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< Criticism of Mormonism | Books | Losing a Lost Tribe: Native Americans, DNA, and the Mormon Church
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|author=Simon G. Southerton | |author=Simon G. Southerton | ||
|noauthor= | |noauthor= | ||
− | |section=Claims made in " | + | |section=Claims made in "Chapter 1: A Chosen Race in a Promised Land" |
|previous=[[../Introduction|Introduction]] | |previous=[[../Introduction|Introduction]] | ||
|next=[[../Chapter 2|Chapter 2]] | |next=[[../Chapter 2|Chapter 2]] | ||
|notes={{AuthorsDisclaimer}} | |notes={{AuthorsDisclaimer}} | ||
+ | }} | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===Claims made in "Chapter 1: A Chosen Race in a Promised Land"=== | ||
+ | |||
+ | ====3==== | ||
+ | {{IndexClaim | ||
+ | |claim= | ||
+ | * Attempts to describe Mormon doctrine are "fraught with peril." | ||
+ | |response= | ||
+ | * {{Prejudicial}} | ||
+ | * [[Church doctrine/Changing]] | ||
+ | |authorsources= | ||
+ | *Author's opinion. | ||
+ | }} | ||
+ | ====3==== | ||
+ | {{IndexClaim | ||
+ | |claim= | ||
+ | * Reversals of doctrine regarding polygamy and regarding Blacks and the priesthood were "painful and damaging" to the Church. | ||
+ | |response= | ||
+ | * [[Church doctrine/Changing]] | ||
+ | |authorsources= | ||
+ | *Author's opinion. | ||
+ | *No examples of the "pain" and "damage" are provided. | ||
+ | }} | ||
+ | ====4==== | ||
+ | {{IndexClaim | ||
+ | |claim= | ||
+ | * The idea that the words of living prophets supersede the words of dead prophets has been "recently" promoted. | ||
+ | |response= | ||
+ | * {{Absurd}}: This has ''always'' been the doctrine of the Church: | ||
+ | ::[When invited by Joseph Smith], Brother Brigham took the stand, and he took the Bible, and laid it down; he took the Book of Mormon, and laid it down; and he took the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, and laid it down before him, and he said: "There is the written word of God to us, concerning the work of God from the beginning of the world, almost, to our day. And now,' said he, 'when compared with the living oracles those books are nothing to me; those books do not convey the word of God direct to us now, as do the words of a Prophet or a man bearing the Holy Priesthood in our day and generation. I would rather have the living oracles than all the writing in the books.' That was the course he pursued. When he was through, Brother Joseph said to the congregation, "Brother Brigham has told you the word of the Lord, and he has told you the truth.'"{{ref|by.prophets}} | ||
+ | * If living prophets outrank scriptures, then living prophets clearly supersede dead prophets: whether written or spoken. | ||
+ | * [[Church doctrine/Changing]] | ||
+ | |authorsources= | ||
+ | *No source given. | ||
+ | }} | ||
+ | ====4==== | ||
+ | {{IndexClaim | ||
+ | |claim= | ||
+ | * Mormon doctrine is "fluid and changeable." | ||
+ | |response= | ||
+ | * [[Church doctrine/Changing]] | ||
+ | |authorsources= | ||
+ | *No source given. | ||
+ | }} | ||
+ | ====7-8==== | ||
+ | {{IndexClaim | ||
+ | |claim= | ||
+ | * The Nephites raise "herds of cattle, goats and horses." | ||
+ | |response= | ||
+ | * [[Book of Mormon/Anachronisms/Animals|Book of Mormon anachronisms—Animals]] | ||
+ | * {{CriticalWork:Southerton:Losing:Repeat:Horses}} | ||
+ | |authorsources= | ||
+ | *No source given. | ||
+ | }} | ||
+ | |||
+ | ====8==== | ||
+ | {{IndexClaim | ||
+ | |claim= | ||
+ | * The Nephites raise Old World wheat and barley. | ||
+ | |response= | ||
+ | * [[Book of Mormon/Pnachronisms/Plants|Book of Mormon anachronisms—Plants]] | ||
+ | |authorsources= | ||
+ | *No source given. | ||
+ | }} | ||
+ | ====8==== | ||
+ | {{IndexClaim | ||
+ | |claim= | ||
+ | * The Nephites construct a temple that is "similar in splendor" to Solomon's. | ||
+ | |response= | ||
+ | * {{FalseStatement}}: Nephi explicitly says that he uses Solomon's temple as a model, but "it [was] not built of so many precious things; for they were not to be found upon the land, wherefore, it could not be built like unto Solomon's temple" ({{s|2|Nephi|5|16}}). | ||
+ | * [[Book of Mormon anachronisms/Temple in New World|Book of Mormon anachronisms—Temple in New World]] | ||
+ | |authorsources= | ||
+ | *No source given. | ||
+ | *Common source used is {{s|2|Nephi|5|16}} | ||
+ | }} | ||
+ | |||
+ | ====8==== | ||
+ | {{IndexClaim | ||
+ | |claim= | ||
+ | * The Nephites are skilled in the use of metals such as iron, copper, brass, gold and silver. | ||
+ | |response= | ||
+ | * [[Book of Mormon/Anachronisms/Metals|Book of Mormon anachronisms—Metals]] | ||
+ | |authorsources= | ||
+ | *No source given. | ||
+ | }} | ||
+ | ====8==== | ||
+ | {{IndexClaim | ||
+ | |claim= | ||
+ | * The Nephites use steel to fashion swords, breastplates, and arm and head shields. | ||
+ | |response= | ||
+ | * {{FalseStatement}}: "steel" is applied to two Old World weapons (Nephi's bow and the sword of Laban). Only in Ether are swords made of steel ({{s||Ether|7|9}}). Nephites are said to use steel ({{s||Jarom|1|8}}), but it is never described for breastplates, arm, or head shields. | ||
+ | * The author is again shown to be woefully ignorant of the Book of Mormon text. | ||
+ | * [[Book of Mormon/Anachronisms/Metals#Swords|Book of Mormon anachronisms—Metals—Swords]] | ||
+ | * {{CriticalWork:Southerton:Losing:Repeat:Steel}} | ||
+ | * {{CriticalWork:Southerton:Losing:Repeat:Swords}} | ||
+ | |authorsources= | ||
+ | *No source given. | ||
+ | }} | ||
+ | |||
+ | ====8==== | ||
+ | {{IndexClaim | ||
+ | |claim= | ||
+ | * The Nephites built defensive mounds around their cities. | ||
+ | |response= | ||
+ | * [[Book of Mormon/Warfare#Fortifications|Book of Mormon and warfare—Fortifications]] | ||
+ | |authorsources= | ||
+ | *No source given. | ||
+ | }} | ||
+ | ====8==== | ||
+ | {{IndexClaim | ||
+ | |claim= | ||
+ | * The Lamanites vastly outnumber the Nephites. | ||
+ | |response= | ||
+ | * [[Book of Mormon/Anachronisms/Demographics|Book of Mormon anachronisms—Demographics]] | ||
+ | |authorsources= | ||
+ | *No source given. | ||
+ | }} | ||
+ | ====8==== | ||
+ | {{IndexClaim | ||
+ | |claim= | ||
+ | * The "skin of blackness" is occasionally removed from the Lamanites when they are righteous, and returns to the Lamanites when they become unrighteous. | ||
+ | |response= | ||
+ | * {{Presentism}}: the author (like many members) reads the text through modern lenses, instead of as an ancient document. | ||
+ | * [[Book of Mormon/Lamanites/Curse|Lamanite curse—literal versus metaphorical]] | ||
+ | * [[Latter-day Saint culture/Skin color in LDS thought]] | ||
+ | |authorsources= | ||
+ | * No source given | ||
+ | }} | ||
+ | |||
+ | ====8==== | ||
+ | {{IndexClaim | ||
+ | |claim= | ||
+ | * The Book of Mormon links the color of a person's skin to morality. | ||
+ | |response= | ||
+ | * {{Presentism}}: the author (like many members) reads the text through modern lenses, instead of as an ancient document. | ||
+ | * Parts of the Book of Mormon directly repudiate this attitude (e.g., {{s||Jacob|3|8-9}}). | ||
+ | * [[Book of Mormon/Lamanites/Curse|Lamanite curse—literal versus metaphorical]] | ||
+ | * [[Latter-day Saint culture/Skin color in LDS thought]] | ||
+ | |authorsources= | ||
+ | *{{s|2|Nephi|5|21}} | ||
+ | *''Latter Day Saints' Messenger and Advocate'', March 1835 | ||
+ | }} | ||
+ | ====9==== | ||
+ | {{IndexClaim | ||
+ | |claim= | ||
+ | * The Book of Mormon promotes the view that the "white race" is superior. | ||
+ | |response= | ||
+ | * {{Presentism}}: the author (like many members) reads the text through modern lenses, instead of as an ancient document. | ||
+ | * Parts of the Book of Mormon directly repudiate this attitude (e.g., {{s||Jacob|3|8-9}}, {{s|2|Nephi|26|33}}). | ||
+ | * [[Book of Mormon/Lamanites/Curse|Lamanite curse—literal versus metaphorical]] | ||
+ | * [[Latter-day Saint culture/Skin color in LDS thought]] | ||
+ | |authorsources= | ||
+ | *No source given. | ||
+ | }} | ||
+ | ====10==== | ||
+ | {{IndexClaim | ||
+ | |claim= | ||
+ | * In 1966 the Book of Abraham papyri were discovered. | ||
+ | |response= | ||
+ | * {{CiteCritic}} | ||
+ | * [[Book of Abraham/Joseph Smith Papyri]] | ||
+ | |authorsources= | ||
+ | *{{CriticalWork:Larson:By His Own Hand|pages=no pg. given}} | ||
+ | }} | ||
+ | |||
+ | ====10==== | ||
+ | {{IndexClaim | ||
+ | |claim= | ||
+ | * The translation of the papyri does not resemble the Book of Abraham. | ||
+ | |response= | ||
+ | * Hugh Nibley announced this in the Church magazine within two months of the papyri being given to the Church. | ||
+ | * [[Book of Abraham/Joseph Smith Papyri/Church disclosure of "Book of the Dead"]] | ||
+ | |authorsources= | ||
+ | *Larson, 1992 | ||
+ | }} | ||
+ | |||
+ | ====10==== | ||
+ | {{IndexClaim | ||
+ | |claim= | ||
+ | * The denial of the priesthood to the Blacks was based upon the Book of Abraham. | ||
+ | |response= | ||
+ | *{{HistoricalError}}: The use of Abraham as a proof text was a relatively late development. | ||
+ | * [[Blacks and the priesthood/Origin of the priesthood ban|Blacks and the priesthood—Origin of the priesthood ban]] | ||
+ | * [[Blacks_and_the_priesthood/LDS_scriptures|LDS scripture and the priesthood ban]] | ||
+ | |authorsources= | ||
+ | *No source given. | ||
+ | }} | ||
+ | |||
+ | ====10-11==== | ||
+ | {{IndexClaim | ||
+ | |claim= | ||
+ | * The Church publicly taught racist principles in the 1950's. | ||
+ | |response= | ||
+ | * Some ''leaders'' taught ideas that would now be seen as racist. Others did not. | ||
+ | * {{Fundamentalism}} | ||
+ | * [[Racist statements by Church leaders]] | ||
+ | {{CriticalWork:Southerton:Losing:Repeat:Leaders}} | ||
+ | |authorsources= | ||
+ | *Mark E. Petersen, "Race Problems—As They Affect the Church," Talk given at Brigham Young University on Aug. 27, 1954 | ||
+ | }} | ||
+ | ====11==== | ||
+ | {{IndexClaim | ||
+ | |claim= | ||
+ | * The 1978 revelation allowing all men to hold the priesthood came in response to "public pressure." | ||
+ | |response= | ||
+ | * {{MindReading}} | ||
+ | * {{FalseStatement}}: social and public pressure was low at the time. | ||
+ | * [[Blacks and the priesthood/Social pressure|Blacks and the priesthood—Social pressure]] | ||
+ | |authorsources= | ||
+ | *No source given. | ||
+ | }} | ||
+ | ====12==== | ||
+ | {{IndexClaim | ||
+ | |claim= | ||
+ | * Many General Authorities believed that the priesthood prohibition would remain in place until Christ's return. | ||
+ | |response= | ||
+ | * {{Fundamentalism}}: the Saints do not believe in [[Fallibility_of_prophets|infallibility]] of members or leaders. | ||
+ | * [[Blacks and the priesthood]] | ||
+ | |authorsources= | ||
+ | *No source given. | ||
+ | }} | ||
+ | |||
+ | ====12==== | ||
+ | {{IndexClaim | ||
+ | |claim= | ||
+ | * Passages in the Book of Mormon were rewritten to "tone down references to skin color." | ||
+ | |response= | ||
+ | * {{FalseStatement}}: This change was made by Joseph Smith in 1836. | ||
+ | * [[Book of Mormon/Textual changes/"white" changed to "pure"|Book of Mormon textual changes—"white" changed to "pure"]] | ||
+ | * {{CriticalWork:Southerton:Losing:Repeat:White}} | ||
+ | |authorsources= | ||
+ | *{{s|2|Nephi|30|6}} | ||
+ | }} | ||
+ | |||
+ | ====12==== | ||
+ | {{IndexClaim | ||
+ | |claim= | ||
+ | * LDS scripture states that those with lighter skin color "are favored because of what they did as spirits in a pre-earth life." | ||
+ | |response= | ||
+ | * {{FalseStatement}}: This statement is false—there is no LDS scripture that makes this statement. | ||
+ | * Some LDS drew this conclusion, but it is not in the scripture. It has also been [[Blacks_and_the_priesthood/Repudiated_ideas|repudiated]]. | ||
+ | * [[Blacks_and_the_priesthood/LDS_scriptures|LDS scripture and the priesthood ban]] | ||
+ | * [[Blacks and the priesthood/Pre-existence|Blacks and the priesthood—Pre-existence]] | ||
+ | |authorsources= | ||
+ | *No source given. | ||
}} | }} |
Introduction | A FAIR Analysis of: Losing a Lost Tribe: Native Americans, DNA, and the Mormon Church A work by author: Simon G. Southerton
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Chapter 2 |
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