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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.
(→Claims made in "Chapter 3: From Profit to Prophet": Modified links) |
(→Claims made in "Introduction: A Thread of Prophecy": Modified links) |
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===Claims made in "Introduction: A Thread of Prophecy"=== | ===Claims made in "Introduction: A Thread of Prophecy"=== | ||
{{BeginClaimsTable}} | {{BeginClaimsTable}} | ||
− | |xv, 477n2 (HB)<br>ix, 475n2 (PB)||"[S]ome of the least reliable reports on Mormon history, especially with regard to its earliest years, are those that have been produced by the LDS church..." ||[[../Use of sources/Historical Suppression in the Church|Historical Suppression in the Church]]|| | + | |xv, 477n2 (HB)<br>ix, 475n2 (PB)||"[S]ome of the least reliable reports on Mormon history, especially with regard to its earliest years, are those that have been produced by the LDS church..." ||[[../Use of sources/Historical Suppression in the Church|Use of sources: Historical Suppression in the Church]]|| |
*Boyd K. Packer, interview with D. Michalel Quinn, 1976. Quoted in Smith, 105, endnote #22. (PB) | *Boyd K. Packer, interview with D. Michalel Quinn, 1976. Quoted in Smith, 105, endnote #22. (PB) | ||
*Boyd K. Packer, "The Mantle is Far, Far Greater Than the Intellect," BYU Studies [Summer 1981], vol. 21, 264-265). (HB,PB) | *Boyd K. Packer, "The Mantle is Far, Far Greater Than the Intellect," BYU Studies [Summer 1981], vol. 21, 264-265). (HB,PB) | ||
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− | |xv, 477n5 (HB)<br>ix, 475n5 (PB)||LDS leaders "attempt to control depictions of the Mormon past.||[[../Use of sources/Calling All Mormon Scholars|Calling All Mormon Scholars]]|| | + | |xv, 477n5 (HB)<br>ix, 475n5 (PB)||LDS leaders "attempt to control depictions of the Mormon past.||[[../Use of sources/Calling All Mormon Scholars|Use of sources: Calling All Mormon Scholars]]|| |
*Allen Roberts, Private Eye Weekly, October 20, 1993, 12. Quoted in Jerald Tanner and Sandra Tanner, "Legacy: A Distorted View of Mormon History,: Salt Lake City Messenger (#88), May 1995, 4 <!-- online at http://www.utlm.org/newsletters/no88.htm. --> | *Allen Roberts, Private Eye Weekly, October 20, 1993, 12. Quoted in Jerald Tanner and Sandra Tanner, "Legacy: A Distorted View of Mormon History,: Salt Lake City Messenger (#88), May 1995, 4 <!-- online at http://www.utlm.org/newsletters/no88.htm. --> | ||
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− | |xv-xvi, 477n6 (HB)||"Mormon Scholars too often write history that, if not blatantly, at least tacitly defends the faith." ||[[../Use of sources/An Example of Biased Histories|An Example of Biased Histories]]|| | + | |xv-xvi, 477n6 (HB)||"Mormon Scholars too often write history that, if not blatantly, at least tacitly defends the faith." ||[[../Use of sources/An Example of Biased Histories|Use of sources: An Example of Biased Histories]]|| |
*John E. Hallwas and Roger D. Launius, Cultures in Conflict: A Documentary History of the Mormon War in Illinois (Logan, UT: Utah State University Press, 1995), 2-3. | *John E. Hallwas and Roger D. Launius, Cultures in Conflict: A Documentary History of the Mormon War in Illinois (Logan, UT: Utah State University Press, 1995), 2-3. | ||
*The balance of endnote is a laundry list of additional sources critical of the way history is treated by faithful LDS. It is deleted here, as it is not directly related to the use of the quote in question. | *The balance of endnote is a laundry list of additional sources critical of the way history is treated by faithful LDS. It is deleted here, as it is not directly related to the use of the quote in question. | ||
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*Sandra Tanner, "Joseph Smith's 'White Horse' Prophecy," <!-- http://wtlm.org/onlineresources/whitehorseprophecy.htm --> | *Sandra Tanner, "Joseph Smith's 'White Horse' Prophecy," <!-- http://wtlm.org/onlineresources/whitehorseprophecy.htm --> | ||
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− | |xviii, 475n5 (HB)||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.||[[Joseph Smith prophesies/White Horse prophecy|The White Horse prophecy]]<br>[[../Use of sources/The Mormon Quest for Power|The Mormon Quest for Power]]|| | + | |xviii, 475n5 (HB)||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.||[[Joseph Smith prophesies/White Horse prophecy|The White Horse prophecy]]<br>[[../Use of sources/The Mormon Quest for Power|Use of sources: The Mormon Quest for Power]]|| |
*Fred Esplin, "Mormon journalist and University of Utah spokesperson", "The Saints Go Marching On," ''Utah Holliday'', June 1981, 34. | *Fred Esplin, "Mormon journalist and University of Utah spokesperson", "The Saints Go Marching On," ''Utah Holliday'', June 1981, 34. | ||
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*Preston Nibley, Deseret News, December 15, 1948 quoted in Ogden Kraut, ''The White Horse Prophecy'', 65 <!--http:/www/kingdomofzion.org/doctrines/gospellibrary/kraut/kraut.html --> | *Preston Nibley, Deseret News, December 15, 1948 quoted in Ogden Kraut, ''The White Horse Prophecy'', 65 <!--http:/www/kingdomofzion.org/doctrines/gospellibrary/kraut/kraut.html --> | ||
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− | |xx, 479n10 (HB)<br>xiv, 477n10||Mormonism existed as a "radical, immoral, and un-American band of religious zealots" (HB) corrected to Mormonism "was perceived as a radical, immoral, and un-American band of religious zealots" (PB)||[[../Use of sources/Perception and Reality|Perception and Reality]]|| | + | |xx, 479n10 (HB)<br>xiv, 477n10||Mormonism existed as a "radical, immoral, and un-American band of religious zealots" (HB) corrected to Mormonism "was perceived as a radical, immoral, and un-American band of religious zealots" (PB)||[[../Use of sources/Perception and Reality|Use of sources: Perception and Reality]]|| |
*Fred Esplin, "Mormon journalist and University of Utah spokesperson", "The Saints Go Marching On," ''Utah Holliday'', June 1981, 33. | *Fred Esplin, "Mormon journalist and University of Utah spokesperson", "The Saints Go Marching On," ''Utah Holliday'', June 1981, 33. | ||
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− | |xx, 479n15 (HB)<br>xiv, 477n15 (PB)||The Church will rebuild the government and restore economic prosperity in preparation for Jesus Christ setting up a theocracy in Missouri.||[[../Use of Source/Christ Setting up a Theocracy in Missouri|Christ Setting up a Theocracy in Missouri]]|| | + | |xx, 479n15 (HB)<br>xiv, 477n15 (PB)||The Church will rebuild the government and restore economic prosperity in preparation for Jesus Christ setting up a theocracy in Missouri.||[[../Use of Source/Christ Setting up a Theocracy in Missouri|Use of sources: Christ Setting up a Theocracy in Missouri]]|| |
*Bruce McConkie, Mormon Doctrine (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1958; second edition, 1966), 855. During a December 23, 1866 sermon, Brigham Young declared that at Christ's second coming, he would first appear in "the land of America" (Brigham Young, December 23, 1866, JOD [Liverpool: B. Young, Jr., 1867; lithographed reprint of original, 1966], vol. 11, 279.) | *Bruce McConkie, Mormon Doctrine (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1958; second edition, 1966), 855. During a December 23, 1866 sermon, Brigham Young declared that at Christ's second coming, he would first appear in "the land of America" (Brigham Young, December 23, 1866, JOD [Liverpool: B. Young, Jr., 1867; lithographed reprint of original, 1966], vol. 11, 279.) | ||
*Note: The hardback has the page number incorrectly specified as page 249, which was corrected in the paperback. | *Note: The hardback has the page number incorrectly specified as page 249, which was corrected in the paperback. | ||
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− | |xx, 479n17 (HB)||"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."||[[Joseph Smith prophesies/White Horse prophecy|The White Horse prophecy]]<br>[[../Use of sources/Destroying Governments and Religions|Destroying Governments and Religions]]|| | + | |xx, 479n17 (HB)||"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."||[[Joseph Smith prophesies/White Horse prophecy|The White Horse prophecy]]<br>[[../Use of sources/Destroying Governments and Religions|Use of sources: Destroying Governments and Religions]]|| |
*Orson Hyde, Journal of Discourses 7:53 | *Orson Hyde, Journal of Discourses 7:53 | ||
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− | |xxi||As for other governments and religions, according to Joseph Smith, they "must eventually be destroyed from the earth."|| [[One Nation Under Gods#Other governments and religions to be destroyed from the earth?|Other governments and religions to be destroyed from the earth?]]<br>[[../Use of sources/Destroying Governments and Religions|Destroying Governments and Religions]]|| | + | |xxi||As for other governments and religions, according to Joseph Smith, they "must eventually be destroyed from the earth."|| [[One Nation Under Gods#Other governments and religions to be destroyed from the earth?|Other governments and religions to be destroyed from the earth?]]<br>[[../Use of sources/Destroying Governments and Religions|Use of sources: Destroying Governments and Religions]]|| |
*History of the Church 5:212 | *History of the Church 5:212 | ||
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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.
It should be noted that Richard Abanes' response to the list of problems documented by FAIR is that the editing on the hardback edition of One Nation Under Gods was incomplete and that many of the problems were corrected in the paperback edition, published a year later. (This corrected paperback edition bears no markings indicating that it is a second edition or an updated edition; it simply appears as a paperback edition of the original.) Despite the author's statements, many of the problems noted exist in both the hardback and paperback versions. FAIR members are in the process of updating the problems so they address both editions of the book.
In the table below the Hardback is represented by "HB" and the Paperback by "PB."
Page | Claim | Response | Author's sources |
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xv, 477n2 (HB) ix, 475n2 (PB) |
"[S]ome of the least reliable reports on Mormon history, especially with regard to its earliest years, are those that have been produced by the LDS church..." | Use of sources: Historical Suppression in the Church |
|
xv, 477n5 (HB) ix, 475n5 (PB) |
LDS leaders "attempt to control depictions of the Mormon past. | Use of sources: Calling All Mormon Scholars |
|
xv-xvi, 477n6 (HB) | "Mormon Scholars too often write history that, if not blatantly, at least tacitly defends the faith." | Use of sources: An Example of Biased Histories |
|
xvii | The "White Horse" prophecy predicts the "transformation of the U.S. government into a Mormon-ruled theocracy. | The White Horse prophecy |
|
xviii, 475n5 (HB) | 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 Use of sources: The Mormon Quest for Power |
|
xix | Various Church leaders have reiterated the "White Horse" prophecy. | The White Horse prophecy |
|
xx, 479n10 (HB) xiv, 477n10 |
Mormonism existed as a "radical, immoral, and un-American band of religious zealots" (HB) corrected to Mormonism "was perceived as a radical, immoral, and un-American band of religious zealots" (PB) | Use of sources: Perception and Reality |
|
xx, 479n15 (HB) xiv, 477n15 (PB) |
The Church will rebuild the government and restore economic prosperity in preparation for Jesus Christ setting up a theocracy in Missouri. | Use of sources: Christ Setting up a Theocracy in Missouri |
|
xx, 479n17 (HB) | "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 Use of sources: Destroying Governments and Religions |
|
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? Use of sources: Destroying Governments and Religions |
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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 | Author's sources |
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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 |
|
15 | Smith probably incorporated an 1824 revival into his First Vision story. | Conflation of 1824-25 revival? |
|
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 |
|
17 | Church historian Andrew Jenson said that "The angel again forbade Joseph to join any of these churches." | Andrew Jenson called personage an "angel" |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
18 | No publications from the Palmyra or Manchester areas mentioned Joseph's vision. | No reference to First Vision in 1830s publications? |
|
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" |
|
Page | Claim | Response | Author's 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." | Absurd claims |
|
25 | The angel was originally named "Nephi" instead of "Moroni." | Nephi or Moroni |
|
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" |
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27 | Joseph engaged in "ritual magic and divination." | Joseph Smith and the occult |
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28 | Joseph was a "money digger" | Joseph Smith and money digging |
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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." |
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29, 494-5 n.33-34 | Martin Harris said that Joseph was associated with a company of money diggers. | Joseph Smith and money digging |
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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 |
|
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 |
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31, 495 n.41 | Rev. John Sherer said that Joseph Smith was a "juggler" (i.e. a "con-man") |
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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." |
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31, 496 n.44 | Hiel Lewis claimed that dogs, cats and other animals were sacrificed. |
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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.'" |
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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." |
Page | Claim | Response | Author's sources |
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41, 500 n.2-4 | Joseph used at least two seer stones. | Joseph Smith and seer stones |
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42, 500 n.7 | Issac Hale, Emma's father, disapproved of Joseph because of his money digging activities. | The Hurlbut affidavits—Isaac Hale |
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44 | Joseph was pronounced "guilty" of performing illegal activities with the stone. | Joseph Smith's 1826 glasslooking trial |
|
46, 503 n.18 | Hugh Nibley said, "If this court recored is authentic, it is the most damning evidence in existence against Joseph Smith. | Joseph Smith's 1826 glasslooking trial |
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46, 503 n.20 | Francis Kirkham claimed that "If any evidence had been in existence that Joseph Smith had used a seer stone for fraud and deception, and expcially had he made this confession in a court of law as early as 1826, or four years before the Book of Mormon was printed, and this confession was in a court record, it would have been impossible for hism to have organized the resorted Church. | Joseph Smith's 1826 glasslooking trial |
|
47, 503 n.22 | Joseph realized that "money-digging alone was bringing in ony about $14 a month, which was not nearly enough to support a family." | Joseph Smith and money digging |
|
47, 503 n.23 | Joseph initially "attached no religious significance" to the "golden book" that he told people he would be retrieving. He instead "touted it as a book that would 'tell him how to get money that was buried in the ground.'" |
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48, 503 n.25 | Joseph decided to convert his book into a saga about America's ancient inhabitants as a money making scheme. |
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503 n.25 | Joseph tried to sell the copyright of the Book of Mormon in Canada. | Did Joseph Smith attempt to sell the Book of Mormon copyright? |
|
48, 503-4 n.29-32 | One of Joseph's early descriptions of Moroni was of a bloody ghost with his throat cut. |
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50-51, n.34-36 | "The Smiths eventually changed Joseph's 'dream' of a ghost to a 'vision' of a spirit (but not yet an angel)...A 'toad-like' creature 'assumed the appearance of a man' and struck Joseph on the side of his head, telling him that it was not yet time to retrieve the plates." | The Hurlbut affidavits—Willard Chase |
|
51 | "A subsequent version of Smith's ever-changing tale..." |
| |
51 | "Until well into the late 1800s it was widely understood that Smith found the golden plates not by a dream, or a ghost, or a vision—but by looking into his peep-stone and seeing where they had been deposited. | Absurd claims |
|
51 | "all of the religious aspects of Smith's adventures came much later." |
| |
52 | Joseph Smith claimed that the moon was inhabited. | Joseph Smith and moonmen |
|
52 | Joseph taught the doctrine of "Caucasians advancing to godhood" |
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52 | Joseph taught the notion that "Blacks, Indians, and other people of color are cursed spirits." | Lamanite curse |
|
53, 505-506n47 (HB) 53, 503-504n47 (PB) |
"After all, no one had actually seen the plates, nor would anyoneever see them" | Absurd claims Use of sources: Seeing the Plates |
|
505 n.47 | The witnesses only saw the plates through "visionary experiences." | ||
505 n.47 | The eight witnesses only saw the plates as long as they were covered with a cloth of some kind. |
| |
505 n.47 | Martin Harris said that none of the eight witnesses ever saw the plates, and that he only handled them in a box or under a cloth. |
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505 n.47 | Joseph Smith claimed that the Three Witnesses saw the plates in a vision. |
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505 n.47 | David Whitmer "agreed that neither he, nor the other Three Witnesses, ever physically saw or handled the plates. |
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508 n.59 | "Mormons often try to discredit Anthon by pointing out an alleged discrepancy between his letters, but there exists no such discrepancy. |
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55, 508n60 (HB) 55, 506n60 (PB) |
Scholars have declared that there is no language called "Reformed Egyptian." | Reformed Egyptian Use of sources: Reformed Egyptian |
|
55, 508 n.62 | Joseph used his "peep-stone" to translate the Book of Mormon. | Book of Mormon translation method |
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56, 508 n.63-65 | Emma Smith and David Whitmer said that Joseph translated using his seer stone in a hat. | Book of Mormon translation method |
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Page | Claim | Response | Author's sources |
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64, 511n24 (HB) | Joseph Smith's "amusing recitals" of ancient American inhabitants. | Joseph Smith's "amusing recitals" of ancient American inhabitants Use of sources: Tall Tales |
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72, 514n61 (HB) | The name "Lemuel" may have been derived from the name of the Smith's landlord, Lemuel Durfee. | Prophetic Autobiography |
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