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.
Difference between revisions of "Countercult ministries/Watchman Fellowship/Section 3"
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*D&C Official Declaration-1 | *D&C Official Declaration-1 | ||
|response= | |response= | ||
| − | *{{Detail|Polygamy/Practiced after the Manifesto}} | + | *{{Detail|Polygamy/Practiced after the Manifesto|l1=Post-Manifesto plural marriage}} |
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The Lectures on Faith are removed from the Doctrine and Covenants. | The Lectures on Faith are removed from the Doctrine and Covenants. | ||
|authorsources= | |authorsources= | ||
| − | *''Dialogue: A | + | *''Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought'', vol. 20, No. 3, p. 71. |
|response= | |response= | ||
| − | *{{Detail|Doctrine and Covenants/Lectures on Faith removed}} | + | * A distinction had always been made between the Lectures and the canonized revelations. |
| + | *{{Detail|Doctrine and Covenants/Lectures on Faith removed|l1=Lectures on Faith removed from D&C}} | ||
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*It should be noted that the Book of Mormon contains no "archaeological and scientific content." | *It should be noted that the Book of Mormon contains no "archaeological and scientific content." | ||
| − | *{{Detail|Specific works/Studies of the Book of Mormon}} | + | *{{Detail|Specific works/Studies of the Book of Mormon|l1=Studies of the Book of Mormon}} |
| − | *{{Detail|Book of Mormon/B.H. Roberts and "Studies of the Book of Mormon"}} | + | *{{Detail|Book of Mormon/B.H. Roberts and "Studies of the Book of Mormon"|l1=B.H. Roberts and "Studies of the Book of Mormon"}} |
| − | *{{Detail|Book of Mormon/B.H. Roberts' testimony}} | + | *{{Detail|Book of Mormon/B.H. Roberts' testimony|l1=B.H. Roberts' testimony}} |
}} | }} | ||
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*''Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought'', vol. 20, no. 4, p. 55. | *''Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought'', vol. 20, no. 4, p. 55. | ||
|response= | |response= | ||
| − | *{{Detail|Temples/Endowment/Oath of vengeance}} | + | *{{Detail|Temples/Endowment/Oath of vengeance|l1=Oath of vengeance}} |
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*''Improvement Era'', June 1945, p. 354. | *''Improvement Era'', June 1945, p. 354. | ||
|response= | |response= | ||
| − | *President Grant | + | *President Grant indicated that this message was inaccurate, and disclaimed its contents soon after it was printed. |
*{{Detail|Authoritarianism and Church leaders#When our leaders speak, the thinking has been done?|l1=When our leaders speak, the thinking has been done?}} | *{{Detail|Authoritarianism and Church leaders#When our leaders speak, the thinking has been done?|l1=When our leaders speak, the thinking has been done?}} | ||
}} | }} | ||
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*''The Way to Perfection'', p. 101. | *''The Way to Perfection'', p. 101. | ||
|response= | |response= | ||
| − | *{{Detail|Blacks and the priesthood/The "curse of Cain" and "curse of Ham"}} | + | * Only the current prophet may declare Church doctrine. |
| + | *{{Detail|Blacks and the priesthood/The "curse of Cain" and "curse of Ham"|l1=The "curse of Cain" and "curse of Ham"}} | ||
}} | }} | ||
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*"Race Problems - As They Affect the Church," Aug. 27, 1954, p. 4. | *"Race Problems - As They Affect the Church," Aug. 27, 1954, p. 4. | ||
|response= | |response= | ||
| − | *{{Detail|Racial issues/Racial statements by Church leaders}} | + | * Only the current prophet may declare Church doctrine. |
| + | *{{Detail|Racial issues/Racial statements by Church leaders|l1=Racial statements by Church leaders}} | ||
}} | }} | ||
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*letter dated March 17, 1963. | *letter dated March 17, 1963. | ||
|response= | |response= | ||
| − | *{{Detail|Jesus Christ/Was Jesus married}} | + | * Only the current prophet may declare Church doctrine. |
| + | *{{Detail|Jesus Christ/Was Jesus married|l1=Was Jesus Christ married}} | ||
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*Tanner, ''The Case Against Mormonism'', Vol. 3, Preface. | *Tanner, ''The Case Against Mormonism'', Vol. 3, Preface. | ||
|response= | |response= | ||
| − | *{{Detail|Book of Abraham/Joseph Smith Papyri}} | + | *Fragments from the papyri owned by Joseph Smith were discovered. Aside from Facsimilie #1, they do not contain the text of the Book of Abraham, and the Church has never claimed otherwise. |
| + | |||
| + | *{{Detail|Book of Abraham/Joseph Smith Papyri|l1=Joseph Smith Papyri}} | ||
}} | }} | ||
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*The critics fail to note that the ''Church'' itself published this information in ''The Improvement Era'' first. | *The critics fail to note that the ''Church'' itself published this information in ''The Improvement Era'' first. | ||
| − | *{{Detail| | + | *{{Detail|Book_of_Abraham/Joseph_Smith_Papyri/Church_disclosure_of_%22Book_of_the_Dead%22|Within two months of receiving the papyri, Church magazine denied that they contained the Book of Abraham}} |
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*It should be noted that this change was originally made by Joseph Smith in 1840. | *It should be noted that this change was originally made by Joseph Smith in 1840. | ||
| − | *{{Detail|Book of Mormon/Textual changes/"white" changed to "pure"}} | + | **{{Detail|Book of Mormon/Textual changes/"white" changed to "pure"|l1=Book of Mormon changes—"white" changed to "pure"}} |
| + | *Most of the 4,000 changes were punctuation and grammatical | ||
| + | **{{Detail|Book of Mormon/Textual changes|l1=Textual changes of the Book of Mormon}} | ||
}} | }} | ||
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|authorsources= | |authorsources= | ||
|response= | |response= | ||
| − | *{{Detail|Temples/Endowment/Changes}} | + | *{{Detail|Temples/Endowment/Changes|l1=Temple endowment changes}} |
}} | }} | ||
Revision as of 14:14, 9 March 2010
| Section 2 | A FAIR Analysis of:
Watchman Fellowship |
Section 4 |
Index of Claims in "Mormonism Overview"
Claim
The Book of Mormon claims that there is only "one God in the Godhead."
Author's source(s)
Response
- Note that the word "Godhead" does not appear in the Book of Mormon.
- Latter-day Saints believe in "one God." They recognize three individuals who are properly termed "God"—the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. They understand this unity differently than the creeds.
- For a detailed response, see: Nicene creed
1830 (a)
Claim
The Book of Mormon states that David and Solomon's polygamy "was an abomination to God."
Author's source(s)
Response
- For a detailed response, see: Polygamy/Book of Mormon condemns the practice
1830 (b)
Claim
The Church was originally founded with the name "Church of Christ."
Author's source(s)
- David Whitmer, An Address to All Believers in Christ, p. 73.
Response
- For a detailed response, see: Name of the Church
1832 (a)
Claim
The earliest account of the First Vision states that Joseph was "in the 16th year of [his] age," and he does not mention seeing the Father.
Author's source(s)
- Joseph Smith's 1832 Diary
Response
- For a detailed response, see: Different age? and Only one Personage?
1832 (b)
Claim
Joseph gave a "false prophecy" that a temple would be built in Independence, Missouri.
Author's source(s)
Response
- For a detailed response, see: Independence temple to be built "in this generation"
1833 (b)
Claim
The name of the Church was later changed to "The Church of the Latter Day Saints."
Author's source(s)
- David Whitmer, An Address to All Believers in Christ, p. 73.
Response
- For a detailed response, see: Name of the Church
1834 (c)
Claim
Joseph gave a "false prophecy" that the Saints would prevail against their enemies in Independence, Missouri.
Author's source(s)
Response
- The scripture says that the saints would "begin to prevail"—but, only if they "hearken from this very hour unto the counsel" that God gives them. The Saints' prosperity was conditionally linked to their faithfulness in heeding the word of God.
1834 (d); 1835 (a)
Claim
Oliver Cowdery reports in the Messenger and Advocate that Joseph Smith's age at the time of the First Vision was "the 15th year of our brother J. Smith Jr.'s age" and then corrects it to be "the 17th."
Author's source(s)
- Messenger and Advocate, Dec. 1834, Vol. 1, p. 42.
- Messenger and Advocate, Feb. 1835, Vol. 1, p. 76.
Response
- For a detailed response, see: Oliver Cowdery and First Vision
1838 (a)
Claim
Joseph Smith receives revelation to send David Patten on a mission, but Patten is killed during a battle.
Author's source(s)
Response
- For a detailed response, see: David Patten to serve mission
1842 (a)
Claim
The Lectures on Faith describe the Father as a "personage of spirit."
Response
- For a detailed response, see: Lecture of Faith 5 teaches the Father is "a personage of spirit"
1842 (b)
Claim
Orson Pratt is claimed to have been excommunicated for disagreeing with Joseph Smith regarding polygamy and "Smith's sexual advances to Sarah Pratt, Orson's wife."
Author's source(s)
- Nauvoo: Kingdom on the Mississippi, pp. 269-270.
Response
- Orson Pratt was later to return to the Church, and indicated that he had been misled by a "wicked source" for the supposed information about Joseph and his wife.
- For a detailed response, see: Detailed account of Sarah Pratt
- For a detailed response, see: Did women turn Joseph down
1843 (b)
Claim
The authors claim that "historical records show Joseph Smith was sexually involved with women other than his legal wife Emma" long before the 1843 revelation was written.
Author's source(s)
Response
- The D&C revelation was written down in 1843, but Joseph was aware of at least some of its contents by 1831 at the latest.
- For a detailed response, see: Plural marriage
- For a detailed response, see: Polygamy due to lustful motives?
1843 (b)
Claim
Joseph Smith denies polygamy.
Author's source(s)
- History of the Church 6:411
Response
- For a detailed response, see: 1835 Doctrine and Covenants denies polygamy
For a detailed response, see: Lying about polygamy?
1844 (c)
Claim
The Nauvoo Expositor accused Joseph of "practicing polygamy and teaching polytheism."
Author's source(s)
Response
- It is unsurprising that a hostile paper attacked Joseph's teachings. This does not mean that the attack was accurate, complete, or fair.
- No informed historian or Latter-day Saint claims that Joseph did not teach or practice plural marriage in Nauvoo.
- For a detailed response, see: Nauvoo Expositor
1844 (e)
Claim
The authors claim that Joseph killed two men at Carthage Jail, and that Joseph cannot be called a martyr because he fought for his life "with an illegally obtained weapon."
Author's source(s)
- History of the Church 7:103.
Response
- For a detailed response, see: Protestant martyrs often resisted those who tried to kill them
- For a detailed response, see: Joseph and Hyrum Smith—the martyrdom
- For a detailed response, see: Joseph fired a gun at Carthage
- For a detailed response, see: Has the Church hidden Joseph's use of a gun?
- For a detailed response, see: Did Joseph kill two men at Carthage?
1845 (b)
Claim
The "Oath of Vengeance" is added to the temple ceremony.
Author's source(s)
- Diary Journal of Abraham H. Cannon, quoted in Tanner, Mormonism: Shadow or Reality?, p. 475
Response
- For a detailed response, see: Oath of Vengeance
1851
Claim
The Book of Abraham is claimed to have become the scriptural basis for denying the priesthood to Blacks.
Author's source(s)
Response
- For a detailed response, see: Blacks and the priesthood
1854 (a)
Claim
Brigham Young teaches the "Adam-God doctrine."
Author's source(s)
- Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 1:50.
Response
- For a detailed response, see: Adam-God
1853
Claim
Jedediah M. Grant quotes "with approval pagan philosopher Celsus" that Jesus was persecuted because he "had so many wives."
Author's source(s)
- Jedediah M. Grant, Journal of Discourses 1:345-346.
Response
- For a detailed response, see: Jesus Christ/Was Jesus married/Was Jesus a polygamist
1854 (c)
Claim
Orson Hyde preaches that Jesus Christ was married and had children.
Author's source(s)
- Orson Hyde, Journal of Discourses 2:82.
Response
- For a detailed response, see: Was Jesus Christ married?
1855 (a)
Claim
The authors claim that Brigham Young said that the Lord did not come during the First Vision:
The Lord did not come with the armies of heaven.... But he did send His angel to this same obscure person, Joseph Smith jun.,...and informed him that he should not join any of the religious sects of the day, for they were all wrong"
The Lord did not come with the armies of heaven.... But he did send His angel to this same obscure person, Joseph Smith jun.,...and informed him that he should not join any of the religious sects of the day, for they were all wrong"
Author's source(s)
- Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 2:171.
Response
- This is a well-known heavily edited version of the quote by Brigham that originated with the Tanners. The quote has been edited in such a way as to alter its meaning.
- For a detailed response, see: Brigham Young said the Lord didn't appear
1855 (b)
Claim
Brigham taught that "if any of you will deny the plurality of wives, and continue to do so, I promise you that you will be damned..."
Author's source(s)
- Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 3:266.
Response
- For a detailed response, see: Polygamy required for exaltation?
1856 (a)
Claim
Brigham Young taught "Blood Atonement."
Author's source(s)
- Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 4:53-54.
Response
- For a detailed response, see: Blood atonement
1857 (b)
Claim
The Mountain Meadows Massacre
Response
- For a detailed response, see: Mountain Meadows Massacre
1866 (a)
Claim
Brigham Young states, "And when all the rest of the children have received their blessing in the Holy Priesthood, then that curse shall be removed from the seed of Cain, and they will then come up and possess the priesthood, and receive all the blessings which we now are entitled to."
Author's source(s)
- Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 11:272.
Response
- For a detailed response, see: The "curse of Cain" and "curse of Ham"
1866 (b)
Claim
Brigham states, "The only men who become Gods, even the sons of God, are those who enter into polygamy."
Author's source(s)
- Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 11:269.
Response
- For a detailed response, see: The only men who become gods are those that practice polygamy
1867
Claim
Brigham states that "the God that I serve is progressing eternally..."
Author's source(s)
- Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 11:286.
Response
- For a detailed response, see: Nature of God/Progressing eternally [needs work]
1870
Claim
Brigham states that he believes that the Sun is inhabited.
Author's source(s)
- Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 13:271.
Response
- For a detailed response, see: Moon and sun are inhabited
1871
Claim
Orson Pratt states that the Independence Temple will be built within the current generation.
Author's source(s)
- Orson Pratt, Journal of Discourses 14:275.
Response
- For a detailed response, see: Independence temple to be built "in this generation"
1879 (a)
Claim
John Taylor is claimed to have provided "New First Vision information," when he stated, "None of them was right, just as it was when the Prophet Joseph asked the angel which of the sects was right that he might join it. The answer was that none of them are right....the angel merely told him to join none of them that none of them were right"
Author's source(s)
- John Taylor, Journal of Discourses 20:167.
Response
- This is an amazing claim, since John Taylor talked specifically of the visit of the Father and Son during the First Vision numerous other times, including another sermon delivered the very same day! It also seem rather silly to state the John Taylor didn't understand the nature of the First Vision, since the official account of the vision had been published in the Pearl of Great Price years before this discourse.
- For a detailed response, see: John Taylor's understanding of the First Vision
1890 (b)
Claim
Church leaders continued to practice polygamy after the Manifesto.
Author's source(s)
- D&C Official Declaration-1
Response
- For a detailed response, see: Post-Manifesto plural marriage
1921
Claim
The Lectures on Faith are removed from the Doctrine and Covenants.
Author's source(s)
- Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, vol. 20, No. 3, p. 71.
Response
- A distinction had always been made between the Lectures and the canonized revelations.
- For a detailed response, see: Lectures on Faith removed from D&C
1922
Claim
B.H. Roberts "finds several serious problems" with the archaeological and scientific content of the Book of Mormon.
Author's source(s)
- Studies of the Book of Mormon
Response
- It should be noted that the Book of Mormon contains no "archaeological and scientific content."
- For a detailed response, see: Studies of the Book of Mormon
- For a detailed response, see: B.H. Roberts and "Studies of the Book of Mormon"
- For a detailed response, see: B.H. Roberts' testimony
1926
Claim
The "Oath of Vengeance" is removed from the temple ceremony.
Author's source(s)
- Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, vol. 20, no. 4, p. 55.
Response
- For a detailed response, see: Oath of vengeance
1945 (b)
Claim
An article in The Improvement Era states: "When our leaders speak, the thinking has been done."
Response
- President Grant indicated that this message was inaccurate, and disclaimed its contents soon after it was printed.
- For a detailed response, see: When our leaders speak, the thinking has been done?
1945 (c)
Claim
Joseph Fielding Smith, who the authors note "would become the tenth prophet," expresses his opinion on the "Curse of Cain" as it was applied to Blacks.
Author's source(s)
- The Way to Perfection, p. 101.
Response
- Only the current prophet may declare Church doctrine.
- For a detailed response, see: The "curse of Cain" and "curse of Ham"
1954 (b)
Claim
Mark E. Petersen states that "our performance in the pre-existence" affected what race we were born into.
Author's source(s)
- "Race Problems - As They Affect the Church," Aug. 27, 1954, p. 4.
Response
- Only the current prophet may declare Church doctrine.
- For a detailed response, see: Racial statements by Church leaders
1963 (a)
Claim
Joseph Fielding Smith "admits Mormon doctrine that Jesus was married."
Response
- Only the current prophet may declare Church doctrine.
- For a detailed response, see: Was Jesus Christ married
1966
Claim
Book of Abraham "manuscripts" are discovered.
Author's source(s)
- Tanner, The Case Against Mormonism, Vol. 3, Preface.
Response
- Fragments from the papyri owned by Joseph Smith were discovered. Aside from Facsimilie #1, they do not contain the text of the Book of Abraham, and the Church has never claimed otherwise.
- For a detailed response, see: Joseph Smith Papyri
1967
Claim
Book of Abraham "papyrus manuscripts" are turned over the the Church, after which "noted Egyptologists translate them and declare that the text if from the Book of Breathings. The authors state: "Despite this exposure as a fraud, the Book of Abraham continues to be published as scripture by the church."
Author's source(s)
- Tanner, The Case Against Mormonism, Vol. 3, Preface.
Response
- The critics fail to note that the Church itself published this information in The Improvement Era first.
- For a detailed response, see: Book_of_Abraham/Joseph_Smith_Papyri/Church_disclosure_of_%22Book_of_the_Dead%22 and Within two months of receiving the papyri, Church magazine denied that they contained the Book of Abraham
1980 (a)
Claim
The Mark Hofmann forgeries.
Response
- For a detailed response, see: Mark Hofmann
1981 (b)
Claim
The Book of Mormon has over "4000" changes since its first publication, and the phrase "white and delightsome" is changed to "pure and delightsome."
Response
- It should be noted that this change was originally made by Joseph Smith in 1840.
- For a detailed response, see: Book of Mormon changes—"white" changed to "pure"
- Most of the 4,000 changes were punctuation and grammatical
- For a detailed response, see: Textual changes of the Book of Mormon
1990
Claim
The authors state that "drastic changes" were made in "secret Mormon temple rituals."
Response
- For a detailed response, see: Temple endowment changes