Difference between revisions of "Criticism of Mormonism/Books/Becoming Gods/Chapter 3"

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*Richard L. Bushman, "Joseph Smith as Translator'', in Waterman, p. 81.
 
*Richard L. Bushman, "Joseph Smith as Translator'', in Waterman, p. 81.
 
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==Endnotes==
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Revision as of 22:58, 21 February 2010


Chapter 2
A FAIR Analysis of:
Becoming Gods: A Closer Look at 21st-Century Mormonism
A work by author: Richard Abanes
 Chapter 4

Claims made in "Chapter 3: Thus Saith Joseph"

Page Claim Response Author's sources

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 The revelations in the Book of Commandments were modified because they were "showing their age," "contained outdated information," "included erroneous statements" and "abandoned doctrines."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."
  • 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."
  •  The author's claim is false: 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.
  •  Quotes another author's opinion as if it were fact: once again, only a hostile author is cited; there are no quotes from LDS sources used to explore their supposed view.
  • Changing doctrine

87, 370n23

 Joseph received a "false revelation" through his seer stone to go to Toronto, Canada 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."

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.
  • 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.

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.[1]
  • "The Early History of the Saints and Their Enemies," Sept. 28, 1875, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, Dec. 5, 1878
  • 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."
  • 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.
  • No source provided.

94-98

 The restoration of the missing portions of Facsimile 1 were "terribly wrong."
  • Charles M. Larson, By His Own Hand Upon Papyrus: A New Look at the Joseph Smith Papyri, 2nd ed., (Grand Rapids, MI: Institute for Religious Research, 1992), .

99

 LDS apologists' main purpose is to explain away "any and all criticisms that might damage the validity of Smith's writings."
  • 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.
  • Richard L. Bushman, "Joseph Smith as Translator, in Waterman, p. 81.

Endnotes

  1. [note]  "History of William E. McLellin," Millennial Star 26 (1864), 808.; see also Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7 volumes, edited by Brigham H. Roberts, (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1957), 3:31. Volume 3 link
  2. [note]  D. Michael Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power (Signature Books, 1994), 44.
  3. [note]  "History of William E. McLellin," Millennial Star 26 (1864), 808.; see also Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7 volumes, edited by Brigham H. Roberts, (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1957), 3:31. Volume 3 link
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