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(→Claims made in "Chapter 2: Moroni, Magic, and Masonry": Expanded) |
(→Claims made in "Chapter 2: Moroni, Magic, and Masonry": Expanded) |
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|30, 495 n.40||Joseph Capron stated that Joseph encouraged others to participate in money digging in order to obtain wealth.||[[The Hurlbut affidavits#Joseph Capron|The Hurlbut affidavits—Joseph Capron]]|| | |30, 495 n.40||Joseph Capron stated that Joseph encouraged others to participate in money digging in order to obtain wealth.||[[The Hurlbut affidavits#Joseph Capron|The Hurlbut affidavits—Joseph Capron]]|| | ||
*Joseph Capron cited in Howe, ''Mormonism Unvalied'', p. 259. | *Joseph Capron cited in Howe, ''Mormonism Unvalied'', p. 259. | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |31, 495 n.41||Rev. John Sherer said that Joseph Smith was a "juggler" (i.e. a "con-man")|| || | ||
+ | *John Sherer, letter to American Home Missionary Society, November 18, 1830 quote in Persuitte, p. 36. | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |31, 495 n.42||William Stafford stated that Joseph believed that the state of the moon determined the best time to obtain treasures.||[[The Hurlbut affidavits#Williams Stafford|The Hurlbut affidavits—William Stafford]]|| | ||
+ | *William Stafford, cited in Howe, ''Mormonism Unvailed'' 238. | ||
+ | *NOTE: Stafford's testimony was given on Dec. 8th, 1833—three years ''after'' the publication of the Book of Mormon. | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |31, 495 n.43||Joseph Smith made animal sacrifices to "appease whatever spirits might be guarding the buried treasure."|| || | ||
+ | *Emily M. Austin, ''Mormonism; or, Life among the Mormons'', 32ff quoted in Wesley P. Walters, "Joseph Smith's Bainbridge, N.Y., Court Trials," ''Westminster Theological Journal'' (Winder 1974), vol. 36, 125. | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |31, 496 n.44||Hiel Lewis claimed that dogs, cats and other animals were sacrificed.|| || | ||
+ | *Hiel Lewis, ''Amboy Journal'', June 4, 1879 quote in Tanner and Tanner, ''Mormonism, Magic and Masonry'', p. 33. | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |33, 495 n.48||Joshua Stafford said that Joseph showed him a piece of wood from a box of money that had "mysteriously moved back into the hill."||[[The Hurlbut affidavits#Joshua Stafford|The Hurlbut affidavits—Joshua Stafford]]|| | ||
+ | *Joshua Stafford, cited in Howe, ''Mormonism Unvailed'' 258. | ||
+ | *NOTE: Stafford's testimony was given Nov. 15, 1833—three years ''after'' the publication of the Book of Mormon. | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |36, 497 n.63||LDS historian Reed C. Durham stated that "virtually all aspects of the Royal Arch Freemasonry legend of Enoch 'seem transformed into the history of Joseph Smith, so much that even it appears to be a kind of symbolic acting out of Masonic lore.'"|| || | ||
+ | *Reed C. Durham, "Is There no Help for the Widow's Son," Presidential Address, Mormon History Association Conference, April 20, 1974. | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |36||Joseph Smith adapted Masonic rituals for the temple endowment.||[[Temple endowment and Freemasonry]]|| | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |40||The Book of Mormon denounces Freemasonry by condeming "secret combinations," "secret signs," and "secret oaths."|| || | ||
+ | *{{s||Alma|37|30}} | ||
+ | *{{s||Helaman|3|23}} | ||
+ | *{{s||Ether|9|6}] | ||
+ | *{{s||Helaman|6|22}} | ||
+ | *{{s||Helaman|6|26}} | ||
|} | |} | ||
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.
Page | Claim | Response | Use of sources |
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xvii | The "White Horse" prophecy predicts the "transformation of the U.S. government into a Mormon-ruled theocracy. | The White Horse prophecy |
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xviii | The "White Horse" prophecy "continues to be a dominant element of the faith espoused by Joseph Smith's followers" because they believe that they will be "officers and administrators" during Christ's millennial reign. | The White Horse prophecy |
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xix | Various Church leaders have reiterated the "White Horse" prophecy. | The White Horse prophecy |
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xx | "Mormons thereafter will reign with Christ, and every American citizen, along with the rest of the world, will be forced to recognize Mormonism as the one true religion." | The White Horse prophecy |
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xxi | As for other governments and religions, according to Joseph Smith, they "must eventually be destroyed from the earth." | Other governments and religions to be destroyed from the earth? |
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xxiv | The Church refuses to divulge "routine (financial) information that other religions are happy to provide over the phone." |
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xxiv | Mormons believe that they are "morally, ethically, and spiritually superior to non-Mormons." |
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Page | Claim | Response | Use of sources |
---|---|---|---|
6 | "To most of his contemporaries, Joseph Smith was nothing but a charlatan from a family of illiterate wnderers; a shiftless trouble-maker—albeit a charismatic and imaginative one—with a penchant for superstitions, storytelling, and decision-making based on the occult traditions of ninteteenth century rural folk magic." | The Hurlbut affidavits—Nathaniel Lewis |
|
9-11 | "[T]he Smiths finally gave up on finding deliverance from their poverty by any means that might be termed legitimate employment. They turned instead to borrowing, fast-talking, and 'money-diffing' through occult divination." | The Hurlbut affidavits |
|
15 | Local newspapers show no revival occurring in 1820 in the area of Palmyra-Manchester, New York. | Religious revivals in 1820 |
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15 | Smith probably incorporated an 1824 revival into his First Vision story. | Conflation of 1824-25 revival? |
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15 | Joseph's 1832 First Vision account states that he was 15 rather than 14 years old. | Different age provided in the 1832 text | |
15 | Joseph's 1832 account states that he only saw Jesus and doesn't mention God the Father. | Only one Personage appears in the 1832 account | |
15 | The main message of the 1832 account was the forgiveness of Joseph's sins. | Motivation in 1832 account is different | |
15 | The 1832 account omits information about "God condemning Christian churches as corrupt." | 1832 account doesn't forbid joining a church | |
16-17 | Orson Pratt said that the two personages were angels. | Orson Pratt confused about "angel" or Father-Son |
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17 | Church historian Andrew Jenson said that "The angel again forbade Joseph to join any of these churches." | Andrew Jenson called personage an "angel" |
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18 | John Taylor only calls the Father and Son "two glorious personages" and does not mention "this is my beloved son." | John Taylor's understanding of the First Vision |
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18 | The 1824 revival caused Joseph's mother, sister and two brothers to join the Presbyterian church. | Conflation of 1824-25 revival? |
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18 | The 1824 revival cause Joseph to join a Baptist church. | Joseph Smith joined other churches |
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18 | No publications from the Palmyra or Manchester areas mentioned Joseph's vision. | No reference to First Vision in 1830s publications? |
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22, 490 n.78 | The vision of Moroni was the only vision that existed for many years. Lucy Mack Smith said that the first vision was that of a "holy Angel" | Prophet's mother said First Vision was of an "angel" |
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Page | Claim | Response | Use of sources |
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23 | The author claims that "LDS documents are strangely silent about their prophet's activities during the three years immediately following his 1820 First Vision." | Odd claims |
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25 | The angel was originally named "Nephi" instead of "Moroni." | Nephi or Moroni |
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26, 492 n.19-20 | Oliver Cowdery said that the First Vision took place in 1823 when Joseph was in his 17th year. | Oliver Cowdery not aware of First Vision in 1834-35 |
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26, 492 n.21 | Joseph's brother William associates Moroni's visit with a revival. | William Smith said First Vision was an "angel"? |
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27, 493 n.23 | George A. Smith merged the First Vision and Moroni's visit. | George A. Smith said First Vision was an "angel" |
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27, 493 n.24 | Lucy Mack Smith, Joseph's mother, said that the First Vision was of the angel in 1823. | Prophet's mother said First Vision was of an "angel" |
|
27 | Joseph engaged in "ritual magic and divination." | Joseph Smith and the occult |
|
28 | Joseph was a "money digger" | Joseph Smith and money digging |
|
28 | Joseph used a "peep stone" to search for treasure. | Joseph Smith and seer stones |
|
29, 494 n.30 | Joseph's father was "a firm believer in witchcraft and other supernatural things; and had brought up his family in the same beief." |
| |
29, 494-5 n.33-34 | Martin Harris said that Joseph was associated with a company of money diggers. | Joseph Smith and money digging |
|
29, 495 n.36 | Joshua Stafford said that Joseph's family "told marvelous stories about ghosts, hob-goblins, caverns, and verious other mysterious matters." | The Hurlbut affidavits—Joshua Stafford |
|
29-30, 495 n.37 | "Most of the residents" of Palmyra and Manchester considered the Smith family a "close-knit clan of occultists." | Joseph Smith and the occult |
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30, 495 n.38 | William Stafford stated that Joseph used a seer stone to see "the spirits in whose charge these treasures were, clotehd in ancient dress." | The Hurlbut affidavits—William Stafford |
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30, 495 n.40 | Joseph Capron stated that Joseph encouraged others to participate in money digging in order to obtain wealth. | The Hurlbut affidavits—Joseph Capron |
|
31, 495 n.41 | Rev. John Sherer said that Joseph Smith was a "juggler" (i.e. a "con-man") |
| |
31, 495 n.42 | William Stafford stated that Joseph believed that the state of the moon determined the best time to obtain treasures. | The Hurlbut affidavits—William Stafford |
|
31, 495 n.43 | Joseph Smith made animal sacrifices to "appease whatever spirits might be guarding the buried treasure." |
| |
31, 496 n.44 | Hiel Lewis claimed that dogs, cats and other animals were sacrificed. |
| |
33, 495 n.48 | Joshua Stafford said that Joseph showed him a piece of wood from a box of money that had "mysteriously moved back into the hill." | The Hurlbut affidavits—Joshua Stafford |
|
36, 497 n.63 | LDS historian Reed C. Durham stated that "virtually all aspects of the Royal Arch Freemasonry legend of Enoch 'seem transformed into the history of Joseph Smith, so much that even it appears to be a kind of symbolic acting out of Masonic lore.'" |
| |
36 | Joseph Smith adapted Masonic rituals for the temple endowment. | Temple endowment and Freemasonry | |
40 | The Book of Mormon denounces Freemasonry by condeming "secret combinations," "secret signs," and "secret oaths." |
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