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Difference between revisions of "Joseph Smith/Moon inhabited"
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:He described the men as averaging nearly six feet in height, and dressing quite uniformly in something near the Quaker style.{{ref|ywj1}} | :He described the men as averaging nearly six feet in height, and dressing quite uniformly in something near the Quaker style.{{ref|ywj1}} | ||
| − | So, it would seem that the idea of an inhabited moon or other celestial body was not foreign to early LDS | + | So, it would seem that the idea of an inhabited moon or other celestial body was not foreign to at least some early LDS members. It is not clear whether the idea originated with Joseph Smith. |
However, it should be remembered that this concept was considered 'scientific fact' by many at the time. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Herschel William Herschel], the discoverer of the planet Uranus, died in 1822. Herschel argued that | However, it should be remembered that this concept was considered 'scientific fact' by many at the time. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Herschel William Herschel], the discoverer of the planet Uranus, died in 1822. Herschel argued that | ||
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:Who can say that it is not extremely probable, nay beyond doubt, that there must be inhabitants on the Moon of some kind or another? | :Who can say that it is not extremely probable, nay beyond doubt, that there must be inhabitants on the Moon of some kind or another? | ||
| − | and | + | and he |
:thought it possible that there was a region below the Sun's fiery surface where men might live, and he regarded the existence of life on the Moon as "an absolute certainty."{{ref|herschel1}} | :thought it possible that there was a region below the Sun's fiery surface where men might live, and he regarded the existence of life on the Moon as "an absolute certainty."{{ref|herschel1}} | ||
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===The 1835 Hoax=== | ===The 1835 Hoax=== | ||
| − | + | In addition to these pronouncements from some of the most prominent scientists of the day, a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Moon_Hoax clever hoax] in 1835 only added to the belief in lunar inhabitants. | |
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Frederick_William_Herschel John Herschel], son of the famous William, went to South Africa to study stars visible only in the southern hemisphere. This was the cause of considerable public interest, given Herschel's involvement. | [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Frederick_William_Herschel John Herschel], son of the famous William, went to South Africa to study stars visible only in the southern hemisphere. This was the cause of considerable public interest, given Herschel's involvement. | ||
| − | On 23 August 1835, Richard Locke published the first article in the ''New York | + | On 23 August 1835, Richard Locke published the first article in the ''New York Sun'' of what purported to be reports from Herschel's observations. Over a total of [http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/moonhoax1.html six installments], Locke claimed that Herschel was reporting lunar flowers, forests, bison, goats, unicorns, bipedal tailless bevers who cooked with fire, and (most provocatively) flying men with wings: |
| − | :They appeared to be constantly engaged in conversing, with much impassioned gesticulation; and hence it was inferred, that they are rational beings. Others, apparently of a higher order, were discovered afterwards. . . . And finally a magnificent temple for the worship of God, of polished sapphire, in a triangle shape, with a roof of gold.{{ref| | + | :They appeared to be constantly engaged in conversing, with much impassioned gesticulation; and hence it was inferred, that they are rational beings. Others, apparently of a higher order, were discovered afterwards. . . . And finally a magnificent temple for the worship of God, of polished sapphire, in a triangle shape, with a roof of gold.{{ref|sun1}} |
| − | These reports were widely believed and caused a minor sensation. They were carried in the ''Painsville Telegraph'', adjacent to Mormon Kirtland.{{ref|telegraph1}} The '' | + | These reports were widely believed and caused a minor sensation. They were carried in the ''Painsville Telegraph'', adjacent to Mormon Kirtland.{{ref|telegraph1}} The ''Sun'' eventually hinted that the matter was a hoax: |
| + | |||
| + | :Certain correspondents have been urging us to come out and confess the whole to be a hoax; but this we can by no means do, until we have the testimony of the English or Scotch papers to corroborate such a declaration.{{ref|sun2}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | No more than this was forthcoming, and the ''Painsville Telegraph'' made no mention of the possibility of a hoax. Popular belief in lunar inhabitants persisted for decades. | ||
===Conclusion=== | ===Conclusion=== | ||
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Modern prophets and general authorities will sometimes cite newspaper articles or books to illustrate the points which they wish to make. In doing so, they are not endorsing such articles or books as being prophetically correct in all particulars. Rather, they are using the science and information of their day to enhance their preaching of the gospel. | Modern prophets and general authorities will sometimes cite newspaper articles or books to illustrate the points which they wish to make. In doing so, they are not endorsing such articles or books as being prophetically correct in all particulars. Rather, they are using the science and information of their day to enhance their preaching of the gospel. | ||
| − | LDS doctrine was not provincial, since it provided for "worlds without number" (Moses 1:33) created by Christ. These worlds held those who would require the gospel, since by Christ "the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God." (D&C 76:24) | + | LDS doctrine was not provincial, since it provided for "worlds without number" ([http://scriptures.lds.org/moses/1/33#33 Moses 1:33]) created by Christ. These worlds held those who would require the gospel, since by Christ "the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God." ([http://scriptures.lds.org/dc/76/24#24 D&C 76:24]) |
| − | Information given to the 19th century Saints by the authorities of the day were consistent with these doctrines, and so they believed them, and occasionally mentioned them in a religious context. As always, prophets are products of their time. Hebrew prophets, for example, clearly accepted a geocentric (earth centered) cosmos, with a flat earth and heavens supported by four pillars. Like the prophets of the Bible, modern prophets are generally beholden to their era's scientific world view, except where corrections in that worldview are needed to permit the gospel to be understood and applied. This does not mean, however, prophets of any era do not receive revelation about matters of eternal significance. | + | Information given to the 19th century Saints by the authorities of the day were consistent with these doctrines, and so they believed them, and occasionally mentioned them in a religious context. As always, prophets and believers are products of their time. Hebrew prophets, for example, clearly accepted a geocentric (earth centered) cosmos, with a flat earth and heavens supported by four pillars. Like the prophets of the Bible, modern prophets are generally beholden to their era's scientific world view, except where corrections in that worldview are needed to permit the gospel to be understood and applied. This does not mean, however, prophets of any era do not receive revelation about matters of eternal significance. |
As always, anyone with questions need not rely on the word of the prophets, or the media, for determining truth. All may ask of God. | As always, anyone with questions need not rely on the word of the prophets, or the media, for determining truth. All may ask of God. | ||
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#{{note|herschel1}} Patrick Moore, ''New Guide to the Moon'' (W.W. Norton & Company, New York: 1976), cited by {{Sunstone1|author=Van Hale|article=Mormons And Moonmen|vol=7|num=5|date=September/October 1982|start=15}} | #{{note|herschel1}} Patrick Moore, ''New Guide to the Moon'' (W.W. Norton & Company, New York: 1976), cited by {{Sunstone1|author=Van Hale|article=Mormons And Moonmen|vol=7|num=5|date=September/October 1982|start=15}} | ||
#{{note|vanhale2}} Van Hale, Mormons And Moonmen: 15. | #{{note|vanhale2}} Van Hale, Mormons And Moonmen: 15. | ||
| − | #{{note| | + | #{{note|sun1}} Moore, ''New Guide to the Moon'' 130-131; cited by Van Hale, Mormons And Moonmen: 16. |
#{{ref|telegraph1}}''Painesville Telegraph'' 11 September 1835 | #{{ref|telegraph1}}''Painesville Telegraph'' 11 September 1835 | ||
| − | # | + | #{{ref|sun2}} ''New York Sun'' 16 September 1835; cited by Alex Boese, "The Great Moon Hoax," ''museumofhoaxes.com''[http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/moonhoax.html *] |
==Further reading== | ==Further reading== | ||
Revision as of 09:22, 19 November 2005
This article is a draft. FairMormon editors are currently editing it. We welcome your suggestions on improving the content.
Contents
Question
Critics claim that Joseph Smith taught that the moon was inhabited, and that this is proof he was a false prophet.
Source(s) of the criticism
- Jay Jacobson, "Three Reasons Not to Become a Mormon,": 7.
Response
The source for this claim is not Joseph Smith himself; the first mention comes in 1881 in Oliver B. Huntington's journal, who claimed that he had the information from Philo Dibble. So, we have a late, third-person account of something Joseph is supposed to have said.[1] Hyrum Smith[2] and Brigham Young[3] both expressed their view that the moon was inhabited.
A patriarchal blessing given to Huntington also indicated that "thou shalt have power with God even to translate thyself to Heaven, & preach to the inhabitants of the moon or planets, if it shall be expedient."[4]
Huntington later wrote an article about the concept for a Church magazine:
- As far back as 1837, I know that he [Joseph Smith] said the moon was inhabited by men and women the same as this earth, and that they lived to a greater age than we d~that they live generally to near the age of a 1,000 years.
- He described the men as averaging nearly six feet in height, and dressing quite uniformly in something near the Quaker style.[5]
So, it would seem that the idea of an inhabited moon or other celestial body was not foreign to at least some early LDS members. It is not clear whether the idea originated with Joseph Smith.
However, it should be remembered that this concept was considered 'scientific fact' by many at the time. William Herschel, the discoverer of the planet Uranus, died in 1822. Herschel argued that
- Who can say that it is not extremely probable, nay beyond doubt, that there must be inhabitants on the Moon of some kind or another?
and he
- thought it possible that there was a region below the Sun's fiery surface where men might live, and he regarded the existence of life on the Moon as "an absolute certainty."[6]
Other scientists announced that they had discovered "a lunar city with a collection of gigantic ramparts extending 23 miles in either direction."[7]
The 1835 Hoax
In addition to these pronouncements from some of the most prominent scientists of the day, a clever hoax in 1835 only added to the belief in lunar inhabitants.
John Herschel, son of the famous William, went to South Africa to study stars visible only in the southern hemisphere. This was the cause of considerable public interest, given Herschel's involvement.
On 23 August 1835, Richard Locke published the first article in the New York Sun of what purported to be reports from Herschel's observations. Over a total of six installments, Locke claimed that Herschel was reporting lunar flowers, forests, bison, goats, unicorns, bipedal tailless bevers who cooked with fire, and (most provocatively) flying men with wings:
- They appeared to be constantly engaged in conversing, with much impassioned gesticulation; and hence it was inferred, that they are rational beings. Others, apparently of a higher order, were discovered afterwards. . . . And finally a magnificent temple for the worship of God, of polished sapphire, in a triangle shape, with a roof of gold.[8]
These reports were widely believed and caused a minor sensation. They were carried in the Painsville Telegraph, adjacent to Mormon Kirtland.[9] The Sun eventually hinted that the matter was a hoax:
- Certain correspondents have been urging us to come out and confess the whole to be a hoax; but this we can by no means do, until we have the testimony of the English or Scotch papers to corroborate such a declaration.[10]
No more than this was forthcoming, and the Painsville Telegraph made no mention of the possibility of a hoax. Popular belief in lunar inhabitants persisted for decades.
Conclusion
Modern prophets and general authorities will sometimes cite newspaper articles or books to illustrate the points which they wish to make. In doing so, they are not endorsing such articles or books as being prophetically correct in all particulars. Rather, they are using the science and information of their day to enhance their preaching of the gospel.
LDS doctrine was not provincial, since it provided for "worlds without number" (Moses 1:33) created by Christ. These worlds held those who would require the gospel, since by Christ "the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God." (D&C 76:24)
Information given to the 19th century Saints by the authorities of the day were consistent with these doctrines, and so they believed them, and occasionally mentioned them in a religious context. As always, prophets and believers are products of their time. Hebrew prophets, for example, clearly accepted a geocentric (earth centered) cosmos, with a flat earth and heavens supported by four pillars. Like the prophets of the Bible, modern prophets are generally beholden to their era's scientific world view, except where corrections in that worldview are needed to permit the gospel to be understood and applied. This does not mean, however, prophets of any era do not receive revelation about matters of eternal significance.
As always, anyone with questions need not rely on the word of the prophets, or the media, for determining truth. All may ask of God.
Endnotes
- [note] Van Hale, "Mormons And Moonmen," Sunstone 7 no. (Issue #5) (September/October 1982), 13–14. off-site
- [note] Hyrum Smith, "Concerning the plurality of gods & worlds," 27 April 1843; cited in Template:BYU Studies1*
- [note] Brigham Young, "X," Journal of Discourses, reported by D.W. Evans and John Grimshaw, (Y), Vol. 13 (London: Latter-day Saint's Book Depot, 1871), 271–271.off-site
- [note] Patriarchal Blessings Books 9:294–295.
- [note] Young Woman's Journal (1892) Vol. 3: 263.
- [note] Patrick Moore, New Guide to the Moon (W.W. Norton & Company, New York: 1976), cited by Van Hale, "Mormons And Moonmen," Sunstone 7 no. (Issue #5) (September/October 1982), 15. off-site
- [note] Van Hale, Mormons And Moonmen: 15.
- [note] Moore, New Guide to the Moon 130-131; cited by Van Hale, Mormons And Moonmen: 16.
- [11]Painesville Telegraph 11 September 1835
- [12] New York Sun 16 September 1835; cited by Alex Boese, "The Great Moon Hoax," museumofhoaxes.com*
Further reading
FAIR wiki articles
FAIR web site
- FAIR Topical Guide: Infallibility
- FAIR Topical Guide: Personal beliefs of prophets
External links
- Stephen R. Gibson, Didn't Joseph Teach the Moon was Inhabited?