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| − | __NOTOC__
| + | #REDIRECT [[Criticism of Mormonism/Books/Becoming Gods]] |
| − | {{FAIRAnalysisHeader
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| − | |title=[[../]]
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| − | |author=Richard Abanes
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| − | |noauthor=
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| − | |section=Index of Claims, p. 1 of 2
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| − | |previous=
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| − | |next=[[Becoming Gods/Index/Page 2|Index—p. 2]]
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| − | |notes={{AuthorsDisclaimer}}
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| − | }}
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| − | ==Index to claims made in ''Becoming Gods: A Closer Look at 21st-Century Mormonism'' p. 1 of 2==
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| − | This is an index of claims made in this work with links to corresponding responses within the FAIRwiki. An effort has been made to provide the author's original sources where possible.
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| − | | |
| − | *[[/Preface|Claims made in Preface: "Can't We All Just Get Along?"]]
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| − | | |
| − | *[[/Chapter 1|Claims made in "Chapter 1: God's Latter-Day Prophet"]]
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| − | | |
| − | ===Claims made in Chapter 2: And it Came to Pass===
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| − | {| valign="top" border="1" style="width:100%; font-size:85%"
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| − | !width="5%"|Page
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| − | !width="40%"|Claim
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| − | !width="30%"|Response
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| − | !width="25%"|[[Use of sources]]
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| − | |-
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| − | |
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| − | ====51, 353n2, 354n3====
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| − | ||Some Book of Mormon stories are simply reworked from the Bible or the Apocrypha.
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| − | ||
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| − | * {{SecondaryFact}}
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| − | *[[Book_of_Mormon/Plagiarism_accusations/Apocrypha|Book of Mormon plagiarized from the Apocrypha]]
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| − | *[[Book of Mormon plagiarized from the Bible]]
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| − | ||
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| − | *{{CriticalWork:Brodie:No Man Knows|pages=62-63}}
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| − | |-
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| − | |
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| − | | |
| − | ====55, 355n28====
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| − | ||The 1839 history of the Church identified the angel who delivered the plates to Joseph as Nephi rather than Moroni.
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| − | ||
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| − | *[[Nephi or Moroni]]
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| − | ||
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| − | *Joseph Smith 1839 History
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| − | *''Millennial Star'', vol. 3, no 12, pp. 53, 71.
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| − | *1851 Pearl of Great Price, "Joseph Smith History," p. 41
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| − | *Lucy Mack Smith, ''Biographical Sketches of Joseph Smith the Prophet, and His Progenitors for many Generations'', p. 79.
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| − | *John C. Whitmer, "The Eight Witnesses," published in Andrew Jenson, HR, Oct. 1888, vol. 7, p. 621."
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| − | |-
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| − | |
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| − | | |
| − | ====56====
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| − | ||The name "Nephi" is related to "generic terms used by nineteenth-century occultists for spirit messengers."
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| − | ||
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| − | * {{SecondaryFact}}
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| − | ||
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| − | *{{CriticalWork:Quinn:Magic World View|pages=198-199}}
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| − | |-
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| − | |
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| − | | |
| − | ====56, 357n34====
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| − | ||Joseph used his seer stone to locate the plates.
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| − | ||
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| − | * [[Joseph Smith and seer stones]]
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| − | ||
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| − | *Martin Harris, ''Tiffany's Monthly'' interview, 1859.
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| − | *Hosea Stout, ''On the Mormon Frontier: The Diary of Hosea Stout'', Juanita Brooks, ed., vol. 2. p. 593.
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| − | |-
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| − | |
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| − | | |
| − | ====56, 357n33====
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| − | ||Joseph Smith's vision of Moroni may have taken place through his seer stone.
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| − | ||
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| − | * [[Joseph Smith and seer stones]]
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| − | ||
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| − | *Steven C. Walker, "Joseph Smith: 'The Gift of Seeing,'" in Bryan Waterman ed., ''The Prophet Puzzle'', p. 97.
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| − | |-
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| − | |
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| − | | |
| − | ====56, 357n35-36====
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| − | ||The "golden book" was originally supposed to be about "hidden treasure" — the "religious twist" was added later.
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| − | ||
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| − | *{{FalseStatement}}
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| − | * These supposed "early" accounts comes from hostile statements made forty to fifty years later!
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| − | **{{FR-18-1-5}}
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| − | **{{FR-17-1-4}}
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| − | ||
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| − | *Parley Chase, letter to James T. Cobb, Apr. 3, 1879, in {{CriticalWork:Wyl:Mormon Portraits Volume First|pages=276}} , reprinted in {{EarlyMormonDocs1|vol=3|start=135}}
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| − | *Hiel Lewis, ''The Amboy Journal'', Apr. 30, 1879, quoted in Wesley P. Walters, "The Mormon Prophet Attempts to Join the Methodists"
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| − | |-
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| − | |
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| − | | |
| − | ====56====
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| − | ||Joseph translated the plates by looking at his seer stone in his hat. The plates were not nearby.
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| − | ||
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| − | * [[Book_of_Mormon_translation_method|Book of Mormon translation method]]
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| − | *[[Joseph Smith and seer stones]]
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| − | ||
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| − | *Isaac Hale, "Mormonism," ''Susquehanna Register'', and Northern Pennsylvanian, May 1, 1834, p. 1.
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| − | |-
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| − | | |
| − | ====57, 358-9n47====
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| − | ||Each sentence and word in the 1830 Book of Mormon "had supposedly come directly from God."
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| − | ||
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| − | *{{Fundamentalism}}
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| − | *[[Book of Mormon translation method]]
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| − | ||
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| − | *Joseph F. Smith, quoted by Oliver B. Huntington, ''Journal of Oliver Huntington'', p. 168.
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| − | |-
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| − | |
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| − | | |
| − | ====57-58, 359n49====
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| − | ||A voice from heaven proclaimed that the translation was correct, therefore no further editing should have been required.
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| − | ||
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| − | *{{Fundamentalism}}: a translation may be correct, and yet another way of expressing the idea may be equally (or more) correct. There is no such thing as a perfect or "one true" translation.
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| − | *[[Book of Mormon textual changes]]
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| − | ||
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| − | *''History of the Church'', vol. 1, pp. 54-55.
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| − | |-
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| − | |
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| − | | |
| − | ====58, 359n50-51====
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| − | ||The use of the word "synagogue" in the Book of Mormon is an anachronism.
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| − | ||
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| − | *[[Book of Mormon anachronisms/Synagogues]]
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| − | ||
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| − | *Book of Mormon, 1830 edition, p. 268
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| − | *{{s||Alma|16|13}}
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| − | *The ''New International Dictionary of the Bible'', p. 972
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| − | |-
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| − | |
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| − | | |
| − | ====58, 359n52-53====
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| − | ||There are references to cows, oxen, horses, and goats in the New World hundreds of years before Christ.
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| − | ||
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| − | *[[Book of Mormon anachronisms/Animals]]
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| − | ||
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| − | *{{s|1|Nephi|18|25}}
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| − | *Thomas D.S. Key, ""A Biologist Looks at the Book of Mormon,"" Journal of the American Scientific Affiliation, June 1985, XXX-VIII, p. 3."
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| − | |-
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| − | |
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| − | ====58, 359n53====
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| − | ||"LDS apologist John Sorenson has suggested that Smith mistranslated numerous words" from the gold plates and that "cattle and oxen should have been rendered deer and bison," and that "horses should also have been translated deer."
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| − | ||
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| − | * {{FalseStatement}}: Sorenson does ''not'' say they are a mistranslation. He says that linguistic patterns of naming new animals show us that the name of a familiar animal is often used to name a new animal that has only passing resemblance to the familiar creature.
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| − | *[[Book of Mormon anachronisms/Animals]]
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| − | ||
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| − | *John L. Sorenson, ''An Ancient American Setting for the Book of Mormon'', pp. 191-276, 299.
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| − | |-
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| − | |
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| − | | |
| − | ====58, 359n54====
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| − | ||The Book of Mormon "is simply a rehashing" of the speculation in the 19th century regarding Indian origins due to the presence of burial mounds "dotting the land."
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| − | ||
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| − | *[[Book of Mormon and the Mound Builders]]
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| − | ||
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| − | *{{CriticalWork:Brodie:No Man Knows|pages=34}}
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| − | |-
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| − | |
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| − | ====60, 360n58====
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| − | ||Joseph Smith incorporated text from Josiah Priest's ''The Wonders of Nature'' into the Book of Mormon.
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| − | ||
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| − | *[[Book of Mormon plagiarism accusations/The Wonders of Nature]]
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| − | ||
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| − | *Josiah Priest, ''The Wonders of Nature'', 1825
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| − | *Abanes, p. 69
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| − | *The Tanners are the source of this comparison, although it is not explicitly stated by the author. The author does mention that the Tanners demonstrate that a copy of the book was available in the Manchester library."
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| − | |-
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| − | |
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| − | ====60-61, 360n59-63====
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| − | ||Joseph Smith plagiarized Ethan Smith's View of the Hebrews.
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| − | ||
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| − | *[[Book of Mormon and View of the Hebrews]]
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| − | ||
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| − | *Ethan Smith, ''View of the Hebrews'', 1825
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| − | *David Persuitte, p. 107, 122
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| − | *Sandra Tanner, "Where Did Joseph Smith Get His Ideas for the Book of Mormon?"
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| − | |-
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| − | |
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| − | ====61====
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| − | ||Anyone who looked on the gold plates would die.
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| − | ||
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| − | *[[Viewing gold plates would result in death|Viewing the gold plates would result in death?]]
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| − | ||
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| − | *Martin Harris, ''Tiffany's Monthly'' interview, 1859.
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| − | |-
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| − | |
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| − | ====62, 361n69-72====
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| − | ||The witnesses never actually physically saw the plates - they only saw them in visions.
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| − | ||
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| − | * {{FalseStatement}}
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| − | *[[Book of Mormon witnesses/Spiritual or literal]]
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| − | ||
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| − | *{{CriticalWork:Palmer:Insider|pages=175-176}}
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| − | |-
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| − | |
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| − | | |
| − | ====64====
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| − | ||Martin Harris said that he never saw the plates with his "natural eyes."
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| − | ||
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| − | * {{SourceDistortion}}
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| − | *[["Eye of Faith"/"Spiritual Eye" statements by Martin Harris]]
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| − | ||
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| − | *LDS apostle Stephen Burnett, letter to Lyman E. Johnson, April 15, 1838 reprinted in Vogel, ''Early Mormon Documents'' 2:291
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| − | |-
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| − | |
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| − | | |
| − | ====64, 362n81-82====
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| − | ||Cowdery, Whitmer and Harris's statements that they actually saw the plates only refer to times that the plates were either covered with a cloth or in a wooden box.
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| − | ||
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| − | * {{FalseStatement}}
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| − | *[[Book of Mormon witnesses/Spiritual or literal]]
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| − | ||
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| − | *{{CriticalWork:Palmer:Insider|pages=198-199}}
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| − | *Harris, Tiffany's Monthly interview, 1859."
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| − | |-
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| − | |
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| − | | |
| − | ====64, 362n83-84====
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| − | ||Martin Harris said that none of the eight witnesses had seen or handled the plates.
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| − | ||
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| − | *[[Book of Mormon witnesses/Spiritual or literal]]
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| − | *[[Book_of_Mormon_witnesses/Eight_witnesses|Eight witnesses]]
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| − | *[[Book_of_Mormon_witnesses/Eight_witnesses/shown_to_me_by_a_supernatural_power|John Whitmer: shown_to_me_by_a_supernatural_power]]
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| − | ||
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| − | *{{CriticalWork:Palmer:Insider|pages=204-206}}
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| − | |-
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| − | |
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| − | | |
| − | ====65====
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| − | ||The Book of Mormon "can hardly be considered unique" since James Strang produced a set of plates that were seen by witnesses.
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| − | ||
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| − | *The author fails to tell us that the Strangite witnesses only testified about how the plates were found, and some of these witnesses (unlike the Book of Mormon witnesses) [[Book_of_Mormon_witnesses/Recant|recanted]] later.
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| − | **[[Book of Mormon witnesses/Strangite parallels|Strangite parallels for witnesses?]]
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| − | **[[Book_of_Mormon_witnesses]]
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| − | ||
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| − | *{{CriticalWork:Palmer:Insider|pages=208-212}}
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| − | |-
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| − | |
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| − | | |
| − | ====65, 362n87====
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| − | ||LDS defenders (apologists) have redefined many of the terms that Joseph Smith used in the Book of Mormon text: steel means iron, horses are deer, tents are huts, etc.
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| − | ||
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| − | * {{SecondaryFact}}: the author quotes no "apologists," but only two critics.
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| − | * {{FalseStatement}}: LDS defenders argue that such terms have more than one meaning, and that ancient linguistic conventions sometimes apply old terms to new concepts. This version is a straw man and caricature of the argument, which the author has either not understood or misrepresented.
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| − | *[[Book of Mormon anachronisms]]
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| − | ||
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| − | *Dan Vogel, Brent Metcalfe, ''American Apocrypha'', p. xiii.
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| − | |-
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| − | | |
| − | ====66, 362n88====
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| − | ||LDS scholars such as Dee F. Green have stated that Book of Mormon archaeology is a "myth."
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| − | ||
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| − | * {{SourceDistortion}}: Green argued—''in 1969''—that the requisite work had not been done.
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| − | * [[../Use of sources/Dee F. Green on Book of Mormon archaeology|Dee F. Green on Book of Mormon archaeology]]
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| − | * It is telling that the author must resort to a source that is at least 35 years old. A more current assessment is available:
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| − | ** {{JBMS-14-2-8}}
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| − | *[[Book of Mormon archeology|Book of Mormon archaeology]]
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| − | ||
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| − | *{{Dialogue1|author=Dee F. Green|article=Book of Mormon Archaeology: The Myths and the Alternatives|date=Summer 1969|vol=4|num=3|start=72-80}}
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| − | |-
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| − | |
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| − | | |
| − | ====66, 362n89====
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| − | ||Dr. Michael Coe stated that there was no Book of Mormon archaeology.
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| − | ||
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| − | *[[Amerindians as Lamanites/Maya and Olmec]]
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| − | ||
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| − | *Michael Coe, "Mormons and Archaeology: An Outside View," ''Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought'' (Winter 1973), vol. 8, p. 44.
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| − | |-
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| − | |
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| − | ====66, 363n92====
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| − | ||LDS scholar Terryl L. Givens "admitted" that no connection has been made between the Book of Mormon and cultures or civilizations in the Western hemisphere.
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| − | ||
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| − | *The author acknowledges in his endnote that Givens "however, also quoted BYU professor Daniel Peterson, who made a statement in support of the BOM's unique character."
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| − | *See {{FR-2-1-1}}
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| − | *[[Amerindians as Lamanites/Maya and Olmec]]
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| − | ||
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| − | *Terryl L. Givens, ''By the Hand of Mormon'', p. 155.
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| − | |-
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| − | |
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| − | ====67, 363n95-96====
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| − | ||The limited geography theory "cannot bear rigorous scrutiny" and "does violence" to the text of the Book of Mormon.
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| − | ||
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| − | * {{DoubleStandard}}: On p. 66, the author cited Green's opinion from 1969. Green argues that a limited geography should be given serious consideration, and that seeing all Amerindians as only Lamanites is a mistake not supported by the text. But, the author will not accept Green's view of ''this'' matter.
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| − | *[[Book of Mormon geography/New World/Limited Geography Theory]]
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| − | ||
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| − | *Vogel and Metcalfe, ''American Apocrypha'', pp. viii-ix.
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| − | *Deanne G. Matheny, "Does the Shoe Fit? A critique of the Limited tehuantepec Geography," in ''New Approaches to the Book of Mormon: Explorations in Critical Methodology.''
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| − | |-
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| − | | |
| − | ====67, 363n99====
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| − | ||Apologists have suggested that "not a single early Mormon, including Joseph Smith, ever bothered reading the Book of Mormon 'closely enough to grasp the fact' " that the plates were not buried in the hill where the final Nephite battle occurred.
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| − | ||
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| − | *The author omits the line preceding the quoted phrase, where Sorenson and Roper indicate that "there is no evidence that in the early years any detailed thought was given to geography. Actually, the Book of Mormon was little referred to or used among church members in the first decades except as a confirming witness of the Bible. The writings or preaching of some of the best-informed church leaders of that day show that they did not read the text carefully on matters other than doctrine."
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| − | * Early members' preoccupations and interests were almost entirely doctrinal and theological. Since geography is incidental to the Book of Mormon's message, this is to be expected.
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| − | * If Joseph Smith was the author of the Book of Mormon, his ignorance on such points would be astonishing. Since he was only a translator, however, the fact that he was unaware of some of the book's nuances is unsurprising.
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| − | ||
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| − | *{{JBMS-12-1-2}}, p. 10. <!-- Sorenson and Roper-->
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| − | |-
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| − | |
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| − | | |
| − | ====70, 365n115====
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| − | ||Joseph Smith said that the angel told him that ''all'' American Indians were "literal descendants of Abraham," but DNA has disproved this.
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| − | ||
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| − | * {{DoubleStandard}}: On p. 66, the author cited Green's opinion from 1969. Green argues that seeing all Amerindians as only Lamanites is a mistake not supported by the text. But, the author will not accept Green's view of ''this'' matter. Further, this is evidence for the position (which the author mocks on p. 67) that Joseph did not know his own book's contents.
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| − | * {{SourceDistortion}}: all Amerindians ''are'' descendants of Lehi; they are not ''just'' descendants of Lehi:
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| − | *[[Amerindians as Lamanites]]
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| − | *[[Amerindians_as_Lamanites#All_From_Lehi|All Amerindians ''are'' descended from Lehi]]
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| − | *[[Book_of_Mormon_and_DNA_evidence]]
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| − | ||
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| − | *Joseph Smith's 1835 account of the First Vision found in the ''Ohio Journal—1835-1836, Nov. 9, 1835, reprinted in Vogel, ''Early Mormon Documents'', vol. 1, p. 44.
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| − | *Joseph Smith, Mar. 1, 1842, letter to John Wentworth, ''History of the Church'', Vol. 4, p. 537.
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| − | *Meldrum, "Children of Lehi"
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| − | |-
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| − | |
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| − | | |
| − | ====71, 365n120====
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| − | ||Joseph Smith founded the "Restored Church" on the belief that all Native Americans were descendants of the Israelites.
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| − | ||
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| − | * {{SourceDistortion}}: all Amerindians ''are'' descendants of Lehi; they are not ''just'' descendants of Lehi:
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| − | *[[Amerindians as Lamanites]]
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| − | *[[Amerindians_as_Lamanites#All_From_Lehi|All Amerindians ''are'' descended from Lehi]]
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| − | ||
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| − | *Oliver Cowdery's Speech to the Delawares. Parley P. Pratt, Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt.
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| − | |-
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| − | |
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| − | ====72, 366 n.127====
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| − | ||All modern Mormons believed that all inhabitants of the New World were descendants of the Lamanites until "science showed it to be erroneous."
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| − | ||
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| − | * {{InternalContradiction|66}}: The Green article argued in ''1969'' that Lehites were not the only source of Amerindian stock.
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| − | * {{FalseStatement}}: The Green article proves that "all modern Mormons" did not think this. There are also many other statements which show that this view was not universal:
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| − | ** [[Book_of_Mormon_geography/Statements|Statements about Book of Mormon geography and peoples]]
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| − | *[[Book of Mormon geography/Borders of the Lamanites]]
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| − | ||
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| − | *{{s||DC|54|8}}—"And thus you shall take your journey into the regions westward, unto the land of Missouri, unto the borders of the Lamanites"
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| − | |-
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| − | |
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| − | | |
| − | ====72, 366n128====
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| − | ||The "updated LDS paradigm" claims that Nephites intermarried with non-Israelite natives, thus diluting their DNA.
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| − | ||
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| − | * While the LDS are not opposed to new insights and concepts in principle, this is not an example of such—statements show that this "updated paradigm" has had advocates for at least one hundred years: [[Book_of_Mormon_geography/Statements|Statements about Book of Mormon geography and peoples]]
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| − | *[[Amerindians as Lamanites]]
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| − | ||
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| − | *Cooper Johnson, [http://www.fairlds.org/Book_of_Mormon/DNA_and_the_Book_of_Mormon.html DNA and the Book of Mormon], FAIR web site
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| − | |-
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| − | |
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| − | | |
| − | ====72, 366n130====
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| − | ||The LDS view has ''always'' been that Israelites were the first people to populate the Americas, since the land was "kept from the knowledge of other nations."
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| − | ||
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| − | * {{InternalContradiction|66}}: The Green article argued in ''1969'' that Lehites were not the only source of Amerindian stock.
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| − | * {{FalseStatement}}: The Green article proves that "all modern Mormons" did not think this. There are also many other statements which show that this view was not universal: [[Book_of_Mormon_geography/Statements|Statements about Book of Mormon geography and peoples]]
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| − | *[[Book of Mormon anachronisms/Demographics]]
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| − | ||
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| − | *{{s|2|Nephi|1|6}}
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| − | *J. Reuben Clark, "Prophecies, Penalties, and Blessings," ''Improvement Era'', July 1940, vol. xliii., no. 7 quoted in Bill McKeever, "DNA and the Book of Mormon Record," Mormonism Research Ministry.
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| − | |-
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| − | |
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| − | | |
| − | ====73, 367n131-135====
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| − | ||Not many Christians actually believe that the world was created around 4000 B.C., or that the flood occurred around 2000 B.C. In fact, "[T]he majority of traditional Christians understand that the world is older than 6000 years," therefore the claim that the DNA argument is fundamentalist "suicide bombing" is false.
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| − | ||
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| − | *The author ignores that many critics who ''use'' DNA evidence against the Book of Mormon ''do'' belong to denominations that advocate a Young Earth and/or a universal Noachian flood. The criticism is therefore valid as it applies to them.
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| − | *[[Book of Mormon and DNA evidence#Fundamentalist "suicide bombing"|Fundamentalist "suicide bombing"]]
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| − | ||
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| − | *No source is provided by the author for his claim that the "majority of Christians" understand that the world is older than 6000 years.
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| − | *Daniel C. Peterson, FAIR Conference, untitled lecture, Aug. 8, 2003, author's private notes.
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| − | *David Stewart, [http://www.fairlds.org/Book_of_Mormon/DNA_and_the_Book_of_Mormon_2.html "DNA and the Book of Mormon"]
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| − | |-
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| − | |
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| − | | |
| − | ====73, 367n136====
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| − | ||The Lamanites were supposed to become "white" once they converted ''en masse'' to Mormonism. This was to be accomplished by having LDS men take Indian wives.
| |
| − | ||
| |
| − | *[[Native Americans to become "white and delightsome" through polygamous marriage?]]
| |
| − | ||
| |
| − | *W.W. Phelps, "Revelation Received West of Jackson County, Missouri, July 17, 1831," reprinted in H. Michael Marquardt, ''The Joseph Smith Revelations: Text & Commentary'', p. 375.
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | |
| |
| − | ====73, 367n137====
| |
| − | ||The phrase "white and delightsome" was changed to "pure and delightsome" in the Book of Mormon.
| |
| − | ||
| |
| − | * {{HistoricalError}}: The change was made by Joseph Smith in 1836; it was not made under the influence of science or DNA.
| |
| − | *[[Book of Mormon textual changes/"white" changed to "pure"]]
| |
| − | ||
| |
| − | *{{s|2|Nephi|30|6}} (pre-1981 edition)
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | |
| |
| − | | |
| − | ====73, 367n138====
| |
| − | ||LDS leaders claimed that the alteration to the Book of Mormon had nothing to do with the Indians physically turning white. LDS leaders taught that the curse would one day be removed.
| |
| − | ||
| |
| − | *[[Lamanite curse]]
| |
| − | *{{s|2|Nephi|5|21}}
| |
| − | ||
| |
| − | * No source provided.
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | |
| |
| − | | |
| − | ====74====
| |
| − | ||LDS apologists dismiss Church teachings in order to make Mormonism compatible with scientific findings.
| |
| − | ||
| |
| − | * {{FalseStatement}}: as shown above, leaders and members have not been of one mind on this issue about which there is no official Church position.
| |
| − | * {{SourceDistortion}}: The author has failed to account for material in the sources he cites which disprove his claim.
| |
| − | *[[Mormonism and science]]
| |
| − | ||
| |
| − | *Author's opinion
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | |
| |
| − | | |
| − | ====75, 368n142====
| |
| − | |LDS apologist B.H. Roberts "reached a shocking conclusion" that that Book of Mormon wasn't authentic.
| |
| − | ||
| |
| − | * {{FalseStatement}}
| |
| − | * {{SourceDistortion}}
| |
| − | *[[B.H. Roberts and "Studies of the Book of Mormon"]]
| |
| − | ||
| |
| − | *B.H. Roberts, ''Studies of the Book of Mormon'', p. 271, 243.
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | |
| |
| − | | |
| − | ====76, 368n143====
| |
| − | ||B.H. Roberts "had come to realize that the Book of Mormon was a nonhistorical document."
| |
| − | ||
| |
| − | * {{FalseStatement}}
| |
| − | * {{SourceDistortion}}
| |
| − | *[[B.H. Roberts' testimony of the Book of Mormon]]
| |
| − | ||
| |
| − | *Wesley P. Lloyd statement at www.lds-mormon.com/bhrlettr.shtml
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | |
| |
| − | | |
| − | ====76====
| |
| − | ||FARMS claims that Roberts was playing "devils advocate," but have never provided documentation to support this assertion. They only focus on his declarations that he made before he reached his "final conclusion."
| |
| − | ||
| |
| − | * {{FalseStatement}}: there are statements both before ''and'' after his conclusion, some within weeks of Roberts' death.
| |
| − | *[[B.H. Roberts' testimony of the Book of Mormon]]
| |
| − | *[[../Use of sources/Madsen-B.H. Roberts and the Book of Mormon|Use of sources—Roberts and the Book of Mormon]]
| |
| − | ||
| |
| − | *Truman G. Madsen, "B.H. Roberts and the Book of Mormon," ''BYU Studies'' (Summer 1979), volume 19, pp. 427-445.
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | |
| |
| − | | |
| − | ====77 368n145-147====
| |
| − | ||Thomas Stuart Ferguson lost his testimony of the Book of Mormon after failing to find archaeological evidence.
| |
| − | ||
| |
| − | * [[Book_of_Mormon_archaeology/Thomas_Stuart_Ferguson|Thomas Stuart Ferguson]]
| |
| − | * [[Book_of_Mormon_archaeology|Book of Mormon archaeology]]
| |
| − | ||
| |
| − | *Thomas Stuart Ferguson, ''One fold and One Shepherd''.
| |
| − | *Jerald and Sandra Tanner, "Ferguson's Two Faces," ''Salt Lake City Messenger'' #69, Sept. 1988, p. 3
| |
| − | *Ferguson letter dated Feb. 9, 1976.
| |
| − | *Ferguson letter dated Feb. 9, 1976.
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | |
| |
| − | | |
| − | ====77 369n150-153====
| |
| − | ||LDS scholars believe that Quetzalcoatl was Jesus Christ. However, Quetzalcoatl's association with a "feathered serpent" constitutes "snake worship," and is therefore inconsistent with worship of Jesus Christ.
| |
| − | ||
| |
| − | * {{FalseStatement}}: At best, ''some'' LDS scholars see Quetzalcoatl as a cultural memory or corruption of Christ's visit and teachings.
| |
| − | * Other LDS scholars, however, strongly disagree. For example:
| |
| − | ** {{FR-20-1-3}}
| |
| − | ** {{FR-19-1-4}}
| |
| − | ** {{FR-13-2-4}}
| |
| − | ** {{SecondWitness1|vol=4|start=1–}}
| |
| − | | |
| − | *See also: [[Quetzalcoatl and Jesus Christ]]
| |
| − | ||
| |
| − | *John L. Sorenson, "The Decline of the God Quetzalcoatl, " in ''Pressing Forward with the Book of Mormon'', p. 234.
| |
| − | *Joseph Allen, ''Exploring the Lands of the Book of Mormon''.
| |
| − | *Joseph Allen, [http://www.meridianmagazine.com/articles/030926white.html "The White god Quetzalcoatl,"] ''Meridian Magazine'', 2003.
| |
| − | *Adela Fernandez, ''Pre-Hispanic Gods of Mexico'', p. 68
| |
| − | *Quetzalcoatl the Myth, www.weber.ucsd.edu.
| |
| − | |}
| |
| − | | |
| − | ===Claims made in Chapter 3: Thus Saith Joseph===
| |
| − | {{BeginClaimsTable}}
| |
| − | |
| |
| − | ====84, 370n9-11====
| |
| − | ||The revelations in the ''Book of Commandments'' were modified because they were "showing their age," "contained outdated information," "included erroneous statements" and "abandoned doctrines." Some of the revelations "revealed too much information about LDS beliefs."
| |
| − | ||
| |
| − | *{{Absurd}}: The revelations were "showing their age" between 1833 and 1835?
| |
| − | *[[Doctrine and Covenants textual changes]]
| |
| − | ||
| |
| − | *Karl F. Best, "Changes in the Revelations, 1833-1835," ''Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought'' (Spring 1992), vol. 25, no. 1, p. 90.
| |
| − | *H. Michael Marquardt, ''The Joseph Smith Revelations: Text & Commentary'', p. 17.
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | |
| |
| − | | |
| − | ====85, 371n14====
| |
| − | ||Mormons view divine truth as "not absolute or fixed; it is changeable, flexible."
| |
| − | ||
| |
| − | * {{FalseStatement}}: Latter-day Saints realize that their understanding of divine truth may grow and be enhanced, but this does not mean that the truth is changeable or flexible.
| |
| − | * {{SecondaryFact}}: once again, only a hostile author is cited; there are no quotes from LDS sources used to explore their supposed view.
| |
| − | *[[Changing doctrine]]
| |
| − | ||
| |
| − | *{{CriticalWork:Ostling:Mormon America|pages=249}}
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | |
| |
| − | | |
| − | ====87, 370n23====
| |
| − | ||Joseph received a "false revelation" through his seer stone to go to Toronto, Canada to sell the Book of Mormon copyright.
| |
| − | ||
| |
| − | *{{HistoricalError}}
| |
| − | *[[Did Joseph Smith attempt to sell the Book of Mormon copyright?]]
| |
| − | ||
| |
| − | *David Whitmer, ''An Address to All Believers in Christ''.
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | |
| |
| − | | |
| − | ====87, 371n25====
| |
| − | ||Some of the modified revelations had their meanings "reversed."
| |
| − | ||
| |
| − | *[[Doctrine and Covenants textual changes]]
| |
| − | ||
| |
| − | *{{CriticalWork:Quinn:Mormon Hierarchy|pages=5}}
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | |
| |
| − | ====89, 372n28====
| |
| − | ||Joseph modified the revelation now found in D&C 5:4 to add additional gifts. After translating the Book of Mormon he was not supposed to become a prophet or organize a Church.
| |
| − | ||
| |
| − | *[[Doctrine and Covenants textual changes]]
| |
| − | ||
| |
| − | *Karl F. Best, "Changes in the Revelations, 1833-1835," ''Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought (Spring 1992), vol. 25, no.1, p. 98.
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | |
| |
| − | ====89, 372n29-30====
| |
| − | ||Joseph modified what is now D&C 8:6-9 to hide Oliver Cowdery's use of a divining rod.
| |
| − | ||
| |
| − | * {{MindReading}}
| |
| − | *[[Oliver Cowdery and the "rod of nature"]]
| |
| − | ||
| |
| − | *{{CriticalWork:Quinn:Magic World View|pages=206}}
| |
| − | *H. Michael Marquardt, ''The Joseph Smith Revelations: Text & Commentary'', pp. 14-15.
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | |
| |
| − | | |
| − | ====90, 372n34, 375n35====
| |
| − | ||Apostle William E. McLellin left the Church because he was "shaken by the changes made in the revelations."
| |
| − | ||
| |
| − | * This explanation (as shown by the dates of the material cited) came long after the fact. The author does not tell us that McLellin said at his excommunication hearing that:
| |
| − | :he said he had no confidence in the presidency of the Church; consequently, he had quit praying and keeping the commandments of the Lord, and indulged himself in his sinful lusts. It was from what he had heard that he believed the presidency had got out of the way, and not from anything that he had seen himself.{{ref|mclellin.1}}
| |
| − | * McLellin had previously been excommunicated for spending time with "a certain harlot" while on a mission.{{ref|mclellin.2}} He had also been out of fellowship for "writing a letter which "cast…censure upon the [first] presidency."{{ref|mclellin.3}}
| |
| − | * [[Joseph Smith and polygamy/Fanny_Alger_and_William_McLellin#McLellin:_Examining_the_Witness|McLellin: Examining the Witness]]
| |
| − | *[[Doctrine_and_Covenants_textual_changes]]
| |
| − | ||
| |
| − | *"The Early History of the Saints and Their Enemies," Sept. 28, 1875, ''Salt Lake Daily Tribune'', Dec. 5, 1878 <!-- www.lavazone2.com/dbroadhu/UT/tribune1.htm -->
| |
| − | *William McLellin, ''Saint's Herald'', vol. 17, pp. 556-557.
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | |
| |
| − | | |
| − | ====90====
| |
| − | ||Mormons claim that Biblical writers modified revelations, but cannot provide data to support this. This is an "argument from silence."
| |
| − | ||
| |
| − | *[[Becoming Gods#Argument from silence?|Argument from silence?]]
| |
| − | ||
| |
| − | *Stephen W. Gibson, ''One-Minute Answers to Anti-Mormon Question'', p. 82
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | |
| |
| − | ====94====
| |
| − | ||Joseph Smith turned the "Book of Breathings" into the "Book of Abraham." Joseph claimed that the "Book of the Dead" had been written by Joseph of Egypt.
| |
| − | ||
| |
| − | *[[Book of Abraham/Book of the Dead|Hiding ''Book of the Dead'' connection?]]
| |
| − | *[[Book of Abraham/Papyri]]
| |
| − | ||
| |
| − | *No source provided.
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | |
| |
| − | | |
| − | ====94-98====
| |
| − | ||The restoration of the missing portions of Facsimile 1 were "terribly wrong."
| |
| − | ||
| |
| − | *[[Book of Abraham/Papyri]]
| |
| − | ||
| |
| − | *{{CriticalWork:Larson:By His Own Hand|pages=}}
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | |
| |
| − | ====99====
| |
| − | ||LDS apologists' main purpose is to explain away "any and all criticisms that might damage the validity of Smith's writings."
| |
| − | ||
| |
| − | *[[Apologetics]]
| |
| − | ||
| |
| − | *Author's opinion.
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | |
| |
| − | ====100====
| |
| − | ||Documents show how the hieroglyphs from the papyri were matched to the Book of Abraham text. One or two words in Egyptian were expanded to entire paragraphs in English.
| |
| − | ||
| |
| − | *[[Kirtland Egyptian Papers]]
| |
| − | ||
| |
| − | *Richard L. Bushman, "Joseph Smith as Translator'', in Waterman, p. 81.
| |
| − | {{EndClaimsTable}}
| |
| − | | |
| − | | |
| − | ==Endnotes==
| |
| − | #{{note|eom.1}} {{EoM1|vol=1|article=April 6|start=61|end=62|author=John Franklin Hall}}
| |
| − | #{{note|katich.1}} Katich cites {{BeginningsofMormonism1 |start=74}}
| |
| − | #{{note|mclellin.1}} {{MS1|article=History of William E. McLellin|vol=26|date=1864|start=808}}; see also {{HoC1|vol=3|start=31}}
| |
| − | #{{note|mclellin.2}} {{CriticalWork:Quinn:Mormon Hierarchy|pages=44}}
| |
| − | #{{note|mclellin.3}} {{MS1|article=History of William E. McLellin|vol=26|date=1864|start=808}}; see also {{HoC1|vol=3|start=31}}
| |
| − | | |
| − | =Further reading=
| |
| − | {{FAIRAnalysisWiki}}
| |
| − | | |
| − | {{Suggestions}}
| |
