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.
Countercult ministries/Watchman Fellowship/Section 3
| 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.
- For a detailed response, see: Nature of God/Trinity/Nicene creed
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
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
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: First Vision/Accounts/1832/Different age provided and First Vision/Accounts/1832/Only one Personage appears
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: Joseph Smith/Prophecies/Independence temple to be built "in this generation"
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
Claim
Joseph gave a "false prophecy" that the Saints would prevail against their enemies in Independence, Missouri.
Author's source(s)
Response
FAIR WIKI EDITORS: Check sources
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: First Vision/Accounts/Oliver Cowdery not aware of First Vision in 1834-35