Difference between revisions of "Criticism of Mormonism/Books/Becoming Gods/Index"

(→‎Claims made in Chapter 1: God's Latter-Day Prophet: mv)
(→‎Claims made in Chapter 2: And it Came to Pass: mv)
Line 16: Line 16:
 
*[[/Chapter 1|Claims made in "Chapter 1: God's Latter-Day Prophet"]]
 
*[[/Chapter 1|Claims made in "Chapter 1: God's Latter-Day Prophet"]]
  
−
===Claims made in Chapter 2: And it Came to Pass===
+
*[[/Chapter 2|Claims made in "Chapter 2: And it Came to Pass"]]
−
{| valign="top" border="1" style="width:100%; font-size:85%"
 
−
!width="5%"|Page
 
−
!width="40%"|Claim
 
−
!width="30%"|Response
 
−
!width="25%"|[[Use of sources]]
 
−
|-
 
−
|
 
−
====51, 353n2, 354n3====
 
−
||Some Book of Mormon stories are simply reworked from the Bible or the Apocrypha.
 
−
||
 
−
* {{SecondaryFact}}
 
−
*[[Book_of_Mormon/Plagiarism_accusations/Apocrypha|Book of Mormon plagiarized from the Apocrypha]]
 
−
*[[Book of Mormon plagiarized from the Bible]]
 
−
||
 
−
*{{CriticalWork:Brodie:No Man Knows|pages=62-63}}
 
−
|-
 
−
|
 
−
 
 
−
====55, 355n28====
 
−
||The 1839 history of the Church identified the angel who delivered the plates to Joseph as Nephi rather than Moroni.
 
−
||
 
−
*[[Nephi or Moroni]]
 
−
||
 
−
*Joseph Smith 1839 History
 
−
*''Millennial Star'', vol. 3, no 12, pp. 53, 71.
 
−
*1851 Pearl of Great Price, "Joseph Smith History," p. 41
 
−
*Lucy Mack Smith, ''Biographical Sketches of Joseph Smith the Prophet, and His Progenitors for many Generations'', p. 79.
 
−
*John C. Whitmer, "The Eight Witnesses," published in Andrew Jenson, HR, Oct. 1888, vol. 7, p. 621."
 
−
|-
 
−
|
 
−
 
 
−
====56====
 
−
||The name "Nephi" is related to "generic terms used by nineteenth-century occultists for spirit messengers."
 
−
||
 
−
* {{SecondaryFact}}
 
−
||
 
−
*{{CriticalWork:Quinn:Magic World View|pages=198-199}}
 
−
|-
 
−
|
 
−
 
 
−
====56, 357n34====
 
−
||Joseph used his seer stone to locate the plates.
 
−
||
 
−
* [[Joseph Smith and seer stones]]
 
−
||
 
−
*Martin Harris, ''Tiffany's Monthly'' interview, 1859.
 
−
*Hosea Stout, ''On the Mormon Frontier: The Diary of Hosea Stout'', Juanita Brooks, ed., vol. 2. p. 593.
 
−
|-
 
−
|
 
−
 
 
−
====56, 357n33====
 
−
||Joseph Smith's vision of Moroni may have taken place through his seer stone.
 
−
||
 
−
* [[Joseph Smith and seer stones]]
 
−
||
 
−
*Steven C. Walker, "Joseph Smith: 'The Gift of Seeing,'" in Bryan Waterman ed., ''The Prophet Puzzle'', p. 97.
 
−
|-
 
−
|
 
−
 
 
−
====56, 357n35-36====
 
−
||The "golden book" was originally supposed to be about "hidden treasure" — the "religious twist" was added later.
 
−
||
 
−
*{{FalseStatement}}
 
−
* These supposed "early" accounts comes from hostile statements made forty to fifty years later!
 
−
**{{FR-18-1-5}}
 
−
**{{FR-17-1-4}}
 
−
||
 
−
*Parley Chase, letter to James T. Cobb, Apr. 3, 1879, in {{CriticalWork:Wyl:Mormon Portraits Volume First|pages=276}} , reprinted in {{EarlyMormonDocs1|vol=3|start=135}}
 
−
*Hiel Lewis, ''The Amboy Journal'', Apr. 30, 1879, quoted in Wesley P. Walters, "The Mormon Prophet Attempts to Join the Methodists"
 
−
|-
 
−
|
 
−
 
 
−
====56====
 
−
||Joseph translated the plates by looking at his seer stone in his hat. The plates were not nearby.
 
−
||
 
−
* [[Book_of_Mormon_translation_method|Book of Mormon translation method]]
 
−
*[[Joseph Smith and seer stones]]
 
−
||
 
−
*Isaac Hale, "Mormonism," ''Susquehanna Register'', and Northern Pennsylvanian, May 1, 1834, p. 1.
 
−
|-
 
−
|
 
−
 
 
−
====57, 358-9n47====
 
−
||Each sentence and word in the 1830 Book of Mormon "had supposedly come directly from God."
 
−
||
 
−
*{{Fundamentalism}}
 
−
*[[Book of Mormon translation method]]
 
−
||
 
−
*Joseph F. Smith, quoted by Oliver B. Huntington, ''Journal of Oliver Huntington'', p. 168.
 
−
|-
 
−
|
 
−
 
 
−
====57-58, 359n49====
 
−
||A voice from heaven proclaimed that the translation was correct, therefore no further editing should have been required.
 
−
||
 
−
*{{Fundamentalism}}: a translation may be correct, and yet another way of expressing the idea may be equally (or more) correct.  There is no such thing as a perfect or "one true" translation.
 
−
*[[Book of Mormon textual changes]]
 
−
||
 
−
*''History of the Church'', vol. 1, pp. 54-55.
 
−
|-
 
−
|
 
−
 
 
−
====58, 359n50-51====
 
−
||The use of the word "synagogue" in the Book of Mormon is an anachronism.
 
−
||
 
−
*[[Book of Mormon anachronisms/Synagogues]]
 
−
||
 
−
*Book of Mormon, 1830 edition, p. 268
 
−
*{{s||Alma|16|13}}
 
−
*The ''New International Dictionary of the Bible'', p. 972
 
−
|-
 
−
|
 
−
 
 
−
====58, 359n52-53====
 
−
||There are references to cows, oxen, horses, and goats in the New World hundreds of years before Christ.
 
−
||
 
−
*[[Book of Mormon anachronisms/Animals]]
 
−
||
 
−
*{{s|1|Nephi|18|25}}
 
−
*Thomas D.S. Key, ""A Biologist Looks at the Book of Mormon,"" Journal of the American Scientific Affiliation, June 1985, XXX-VIII, p. 3."
 
−
|-
 
−
|
 
−
====58, 359n53====
 
−
||"LDS apologist John Sorenson has suggested that Smith mistranslated numerous words" from the gold plates and that "cattle and oxen should have been rendered deer and bison," and that "horses should also have been translated deer."
 
−
||
 
−
* {{FalseStatement}}: Sorenson does ''not'' say they are a mistranslation.  He says that linguistic patterns of naming new animals show us that the name of a familiar animal is often used to name a new animal that has only passing resemblance to the familiar creature.
 
−
*[[Book of Mormon anachronisms/Animals]]
 
−
||
 
−
*John L. Sorenson, ''An Ancient American Setting for the Book of Mormon'', pp. 191-276, 299.
 
−
|-
 
−
|
 
−
 
 
−
====58, 359n54====
 
−
||The Book of Mormon "is simply a rehashing" of the speculation in the 19th century regarding Indian origins due to the presence of burial mounds "dotting the land."
 
−
||
 
−
*[[Book of Mormon and the Mound Builders]]
 
−
||
 
−
*{{CriticalWork:Brodie:No Man Knows|pages=34}}
 
−
|-
 
−
|
 
−
====60, 360n58====
 
−
||Joseph Smith incorporated text from Josiah Priest's ''The Wonders of Nature'' into the Book of Mormon.
 
−
||
 
−
*[[Book of Mormon plagiarism accusations/The Wonders of Nature]]
 
−
||
 
−
*Josiah Priest, ''The Wonders of Nature'', 1825
 
−
*Abanes, p. 69
 
−
*The Tanners are the source of this comparison, although it is not explicitly stated by the author. The author does mention that the Tanners demonstrate that a copy of the book was available in the Manchester library."
 
−
|-
 
−
|
 
−
====60-61, 360n59-63====
 
−
||Joseph Smith plagiarized Ethan Smith's View of the Hebrews.
 
−
||
 
−
*[[Book of Mormon and View of the Hebrews]]
 
−
||
 
−
*Ethan Smith, ''View of the Hebrews'', 1825
 
−
*David Persuitte, p. 107, 122
 
−
*Sandra Tanner, "Where Did Joseph Smith Get His Ideas for the Book of Mormon?"
 
−
|-
 
−
|
 
−
====61====
 
−
||Anyone who looked on the gold plates would die.
 
−
||
 
−
*[[Viewing gold plates would result in death|Viewing the gold plates would result in death?]]
 
−
||
 
−
*Martin Harris, ''Tiffany's Monthly'' interview, 1859.
 
−
|-
 
−
|
 
−
====62, 361n69-72====
 
−
||The witnesses never actually physically saw the plates - they only saw them in visions.
 
−
||
 
−
* {{FalseStatement}}
 
−
*[[Book of Mormon witnesses/Spiritual or literal]]
 
−
||
 
−
*{{CriticalWork:Palmer:Insider|pages=175-176}}
 
−
|-
 
−
|
 
−
 
 
−
====64====
 
−
||Martin Harris said that he never saw the plates with his "natural eyes."
 
−
||
 
−
* {{SourceDistortion}}
 
−
*[["Eye of Faith"/"Spiritual Eye" statements by Martin Harris]]
 
−
||
 
−
*LDS apostle Stephen Burnett, letter to Lyman E. Johnson, April 15, 1838 reprinted in Vogel, ''Early Mormon Documents'' 2:291
 
−
|-
 
−
|
 
−
 
 
−
====64, 362n81-82====
 
−
||Cowdery, Whitmer and Harris's statements that they actually saw the plates only refer to times that the plates were either covered with a cloth or in a wooden box.
 
−
||
 
−
* {{FalseStatement}}
 
−
*[[Book of Mormon witnesses/Spiritual or literal]]
 
−
||
 
−
*{{CriticalWork:Palmer:Insider|pages=198-199}}
 
−
*Harris, Tiffany's Monthly interview, 1859."
 
−
|-
 
−
|
 
−
 
 
−
====64, 362n83-84====
 
−
||Martin Harris said that none of the eight witnesses had seen or handled the plates.
 
−
||
 
−
*[[Book of Mormon witnesses/Spiritual or literal]]
 
−
*[[Book_of_Mormon_witnesses/Eight_witnesses|Eight witnesses]]
 
−
*[[Book_of_Mormon_witnesses/Eight_witnesses/shown_to_me_by_a_supernatural_power|John Whitmer: shown_to_me_by_a_supernatural_power]]
 
−
||
 
−
*{{CriticalWork:Palmer:Insider|pages=204-206}}
 
−
|-
 
−
|
 
−
 
 
−
====65====
 
−
||The Book of Mormon "can hardly be considered unique" since James Strang produced a set of plates that were seen by witnesses.
 
−
||
 
−
*The author fails to tell us that the Strangite witnesses only testified about how the plates were found, and some of these witnesses (unlike the Book of Mormon witnesses) [[Book_of_Mormon_witnesses/Recant|recanted]] later.
 
−
**[[Book of Mormon witnesses/Strangite parallels|Strangite parallels for witnesses?]]
 
−
**[[Book_of_Mormon_witnesses]]
 
−
||
 
−
*{{CriticalWork:Palmer:Insider|pages=208-212}}
 
−
|-
 
−
|
 
−
 
 
−
====65, 362n87====
 
−
||LDS defenders (apologists) have redefined many of the terms that Joseph Smith used in the Book of Mormon text: steel means iron, horses are deer, tents are huts, etc.
 
−
||
 
−
* {{SecondaryFact}}: the author quotes no "apologists," but only two critics.
 
−
* {{FalseStatement}}: LDS defenders argue that such terms have more than one meaning, and that ancient linguistic conventions sometimes apply old terms to new concepts.  This version is a straw man and caricature of the argument, which the author has either not understood or misrepresented.
 
−
*[[Book of Mormon anachronisms]]
 
−
||
 
−
*Dan Vogel, Brent Metcalfe, ''American Apocrypha'', p. xiii.
 
−
|-
 
−
|
 
−
 
 
−
====66, 362n88====
 
−
||LDS scholars such as Dee F. Green have stated that Book of Mormon archaeology is a "myth."
 
−
||
 
−
* {{SourceDistortion}}: Green argued—''in 1969''—that the requisite work had not been done.
 
−
* [[../Use of sources/Dee F. Green on Book of Mormon archaeology|Dee F. Green on Book of Mormon archaeology]]
 
−
* It is telling that the author must resort to a source that is at least 35 years old.  A more current assessment is available:
 
−
** {{JBMS-14-2-8}}
 
−
*[[Book of Mormon archeology|Book of Mormon archaeology]]
 
−
||
 
−
*{{Dialogue1|author=Dee F. Green|article=Book of Mormon Archaeology: The Myths and the Alternatives|date=Summer 1969|vol=4|num=3|start=72-80}}
 
−
|-
 
−
|
 
−
 
 
−
====66, 362n89====
 
−
||Dr. Michael Coe stated that there was no Book of Mormon archaeology.
 
−
||
 
−
*[[Amerindians as Lamanites/Maya and Olmec]]
 
−
||
 
−
*Michael Coe, "Mormons and Archaeology: An Outside View," ''Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought'' (Winter 1973), vol. 8, p. 44.
 
−
|-
 
−
|
 
−
====66, 363n92====
 
−
||LDS scholar Terryl L. Givens "admitted" that no connection has been made between the Book of Mormon and cultures or civilizations in the Western hemisphere.
 
−
||
 
−
*The author acknowledges in his endnote that Givens "however, also quoted BYU professor Daniel Peterson, who made a statement in support of the BOM's unique character." 
 
−
*See {{FR-2-1-1}}
 
−
*[[Amerindians as Lamanites/Maya and Olmec]]
 
−
||
 
−
*Terryl L. Givens, ''By the Hand of Mormon'', p. 155.
 
−
|-
 
−
|
 
−
====67,  363n95-96====
 
−
||The limited geography theory "cannot bear rigorous scrutiny" and "does violence" to the text of the Book of Mormon.
 
−
||
 
−
* {{DoubleStandard}}: On p. 66, the author cited Green's opinion from 1969.  Green argues that a limited geography should be given serious consideration, and that seeing all Amerindians as only Lamanites is a mistake not supported by the text.  But, the author will not accept Green's view of ''this'' matter.
 
−
*[[Book of Mormon geography/New World/Limited Geography Theory]]
 
−
||
 
−
*Vogel and Metcalfe, ''American Apocrypha'', pp. viii-ix.
 
−
*Deanne G. Matheny, "Does the Shoe Fit? A critique of the Limited tehuantepec Geography," in ''New Approaches to the Book of Mormon: Explorations in Critical Methodology.''
 
−
|-
 
−
|
 
−
 
 
−
====67, 363n99====
 
−
||Apologists have suggested that "not a single early Mormon, including Joseph Smith, ever bothered reading the Book of Mormon 'closely enough to grasp the fact' " that the plates were not buried in the hill where the final Nephite battle occurred.
 
−
||
 
−
*The author omits the line preceding the quoted phrase, where Sorenson and Roper indicate that "there is no evidence that in the early years any detailed thought was given to geography.  Actually, the Book of Mormon was little referred to or used among church members in the first decades except as a confirming witness of the Bible. The writings or preaching of some of the best-informed church leaders of that day show that they did not read the text carefully on matters other than doctrine."
 
−
* Early members' preoccupations and interests were almost entirely doctrinal and theological.  Since geography is incidental to the Book of Mormon's message, this is to be expected.
 
−
* If Joseph Smith was the author of the Book of Mormon, his ignorance on such points would be astonishing.  Since he was only a translator, however, the fact that he was unaware of some of the book's nuances is unsurprising.
 
−
||
 
−
*{{JBMS-12-1-2}}, p. 10. <!-- Sorenson and Roper-->
 
−
|-
 
−
|
 
−
 
 
−
====70, 365n115====
 
−
||Joseph Smith said that the angel told him that ''all'' American Indians were "literal descendants of Abraham," but DNA has disproved this.
 
−
||
 
−
* {{DoubleStandard}}: On p. 66, the author cited Green's opinion from 1969.  Green argues that seeing all Amerindians as only Lamanites is a mistake not supported by the text.  But, the author will not accept Green's view of ''this'' matter.  Further, this is evidence for the position (which the author mocks on p. 67) that Joseph did not know his own book's contents.
 
−
* {{SourceDistortion}}: all Amerindians ''are'' descendants of Lehi; they are not ''just'' descendants of Lehi:
 
−
*[[Amerindians as Lamanites]]
 
−
*[[Amerindians_as_Lamanites#All_From_Lehi|All Amerindians ''are'' descended from Lehi]]
 
−
*[[Book_of_Mormon_and_DNA_evidence]]
 
−
||
 
−
*Joseph Smith's 1835 account of the First Vision found in the ''Ohio Journal&mdash;1835-1836, Nov. 9, 1835, reprinted in Vogel, ''Early Mormon Documents'', vol. 1, p. 44.
 
−
*Joseph Smith, Mar. 1, 1842, letter to John Wentworth, ''History of the Church'', Vol. 4, p. 537.
 
−
*Meldrum, "Children of Lehi"
 
−
|-
 
−
|
 
−
 
 
−
====71, 365n120====
 
−
||Joseph Smith founded the "Restored Church" on the belief that all Native Americans were descendants of the Israelites.
 
−
||
 
−
* {{SourceDistortion}}: all Amerindians ''are'' descendants of Lehi; they are not ''just'' descendants of Lehi:
 
−
*[[Amerindians as Lamanites]]
 
−
*[[Amerindians_as_Lamanites#All_From_Lehi|All Amerindians ''are'' descended from Lehi]]
 
−
||
 
−
*Oliver Cowdery's Speech to the Delawares. Parley P. Pratt, Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt.
 
−
|-
 
−
|
 
−
====72, 366 n.127====
 
−
||All modern Mormons believed that all inhabitants of the New World were descendants of the Lamanites until "science showed it to be erroneous."
 
−
||
 
−
* {{InternalContradiction|66}}: The Green article argued in ''1969'' that Lehites were not the only source of Amerindian stock.
 
−
* {{FalseStatement}}: The Green article proves that "all modern Mormons" did not think this.  There are also many other statements which show that this view was not universal:
 
−
** [[Book_of_Mormon_geography/Statements|Statements about Book of Mormon geography and peoples]]
 
−
*[[Book of Mormon geography/Borders of the Lamanites]]
 
−
||
 
−
*{{s||DC|54|8}}&mdash;"And thus you shall take your journey into the regions westward, unto the land of Missouri, unto the borders of the Lamanites"
 
−
|-
 
−
|
 
−
 
 
−
====72, 366n128====
 
−
||The "updated LDS paradigm" claims that Nephites intermarried with non-Israelite natives, thus diluting their DNA.
 
−
||
 
−
* While the LDS are not opposed to new insights and concepts in principle, this is not an example of such&mdash;statements show that this "updated paradigm" has had advocates for at least one hundred years: [[Book_of_Mormon_geography/Statements|Statements about Book of Mormon geography and peoples]]
 
−
*[[Amerindians as Lamanites]]
 
−
||
 
−
*Cooper Johnson, [http://www.fairlds.org/Book_of_Mormon/DNA_and_the_Book_of_Mormon.html DNA and the Book of Mormon], FAIR web site
 
−
|-
 
−
|
 
−
 
 
−
====72, 366n130====
 
−
||The LDS view has ''always'' been that Israelites were the first people to populate the Americas, since the land was "kept from the knowledge of other nations."
 
−
||
 
−
* {{InternalContradiction|66}}: The Green article argued in ''1969'' that Lehites were not the only source of Amerindian stock.
 
−
* {{FalseStatement}}: The Green article proves that "all modern Mormons" did not think this.  There are also many other statements which show that this view was not universal: [[Book_of_Mormon_geography/Statements|Statements about Book of Mormon geography and peoples]]
 
−
*[[Book of Mormon anachronisms/Demographics]]
 
−
||
 
−
*{{s|2|Nephi|1|6}}
 
−
*J. Reuben Clark, "Prophecies, Penalties, and Blessings," ''Improvement Era'', July 1940, vol. xliii., no. 7 quoted in Bill McKeever, "DNA and the Book of Mormon Record," Mormonism Research Ministry.
 
−
|-
 
−
|
 
−
 
 
−
====73, 367n131-135====
 
−
||Not many Christians actually believe that the world was created around 4000 B.C., or that the flood occurred around 2000 B.C. In fact, "[T]he majority of traditional Christians understand that the world is older than 6000 years," therefore the claim that the DNA argument is fundamentalist "suicide bombing" is false.
 
−
||
 
−
*The author ignores that many critics who ''use'' DNA evidence against the Book of Mormon ''do'' belong to denominations that advocate a Young Earth and/or a universal Noachian flood.  The criticism is therefore valid as it applies to them.
 
−
*[[Book of Mormon and DNA evidence#Fundamentalist "suicide bombing"|Fundamentalist "suicide bombing"]]
 
−
||
 
−
*No source is provided by the author for his claim that the "majority of Christians" understand that the world is older than 6000 years.
 
−
*Daniel C. Peterson, FAIR Conference, untitled lecture, Aug. 8, 2003, author's private notes.
 
−
*David Stewart, [http://www.fairlds.org/Book_of_Mormon/DNA_and_the_Book_of_Mormon_2.html "DNA and the Book of Mormon"]
 
−
|-
 
−
|
 
−
 
 
−
====73, 367n136====
 
−
||The Lamanites were supposed to become "white" once they converted ''en masse'' to Mormonism. This was to be accomplished by having LDS men take Indian wives.
 
−
||
 
−
*[[Native Americans to become "white and delightsome" through polygamous marriage?]]
 
−
||
 
−
*W.W. Phelps, "Revelation Received West of Jackson County, Missouri, July 17, 1831," reprinted in H. Michael Marquardt, ''The Joseph Smith Revelations: Text & Commentary'', p. 375.
 
−
|-
 
−
|
 
−
====73, 367n137====
 
−
||The phrase "white and delightsome" was changed to "pure and delightsome" in the Book of Mormon.
 
−
||
 
−
* {{HistoricalError}}: The change was made by Joseph Smith in 1836; it was not made under the influence of science or DNA.
 
−
*[[Book of Mormon textual changes/"white" changed to "pure"]]
 
−
||
 
−
*{{s|2|Nephi|30|6}} (pre-1981 edition)
 
−
|-
 
−
|
 
−
 
 
−
====73, 367n138====
 
−
||LDS leaders claimed that the alteration to the Book of Mormon had nothing to do with the Indians physically turning white. LDS leaders taught that the curse would one day be removed.
 
−
||
 
−
*[[Lamanite curse]]
 
−
*{{s|2|Nephi|5|21}}
 
−
||
 
−
* No source provided.
 
−
|-
 
−
|
 
−
 
 
−
====74====
 
−
||LDS apologists dismiss Church teachings in order to make Mormonism compatible with scientific findings.
 
−
||
 
−
* {{FalseStatement}}: as shown above, leaders and members have not been of one mind on this issue about which there is no official Church position.
 
−
* {{SourceDistortion}}: The author has failed to account for material in the sources he cites which disprove his claim.
 
−
*[[Mormonism and science]]
 
−
||
 
−
*Author's opinion
 
−
|-
 
−
|
 
−
 
 
−
====75, 368n142====
 
−
|LDS apologist B.H. Roberts "reached a shocking conclusion" that that Book of Mormon wasn't authentic.
 
−
||
 
−
* {{FalseStatement}}
 
−
* {{SourceDistortion}}
 
−
*[[B.H. Roberts and "Studies of the Book of Mormon"]]
 
−
||
 
−
*B.H. Roberts, ''Studies of the Book of Mormon'', p. 271, 243.
 
−
|-
 
−
|
 
−
 
 
−
====76, 368n143====
 
−
||B.H. Roberts "had come to realize that the Book of Mormon was a nonhistorical document."
 
−
||
 
−
* {{FalseStatement}}
 
−
* {{SourceDistortion}}
 
−
*[[B.H. Roberts' testimony of the Book of Mormon]]
 
−
||
 
−
*Wesley P. Lloyd statement at www.lds-mormon.com/bhrlettr.shtml
 
−
|-
 
−
|
 
−
 
 
−
====76====
 
−
||FARMS claims that Roberts was playing "devils advocate," but have never provided documentation to support this assertion. They only focus on his declarations that he made before he reached his "final conclusion."
 
−
||
 
−
* {{FalseStatement}}: there are statements both before ''and'' after his conclusion, some within weeks of Roberts' death.
 
−
*[[B.H. Roberts' testimony of the Book of Mormon]]
 
−
*[[../Use of sources/Madsen-B.H. Roberts and the Book of Mormon|Use of sources&mdash;Roberts and the Book of Mormon]]
 
−
||
 
−
*Truman G. Madsen, "B.H. Roberts and the Book of Mormon," ''BYU Studies'' (Summer 1979), volume 19, pp. 427-445.
 
−
|-
 
−
|
 
−
 
 
−
====77 368n145-147====
 
−
||Thomas Stuart Ferguson lost his testimony of the Book of Mormon after failing to find archaeological evidence.
 
−
||
 
−
* [[Book_of_Mormon_archaeology/Thomas_Stuart_Ferguson|Thomas Stuart Ferguson]]
 
−
* [[Book_of_Mormon_archaeology|Book of Mormon archaeology]]
 
−
||
 
−
*Thomas Stuart Ferguson, ''One fold and One Shepherd''.
 
−
*Jerald and Sandra Tanner, "Ferguson's Two Faces," ''Salt Lake City Messenger'' #69, Sept. 1988, p. 3
 
−
*Ferguson letter dated Feb. 9, 1976.
 
−
*Ferguson letter dated Feb. 9, 1976.
 
−
|-
 
−
|
 
−
 
 
−
====77 369n150-153====
 
−
||LDS scholars believe that Quetzalcoatl was Jesus Christ. However, Quetzalcoatl's association with a "feathered serpent" constitutes "snake worship," and is therefore inconsistent with worship of Jesus Christ.
 
−
||
 
−
* {{FalseStatement}}: At best, ''some'' LDS scholars see Quetzalcoatl as a cultural memory or corruption of Christ's visit and teachings.
 
−
* Other LDS scholars, however, strongly disagree.  For example:
 
−
** {{FR-20-1-3}}
 
−
** {{FR-19-1-4}}
 
−
** {{FR-13-2-4}}
 
−
** {{SecondWitness1|vol=4|start=1&ndash;}}
 
−
 
 
−
*See also: [[Quetzalcoatl and Jesus Christ]]
 
−
||
 
−
*John L. Sorenson, "The Decline of the God Quetzalcoatl, " in ''Pressing Forward with the Book of Mormon'', p. 234.
 
−
*Joseph Allen, ''Exploring the Lands of the Book of Mormon''.
 
−
*Joseph Allen, [http://www.meridianmagazine.com/articles/030926white.html "The White god Quetzalcoatl,"] ''Meridian Magazine'', 2003.
 
−
*Adela Fernandez, ''Pre-Hispanic Gods of Mexico'', p. 68
 
−
*Quetzalcoatl the Myth, www.weber.ucsd.edu.
 
−
|}
 
  
 
===Claims made in Chapter 3: Thus Saith Joseph===
 
===Claims made in Chapter 3: Thus Saith Joseph===

Revision as of 22:15, 21 February 2010


A work by author: Richard Abanes
 Index—p. 2

Index to claims made in Becoming Gods: A Closer Look at 21st-Century Mormonism p. 1 of 2

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.

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]  John Franklin Hall, "April 6," in Encyclopedia of Mormonism, 4 vols., edited by Daniel H. Ludlow, (New York, Macmillan Publishing, 1992), 1:61–62.
  2. [note]  Katich cites Richard L. Bushman, Joseph Smith and the Beginnings of Mormonism (Urbana and Chicago, Illinois: University of Illinois Press; Reprint edition, 1987), 74. ISBN 0252060121.
  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
  4. [note]  D. Michael Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power (Signature Books, 1994), 44.
  5. [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

Further reading

Template code Inserts this reference Click to edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: 8: The Mormon Proposition}} To learn more box:responses to: 8: The Mormon Proposition edit
{{To learn more box:''Under the Banner of Heaven''}} To learn more about responses to: Under the Banner of Heaven edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Robert Price}} To learn more about responses to: Robert Price edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Ankerberg and Weldon}} To learn more about responses to: Ankerberg and Weldon edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Ashamed of Joseph}} To learn more about responses to: Ashamed of Joseph edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Beckwith and Moser}} To learn more about responses to: Beckwith and Moser edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Beckwith and Parrish}} To learn more about responses to: Beckwith and Parrish edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Benjamin Park}} To learn more about responses to: Benjamin Park edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Bible versus Joseph Smith}} To learn more about responses to: Bible versus Joseph Smith edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Bible versus Book of Mormon}} To learn more about responses to: Bible versus Book of Mormon edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: ''Big Love''}} To learn more about responses to: Big Love edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Brett Metcalfe}} To learn more about responses to: Brett Metcalfe edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Bill Maher}} To learn more about responses to: Bill Maher edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Bruce H. Porter}} To learn more about responses to: Bruce H. Porter edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Carol Wang Shutter}} To learn more about responses to: Carol Wang Shutter edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: CES Letter}} To learn more about responses to: CES Letter edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Charles Larson}} To learn more about responses to: Charles Larson edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Christopher Nemelka}} To learn more about responses to: Christopher Nemelka edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Colby Townshed}} To learn more about responses to: Colby Townshed edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Contender Ministries}} To learn more about responses to: Contender Ministries edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Crane and Crane}} To learn more about responses to: Crane and Crane edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: D. Michael Quinn}} To learn more about responses to: D. Michael Quinn edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Dan Vogel}} To learn more about responses to: Dan Vogel edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: David John Buerger}} To learn more about responses to: David John Buerger edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: David Persuitte}} To learn more about responses to: David Persuitte edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Denver Snuffer}} To learn more about responses to: Denver Snuffer edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Dick Bauer}} To learn more about responses to: Dick Bauer edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Duwayne R Anderson}} To learn more about responses to: Duwayne R Anderson edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Earl Wunderli}} To learn more about responses to: Earl Wunderli edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Ed Decker}} To learn more about responses to: Ed Decker edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Erikson and Giesler}} To learn more about responses to: Erikson and Giesler edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Ernest Taves}} To learn more about responses to: Ernest Taves edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Fawn Brodie}} To learn more about responses to: Fawn Brodie edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: George D Smith}} To learn more about responses to: George D Smith edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Grant Palmer}} To learn more about responses to: Grant Palmer edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Hank Hanegraaff}} To learn more about responses to: Hank Hanegraaff edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Hurlbut-Howe}} To learn more about responses to: Hurlbut-Howe edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: James Brooke}} To learn more about responses to: James Brooke edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: James Spencer}} To learn more about responses to: James Spencer edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: James White}} To learn more about responses to: James White edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Jerald and Sandra Tanner}} To learn more about responses to: Jerald and Sandra Tanner edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Jesus Christ-Joseph Smith or Search for the Truth DVD}} To learn more about responses to: Jesus Christ-Joseph Smith or Search for the Truth DVD edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: John Dehlin}} To learn more about responses to: John Dehlin edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Jonathan Neville}} To learn more about responses to: Jonathan Neville edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Kurt Van Gorden}} To learn more about responses to: Kurt Van Gorden edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Laura King Newell and Valeen Tippetts Avery}} To learn more about responses to: Laura King Newell and Valeen Tippetts Avery edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Loftes Tryk aka Lofte Payne}} To learn more about responses to: Loftes Tryk aka Lofte Payne edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Luke WIlson}} To learn more about responses to: Luke WIlson edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Marquardt and Walters}} To learn more about responses to: Marquardt and Walters edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Martha Beck}} To learn more about responses to: Martha Beck edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Mcgregor Ministries}} To learn more about responses to: Mcgregor Ministries edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: McKeever and Johnson}} To learn more about responses to: McKeever and Johnson edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: New Approaches}} To learn more about responses to: New Approaches to the Book of Mormon edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Richard Abanes}} To learn more about responses to: Richard Abanes edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Richard Van Wagoner}} To learn more about responses to: Richard Van Wagoner edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Richard and Joan Ostling}} To learn more about responses to: Richard and Joan Ostling edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Rick Grunger}} To learn more about responses to: Rick Grunger edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Robert Ritner}} To learn more about responses to: Robert Ritner edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Rod Meldrum}} To learn more about responses to: Rod Meldrum edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Roger I Anderson}} To learn more about responses to: Roger I Anderson edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Ronald V. Huggins}} To learn more about responses to: Ronald V. Huggins edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Sally Denton}} To learn more about responses to: Sally Denton edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Simon Southerton}} To learn more about responses to: Simon Southerton edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Thomas Murphy}} To learn more about responses to: Thomas Murphy edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Todd Compton}} To learn more about responses to: Todd Compton edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Vernal Holley}} To learn more about responses to: Vernal Holley edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Walter Martin}} To learn more about responses to: Walter Martin edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Wesley Walters}} To learn more about responses to: Wesley Walters edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Will Bagley}} To learn more about responses to: Will Bagley edit


Copyright © 2005–2024 FAIR. This is not an official Web site of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The content of this page may not be copied, published, or redistributed without the prior written consent of FAIR.
We welcome your suggestions for improving the content of this FAIR Wiki article.

Sites we recommend:


Retrieved from "https://www.fairlatterdaysaints.org/answers/index.php?title=Criticism_of_Mormonism/Books/Becoming_Gods/Index&oldid=58929"