Criticism of Mormonism/Books/One Nation Under Gods/Chapter 5

Claims made in "Chapter 4: Smith's Golden Book"

A FAIR Analysis of: Criticism of Mormonism/Books A work by author: Richard Abanes

Claims made in "Chapter 6: No rest for the Righteous"

Claims made in "Chapter 5: People of Zion"

Page	Claim	Response	Author's sources
83, 517n2 (HB)	"The Mormon church was formally organized in New York..."	There is no church called the "Mormon Church." "The Church of Christ" was formally organized in New York.	N/A
517n2 (HB)	"[t]he Mormon church's official name evolved from The Church of Christ (April 1830) to The Church of the Latter Day Saints (May 1834) to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (April 1838).	Name of the Church	No source provided. (Marquardt source refers to the location of the church organization)
86, n22-23 (HB)	"anti-Christendom" became a "defining feature of Mormonism," which denounced all denominational forms of Christianity as "satanic."	Did early LDS leaders denounce Christianity	Brigham Young, Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream, etc., Journal of Discourses, vol. 5, 73. Brigham Young, The United States Administration and Utah Army, Journal of Discourses, vol. 5 229. Brigham Young, Civilization—Missionary Labours, Journal of Discourses, vol. 8, 171 Brigham Young, Persecution—The Kingdom of God, Journal of Discourses, vol. 8, 199. John Taylor, "The Kingdom of God or Nothing", Journal of Discourses, vol. 6, 25 John Taylor, Blessings of the Saints—Hindrances to Progress, etc., Journal of Discourses, vol. 6, 167. John Taylor, How to Know the Things of God, Journal of Discourses, vol. 13, 225.
86, n24-25	Mormonism "officially still teaches that all Christian churches are corrupt," and that "Satan sits in the place of God in Christianity."	Individual versus organizational apostasy	Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine (1958; second edition, 1966), p. 132. Kent P. Jackson, "Early Signs of the Apostasy," Ensign, December 1984, 9.
95, 522n74 (HB)	Martin Harris stated that "all temporal and spiritual power would be given over to The Prophet Joseph Smith."	Those Power-Hungry Mormons	Chandler, reprinted in Vogel, vol. 3, 222-223.