Difference between revisions of "Mormonism and church integrity"

(comment out broken page)
(mod)
Line 24: Line 24:
 
|link= One_Nation_Under_Gods/Use_of_sources/Counterfeiting_apostles_and_Joseph
 
|link= One_Nation_Under_Gods/Use_of_sources/Counterfeiting_apostles_and_Joseph
 
|subject=Counterfeiting by Joseph Smith and apostles at Nauvoo?
 
|subject=Counterfeiting by Joseph Smith and apostles at Nauvoo?
−
|summary=
+
|summary=Critics accuse Joseph and the apostles of "making counterfeit coins" in Nauvoo.
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{SummaryItem
 
{{SummaryItem
−
|link= Joseph Smith land speculation
+
|link=Joseph Smith/Land speculation in Nauvoo
−
|subject= Joseph Smith land speculation
+
|subject=Land speculation in Nauvoo
−
|summary=
+
|summary=Did Joseph Smith engage in "land speculation" in Nauvoo?
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{SummaryItem
 
{{SummaryItem
Line 48: Line 48:
 
'''Utah period'''
 
'''Utah period'''
 
{{SummaryItem
 
{{SummaryItem
−
|link= Brigham Young pulling the wool over America's eyes
+
|link=Non-existent quotes/Brigham Young/Pulling the wool over America's eyes
 
|subject=Brigham Young—pulling the wool over Americans' eyes?
 
|subject=Brigham Young—pulling the wool over Americans' eyes?
−
|summary=
+
|summary=I'm told that Brigham Young made the following statement: "We shall pull the wool over the eyes of the American people and make them swallow Mormonism, polygamy and all." Critics say this shows the fundamental dishonesty of LDS leaders. What can you tell me about this?
 
}}
 
}}
 
'''Present day'''
 
'''Present day'''
 
{{SummaryItem
 
{{SummaryItem
−
|link= Church art and historical accuracy
+
|link=Mormonism and history/Accuracy of Church art
 
|subject= Church art and historical accuracy
 
|subject= Church art and historical accuracy
−
|summary=
+
|summary=Critics charge that the Church knowingly "lies" or distorts the historical record in its artwork in order to whitewash the past, or for propaganda purposes. A commonly used example is the inaccuracy of any Church art representing the translation process of the Book of Mormon.
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{SummaryItem
 
{{SummaryItem
−
|link= Brigham_Young_and_polygamy
+
|link=Brigham Young/Polygamy/Hiding history
 
|subject=Brigham Young manual hides the truth about polygamy
 
|subject=Brigham Young manual hides the truth about polygamy
−
|summary=
+
|summary=Critics claim that the Church's manual, ''The Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young'', attempts to "hide history" by portraying Brigham Young (a well-known polygamist) as having only one wife.
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{SummaryItem
 
{{SummaryItem
−
|link= Censorship and revision of LDS history
+
|link=Mormonism and history/Censorship and revision
 
|subject="Censorship" and "revision" of LDS history?
 
|subject="Censorship" and "revision" of LDS history?
 
|summary=
 
|summary=
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{SummaryItem2
 
{{SummaryItem2
−
|link= Biography of Lucy Mack Smith
+
|link=Mormonism and history/Censorship and revision/LDS histories over many years omit plural marriage
 +
|subject=LDS histories over many years omit plural marriage
 +
|summary=Some critics charge that LDS histories have a long history of omitting mention of plural marriage as a cause for the Saints' troubles in Illinois.
 +
}}
 +
{{SummaryItem2
 +
|link=Mormonism and history/Censorship and revision/Sidney Rigdon trial in Times and Seasons versus History of the Church
 +
|subject=Sidney Rigdon trial in Times and Seasons versus History of the Church
 +
|summary=Critics charge that the account of Sidney Rigdon's 'trial' recorded in the Times and Seasons differs markedly from the version available in the History of the Church. They claim that this demonstrates the Church's tendency to "rewrite" history after the fact.
 +
}}
 +
{{SummaryItem2
 +
|link=Mormonism and history/Censorship and revision/Wilford Woodruff criticizes publication of polygamists
 +
|subject=Wilford Woodruff criticizes publication of polygamists
 +
|summary=Some critics charge that the Church's desire to hide its historical plural marriage is exemplified by Wilford Woodruff's criticism of assistant Church Historian Andrew Jenson's decision to publish the names of those who were married to Joseph Smith.
 +
}}
 +
{{SummaryItem2
 +
|link=Mormonism and history/Censorship and revision/Hiding the facts
 +
|subject=Hiding the facts in plain sight using Church publications
 +
|summary=Quite a few items that critics claim were hidden by the Church were actually published in Church magazines such as the ''New Era'', the ''Ensign'' and the ''Friend''.
 +
}}
 +
{{SummaryItem2
 +
|link=Revelation after Joseph Smith/Oliver Cowdery/Orson Hyde promise
 +
|subject=Orson Hyde's blessing altered in the ''History of the Church''?
 +
|summary=Critics claim that the ordination blessing given to Orson Hyde is an example of false prophecy. They also claim that Hyde's blessing was altered in the History of the Church for propaganda reasons.
 +
}}
 +
{{SummaryItem
 +
|link=Lucy Mack Smith/Biography
 
|subject=Brigham Young destroys Lucy Mack Smith's history of Joseph?
 
|subject=Brigham Young destroys Lucy Mack Smith's history of Joseph?
−
|summary=
+
|summary=Did Brigham Young attempt to suppress and destroy all copies of Lucy Mack Smith's Biographical Sketches of Joseph Smith because it contained information which would embarrass the Church? Critics claim that Brigham Young inserted the reference to Joseph Smith's First Vision into Lucy's book. Critics also try to prove that the silence of Joseph's mother and siblings in her history prove that the First Vision did not take place, and is a later fabrication by Joseph, and not well known to the early members of the church.
 
}}
 
}}
−
{{SummaryItem2
+
{{SummaryItem
 
|link= Non-existent quotes/Haight: assistance of the moon
 
|link= Non-existent quotes/Haight: assistance of the moon
 
|subject=Did David B. Haight use astrological ideas about the moon, only to be censored later?
 
|subject=Did David B. Haight use astrological ideas about the moon, only to be censored later?
−
|summary=
+
|summary=Critics claim that Elder David B. Haight "reinvoked the astrological principle that people should 'do nothing without the assistance of the moon'" in a talk that he gave during General Conference in 1998. One critic takes this a step further by claiming that the phrase "do nothing without the assistance of the moon" was deleted from the transcribed version of Elder Haight's talk. This claim has evolved over time due to successive misinterpretation of the original sources.
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{SummaryItem2
 
{{SummaryItem2
Line 106: Line 131:
 
|link= Cognitive dissonance
 
|link= Cognitive dissonance
 
|subject= Cognitive dissonance
 
|subject= Cognitive dissonance
−
|summary=
+
|summary=Many critics of the Church are fond of portraying all members as either naive, ill-informed dupes or cynical exploiters. Fortunately, most fair-minded people realize that—just as in any religion—there are many intelligent, well-informed people who become or remain members of the Church. To get around this, some critics appeal to the psychological concept of 'cognitive dissonance' to try to 'explain away' the spiritual witness of intelligent, articulate members.
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{SummaryItem
 
{{SummaryItem
 
|link= Authorship_of_History_of_the_Church
 
|link= Authorship_of_History_of_the_Church
 
|subject=History of the Church—authorship?
 
|subject=History of the Church—authorship?
−
|summary=
+
|summary=I've heard that the History of the Church, though credited to Joseph Smith, was not actually authored by him. What can you tell me about this, and what does this mean for the History's accuracy?
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{SummaryItem
 
{{SummaryItem
 
|link= Religious_revivals_in_1820/Gordon_B._Hinckley_cited_false_information
 
|link= Religious_revivals_in_1820/Gordon_B._Hinckley_cited_false_information
 
|subject=Gordon B. Hinckley cited false information on the First Vision?
 
|subject=Gordon B. Hinckley cited false information on the First Vision?
−
|summary=
+
|summary=Critics claim that there were no religious revivals in the Palmyra, New York area in 1820, and that Gordon B. Hinckley cited false information in a book called Truth Restored.
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{SummaryItem
 
{{SummaryItem

Revision as of 22:24, 23 May 2011

  1. REDIRECTTemplate:Test3


Mormonism and church integrity

==

Topics

==

Accusations of hypocrisy in Church practices

Summary: Critics claim that the Church, as a corporate entity, controls business properties that are not consistent with its stated purposes. Examples include claims that the Church owns controlling stock in the Coca-Cola company, tobacco companies, and alcohol companies.

"Lying for the Lord"

Summary: Critics have long charged the LDS with organizationally and systematically “lying for the Lord,” equating such with a policy of using any means necessary to achieve some “good” goal. This claim is false, and a biased reading of Church history. One must not use ethically questionable tactics because one believes the “end justifies the means.”

Joseph Smith period

Crime in Nauvoo

Counterfeiting by Joseph Smith and apostles at Nauvoo?

Summary: Critics accuse Joseph and the apostles of "making counterfeit coins" in Nauvoo.

Land speculation in Nauvoo

Summary: Did Joseph Smith engage in "land speculation" in Nauvoo?

Joseph Smith taught 'it was right to steal'

Orson Hyde says Spirit of Lord may influence to steal

Hiding Joseph's use of a gun at the martyrdom?

Utah period

Brigham Young—pulling the wool over Americans' eyes?

Summary: I'm told that Brigham Young made the following statement: "We shall pull the wool over the eyes of the American people and make them swallow Mormonism, polygamy and all." Critics say this shows the fundamental dishonesty of LDS leaders. What can you tell me about this?

Present day

Church art and historical accuracy

Summary: Critics charge that the Church knowingly "lies" or distorts the historical record in its artwork in order to whitewash the past, or for propaganda purposes. A commonly used example is the inaccuracy of any Church art representing the translation process of the Book of Mormon.

Brigham Young manual hides the truth about polygamy

Summary: Critics claim that the Church's manual, The Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young, attempts to "hide history" by portraying Brigham Young (a well-known polygamist) as having only one wife.

"Censorship" and "revision" of LDS history?

Brigham Young destroys Lucy Mack Smith's history of Joseph?

Summary: Did Brigham Young attempt to suppress and destroy all copies of Lucy Mack Smith's Biographical Sketches of Joseph Smith because it contained information which would embarrass the Church? Critics claim that Brigham Young inserted the reference to Joseph Smith's First Vision into Lucy's book. Critics also try to prove that the silence of Joseph's mother and siblings in her history prove that the First Vision did not take place, and is a later fabrication by Joseph, and not well known to the early members of the church.

Did David B. Haight use astrological ideas about the moon, only to be censored later?

Summary: Critics claim that Elder David B. Haight "reinvoked the astrological principle that people should 'do nothing without the assistance of the moon'" in a talk that he gave during General Conference in 1998. One critic takes this a step further by claiming that the phrase "do nothing without the assistance of the moon" was deleted from the transcribed version of Elder Haight's talk. This claim has evolved over time due to successive misinterpretation of the original sources.

Cognitive dissonance

Summary: Many critics of the Church are fond of portraying all members as either naive, ill-informed dupes or cynical exploiters. Fortunately, most fair-minded people realize that—just as in any religion—there are many intelligent, well-informed people who become or remain members of the Church. To get around this, some critics appeal to the psychological concept of 'cognitive dissonance' to try to 'explain away' the spiritual witness of intelligent, articulate members.

History of the Church—authorship?

Summary: I've heard that the History of the Church, though credited to Joseph Smith, was not actually authored by him. What can you tell me about this, and what does this mean for the History's accuracy?

Gordon B. Hinckley cited false information on the First Vision?

Summary: Critics claim that there were no religious revivals in the Palmyra, New York area in 1820, and that Gordon B. Hinckley cited false information in a book called Truth Restored.

Immigration reform in the U.S.A.

Summary: What is the Church's stance on illegal immigrants in the United States?

Summary: Critics claim that Mormonism prides itself in having unpaid clergy as one proof of the Church's truthfulness. They then point to the fact that some General Authorities, mission presidents, and others do, in fact, receive a living stipend while serving the Church, and point to this as evidence of the “hypocrisy” of the Church.

Testimony and doubt reconciliation

Summary: How can a person reaffirm their testimony when they learn disconcerting facts that may bring their testimony into doubt?

City Creek Center Mall in Salt Lake City

Summary: Members and critics have questions about the Church's involvement in the redevelopment of the city center in Salt Lake.

Claims that church membership numbers distorted

Summary: Critics charge that the Church distorts its membership numbers and rate of growth for public relations purposes.

Accusations of plagiarizing C.S. Lewis in General Conference

Summary: Some claim that President Ezra Taft Benson's famous General Conference address, "Beware of Pride," was plagiarized from C.S. Lewis' chapter on pride in Mere Christianity.
Retrieved from "https://www.fairlatterdaysaints.org/answers/index.php?title=Mormonism_and_church_integrity&oldid=89334"