."====
{{IndexClaimItemShort
|title=One Nation Under Gods
|claim=
{{AuthorQuote|"The general public, especially outside America, still possesses little knowledge of the unsavory nature of Mormonism."}}
|authorsources=
Author's opinion.
}}
* This book's many errors and misrepresentations will not help anyone gain an accurate understanding of the Church.
*[[../../Loaded and prejudicial language|Loaded and prejudicial language]]

====403, 605n9 (PB)====
{{IndexClaim
|claim=
*Baptisms for the dead were performed for Nazis, including Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun. Was this done so that they could "thereby become gods?"
|response=
* Members of the Church leave all judgment in God's hands.  They are commanded to perform vicarious ordinances for ''all'' deceased persons for whom records exist.  This is no way guarantees or implies Hitler's acceptance of Mormonism or forgiveness.  Such matters are left to God.
* Does the author really wish to imply, though, that even the most wicked sinner might be beyond the reach of Christ's atoning grace?  The Latter-day Saints do not.
*[[Temples/Baptism for the dead]]
*[[../../Loaded and prejudicial language|Loaded and prejudicial language]]
|authorsources=
*Helen Radkey, "The Mormon Church Attempts to Conceal Temple Records for Adolf Hitler"
*Jan Cienski, "Jews Urge Mormons to Curb Zeal," National Post, June 6, 2001.
}}
====403 - Are baptisms for the dead incompatible with Christianity?====
{{IndexClaimItemShort
|title=One Nation Under Gods
|claim=
Are baptisms for the dead incompatible with Christianity?
|authorsources=
Author's opinion.
}}
* {{FalseStatement}}: the Bible itself describes Christians carrying out this practice: {{b|1|Corinthians|15|29}}.
* It may not be a practice found in ''the author's'' brand of Christianity, but it has ample precedent among early believers.
* {{IE1|author=Hugh W. Nibley|article=Baptism for the Dead in Ancient Times|date=1948, 1949|start=multiple}} {{link|url=http://mi.byu.edu/publications/transcripts/?id=67}}
{{:Mormonism and temples/Baptism for the dead/Authentic Christian practice}}

====404====
{{IndexClaim
|claim=
*{{AuthorQuote|"It is possible that many readers of this book have had their deceased relatives baptized by proxy into Mormonism, even though such persons might not have wanted anything to do with Mormonism during their lives."}}
|response=
* LDS proxy baptisms only give the dead ''the opportunity'' to accept it if they wish.  They have no power on any who decline them.
* If one believes the LDS Church is false, then LDS proxy baptisms can have no power whatever, and the dead are completely unaffected thereby.
*[[Temples/Baptism for the dead/Refusing]]
*[[Temples/Baptism for the dead]]
*[[../../Loaded and prejudicial language|Loaded and prejudicial language]]
|authorsources=
*Author's opinion.
}}
====404, 605n14 (PB) - Did Latter-day Saints perform vicarious baptisms for Jews who had died in the Holocaust?====
{{IndexClaimItemShort
|title=One Nation Under Gods
|claim=
Did Latter-day Saints perform vicarious baptisms for Jews who had died in the Holocaust?
|authorsources=
Bob Mims, "LDS Try to End Unauthorized Work for Jews," ''Salt Lake Tribune'', May 2, 2001.
}}
* Those who did so violated the Church's stated policies.
{{:Mormonism and temples/Work for Holocaust victims}}

====405, 605n18-19 (PB)====
{{IndexClaim
|claim=
*Do LDS leaders suppress access to Church archives?
|response=
* Steven L. Olsen, "Is the Church Archives Closed?" (FAIR Conference, 2007). {{fairlink|url=http://www.fairlds.org/FAIR_Conferences/2007_Is_the_Church_Archives_Closed.html}}
* The author fails to note that Fawn Brodie worked in the 1940s, when the archives were less well-organized&mdash;her experience is irrelevant to the present-day.
* [[Church history/Censorship and revision]]
|authorsources=
*Fawn Brodie. Quoted by Newell G. Bringhurst, "Fawn McKay Brodie: Dissident Historian and Quintessential Critic of Mormondom," in Roger Launius, Linda Thatcher, Leonard J. Arrington, eds., ''Differing Visions: Dissenters in Mormon History'', 290.
*B. Carmon Hardy, "Truth and Mistruth in Mormon History," in Lavina Fielding Anderson and Janice Merrill Allred, eds., ''Case Reports of the Mormon Alliance'', vol. 3, 279. (The author lists all three volumes as "available for purchase" from the Tanner's ULM.)
}}
====405, 607n21 (HB) 605n21 (PB) - "LDS leaders re-write historical documents, deny that other documents exist, create fictitious historical data..."====
{{IndexClaimItemShort
|title=One Nation Under Gods
|claim=
{{AuthorQuote|"LDS leaders re-write historical documents, deny that other documents exist, create fictitious historical data, add words to update old revelations so that they conform to current events/knowledge, and delete various sections of divine pronouncements said to have been transcribe perfectly when originally delivered."}}
|authorsources=
{{CriticalWork:Ostling:Mormon America|pages=249}}, summarizing the views of Mark P. Leone, ''Roots of Modern Mormonism'', 204, 211.
}}
{{:Question: Has the Church "whitewashed" some of the information about its origins to appear more palatable to members and investigators?}}

====406, 605n22 (PB) - The ''History of the Church'' was mostly written after his death, but reads as if he wrote it himself====
{{IndexClaimItemShort
|title=One Nation Under Gods
|claim=
The ''History of the Church'' was mostly written after his death, but reads as if he wrote it himself.
|authorsources=<br>
*Dean C. Jessee, "[http://byustudies.byu.edu/Products/MoreInfoPage/MoreInfo.aspx?Type=7&ProdID=578 The Writing of Joseph Smith's History]," ''Brigham Young University Studies'' [Summer 1971], vol. 11, 469, 470, 472.
*{{CriticalWork:Tanner:Mormonism Shadow|pages=126-162D}}
*{{CriticalWork:Tanner:Changing World|pages=398-416}}
*Jerald and Sandra Tanner, ''Major Problems of Mormonism''.
}}
* This is no secret; using Joseph's authorial voice was standard practice for the day.
* The history was completed up to 5 August 1838 under Joseph's direction (See Jesse, 466).
{{:Mormonism and history/History of the Church/Authorship}}

====406 - Was writing the ''History of the Church'' as if Joseph himself wrote it a "flagrant breach of standard protocol for persons producing historical works" as the book claims?====
{{IndexClaimItemShort
|title=One Nation Under Gods
|claim=
Was writing the ''History of the Church'' as if Joseph himself wrote it a "flagrant breach of standard protocol for persons producing historical works" as the book claims?
|authorsources=
No citation provided.
}}
* {{FalseStatement}}: using Joseph's authorial voice was standard practice for the day.
* The Jesse article cited above by the author demonstrates that no effort was made to hide who had written the history.
*[[../../Presentism|Presentism]]

====406, 608n23 (HB) 606n23 (PB) - Was a "forged prediction" added to the history that a "mighty people" that would dwell "in the midst of the Rocky Mountains"?====
{{IndexClaimItemShort
|title=One Nation Under Gods
|claim=
Was a "forged prediction" added to the history that a "mighty people" that would dwell "in the midst of the Rocky Mountains"?
|authorsources=<br>
*''History of the Church'', vol. 5, 85, 393-394, 398.
*No other citation is given to support this claim, but the argument is found in {{CriticalWork:Tanner:Changing World|pages=404-408}}
}}
{{:Joseph Smith/Alleged false prophecies/Rocky Mountain prophecy}}

====406, 606n23 (PB)====
{{IndexClaim
|claim=
*Was a "forged prediction" added to the history of the Church regarding the future political career of Senator Steven (sic) A. Douglas?" 
*(Note: Should be "Stephen" A. Douglas)
|response=
* {{FalseStatement}}: in fact, the prediction was published more than a year before Douglas' attack on the Church; this was well-before his aspirations to the U.S. presidency or fall in political fortunes.
* [[../../Use of sources/Stephen A. Douglas prophecy|Timing of Stephen A. Douglas prophecy]]
|authorsources=
*''History of the Church'', vol. 5, 85, 393-394, 398.
*No other citation is given to support this claim.
}}

====407, 606n26 (PB)====
{{IndexClaim
|claim=
*Were over 62,000 words were added or deleted from the history of the Church?
*The endnote adds that LDS leaders claim that the "official history" is "the most accurate history in all the world."
|response=
* [[../../Use of sources/Most accurate history in all the world|Use of sources:Most accurate history in all the world?]]
*[[History of the Church/Authorship]]
|authorsources=
*John Widtsoe, ''Joseph Smith-Seeker After Truth'', 297.
*Joseph Fielding Smith, ''Doctrines of Salvation'', vol. 2, 199.
}}

====407 - The minutes of a conference dealing with Sidney Rigdon discussed in Volume six of the ''History of the Church'' differs from the minutes originally printed in the ''Times and Seasons''====
{{IndexClaimItemShort
|title=One Nation Under Gods
|claim=
The minutes of a conference dealing with Sidney Rigdon discussed in Volume six of the ''History of the Church'' differs from the minutes originally printed in the ''Times and Seasons''.
|authorsources=<br>
*''History of the Church'', vol. 6, 47-48.
*''Times and Seasons'', vol. 4, 330.
}}
{{:Mormonism and history/Censorship and revision/Sidney Rigdon trial in Times and Seasons versus History of the Church}}

====408, 608n28 (HB) 606n28 (PB)====
{{IndexClaim
|claim=
*Were Joseph's revelations revised to make them "more palatable?"
|response=
*[[../../Use of sources/Advertising for the Tanners|Use of sources: Advertising for the Tanners]]
|authorsources=
*Hugh Nibley, letter to Morris L. Reynolds, May 12, 1966. Quoted in Jerald Tanner and Sandra Tanner, ''Case Against Mormonism'' (Salt Lake City: ULM, 1967), vol. 1, 132.
}}
<!-- ====408, 607n33 (PB)====
{{IndexClaim
|claim=
*Did the Church attempt to suppress a copy of the ''Book of Commandments'' that was locked in the vault?
|response=
*{{nw}}
|authorsources=
*Tanner and Tanner, ''Major Problems of Mormonism'', 135.
}} -->

====412====
{{IndexClaim
|claim=
*Is "academic dishonesty foisted upon church members by LDS scholars" as the book claims?
|response=
*[[../../Loaded and prejudicial language|Loaded and prejudicial language]]
|authorsources=
*No source provided.
}}
====412====
{{IndexClaim
|claim=
*{{AuthorQuote|"Mormonism has been an emotion-based religion opposed to intellectual, rational thought."}}
|response=
* Many Mormons seem to have been able to use "intellectual, rational thought" to demonstrate the many errors, distortions, and misstatements in this work attacking their faith.
* LDS testimonies involve both [[Holy Ghost/Burning in the bosom|mind and heart]].
* Members of the Church become ''more active'' and committed to their faith as their degree of education increases: [[Mormonism_and_education/Education_and_belief|Education and belief]].  This does not prove the Church true, but it does put the lie to claims that members are ill-informed, uneducated, or ignorant.
* [[../../Loaded and prejudicial language|Loaded and prejudicial language]]
|authorsources=
*Author's opinion.
}}
====412 - Why are Latter-day Saints supposed to only rely on the "burning in the bosom" even if they are "faced with irrefutable facts that undermine the LDS church"?====
{{IndexClaimItemShort
|title=One Nation Under Gods
|claim=
Why are Latter-day Saints supposed to only rely on the "burning in the bosom" even if they are "faced with irrefutable facts that undermine the LDS church"?
|authorsources=
Author's opinion.
}}
{{:Question: Is a "burning in the bosom" simply a subjective, emotion-based, unreliable way to practice self-deception?}}

====412, 609n34 (HB) 607n34 (PB)====
{{IndexClaim
|claim=
*Are Latter-day Saints instructed to "simply not think and obey church authorities?" 
*The endnote states that this message was never officially rescinded by the Church.
|response=
*Actually, President George Albert Smith immediately repudiated this message:
<blockquote>
Even to imply that members of the Church are not to do their own thinking is grossly to misrepresent the true ideal of the Church, which is that every individual must obtain for himself a testimony of the truth of the Gospel, must, through the redemption of Jesus Christ, work out his own salvation, and is personally responsible to His Maker for his individual acts. 
</blockquote>
*See President G.A. Smith's response here: [http://www.fairlds.org/Misc/When_the_Prophet_Speaks_is_the_Thinking_Done.html Letter from President George Albert Smith to Dr. J. Raymond Cope, Dec. 7, 1945].
*[[Authoritarianism and Church leaders|"When our leaders speak, the thinking has been done?"]]
|authorsources=
*"Ward Teachers Message," ''Deseret News'', May 26, 1945, 5.
*''Improvement Era'', June 1945, 354.
}}

====413-414, 609-610n39 (HB) 607n39 (PB)====
{{IndexClaim
|claim=
*Did Ezra Taft Benson's talk about "Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophet" speech eliminate the possibility of Latter-day Saints exercising independent thought?
|response=
*[[../../Use of sources/The LDS as Mindless Followers|Use of sources: The LDS as Mindless Followers]]
|authorsources=
*Ezra Taft Benson, "Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophet," February 26, 1980.
}}
====414, 610n42 (HB) 608n42 (PB)====
{{IndexClaim
|claim=
*Steve Benson said "When the prophet has spoken, the debate is over."
|response=
*The original claim that "the thinking is done" was made once in a church magazine, and the president of the Church immediately declared it to be false.  Anti-Mormons continue to invoke it. 
*N. Eldon Tanner ''did'' say the following in 1979 regarding ''moral issues'':
<blockquote>
Why should there be any debate over the '''moral issues''' which are confounding the world today? When the prophet speaks the debate is over. ("The Debate is Over", ''Ensign'', August 1979} {{ea}}
</blockquote>
*{{Offsite|http://www.fairlds.org/Misc/When_the_Prophet_Speaks_is_the_Thinking_Done.html|When the Prophet speaks, the thinking is done?}}
|authorsources=
*Steve Benson, ''60 Minutes'', April 7, 1996.
}}
====415, 608-609n43-57 (PB)====
{{IndexClaim
|claim=
*Did the Church excommunicate a number of "dissidents?"
|response=
*[[../../Use of sources/Boyd K. Packer on the truth|Boyd K. Packer: The Mantle Is Far, Far Greater]]
*[[../../Use of sources/Boyd K. Packer on the truth|Quinn: On Being A Mormon Historian]]
*{{nw}}
|authorsources=
*Jerald and Sandra Tanner, "Mormon Inquisition?" LDS Leaders Move to Repress Rebellion," ''Salt Lake City Messenger'' (#85), November 1993.
*Lavina Fielding Anderson, "The LDS Intellectual Community and Church Leadership: A Contemporary Chronology," ''Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought'' (Spring 1993), vol. 26.
*Paul Toscano, "All Is Not Well in Zion: Falsoe Teachings of the True Church" (1993), Sunstone Symposium lecture.
*Maxine Hanks, ''Women and Authority: Re-emerging Mormon Feminism''.
*D. Michael Quinn, "On Being a Mormon Historian (and Its Aftermath)," in George D. Smith, ''Faithful History: Essays On Writing Mormon History'', 76 (endnote #22 in Quinn).
*Boyd K. Packer, "The Mantle Is Far, Far Greater Than the Intellect", August, 22, 1981.
*Boyd K. Packer, ''Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled'', 106.
*Boyd K. Packer. Quoted in ''Salt Lake Tribune'', September 20, 1993.
*''Private Eye Weekly'', Oct. 20, 1993. Quoted in Tanner and Tanner, "Mormon Inquisition?", 9.
*Bryan Waterman and Brian Kagel, ''The Lord's University: Freedom and Authority at BYU''.
*David P. Wright, "In Plain Terms that We May Understand: Joseph Smith's Transformation of Hebrews in Alma 12-13" in Brent Metcalfe, ed., ''New Approaches to the Book of Mormon'', 207.
}}

====418, 611n58 (HB) 609n58 (PB)====
{{IndexClaim
|claim=
*Did President Hinckley say that "dissidents" that were excommunicated got what they deserved "as cursed servants of Satan?" President Hinckley said: 
<blockquote>
"I think the Lord had them in mind when he declared: 'Cursed are all those that shall life up the heel against mine anointed, saith the Lord.'...[T]hey are the servants of sin, and are the children of disobedience themselves."
</blockquote>
|response=
* {{SourceDistortion}}: [[../../Use of sources/President Hinckley and enemies of the Church|Use of sources:President Hinckley and enemies of the Church]]
|authorsources=
*Gordon B. Hinckley, "Prophet Pre-eminently Grateful for Testimony," ''LDS Church News'', April 8, 2000.
}}

====418, 611n59-60 (HB) 609n59-60 (PB) - Is the "Strengthening Church Members Committee" is a group used to spy on members of the Church?====
{{IndexClaimItemShort
|title=One Nation Under Gods
|claim=
Is the "Strengthening Church Members Committee" is a group used to spy on members of the Church?
|authorsources=<br>
*{{CriticalWork:Ostling:Mormon America|pages=354}}
*Jerald and Sandra Tanner, ''Mormon Spies, Hughes, and the C.I.A.''
*Peggy Fletcher Stack, "Feminist BYU Professor Fired, but Not Discredited," ''Salt Lake Tribune'', June 8, 1996.
}}
{{:Question: What is the Strengthening Church Members Committee?}}
{{:Question: Does the Strengthening Church Members Committee still exist?}}

====419 - Why did the 1997 Relief Society manual make it sound as if Brigham Young only had one wife and six children?====
{{IndexClaimItemShort
|title=One Nation Under Gods
|claim=
Why did the 1997 Relief Society manual make it sound as if Brigham Young only had one wife and six children?
|authorsources=
1997 Relief Society manual.
}}
{{:Question: Does Church manual, ''The Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young'', attempt to "hide history" by portraying Brigham Young (a well-known polygamist) as having only one wife?}}

====420, 611n63 (HB) 609n63 (PB)====
{{IndexClaim
|claim=
*Did Gordon B. Hinckley try to cover up the Church's polygamous past when he appeared on Larry King Live and said that only two to five percent of the early LDS practiced it?
|response=
* The author is assuming motive, and presuming that President Hinckley knew that his figure was wrong.
* The calculated incidence of polygamy varies depending on one's assumptions.  The 2-5% figure is true if all polygamous ''males'' are divided by total members, but this is probably not the best measure to use.
* [[Polygamy/Prevalence of in Utah]]
|authorsources=
*Larry King Live
}}
====420, 612n68-71 (HB) 610n68-71 (PB)====
{{IndexClaim
|claim=
*Does the ''Book of Mormon'' claim that Native Americans will miraculously turn "white-skinned" by accepting "Mormon beliefs?" *Didn't Brigham Young and Spencer W. Kimball say that they would become "white and delightsome?"
|response=
* Brigham Young and Spencer W. Kimball were unaware of a [[Book_of_Mormon/Textual_changes/%22white%22_changed_to_%22pure%22|clarification]] on this issue which Joseph Smith had made to the Book of Mormon text.
* [[Book of Mormon/Lamanites/Curse]]
* In any case, the LDS do not believe in [[Fallibility of prophets|prophetic infallibility]].
|authorsources=
*{{s|2|Nephi|5|21}}
*{{JDfairwiki|author=Brigham Young|disc=53|vol=7|start=336}}
*Spencer W. Kimball, ''Improvement Era'', December 1960, 922-923. Qjuoted in Bill McKeever and Eric Johnson, "Pure and Delightsome," ''Mormonism Researched'', Spring 1994, 5.
}}
====422, 612n75 (HB) 610n75 (PB)====
{{IndexClaim
|claim=
*Did the Church acquire the Hofmann documents (later discovered to be forgeries) in order to suppress them?
|response=
* [[Mark Hofmann]]
*[[Mark Hofmann/Church reaction to forgeries|Church reaction to Hofmann forgeries]]
* {{nw}}
|authorsources=
*Jerald and Sandra Tanner, "Hofmann Talks," ''Salt Lake City Messenger'' (#64), January 1987, 7.
}}

====424====
{{IndexClaim
|claim=
*Did LDS officials hinder the Hofmann investigation by not providing information about the Hofmann document acquisitions?
|response=
* [[Mark Hofmann]]
*[[Mark Hofmann/Church reaction to forgeries|Church reaction to Hofmann forgeries]]
* {{nw}}
|authorsources=
*No source given.
}}
====424====
{{IndexClaim
|claim=
*{{AuthorQuote|"Mormon leaders also blocked efforts by police to see exactly what documents were in LDS church vaults, apparently knowing that some of their authentic documents not yet released to the public might further damage the church's reputation if the contents of them were to be revealed."}}
|response=
*[[Mark Hofmann]]
*[[Mark Hofmann/Church reaction to forgeries|Church reaction to Hofmann forgeries]]
*[[../../Loaded and prejudicial language|Loaded and prejudicial lanaguage]]
* {{nw}}
|authorsources=
*This is pure conjecture on the part of the author.
}}
<!-- ====424, 610n77====
{{IndexClaim
|claim=
*According to the Tanners, Richard Turley's book ''Victims: The LDS Church and the Mark Hofmann Case'' "shows that Mormon Church leaders were engaged in a conspiracy of silence with regard to the McLellin collection to save the church's image."
|response=
* [[Mark Hofmann]]
* {{nw}}
|authorsources=
*Jerald and Sandra Tanner, "Mormon Leaders suppress 'Key' Item in Murder Case," ''Salt Lake City Messenger'' (#83), November 1992, 3-4.
}} -->

====424, 612n78 (HB) 610n78 (PB)====
{{IndexClaim
|claim=
*Should LDS leaders have been capable of detecting the Hofmann deception?
|response=
*{{FalseStatement}}: LDS doctrine is very clear that prophets will ''not'' always know deception when they see it.  For it to be otherwise would be to threaten moral agency.  Said the Lord to Joseph Smith: "as you cannot always judge the righteous, or as you cannot always tell the wicked from the righteous, therefore I say unto you, hold your peace until I shall see fit to make all things known unto the world concerning the matter" ({{s||DC|10|37}}).
*[[../../Use of sources/Church leaders will always know deception|Use of sources: Church leaders will always know deception]]
|authorsources=
*Bruce R. McConkie, ''Mormon Doctrine'', 197.
*{{s||DC|46|27}}
}}
====427====
{{IndexClaim
|claim=
*{{AuthorQuote|"The Mormon habit of sometimes taking detours around truth to protect the church has not always led to murder."}}
|response=
*The book seems to be implying that the Hofmann murders were the fault of the Church.
*[[../../Loaded and prejudicial language|Loaded and prejudicial language]]
|authorsources=
*Author's statement.
}}
====428, n85 - Paul H. Dunn defended his embellishments in order to "illustrate his theological and moral points."====
{{IndexClaimItemShort
|title=One Nation Under Gods
|claim=
Paul H. Dunn defended his embellishments in order to "illustrate his theological and moral points."
|authorsources=
Richard Robertson, ''Arizona Republic'', February 16, 1991, B9.
}}
* Paul H. Dunn was disciplined by the Church, and required to apologize for his actions.
* This demonstrates that the Church does not endorse or support Dunn's choices.  His decision to justify himself is immaterial.  Ought we to judge Jesus and his teachings by the choices of one of his apostles, Judas?
{{:Question: Who was Paul H. Dunn and what happened to him?}}
{{:Question: Many who listened to Elder Dunn's stories felt the spirit. Why would one feel the spirit upon hearing a story that was fabricated? Doesn't this confirm a lie?}}
{{:Question: Why did Elder Dunn exaggerate elements of these stories?}}

====430-433 - Was the Salt Lake Olympic bribery scandal the fault of the Church?====
{{IndexClaimItemShort
|title=One Nation Under Gods
|claim=
Was the Salt Lake Olympic bribery scandal the fault of the Church?
|authorsources=
Various citations regarding the scandal.
}}
*It is not clear what the actions of these individuals, despite the fact that some were LDS, has to do with the Church itself.  Do we condemn other Christian faiths simply because their ministers may be found guilty of sex scandals, financial impropriety, or child abuse?  Or, do we conclude that not all members of a faith live up to its precepts?
*The author ignores that a Church member, Mitt Romney, was hired to "clean up" the games and eventually stage a successful Olympics.
*[[Logical_fallacies#Guilt_by_association|Logical fallacies: guilt by association]]

====434, 614n117-127 - Do Latter-day Saints believe they will rescue the Constitution from ruin, thus allowing "Mormonism" to take over the world?====
{{IndexClaimItemShort
|title=One Nation Under Gods
|claim=
Do Latter-day Saints believe they will rescue the Constitution from ruin, thus allowing "Mormonism" to take over the world?
|authorsources=
*Joseph F. Smith, ''conference Report'', October 1912, 11.
*Melvin J. Ballard, ''Conference Report'', October 1928, 108.
*Mark E. Petersen, ''Conference Report'', April 1946, 171.
*Joseph Fielding Smith, ''Conference REport'', April 1950, 159.
*Harold B. Lee, ''Conference Report'', October 1952, 18.
*Senator Wallace F. Bennett, ''BYU Speeches'', February 15, 1961, 13.
*Dr. Ernest L. Wilinson, ''BYU speeches'', April 21, 1966, 7.
*Ezra Taft Benson, "Jesus Christ-Gifts and Expectations," ''New Era'', May 1975, 19.
*Ezra Taft Benson, ''Teaching of Ezra Taft Benson'', 619.
*Daniel H. Ludlow, ed. ''Selections from Encyclopedia of Mormonism'', "The Church and Society," 122.
*"Weatherman's politics cloud his role on TV," ''Seattle Times'', November 24, 2000, 2.
}}
No, actually this isn't a LDS belief at all&mdash;it isn't even discussed in Church.
{{:Question: What is the "White Horse Prophecy"?}}

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[[fr:Specific works/One Nation Under Gods/Index/Chapter 18]]