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Mormonism and church integrity
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Contents
- 1 Mormonism and church integrity
- 1.1
- 1.2 Topics
- 1.2.1 Accusations of hypocrisy in Church practices
- 1.2.2 "Lying for the Lord"
- 1.2.3 Counterfeiting by Joseph Smith and apostles at Nauvoo?
- 1.2.4 Land speculation in Nauvoo
- 1.2.5 Joseph Smith taught 'it was right to steal'
- 1.2.6 Orson Hyde says Spirit of Lord may influence to steal
- 1.2.7 Hiding Joseph's use of a gun at the martyrdom?
- 1.2.8 Brigham Young—pulling the wool over Americans' eyes?
- 1.2.9 Cognitive dissonance
- 1.2.10 History of the Church—authorship?
- 1.2.11 Gordon B. Hinckley cited false information on the First Vision?
- 1.2.12 Immigration reform in the U.S.A.
- 1.2.13 Paid clergy
- 1.2.14 Testimony and doubt reconciliation
- 1.2.15 City Creek Center Mall in Salt Lake City
- 1.2.16 Claims that church membership numbers distorted
- 1.2.17 Accusations of plagiarizing C.S. Lewis in General Conference
Mormonism and church integrity
Topics
Accusations of hypocrisy in Church practices
Summary: It is claimed 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: Some have long accused Mormons of 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
Counterfeiting by Joseph Smith and apostles at Nauvoo?
Summary: Joseph and the apostles are accused by some writers 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'
Summary: Did Joseph Smith really tell Orrin Porter Rockwell 'it was right to steal'?Orson Hyde says Spirit of Lord may influence to steal
Summary: Author Richard Abanes claims that "Orson Hyde said that it was OK to 'steal & be influenced by the spirit of the Lord to do it' as long as it was against non-Mormons." Orson Hyde wished to pass lightly over William "Wild Bill" Hickman's sins because of the services which Hickman had rendered during Utah's settlement, the Utah War, and the personal debt he owed him. However, Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, and other church members and leaders were not of the same view, and denounced it. Even Hyde would, within twenty-four hours, amend his stance. The author tells us none of this, and thus distorts his source.Hiding Joseph's use of a gun at the martyrdom?
Summary: It is claimed that the Church has tried to hide the fact that Joseph fired a pepperbox pistol at the mob which murdered Hyrum and was soon to kill him, despite numerous mentions of the gun in Church literature, and the fact that the very gun itself is on display at the museum of Church History in Salt Lake City.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
- REDIRECT Approaching history
- Sidney Rigdon trial in Times and Seasons versus History of the Church—
Brief 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. (Click here for full article)∗ ∗ ∗ - Wilford Woodruff criticizes publication of polygamists—
Brief 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. (Click here for full article)∗ ∗ ∗
- Sidney Rigdon trial in Times and Seasons versus History of the Church—