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| + | #REDIRECT [[Criticism of Mormonism/Websites/MormonThink/Lying for the Lord]] |
| − | __NOTOC__
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| − | {{FAIRAnalysisHeader
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| − | |title=[[../|MormonThink]]
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| − | |author=Anonymous
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| − | |noauthor=
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| − | |section=Lying for the Lord
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| − | ==A FAIR Analysis of MormonThink page "Lying for the Lord"==
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| − | {{Website response summary}}
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| − | The positions that this MormonThink article appears to take are the following:
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| − | *The critics conclude that lying is "standard operating procedure for Church leaders" from Joseph Smith's time to the present.
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| − | {{Website response label}}
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| − | {{MormonThinkIndexClaim
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| − | |claim=
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| − | *The critics claim that the official story of the First Vision constitutes deception.
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| − | |think=
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| − | *Yet, the Church discusses the various first vision accounts on lds.org and in the ''Ensign''.
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| − | |quote=
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| − | <blockquote>
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| − | During a 10-year period (1832–42), Joseph Smith wrote or dictated at least four accounts of the First Vision. These accounts are similar in many ways, but they include some differences in emphasis and detail. These differences are complementary. Together, his accounts provide a more complete record of what occurred. The 1838 account found in the Pearl of Great Price is the primary source referred to in the Church.<br>
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| − | —[http://lds.org/study/topics/accounts-of-the-first-vision?lang=eng ''Accounts of the First Vision''], Gospel Study, Study by Topic, located on lds.org. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
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| − | </blockquote>
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| − | <blockquote>
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| − | Joseph's vision was at first an intensely personal experience—an answer to a specific question. Over time, however, illuminated by additional experience and instruction, it became the founding revelation of the Restoration.''
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| − | <br>
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| − | —[http://classic.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=aec2515e04f5e110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD Dennis B. Neuenschwander, “Joseph Smith: An Apostle of Jesus Christ,” Ensign, Jan 2009, 16–22]
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| − | <br><br>
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| − | I am not worried that the Prophet Joseph Smith gave a number of versions of the first vision anymore than I am worried that there are four different writers of the gospels in the New Testament, each with his own perceptions, each telling the events to meet his own purpose for writing at the time. I am more concerned with the fact that God has revealed in this dispensation a great and marvelous and beautiful plan that motivates men and women to love their Creator and their Redeemer, to appreciate and serve one another, to walk in faith on the road that leads to immortality and eternal life.<br>
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| − | —[http://classic.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=66a205481ae6b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD Gordon B. Hinckley, “‘God Hath Not Given Us the Spirit of Fear’,” Ensign, Oct 1984, 2]
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| − | </blockquote>
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| − | |response=
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| − | |link=Joseph Smith's First Vision/Accounts
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| − | |subject=Joseph's accounts of the First Vision
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| − | |summary=Joseph Smith gave several accounts of the First Vision. Critics charge that differences in the accounts show that he changed and embellished his story over time, and that he therefore had no such vision.
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| − | }}
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| − | {{MormonThinkIndexClaim
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| − | |claim=
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| − | *The critics claim that during Moroni's visit that his siblings would have been awakened, and that Church artwork portraying this event are deceptive.
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| − | |think=
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| − | *The entire argument is not only absurd, but it is clearly refuted by the Bible, the Book of Mormon, and artwork presented by the Church itself.
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| − | *''Some'' Church artwork does indeed portray Joseph as being alone—this is simply an artistic interpretation. The August 2009 ''Ensign'', page 54, however, shows a painting of Joseph sitting up in his bed looking at Moroni. Next to Joseph one can clearly see three of his siblings in the same bed...sound asleep. (May be viewed here: [http://www.ldscompanion.org/index.php?op=art&page=author&artist=50&off=18&id=304 Artwork by Liz Lemon Swindle]) ''Even the official LDS web site'' has a painting that shows one of Joseph's siblings asleep in bed during Moroni's visit. See: [http://www.josephsmith.net/josephsmith/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=c08679179acbff00VgnVCM1000001f5e340aRCRD The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ].
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| − | |quote=
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| − | |response=
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| − | |link=Moroni's visit/Siblings remained asleep
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| − | |subject=Why didn't Joseph's siblings wake up when Moroni appeared?
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| − | |summary=Critics claim that when Moroni appeared to Joseph Smith in his room on September 21, 1823, his siblings who were sleeping in the same room should have woken up. They claim that this is evidence that Joseph's story is false.
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| − | |link2=Moroni's visit/Moroni would have struck his head on the ceiling
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| − | |subject2=Moroni would have struck his head on the ceiling?
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| − | |summary2=In one of the more absurd or desperate attacks upon Joseph's story, some critics claim that Moroni could not have stood "above the floor" because the ceiling would have been too low and he would have hit his head. Photos easily disprove this absurd claim.
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| − | }}
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| − | {{MormonThinkIndexClaim
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| − | |claim=
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| − | *The critics claim that the Church deceptively claims that the History of the Church was written by Joseph Smith himself.
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| − | |think=
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| − | *Though the ''History of the Church'' speaks in the first person as if Joseph were writing, these words are put in his mouth by admirers, often after his martyrdom. Thus, small details of Joseph's "personality" in the ''History'' are less likely to be accurate.
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| − | |quote=
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| − | |response=
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| − | |link=Mormonism and history/History of the Church/Authorship
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| − | |subject=Authorship of the History of the Church
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| − | |summary=I've heard that the History of the Church, though credited to Joseph Smith, was not actually authored by him. What can you tell me about this, and what does this mean for the History's accuracy?
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| − | }}
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| − | {{MormonThinkIndexClaim
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| − | |claim=
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| − | *The critics claim that the "Rocky Mountain Prophecy" is deceptive.
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| − | |authorsources=
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| − | *Tanner, ''The Changing World of Mormonism'', p. 406
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| − | |think=
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| − | *Many other Church members later wrote about Joseph's discussion of the Rocky Mountains area. To accept a "forgery" theory, we must accept that all of these people who remembered Joseph speaking about the Rocky Mountains were lying or fabricating their experience.
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| − | *Furthermore, we must also accept that Joseph was sending explorers to the west with no real expectation of moving, and the discussion of heading west by both members and enemies was all idle talk.
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| − | |response=
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| − | |link=One_Nation_Under_Gods/Use_of_sources/Forged_Rocky_Mountain_prophecy
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| − | |subject=Forged prophecy about Saints in Rocky Mountains?
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| − | |summary=Critics Jerald and Sandra Tanner claim that a prophecy from Joseph about the Saints' move to the Rocky Mountains was forged after the fact and inserted into the History of the Church.
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| − | {{MormonThinkIndexClaim
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| − | |claim=
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| − | *The critics claim the using the name "Moroni" for the angel that visited Joseph Smith was deceptive and that the name was originally Nephi.
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| − | |authorsources=
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| − | *Tanner, ''The Changing World of Mormonism''
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| − | *Tanner, ''Mormonism-Shadow or Reality?'' p.136
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| − | |think=
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| − | *This is not an example of Joseph Smith changing his story over time, but an example of a detail being improperly recorded by someone other than the Prophet, and then reprinted uncritically. Clear contemporary evidence from Joseph and his enemies—who would have seized upon any inconsistency had they known about it—shows that "Moroni" was the name of the heavenly messenger BEFORE the 1838 and 1839 histories were recorded.
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| − | |quote=
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| − | |response=
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| − | |link=Moroni's visit/Nephi or Moroni
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| − | |subject=Nephi or Moroni
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| − | |summary=The Church teaches that Moroni was the heavenly messenger which appeared to Joseph Smith and directed him to the gold plates. Yet, some Church sources give the identity of this messenger as Nephi. Critics claim that this shows that Joseph was 'making it up as he went along.' In fact, a single misprint was reprinted a few times. But, earliest sources (even hostile ones) give the name as "Moroni".
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| − | }}
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| − | {{MormonThinkIndexClaim
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| − | |claim=
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| − | *The critics claim that Joseph Smith's drinking and use of tobacco is deliberately hidden.
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| − | |authorsources=
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| − | *Tanner, ''Changing World of Mormonism'', pages 413-414
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| − | |response=
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| − | |link=Word of Wisdom/Almon Babbitt followed Joseph
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| − | |subject=Almon Babbitt followed Joseph in violating the Word of Wisdom
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| − | |summary=Critics charge that Joseph Smith violated the Word of Wisdom, and that another member (Almon W. Babbitt) followed his example.
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| − | }}
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| − | {{MormonThinkIndexClaim
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| − | |claim=
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| − | *The critics claim that the Church deliberately hides its history.
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| − | |think=
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| − | |quote=
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| − | |response=
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| − | |link=Mormonism and history/Censorship and revision
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| − | |subject=Censorship and revision
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| − | |summary=Critics claim that the church has "whitewashed" some of the information about its origins to appear more palatable to members and investigators. Some feel that this is done intentionally to hide negative aspects of church history. Others feel that it is done to focus on the good, but that it causes problems for believing members when they encounter these issues outside of church curriculum.
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| − | }}
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| − | {{MormonThinkIndexClaim
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| − | |claim=
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| − | *The critics claim that when Joseph Smith edited revelations found in the Doctrine and Covenants, that it was for deceptive purposes.
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| − | |think=
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| − | *If Joseph could receive the Doctrine and Covenants by revelation, then he could also receive revelation to improve, modify, revise, and expand his revelatory product. The question remains the same—was Joseph Smith a prophet? If he was, then his action is completely legitimate. If he was not, then it makes little difference whether his pretended revelations were altered or not.
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| − | *The Saints have never believed in inerrant prophets or inerrant scripture. The editing and modification of the revelations was never a secret; it was well known to the Church of Joseph's day, and it has been discussed repeatedly in modern Church publications, as well as extensive studies in Masters' and PhD theses at BYU.
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| − | |quote=
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| − | |response=
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| − | |link=Doctrine and Covenants/Textual changes
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| − | |subject=Textual changes
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| − | |summary=Joseph Smith and others made revisions, additions, and deletions to his early revelations when preparing them for publication. Critics claim that revelations from God are inerrant and should never be changed, and this proves that Joseph Smith did not receive revelation.
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| − | {{MormonThinkIndexClaim
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| − | |claim=
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| − | *The critics claim that the Church has removed references to "Joseph Smith's activities as a professional con man" from its history, such as his arrest and trial for being a "glass looker."
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| − | |quote=
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| − | |link=Joseph Smith/Legal issues/Trials/1826 glasslooking trial
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| − | |subject=1826 trial for "glasslooking"
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| − | |summary=Joseph Smith was brought to trial in 1826 for "glasslooking." Didn't Hugh Nibley claim that if this trial record existed that it would be "the most damning evidence in existence against Joseph Smith?"
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| − | |link2=Joseph Smith/Legal issues/Trials/1826 glasslooking trial/Con man
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| − | |subject2=Was Joseph found guilty of being a "con man"?
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| − | |summary2=Critics claim that Joseph was a "con man," and that he was found guilty of being such in a court of law. This refers to the 1826 trial.
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| − | {{MormonThinkIndexClaim
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| − | |claim=
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| − | *Critics note that Elder Packer stated that "some truths are not very useful."
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| − | |response=
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| − | |link=Mormonism and history/Boyd K. Packer's talk: "The Mantle is Far, Far Greater Than the Intellect"
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| − | |subject="Some things that are true are not very useful."
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| − | |summary=Elder Packer gave an address to religious educators called "The Mantle is Far, Far Greater Than the Intellect." The following quote is a favorite of critics who wish to demonstrate that the Church wishes to suppress its history and independent thought: "There is a temptation for the writer or the teacher of Church history to want to tell everything, whether it is worthy or faith promoting or not. Some things that are true are not very useful."
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| − | {{MormonThinkIndexClaim
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| − | |claim=
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| − | *Critics claim that the Church obscures Joseph's use of a seer stone by using the term "Urim and Thummim."
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| − | |think=
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| − | |response=
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| − | |link=Joseph Smith/Seer stones
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| − | |subject=Joseph as seer and his use of seer stones
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| − | |summary=What do we know about Joseph's seer stone? What is its relation to the "Urim and Thummim"? Did Joseph place his seer stone in his hat while he was translating the Book of Mormon?
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| − | {{MormonThinkIndexClaim
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| − | |claim=
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| − | *The critics claim that the Church is being deceptive by claiming that the Three and Eight Witnesses actually say the gold plates.
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| − | |think=
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| − | |quote=
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| − | |response=
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| − | |link=Book of Mormon/Witnesses/Character
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| − | |subject=What was the character of the witnesses?
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| − | |summary=Critics charge that the witnesses cannot be trusted, or are unreliable, because they were unstable personalities, prone to enthusiasm and exaggeration. Evidence amply demonstrates that the formal witnesses of the Book of Mormon were men of good character and reputation, and were recognized as such by contemporary non-Mormons.
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| − | |link2=Book of Mormon/Witnesses/Martin Harris repeatedly sought empirical proof
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| − | |subject2=Martin Harris repeatedly sought empirical proof
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| − | |summary2=Critics claim that Martin Harris was a gullible believer in the supernatural. But, in fact, Martin repeatedly performed empirical tests to confirm Joseph Smith's claims. He came away convinced.
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| − | {{MormonThinkIndexClaim
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| − | |claim=
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| − | *Critics note that the Book of Mormon translation occurred using Joseph's seer stone and that the plates didn't need to be present.
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| − | |link=Book_of_Mormon/Translation/Method
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| − | |subject=Description of translation method and circumstances
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| − | |summary=Friendly and unfriendly accounts of those who witnessed and heard about the translation of the Book of Mormon
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| − | {{MormonThinkIndexClaim
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| − | |claim=
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| − | *The critics claim that Fanny Alger was "[o]ne of Joseph Smith's first experiments with adultery "
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| − | |link=Polygamy book/Introduction of eternal marriage
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| − | |subject=Fanny Alger: Marriage or affair?
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| − | |summary=Critics charge that Joseph Smith's early plural marriage(s) cannot have been "real" marriages, since the doctrine of "eternal marriage" (i.e., marriages which last beyond the grave) was not introduced until 1841.
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| − | {{MormonThinkIndexClaim
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| − | |claim=
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| − | *Critics note that the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants promoted monogamy while polygamy was secretly being practiced.
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| − | |link=Mormonism and polygamy/1835 Doctrine and Covenants denies polygamy
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| − | |subject=1835 Doctrine and Covenants denies polygamy
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| − | |summary=The 1835 edition of the D&C contained a statement of marriage which denied the practice of polygamy. Since this was published during Joseph Smith's lifetime, why might the prophet have allowed it to be published if he was actually practicing polygamy at that time?
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| − | {{MormonThinkIndexClaim
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| − | *Critics claim that Joseph lied when he stated the "spiritual wifery" was "absolutely false and the doctrine an evil and unlawful thing."
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| − | {{MormonThinkIndexClaim
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| − | *Critics note that Joseph took wives without Emma's consent, contrary to the requirement that the first wife needed to give consent.
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| − | {{MormonThinkIndexClaim
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| − | *Critics note that Joseph wrote a letter to Sarah Ann Whitney telling her to come when Emma was not present.
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| − | |link=Joseph Smith/Polygamy/"Love letters"
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| − | |subject=Did Joseph write secret "love letters" to any of his polygamous wives?
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| − | |summary=Critics claim that on 18 August 1842 Joseph Smith wrote a “love letter” to Sarah Ann Whitney requesting a secret rendezvous or "tryst." Joseph had been sealed to Sarah Ann three weeks prior to this time. What does this letter actually say?
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| − | {{MormonThinkIndexClaim
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| − | *Critics claim that when women turned down Joseph's proposals, that he attempted to destroy their character.
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| − | {{MormonThinkIndexClaim
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| − | *Critics note that Joseph secretly consummated some of his marriages.
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| − | {{MormonThinkIndexClaim
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| − | *Joseph publicly denied plural marriage while secretly practicing it.
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| − | {{MormonThinkIndexClaim
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| − | *Critics claim that the Church histories "deceive readers by failing to point out that Joseph exercised poor judgment."
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| − | {{MormonThinkIndexClaim
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| − | *Joseph's polyandrous marriages were not published in Church manuals.
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| − | |link=Joseph Smith/Polygamy/Polyandry
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| − | |subject=Joseph Smith and polyandry
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| − | |summary= Joseph Smith was sealed to women who were married to men who were still living. Some of these men were even active members of the Church.
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| − | {{MormonThinkIndexClaim
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| − | *Plural marriages were performed after the Manifesto was issued in 1890.
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| − | |link=Mormonism and polygamy/Practiced after the Manifesto
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| − | |subject=Practiced after the Manifesto
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| − | |summary= limited number of plural marriages were solemnized after Wilford Woodruff's Manifesto of 1890 (Official Declaration 1). Some of these marriages were apparently sanctioned by some in positions of Church leadership. Critics claim that this demonstrates that the Manifesto was merely a political tactic, and that the "revelation" of the Manifesto was merely a cynical ploy. They also claim that Post-Manifesto marriages demonstrate the LDS Church's contempt for the civil law of the land.
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| − | *Critics claim that the Church is deceptive in its practices for ensuring that Baptism for the Dead is not performed for Holocaust victims or celebrities.
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