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< Criticism of Mormonism | Books | Mormonism 101
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=Index of Claims in Chapter 9: The Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price= | =Index of Claims in Chapter 9: The Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price= | ||
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==The Doctrine and Covenants: A Modern Day Revelation?== | ==The Doctrine and Covenants: A Modern Day Revelation?== | ||
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*{{Detail|Joseph Smith/Prophecies/Independence temple to be built "in this generation"|Joseph Smith/Prophecies/Saints left Missouri before temple was built}} | *{{Detail|Joseph Smith/Prophecies/Independence temple to be built "in this generation"|Joseph Smith/Prophecies/Saints left Missouri before temple was built}} | ||
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{{IndexClaim | {{IndexClaim | ||
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*{{Detail|Joseph Smith/Prophecies/Saints left Missouri before temple was built}} | *{{Detail|Joseph Smith/Prophecies/Saints left Missouri before temple was built}} | ||
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{{IndexClaim | {{IndexClaim | ||
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*{{Detail|Joseph Smith/Prophecies/Civil War}} | *{{Detail|Joseph Smith/Prophecies/Civil War}} | ||
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{{IndexClaim | {{IndexClaim | ||
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*The authors claim that the "prophetic failures" regarding the establishment of Zion and the return of Christ are the reason for Sidney Rigdon's loss of faith in Joseph Smith. | *The authors claim that the "prophetic failures" regarding the establishment of Zion and the return of Christ are the reason for Sidney Rigdon's loss of faith in Joseph Smith. | ||
|authorsources= | |authorsources= | ||
− | *Van Wagoner | + | *Van Wagoner, ''Sidney Rigdon: A Portrait of Religious Excess'', 90. |
|response= | |response= | ||
*Actually, Sidney Rigdon became disassociated with the church when he was not chosen to be the leader after the murder of Joseph and Hyrum. Since Joseph Smith made no false prophecies, it had nothing to do Joseph Smith's "prophetic failures." In addition, critics such as the authors ignore the statements Joseph Smith made concerning the Saints being driven out of Missouri, going to the Rocky Mountains, and that the Center Place of Zion (Missouri) would not be settled until another time. | *Actually, Sidney Rigdon became disassociated with the church when he was not chosen to be the leader after the murder of Joseph and Hyrum. Since Joseph Smith made no false prophecies, it had nothing to do Joseph Smith's "prophetic failures." In addition, critics such as the authors ignore the statements Joseph Smith made concerning the Saints being driven out of Missouri, going to the Rocky Mountains, and that the Center Place of Zion (Missouri) would not be settled until another time. | ||
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===127-128=== | ===127-128=== | ||
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*The authors biggest concern seems to be that rumors of war were around during the time Joseph Smith made the Civil War Prophecy, and in their minds, this invalidates the prophecy. | *The authors biggest concern seems to be that rumors of war were around during the time Joseph Smith made the Civil War Prophecy, and in their minds, this invalidates the prophecy. | ||
*The authors are correct that there was a threat of rebellion in South Carolina at the time of this revelation. But the rebellion never materialized the way in which the rumors indicated, and the threat ended shortly afterwards. After the threat was ended, Joseph Smith never retracted this prophecy, showing he still expected it to be fulfilled, and he was correct. The revelation containing the prophecy was given on December 25, 1832. The first shot fired in the American Civil War was fired on April 12, 1861. Hence, the prediction preceded the war by 28 years. Ten years before the war began, the prophecy was published in England and circulated both in that country and in the United States. There can be no question, therefore, as to the prophecy preceding the event. | *The authors are correct that there was a threat of rebellion in South Carolina at the time of this revelation. But the rebellion never materialized the way in which the rumors indicated, and the threat ended shortly afterwards. After the threat was ended, Joseph Smith never retracted this prophecy, showing he still expected it to be fulfilled, and he was correct. The revelation containing the prophecy was given on December 25, 1832. The first shot fired in the American Civil War was fired on April 12, 1861. Hence, the prediction preceded the war by 28 years. Ten years before the war began, the prophecy was published in England and circulated both in that country and in the United States. There can be no question, therefore, as to the prophecy preceding the event. | ||
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*{{Detail|Joseph Smith/Prophecies/Civil War}} | *{{Detail|Joseph Smith/Prophecies/Civil War}} | ||
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{{IndexClaim | {{IndexClaim | ||
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</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
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− | *Talmage | + | *Talmage, ''The Articles of Faith'', 26-27. |
− | *Benson | + | *Benson, ''Ensign'' (March 1994): 4. |
|response= | |response= | ||
*There are three points to this statement. | *There are three points to this statement. | ||
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#The prophecy was given a broader interpretation. On the contrary, it is the authors, along with other critics, who "restrict" the interpretation of prophecy. Ignoring evidence, taking quotes out of context, dismissing LDS beliefs and history, and a refusal to be honest about the evidence metes out this restriction. Latter-day Saints have always had the same interpretation of these events, as the quotes used by the authors indicate. | #The prophecy was given a broader interpretation. On the contrary, it is the authors, along with other critics, who "restrict" the interpretation of prophecy. Ignoring evidence, taking quotes out of context, dismissing LDS beliefs and history, and a refusal to be honest about the evidence metes out this restriction. Latter-day Saints have always had the same interpretation of these events, as the quotes used by the authors indicate. | ||
#The day of the Lord would come quickly. Here again, the authors repeat their double standard. If Joseph Smith is a false prophet for so stating, then so are the New Testament writers. "But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." {{s|2|Peter|3|8}} Who are we to judge the Lord's timing? His time is not our time. Joseph Smith never gave a time for the second coming. His words in this section of the Doctrine and Covenants are very much in accordance with Biblical prophecies and teachings in this regard. The Lord was only repeating to Joseph Smith what He had said before. | #The day of the Lord would come quickly. Here again, the authors repeat their double standard. If Joseph Smith is a false prophet for so stating, then so are the New Testament writers. "But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." {{s|2|Peter|3|8}} Who are we to judge the Lord's timing? His time is not our time. Joseph Smith never gave a time for the second coming. His words in this section of the Doctrine and Covenants are very much in accordance with Biblical prophecies and teachings in this regard. The Lord was only repeating to Joseph Smith what He had said before. | ||
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− | * | + | *''Encyclopedia of Mormonism'' vol. 1, "Civil War Prophecy". |
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*Without coming out and directly saying so, the authors are attempting to give the impression that the church withheld this prophecy from the public until after the Civil war was over. The prophecy was not "shelved" as as the authors insinuate here. There was no attempt to cover up the revelation as the authors are attempting to allude. | *Without coming out and directly saying so, the authors are attempting to give the impression that the church withheld this prophecy from the public until after the Civil war was over. The prophecy was not "shelved" as as the authors insinuate here. There was no attempt to cover up the revelation as the authors are attempting to allude. | ||
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*Joseph Smith's interpretation of the facsimile #2 associated with the Joseph Smith papyri was determined to be incorrect by Egyptologists. | *Joseph Smith's interpretation of the facsimile #2 associated with the Joseph Smith papyri was determined to be incorrect by Egyptologists. | ||
|authorsources= | |authorsources= | ||
− | *Parker | + | *Richard A. Parker, "The Joseph Smith Papyri: A Preliminary Report," ''Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought'', 3, no. 2 (Summer 1968): 86. |
− | *Thompson | + | *Stephen Thompson, "Egyptology and the Book of Mormon," ''Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought'', 28, no. 1 (Sprint 1995): 149-150. |
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*The authors note that "vast evidence" claims that Joseph Smith didn't know how to translate Egyptian, and that LDS apologists have tried to "raise doubts" about the Joseph Smith papyri. | *The authors note that "vast evidence" claims that Joseph Smith didn't know how to translate Egyptian, and that LDS apologists have tried to "raise doubts" about the Joseph Smith papyri. | ||
|authorsources= | |authorsources= | ||
− | *Peterson | + | *Peterson, ''Ensign'' (January 1994): 20. |
− | *Larson | + | *Charles M. Larson, ''By His Own Hand upon Papyrus'', 36. |
− | *Roberts | + | *Roberts, ''Comprehensive History of the Church'', 2:138. |
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*{{Detail|Book of Mormon/Translation}} | *{{Detail|Book of Mormon/Translation}} | ||
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{{IndexClaim | {{IndexClaim |
Chapter 8: The Book of Mormon | A FAIR Analysis of: Criticism of Mormonism/Books A work by author: Bill McKeever and Eric Johnson
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Chapter 10: The Atonement |
The authors provide an overview of what is found in the Doctrine and Covenants. This overview is generally correct.
It should be noted that Smith's prediction was not all that unique. One month prior to the alleged revelation, the newspaper Painesville Telegraph printed a story in which it predicted the secession of South Carolina and an eventual War Between the States. South Carolina had been making such threats for some time, and many felt it was only a matter of time before South Carolina would act on its threat.
Response
D&C 87:8 says the day of the Lord would come quickly, and many LDS leaders preached sermons during the Civil War anticipating the desolation of the United States. When that did not happen, Smith's prophecy on war was given a broader interpretation.
Author's source(s)
Response
Missouri has a right to speak on this subject, because she has suffered. Bounded on three sides by free territory, her border counties have been the frequent scenes of kidnapping and violence, and this state has probably lost as much, in the last two years, in the abduction of slaves, as all the rest of the southern states. At this moment several of the western counties are desolated, and almost depopulated, from fear of a bandit horde, who have been committing depredations--arson, theft, and foul murder--upon the adjacent border. [3]
While Smith's prediction was published in the Pearl of Great Price in 1851, the Pearl of Great Price did not become a part of the standard works until 1880. Smith's prophecy on war did not become a part of the D&C until 1876, more than a decade after the Civil war had ended. (12 Encyclopedia of Mormonism "Civil War Prophecy.")
Author's source(s)
Response
It was not wisdom to publish it to the world, and it remained in the private escritoire. Brother Joseph had that revelation concerning this nation at a time when the brethren were reflecting and reasoning with regard to African slavery on this continent, and the slavery of the children of men throughout the world. There are other revelations, besides this one, not yet published to the world. In the due time of the Lord, the Saints and the world will be privileged with the revelations that are due to them. They now have many more than they are worthy of, for they do not observe them. [5]
The history of the Pearl of Great Price given by the authors is correct.
The authors' recounting of the history of the Book of Abraham appears to be correct.
The fact that Joseph Smith was not an expert in hieroglyphics has led some LDS scholars to speculate that he translated the manuscript by divine inspiration.
Response
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