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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.
< Criticism of Mormonism | Books | One Nation Under Gods
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.
Page | Claim | Response | Use of sources |
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xvii | The "White Horse" prophecy predicts the "transformation of the U.S. government into a Mormon-ruled theocracy. | The White Horse prophecy |
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xviii | The "White Horse" prophecy "continues to be a dominant element of the faith espoused by Joseph Smith's followers" because they believe that they will be "officers and administrators" during Christ's millennial reign. | The White Horse prophecy |
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xix | Various Church leaders have reiterated the "White Horse" prophecy. | The White Horse prophecy |
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xx | "Mormons thereafter will reign with Christ, and every American citizen, along with the rest of the world, will be forced to recognize Mormonism as the one true religion." | The White Horse prophecy |
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xxi | As for other governments and religions, according to Joseph Smith, they "must eventually be destroyed from the earth." | Other governments and religions to be destroyed from the earth? |
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xxiv | The Church refuses to divulge "routine (financial) information that other religions are happy to provide over the phone." |
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xxiv | Mormons believe that they are "morally, ethically, and spiritually superior to non-Mormons." |
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Page | Claim | Response | Use of sources |
---|---|---|---|
6 | "To most of his contemporaries, Joseph Smith was nothing but a charlatan from a family of illiterate wnderers; a shiftless trouble-maker—albeit a charismatic and imaginative one—with a penchant for superstitions, storytelling, and decision-making based on the occult traditions of ninteteenth century rural folk magic." | The Hurlbut affidavits—Nathaniel Lewis |
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9-11 | "[T]he Smiths finally gave up on finding deliverance from their poverty by any means that might be termed legitimate employment. They turned instead to borrowing, fast-talking, and 'money-diffing' through occult divination." | The Hurlbut affidavits |
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15 | Local newspapers show no revival occurring in 1820 in the area of Palmyra-Manchester, New York. | Religious revivals in 1820 |
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15 | Smith probably incorporated an 1824 revival into his First Vision story. | Conflation of 1824-25 revival? |
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15 | Joseph's 1832 First Vision account states that he was 15 rather than 14 years old. | Different age provided in the 1832 text | |
15 | Joseph's 1832 account states that he only saw Jesus and doesn't mention God the Father. | Only one Personage appears in the 1832 account | |
15 | The main message of the 1832 account was the forgiveness of Joseph's sins. | Motivation in 1832 account is different | |
15 | The 1832 account omits information about "God condemning Christian churches as corrupt." | 1832 account doesn't forbid joining a church | |
16-17 | Orson Pratt said that the two personages were angels. | Orson Pratt confused about "angel" or Father-Son |
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17 | Church historian Andrew Jenson said that "The angel again forbade Joseph to join any of these churches." | Andrew Jenson called personage an "angel" |
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18 | John Taylor only calls the Father and Son "two glorious personages" and does not mention "this is my beloved son." | John Taylor's understanding of the First Vision |
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18 | The 1824 revival caused Joseph's mother, sister and two brothers to join the Presbyterian church. | Conflation of 1824-25 revival? |
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18 | The 1824 revival cause Joseph to join a Baptist church. | Joseph Smith joined other churches |
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18 | No publications from the Palmyra or Manchester areas mentioned Joseph's vision. | No reference to First Vision in 1830s publications? |
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