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.
Array
Mormon Reformation: Difference between revisions
(mod) |
|||
| Line 2: | Line 2: | ||
{{summary}} | {{summary}} | ||
=[[Mormon Reformation|The Mormon Reformation]]= | =[[Mormon Reformation|The Mormon Reformation]]= | ||
The "Mormon Reformation" was a reform or spiritual rejuvenation movement that began among the Utah Saints in the mid-1850s. Ironically, noted one historian, "[m]ore has been written about its excesses (real and imaginary) than about what actually happened. Stenhouse's anonymous chapter on the Reformation and Blood Atonement was typical. Even church historian B. H. Roberts devoted twice as much space in discussing blood atonement in connection with the reform movement than he did to the Reformation itself."{{ref|larson.45.46}} | The "Mormon Reformation" was a reform or spiritual rejuvenation movement that began among the Utah Saints in the mid-1850s. Ironically, noted one historian, "[m]ore has been written about its excesses (real and imaginary) than about what actually happened. Stenhouse's anonymous chapter on the Reformation and Blood Atonement was typical. Even church historian B. H. Roberts devoted twice as much space in discussing blood atonement in connection with the reform movement than he did to the Reformation itself."{{ref|larson.45.46}} | ||
| Line 68: | Line 66: | ||
|subject=Brigham Young: President of the US? | |subject=Brigham Young: President of the US? | ||
|summary= | |summary= | ||
}} | |||
{{SummaryItem | |||
|link=Mountain Meadows Massacre | |||
|subject=Mountain Meadows Massacre | |||
|summary=In September 1857 a group of Mormons in southern Utah killed all adult members of an Arkansas wagon train that was headed for California. Critics charge that the massacre was typical of Mormon "culture of violence," and claim that Church leaders—possibly as high as Brigham Young—approved of, or even ordered the killing. | |||
}} | |||
{{SummaryItem2 | |||
|link=Mountain Meadows Massacre/Prosecution | |||
|subject=Prosecution | |||
|summary=Critics charge that Brigham Young blocked prosecution of those who committed the Mountain Meadows Massacre. | |||
}} | |||
{{SummaryItem2 | |||
|link=Mountain Meadows Massacre/Thomas Kane | |||
|subject=Thomas Kane | |||
|summary=Critics who use the Mountain Meadows Massacre to attack the Church often mention non-LDS Col. Thomas Kane. Kane was a good friend to the Mormons prior to Joseph Smith's death, and he was also briefly involved in the Massacre issue. | |||
}} | |||
{{SummaryItem | |||
|link=Mormonism and temples/Endowment/Oath of vengeance | |||
|subject=Oath of vengeance | |||
|summary=In nearly every anti-Mormon discussion of the temple, critics raise the issue of the "oath of vengeance" that existed during the 19th century and very early 20th century. These critics often misstate the nature of the oath and try to use its presence in the early temple endowment as evidence that the LDS temple ceremonies are ungodly, violent, and immoral. | |||
}} | }} | ||
Revision as of 07:01, 12 February 2011
The Mormon Reformation
The "Mormon Reformation" was a reform or spiritual rejuvenation movement that began among the Utah Saints in the mid-1850s. Ironically, noted one historian, "[m]ore has been written about its excesses (real and imaginary) than about what actually happened. Stenhouse's anonymous chapter on the Reformation and Blood Atonement was typical. Even church historian B. H. Roberts devoted twice as much space in discussing blood atonement in connection with the reform movement than he did to the Reformation itself."[1]
To see citations to the critical sources for these claims, [[../CriticalSources|click here]]
Historical background
Blood atonement
Summary: Critics claim that during the administration of Brigham Young apostates were secretly put to death. They claim this is in line with the teachings of LDS leaders at the time that apostasy was the unforgivable sin, and that the only thing an apostate could do to redeem himself was to give his own life, willingly or unwillingly.Brigham Young's preaching style
Summary: Critics have often misunderstood or misrepresented Brigham Young's (and others LDS preachers') preaching style19th century crimes alleged to be "worthy of death"
Summary: Critics expand to idea of blood atonement to include a long list of crimes that were alleged to be "worthy of death."Brigham Young: "bowie knife" (JD 1:83)
Brigham Young: "cut their throats" (JD 2:311)
Brigham Young: "cutting off from the earth" (JD 4:53)
Brigham Young: "killing the evil doers" (JD 3:50}
Brigham Young: "meanest devils" (JD 6:176)
Brigham Young: murder unfaithful Mormons to save souls? (JD 4:219-20)
Brigham Young: dictator? (JD 14:205)
Brigham Young: President of the US?
Mountain Meadows Massacre
Summary: In September 1857 a group of Mormons in southern Utah killed all adult members of an Arkansas wagon train that was headed for California. Critics charge that the massacre was typical of Mormon "culture of violence," and claim that Church leaders—possibly as high as Brigham Young—approved of, or even ordered the killing.- Prosecution—
Brief Summary: Critics charge that Brigham Young blocked prosecution of those who committed the Mountain Meadows Massacre. (Click here for full article)∗ ∗ ∗ - Thomas Kane—
Brief Summary: Critics who use the Mountain Meadows Massacre to attack the Church often mention non-LDS Col. Thomas Kane. Kane was a good friend to the Mormons prior to Joseph Smith's death, and he was also briefly involved in the Massacre issue. (Click here for full article)∗ ∗ ∗
- Prosecution—
Oath of vengeance
Summary: In nearly every anti-Mormon discussion of the temple, critics raise the issue of the "oath of vengeance" that existed during the 19th century and very early 20th century. These critics often misstate the nature of the oath and try to use its presence in the early temple endowment as evidence that the LDS temple ceremonies are ungodly, violent, and immoral.Further reading
Thomas G. Alexander, "The Odyssey of a Latter-Day Prophet: Wilford Woodruff and the Manifesto of 1890," Journal of Mormon History 17 (1991):