Pinocchio Syndrome
Mormonism does not condone polygamy. At least, not today. Mormonism teaches there is but one God, supposedly. Mormonism teaches Mary was a virgin, somewhat.
“the Mormon church will sacrifice truth for the sake of public relations.” ~ Walter Martin
The founding leaders, and the leader of the Mormon church throughout time, are considered prophets, yet a vast number of “prophets” all followed polygamy. Indeed, when the 5th president, Joseph F. Smith, was fined for cohabitation. Speaking of President Wilford Woodruff’s official “Manifesto” that abolished polygamy in the Mormon Church, he said, “When I accepted the manifesto issues by President Wilford Woodruff, I did not understand that I would be expected to abandon and discard my wives.” He was not alone, many “fundamentalists” claim that the fourth leader “apostatized” from the revelations of the first three prophets, and that no revelation was ever given from God for disbanding polygamy. Indeed, their heavenly dream is set up for polygamy. Among the other two examples given above, further articles shall cover.
My point? A prophet is to be accurate 100%, otherwise he/she shall be deemed as a false prophet. The ancient Israelite law stoned to death false prophets. Thus was the high standard for prophets. Wrong once? No prophet. So how does the prophets of Mormonism stand up under scrutiny? Not very well.
The Book of Mormon has been revised many, many times. This is no change in translation or interpretational differences. This are full blown edits. A subtitle was added to the cover of a 1981 version which stated, “Another Testament of Jesus Christ” and around 100 verses were changed without consulting the missing golden plates. The statement concluded with these words, “Some minor errors in the text have been perpetuated in past editions of The Book of Mormon. This edition contains corrections that seem appropriate to bring the material into conformity with prepublication manuscripts and early editions by the prophet Joseph Smith.”
Unfortunately for the Mormon church, early editions still exist which contradict this claim.
Aside from alterations and changes made over the years, according to Walter Martin, “A careful examination of The Book of Mormon reveals that it contains thousands of words from the King James Bible. In fact, verbatim quotations, some of considerable length, have caused the Mormons no end of embarrassment for many years.” Plagiarizing the Bible with distortions and even some contradictions are wide spread within the Book of Mormon
Other errors - According to the Book of Mormon, speaking of the Jaredites in their sea-faring barges, said: “Ye cannot have windows, for they will be dashed in pieces”, yet why would the be dashed to pieces? They had not glass back then? It also mentioned steel and compasses, neither of which would have been invented yet.
“After twenty-five years of dedicated archaeological research, Ferguson found nothing to back up the flora, fauna, topography, geography, people, coins, or settlements of the book and, in fact, he called the geography of The Book of Mormon ‘fictional’” ~ Walter Martin
The Mormons declare that the golden tablets were divinely translated - as in God gave Joseph the power to translate it - so if that’s the case, how could errors be made as such? Scientific mistakes, archaeological and historical mistakes, and contradictions all appear within the pages of The Book of Mormon.
In contradiction to the Bible, The Book of Mormon says Jesus was born in Jerusalem (Alma 7:9,10). It declares children are “not capable of committing sin” (Moroni 8:8). That baptism is for the remission of sins (3 Nephi 12:3 and Moroni 8:11) which is then contradicted by Doctrine and Covenants (20:37). To name a few.
Likewise, Joseph Smith had prophesies about his own time, which did not come true. Example, “At the rebellion of South Carolina… the Southern States will call on other nations, even the nation of Great Britain… and then war shall be poured out upon all nations. And… slaves shall rise up against their masters… and that the remnants… shall vex the Gentiles with a sore vexation.” (They believed certain Native Americans to be ancient descendants of a lost tribe of Israel)
He also prophesied that the house he built at Nauvoo would be in Mormon possession “for ever and ever” and would be lived in “after him” for “generation to generation.” The house was never even completed, was torn down past it’s foundations, and sold. It has now been rebuilt as a tourist attraction by the Mormons. However, hardly “lived in.”
A prophet wrong once is no prophet.
Divine revelation inaccurate is safely labeled not divine.
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice…
Jared Williams
“the Mormon church will sacrifice truth for the sake of public relations.” ~ Walter Martin
The founding leaders, and the leader of the Mormon church throughout time, are considered prophets, yet a vast number of “prophets” all followed polygamy. Indeed, when the 5th president, Joseph F. Smith, was fined for cohabitation. Speaking of President Wilford Woodruff’s official “Manifesto” that abolished polygamy in the Mormon Church, he said, “When I accepted the manifesto issues by President Wilford Woodruff, I did not understand that I would be expected to abandon and discard my wives.” He was not alone, many “fundamentalists” claim that the fourth leader “apostatized” from the revelations of the first three prophets, and that no revelation was ever given from God for disbanding polygamy. Indeed, their heavenly dream is set up for polygamy. Among the other two examples given above, further articles shall cover.
My point? A prophet is to be accurate 100%, otherwise he/she shall be deemed as a false prophet. The ancient Israelite law stoned to death false prophets. Thus was the high standard for prophets. Wrong once? No prophet. So how does the prophets of Mormonism stand up under scrutiny? Not very well.
The Book of Mormon has been revised many, many times. This is no change in translation or interpretational differences. This are full blown edits. A subtitle was added to the cover of a 1981 version which stated, “Another Testament of Jesus Christ” and around 100 verses were changed without consulting the missing golden plates. The statement concluded with these words, “Some minor errors in the text have been perpetuated in past editions of The Book of Mormon. This edition contains corrections that seem appropriate to bring the material into conformity with prepublication manuscripts and early editions by the prophet Joseph Smith.”
Unfortunately for the Mormon church, early editions still exist which contradict this claim.
Aside from alterations and changes made over the years, according to Walter Martin, “A careful examination of The Book of Mormon reveals that it contains thousands of words from the King James Bible. In fact, verbatim quotations, some of considerable length, have caused the Mormons no end of embarrassment for many years.” Plagiarizing the Bible with distortions and even some contradictions are wide spread within the Book of Mormon
Other errors - According to the Book of Mormon, speaking of the Jaredites in their sea-faring barges, said: “Ye cannot have windows, for they will be dashed in pieces”, yet why would the be dashed to pieces? They had not glass back then? It also mentioned steel and compasses, neither of which would have been invented yet.
“After twenty-five years of dedicated archaeological research, Ferguson found nothing to back up the flora, fauna, topography, geography, people, coins, or settlements of the book and, in fact, he called the geography of The Book of Mormon ‘fictional’” ~ Walter Martin
The Mormons declare that the golden tablets were divinely translated - as in God gave Joseph the power to translate it - so if that’s the case, how could errors be made as such? Scientific mistakes, archaeological and historical mistakes, and contradictions all appear within the pages of The Book of Mormon.
In contradiction to the Bible, The Book of Mormon says Jesus was born in Jerusalem (Alma 7:9,10). It declares children are “not capable of committing sin” (Moroni 8:8). That baptism is for the remission of sins (3 Nephi 12:3 and Moroni 8:11) which is then contradicted by Doctrine and Covenants (20:37). To name a few.
Likewise, Joseph Smith had prophesies about his own time, which did not come true. Example, “At the rebellion of South Carolina… the Southern States will call on other nations, even the nation of Great Britain… and then war shall be poured out upon all nations. And… slaves shall rise up against their masters… and that the remnants… shall vex the Gentiles with a sore vexation.” (They believed certain Native Americans to be ancient descendants of a lost tribe of Israel)
- Great Britain did not enter the war,
- All nations were not visited by war
- Slaves did not rise up against their masters
- And the “Gentiles” were not vexed, in fact, the opposite occurred. Native Americans were greatly vexed in losing wars and forced relocations after the Civil War.
He also prophesied that the house he built at Nauvoo would be in Mormon possession “for ever and ever” and would be lived in “after him” for “generation to generation.” The house was never even completed, was torn down past it’s foundations, and sold. It has now been rebuilt as a tourist attraction by the Mormons. However, hardly “lived in.”
A prophet wrong once is no prophet.
Divine revelation inaccurate is safely labeled not divine.
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice…
Jared Williams
