Brigham Young/Criticisms related to

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Criticisms of Brigham Young

Repudiated concepts: Adam-God theory

Jump to Subtopic:

• Question: What is the Adam-God Theory?
• Question: What is the history of Brigham Young's Adam-God Theory and why was it rejected by the Church?
• Stephen E. Robinson: "Yet another way in which anti-Mormon critics often misrepresent LDS doctrine is in the presentation of anomalies as though they were the doctrine of the Church"
• Matthew Brown (2009): "Brigham Young repeated these ideas and expounded upon them during the next 25 years. His viewpoints have been variously classified as doctrine, theory, paradox, heresy, speculation, and some of the mysteries"
• Question: If the Adam-God doctrine isn't true, how come D&C 27:11 calls Adam the Ancient of Days which is clearly a title for God in Daniel 7?
• Question: What attempts have been made to reconcile the Adam-God Theory with the doctrines of the Church?

Brigham as Young Earth Creationist

Summary: Some try to portray Brigham Young as a "young earth creationist" (YEC). This is someone who believes the earth was created in the recent past, usually 6-7,000 years ago, based upon a literal and fundamentalist reading of Genesis. They hope that by making Brigham appear uninformed about scientific matters, they can challenge his status as a prophet.

Jump to Subtopic:

• Question: Was Brigham Young a "young earth creationist"?

1. REDIRECT Historical Challenges to the Accounts of Joseph Smith's First Vision

Brigham Young and the apostles' ability to bear witness of Christ

Summary: It is claimed that Brigham Young and his successors lacked the ability to bear witness of Christ as a true apostle because they had not had divine manifestations.

Jump to Subtopic:

• Question: Were Brigham Young and subsequent apostles personal witnesses of Christ?
• Question: Did any nineteenth century leader after Joseph Smith report divine visions?
• Question: Did any twentieth century leader after Joseph Smith report divine visions?

Slavery in Utah?

Brigham Young and the Mormon Reformation

Prosecution of Mountain Meadows Massacre

• • Did Brigham strike a deal?—
    Brief Summary: Critics charge that only a corrupt "deal" with Brigham Young allowed prosecutors to charge and convict anyone with the Mountain Meadows Massacre. (Click here for full article)
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Counterfeiting by Brigham Young and other apostles at Nauvoo?

Brigham announced his own death and resurrection?

Threats against early federal officials?

Women not to meddle?

Whistling and whittling brigades

Urban legend: Was Brigham's hearse used at Disneyland?

Did Brigham Young believe that he would some day become president?

Summary: It is claimed that Brigham believed that one day soon he would himself become president of the United States, or that he would be able to dictate who should become the president.