Criticism of Mormonism/Books/Mormonism 101/Chapter 17

Chapter 16: Lamanites, Seed of Cain, and Polygamy

A FAIR Analysis of: Criticism of Mormonism/Books A work by author: Bill McKeever and Eric Johnson

Chapter 18: The Church and Its Leadership

Index of Claims made in Chapter 17: Joseph Smith

"They will circulate falsehoods to destroy your reputation, and also will seek to take your life" --Angel Moroni to Joseph Smith (1823)2

This review of Bill McKeever and Eric Johnson's book, Mormonism 101, is limited to an examination of Chapter Seventeen--"Joseph Smith." It is seemingly McKeever and Johnson's most important chapter, as the first sentence in their introduction repeats the quote that "Mormonism...must stand or fall on the story of Joseph Smith."3

The authors' approach is typical of writings hypercritical of Mormonism. The chapter generally consists of contextually lacking quotes from the writings of others, with no consideration given to enlighten the reader as to the original authors' intentions, biases, or interpretations. The challenge in reviewing this chapter rests in the fact that the review is not so much that of McKeever and Johnson's work, but rather a review of the fragments that McKeever and Johnson selectively pieced together from other works. The fact that so many of the issues dealt with in Mormonism 101 are already addressed elsewhere in various sources, both pro and con, is an indicator that the "fresh" material the authors present is, in reality, nothing more than an outdated and stale recompilation designed to provide fresh income.

The authors attempt to add the illusion of validity to their work by calling upon an odd mix of several names that bear the label of "Mormon" or "LDS." For example, the authors readily cite:

   * "former Mormon historian D. Michael Quinn"4
   * "LDS historian Richard Van Wagoner"5
   * "LDS historian Todd Compton"6
   * "Historian Reed C. Durham"7
   * "Mormon Church historian Andrew Jenson"8
   * "LDS historian Stephen C. LeSueur"9
   * "LDS historians James B. Allen and Glen M. Leonard"10

Such a sampling would certainly lend itself to a balanced approach from an ill-informed reader's viewpoint. Yet while McKeever and Johnson allude to Smith's "high morals" and "impeccable integrity," as described by "Mormon historians,"11 one is left to wonder why, of the seven Latter-day historians they cite, not one of the selected quotes presents a "high moral" view." While there are volumes of accounts and testimonies of the prophet's good character, the authors did not consider or mention a single one.

The authors state that the descriptions of the prophet they present may seem "unfathomable by many faithful Latter-day Saints."12 What the reader may find surprising is that such a respected faith and devoted people could be the product of the unscrupulous, drunk, lying, womanizing deceiver that the authors present. Joseph's character is found as the ultimate target of doubt as the authors rely upon contextually lacking personal interpretations of historical detail. In the end, the reader will likely be shocked by the rapid succession of emotionally charged wording. In all, there are nearly 100 such instances, many of which are repeats, in thirteen pages of reproduced speculations and misrepresentations ranging from sexual issues to the occult. This review reflects a small, representative sampling of Chapter 17 in an attempt to disabuse the public mind of the images McKeever and Johnson have portrayed of the prophet.

Abandoning Joseph

Having made regular visits to Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah, we have noticed a more subdued reference to Mormonism's founder by tour guides and various displays. In the public area, emphasis on Smith seems to be diminishing.13

McKeever and Johnson begin their critical look at the prophet with a surprising claim that the Church is publicly de-emphasizing Joseph Smith. This is a rather amazing statement to make as an introduction to a chapter on Joseph. Surely anyone who visits Temple Square can test this statement and see that it is completely false. The authors obviously took their tour of Temple Square with Steven and Charles Crane whose similar claim, in the anti-Mormon work "Ashamed of Joseph," is soundly proven false in FARMS reviewer LeIsle Jacobson's onsite test.14 Jacobson's visit, as recounted in the endnote, found interactive and readily available video displays about Joseph and guides who easily spoke about him on the "basic beliefs" tour.

If there were still any doubt as to LDS public references to Joseph Smith, consider for example, that immediately adjacent to Temple Square is found a massive structure that was formerly the Hotel Utah. It was renovated a number of years ago to what today is known as the Joseph Smith Memorial Building and has a very large nine-foot marble statue of the prophet in the lobby; this cannot be missed. This is the very building where the missionaries on Temple Square send visitors to view current Church movies.

Another example comes in the form of an official Church letter of clarification issued to religion writers and editors regarding a Newsweek report on the Latter-day Saint faith. In an excerpt from the September 7, 2001 letter, the Church wrote:

Most importantly, our Church spokesmen emphasize our position that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a Restoration of the ancient, biblical Church of Jesus Christ. The conviction among our Church members that this Restoration took place through the Prophet Joseph Smith in the early 1800s is so central to our thinking that no understanding of the Church is complete without it. A moment spent checking the Church's media Web site http://www.lds.org/media will affirm that this message of a distinctive, restored Church, is a consistent one.15

In this media library is found a significant article on Joseph Smith. In that article, "From Farm Boy to Prophet," it clearly states:

Latter-day Saints revere Joseph Smith as a prophet in the tradition of biblical prophets like Moses and Isaiah. Church members believe that his doctrinal teachings and instructions concerning the Church's organization resulted from divine revelation, not his own learning.

While McKeever and Johnson lead the reader to believe otherwise, the Church is clear and direct in telling the esteem to which Joseph is held.