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Mark Hofmann: Difference between revisions
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{{:Question: What are the Hofmann forgeries and the Salamander Letter?}}
==Question: What are the Hofmann forgeries and the Salamander Letter?==
===The Church purchased several alleged nineteenth-century documents from Mark Hofmann which were later identified as forgeries===
 
Gordon B. Hinckley, then a member of the First Presidency, purchased several apparently nineteenth-century documents from Mark Hofmann which were later identified as forgeries.
 
Elder D. Todd Christofferson explains:
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Some of you may remember hearing about a man named Mark Hofmann, now serving a prison sentence in Utah for murder. He was an expert forger of historical documents. Some of these were tied to U.S. history, but several related to Church history. One was a purported letter from Martin Harris to W. W. Phelps reporting that Joseph Smith found the gold plates led by a spirit who “transfigured himself from a white salamander in the bottom of the hole” where the plates were. Another was a supposed transcript of a blessing given by the Prophet to his son Joseph Smith III in 1844 declaring his son to be his rightful successor as head of the Church. [20]
 
Some left the Church when these documents were publicized saying it was clear that Joseph Smith’s testimony concerning his visions was false or that they could no longer consider The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints the true Church. Not long afterward these and other documents were shown to be forgeries. I wondered, do those who were so troubled believe again now, and when other questions arise, as they always do, will they leave again? In matters of faith, a spiritual witness is essential if one is to avoid being “tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.” [21] With a Spirit-derived assurance in place, you can go forward in the Lord’s work and continue deepening your relationship with your Heavenly Father while pursuing or awaiting answers. If you determine to sit still, paralyzed until every question is answered and every whisper of doubt resolved, you will never move because in this life there will always be some issue pending or something yet unexplained.<ref>Elder D. Todd Christofferson, [http://www2.byui.edu/Presentations/Transcripts/Devotionals/2013_9_24_Christofferson.htm "The Prophet Joseph Smith,"] Brigham Young University-Idaho Devotional (24 September 2013).</ref>
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Hofmann made the decision to lie and cover his lies with murder. As tragic as such choices are, LDS doctrine would not expect God to typically intervene via a prophet, or personally, to prevent a person bent on making wicked choices from carrying out his or her plans.(See {{s||DC|10|37}} If God did so routinely, unfettered choice would be threatened.
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{{:Question: If Gordon B. Hinckley were a true prophet, why did he not discern the nature of the Hofmann forgeries?}}
{{:Question: If Gordon B. Hinckley were a true prophet, why did he not discern the nature of the Hofmann forgeries?}}
{{:Question: Was President Hinckley suspicious that the Salamander letter might not be authentic?}}
{{:Question: Was President Hinckley suspicious that the Salamander letter might not be authentic?}}
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Revision as of 21:36, 12 October 2014

If Gordon B. Hinckley was a prophet, why was he fooled by Mark Hofmann?

But as you cannot always judge the righteous, or as you cannot always tell the wicked from the righteous, therefore I say unto you, hold your peace until I shall see fit to make all things known unto the world concerning the matter.

—Doctrine and Covenants 10:37
∗       ∗       ∗

But as you cannot always judge the righteous, or as you cannot always tell the wicked from the righteous, therefore I say unto you, hold your peace until I shall see fit to make all things known unto the world concerning the matter.

—Doctrine and Covenants 10:37
∗       ∗       ∗

Template loop detected: Question: What are the Hofmann forgeries and the Salamander Letter? Template loop detected: Question: If Gordon B. Hinckley were a true prophet, why did he not discern the nature of the Hofmann forgeries? Template loop detected: Question: Was President Hinckley suspicious that the Salamander letter might not be authentic?

For further information related to this topic


Church reaction to forgeries

Summary: Did the Church acquire the "Salamander letter" with the intent of 'suppressing' it? The reality is that the historical record is clear that the Church did nothing to hide the Hofmann "Salamander Letter," even though to some it appeared to pose problems for the Church's story of its origins.


But as you cannot always judge the righteous, or as you cannot always tell the wicked from the righteous, therefore I say unto you, hold your peace until I shall see fit to make all things known unto the world concerning the matter.

—Doctrine and Covenants 10:37
∗       ∗       ∗

Template loop detected: Question: What are the Hofmann forgeries and the Salamander Letter? Template loop detected: Question: If Gordon B. Hinckley were a true prophet, why did he not discern the nature of the Hofmann forgeries? Template loop detected: Question: Was President Hinckley suspicious that the Salamander letter might not be authentic?

For further information related to this topic


Church reaction to forgeries

Summary: Did the Church acquire the "Salamander letter" with the intent of 'suppressing' it? The reality is that the historical record is clear that the Church did nothing to hide the Hofmann "Salamander Letter," even though to some it appeared to pose problems for the Church's story of its origins.


But as you cannot always judge the righteous, or as you cannot always tell the wicked from the righteous, therefore I say unto you, hold your peace until I shall see fit to make all things known unto the world concerning the matter.

—Doctrine and Covenants 10:37
∗       ∗       ∗

Template loop detected: Question: What are the Hofmann forgeries and the Salamander Letter? Template loop detected: Question: If Gordon B. Hinckley were a true prophet, why did he not discern the nature of the Hofmann forgeries? Template loop detected: Question: Was President Hinckley suspicious that the Salamander letter might not be authentic?

For further information related to this topic


Church reaction to forgeries

Summary: Did the Church acquire the "Salamander letter" with the intent of 'suppressing' it? The reality is that the historical record is clear that the Church did nothing to hide the Hofmann "Salamander Letter," even though to some it appeared to pose problems for the Church's story of its origins.


For further information related to this topic


Church reaction to forgeries

Summary: Did the Church acquire the "Salamander letter" with the intent of 'suppressing' it? The reality is that the historical record is clear that the Church did nothing to hide the Hofmann "Salamander Letter," even though to some it appeared to pose problems for the Church's story of its origins.


Notes


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