![FairMormon Logo](https://www.fairlatterdaysaints.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/2021_fair_logo_primary.png)
FAIR is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing well-documented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice, and history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
(mod) |
(m) |
||
Line 43: | Line 43: | ||
:Nemelka fled to California in 2002 with an outstanding arrest warrant hanging over him. Three years later, he returned to Utah after Judge Royal Hansen inherited his case from Lindberg and closed it. | :Nemelka fled to California in 2002 with an outstanding arrest warrant hanging over him. Three years later, he returned to Utah after Judge Royal Hansen inherited his case from Lindberg and closed it. | ||
− | :Of his checkered past, Nemelka now says he wants “society” to give him “a mulligan.” {{ | + | :Of his checkered past, Nemelka now says he wants “society” to give him “a mulligan.” <ref>Stephen Dark, "Sealed Fate," ''Salt Lake City Weekly'' (26 January 2011). {{link|url=http://www.cityweekly.net/utah/article-13162-sealed-fate.html?current_page=all}}</ref> |
The first article also provided the following quotations which it attributes directly to Nemelka: | The first article also provided the following quotations which it attributes directly to Nemelka: | ||
Line 54: | Line 54: | ||
* “See, when I did that thing with the fundamentalist group, there were people who wanted to kill me. They were so mad. When I came out and told these other polygamists, fundamentalist guys, that I had really written the sealed portion, that I had done it just to show people that it could be done—they were very upset.” | * “See, when I did that thing with the fundamentalist group, there were people who wanted to kill me. They were so mad. When I came out and told these other polygamists, fundamentalist guys, that I had really written the sealed portion, that I had done it just to show people that it could be done—they were very upset.” | ||
* “When I deal with people, I am amazed at the ignorance and stupidity of most. People are so easily manipulated and deceived. Knowing this has made me a near master of manipulation. I try only to use this art, however, to help people. Sometimes the things I do seem terrible at the time, but usually the manipulation works to accomplish that which I intended.” | * “When I deal with people, I am amazed at the ignorance and stupidity of most. People are so easily manipulated and deceived. Knowing this has made me a near master of manipulation. I try only to use this art, however, to help people. Sometimes the things I do seem terrible at the time, but usually the manipulation works to accomplish that which I intended.” | ||
− | * “Yeah that’s, that’s all bull****,” Nemelka said from jail. “All the revelations are bull****, of course. I made ‘em up.” | + | * “Yeah that’s, that’s all bull****,” Nemelka said from jail. “All the revelations are bull****, of course. I made ‘em up.” <ref>''Salt Lake City Weekly'' (27 Dec 2001) (obscenity present in original).</ref> |
* “I’m even glad you’re doing the article, in a way...I am, so that the sealed portion will never go anywhere. There’s a lot to it, a lot more than what you’ve got. In the wrong hands it could really wreak havoc on a Mormon church, which I don’t want to do.” | * “I’m even glad you’re doing the article, in a way...I am, so that the sealed portion will never go anywhere. There’s a lot to it, a lot more than what you’ve got. In the wrong hands it could really wreak havoc on a Mormon church, which I don’t want to do.” | ||
Line 80: | Line 80: | ||
:I knew I had to portray something to [Judge] Lindberg that would appease her personal opinion that I thought I was "above her law", and more especially, above the laws of the powerful LDS Church to which she belonged. With her legal power, she could have easily had me confined to a mental institution, if she actual thought I was serious about my calling as the revelator of the sealed portion of the plates of Mormon. I was in her grasp and I wanted out. | :I knew I had to portray something to [Judge] Lindberg that would appease her personal opinion that I thought I was "above her law", and more especially, above the laws of the powerful LDS Church to which she belonged. With her legal power, she could have easily had me confined to a mental institution, if she actual thought I was serious about my calling as the revelator of the sealed portion of the plates of Mormon. I was in her grasp and I wanted out. | ||
− | :The conclusion I came up with was simple: Lie to Ben Fulton and get him to write something that would impress Lindberg into thinking that I was done with The Sealed Portion and would have nothing further to do with it in the future...Everything I said to [reporter] Ben Fulton of The City Weekly was an attempted manipulation to attempt to ease the mind of Judge Denise Lindberg...{{ | + | :The conclusion I came up with was simple: Lie to Ben Fulton and get him to write something that would impress Lindberg into thinking that I was done with The Sealed Portion and would have nothing further to do with it in the future...Everything I said to [reporter] Ben Fulton of The City Weekly was an attempted manipulation to attempt to ease the mind of Judge Denise Lindberg... <ref>The Sealed Portion Website, "Questions," last accessed 5 July 2005. {{link|url=http://qanda.thesealedportion.com/qna_threads//read.php?10,126 }}</ref> |
− | In 2007, Nemelka sued the Church, Jeffrey R. Holland, M. Russell Ballard, and others for "Assault, Libel, and Slander." The suit was dismissed two days later.{{ | + | In 2007, Nemelka sued the Church, Jeffrey R. Holland, M. Russell Ballard, and others for "Assault, Libel, and Slander." The suit was dismissed two days later. <ref>"Nemelka v. Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. et al," ''news.justia.com'' (last accessed 12 October 2008) {{link|url=http://news.justia.com/cases/featured/utah/utdce/2:2007cv00524/62419/}}</ref> As Stephen Dark described the matter in 2011: |
:Nemelka was mired in a series of legal battles largely of his own making. In 2007, following instructions, he says, from his immortal mentors, he filed 11 lawsuits, targeting past critics including Judge Lindberg, a psychologist, former plural wives and even several of his own siblings who had, he alleged, slandered him.... | :Nemelka was mired in a series of legal battles largely of his own making. In 2007, following instructions, he says, from his immortal mentors, he filed 11 lawsuits, targeting past critics including Judge Lindberg, a psychologist, former plural wives and even several of his own siblings who had, he alleged, slandered him.... | ||
Line 96: | Line 96: | ||
Of his motivation for the lawsuits, Nemelka later indicated: | Of his motivation for the lawsuits, Nemelka later indicated: | ||
− | :Nemelka says he’s rather a messenger for “advanced beings from another planet,” even though he’s issued several prophecies. Those same beings, he says, told him to sue his critics in 2007, something he’s told those who believe in him they shouldn’t do. “I have to disregard all rules of humanity,” he says, laughing. “I’m the ultimate hypocrite. I’m under mandate to violate every gospel of Christ that I perpetuate.”{{ | + | :Nemelka says he’s rather a messenger for “advanced beings from another planet,” even though he’s issued several prophecies. Those same beings, he says, told him to sue his critics in 2007, something he’s told those who believe in him they shouldn’t do. “I have to disregard all rules of humanity,” he says, laughing. “I’m the ultimate hypocrite. I’m under mandate to violate every gospel of Christ that I perpetuate.” <ref>Stephen Dark, "Sealed Fate," ''Salt Lake City Weekly'' (26 January 2011). {{link|url=http://www.cityweekly.net/utah/article-13162-sealed-fate.html?current_page=all}} |
+ | </ref> | ||
− | == | + | == == |
− | + | {{Endnotes label}} | |
− | + | ||
− | + | <references/> | |
− | |||
− |
Mr. Nemelka claims to have been commanded to translate the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon, as well as the lost 116 pages. What can you tell me about this?
As part of his 'prophetic call,' Nemelka produced what he claims is a translation of the lost 116 pages, or "Book of Lehi." This portion of Mormon's abridgement (from Lehi to King Benjamin, roughly) was lost by Martin Harris after the manuscript was loaned to him by Joseph Smith (See D&C 3, D&C 10).
Interested readers should consult the articles below, which discuss Nemelka's history and tactics:
The first article makes the following claims:
The second article added:
The first article also provided the following quotations which it attributes directly to Nemelka:
Stephen Dark's 2011 article noted:
Since his release from prison, the Salt Lake City Weekly reports that Mr. Nemelka has resumed his prophetic claims and is again insisting that the "sealed portion" is a true prophetic translation. He insists that his confession for the newspaper interview was all a lie to deceive the judge in charge of his case:
In 2007, Nemelka sued the Church, Jeffrey R. Holland, M. Russell Ballard, and others for "Assault, Libel, and Slander." The suit was dismissed two days later. [4] As Stephen Dark described the matter in 2011:
Of his motivation for the lawsuits, Nemelka later indicated:
Notes
FAIR is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing well-documented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice, and history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
We are a volunteer organization. We invite you to give back.
Donate Now