Criticism of Mormonism/Books/The Changing World of Mormonism/Index

Index to claims made in The Changing World of Mormonism

This is an index of claims made in this work with links to corresponding responses within the FAIRwiki.

Claims made in Chapter 1: A Marvelous Work?

Page	Claim	Response	Use of sources
21	Joseph Smith stated that the final battle in the Book of Mormon was fought in New York.		Mormon Doctrine, p. 175.
21	Bruce R. McConkie said that Brigham Young stated the there was a cave in the Hill Cumorah that was full of records.		Mormon Doctrine, p. 454.
21	The Hill Cumorah is one of the "most important places on earth" to Mormons.
22	Joseph Smith found a seer stone while digging a well	Joseph Smith and seer stones
22	LeGrand Richards claimed that Mormons do not have to rely on the Bible.		A Marvelous Work and a Wonder, p. 41.
22	Mormon leaders taught that the Garden of Eden was located in Jackson County	Garden of Eden in Missouri?	Mormon Doctrine, p. 20.
22	A remnant of Adam's altar remained in Missouri.	Garden of Eden in Missouri?—Adam-ondi-Ahman	McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 21.
23	Joseph Smith taught that Noah built his ark "near Carolina."		The Juvenile Instructor, Nov. 15, 1895, pp. 700-1.
23	Joseph Smith described the inhabitants of the moon	Joseph Smith and moonmen	Journal of Oliver B. Huntington
25	Brigham Young taught that the moon and sun were inhabited	Brigham Young and moonmen	Journal of Discourses 13:271
27	Orson Pratt preached against the Catholic Church	Great and abominable church	Pamphlets by Orson Pratt, p. 112
27	John Taylor taught that "we are the saviors of the world."		Journal of Discourses 6:163
27	Joseph Fielding Smith taught that Mormons are "the best people in the world."		Doctrines of Salvation 1:236
27	Brigham Young claimed that every person that does not confess that Joseph Smith was a prophet is "anti-Christ."	Joseph Smith's status in LDS belief	History of the Church 7:287
27	Joseph Field Smith taught that there is no salvation without accepting Joseph Smith.	Joseph Smith's status in LDS belief	Doctrines of Salvation 1:189-90

Claims made in Chapter 2: Change, Censorship and Suppression

Page	Claim	Response	Use of sources
29	John Taylor said that we are not ashamed of polygamy.		Life of John Taylor p. 255
29	Brigham Young said the the only men who become gods are those who enter into polygamy.	The only men who become gods are those that practice polygamy?	Journal of Discourses 11:269
29	Bruce R. McConkie said that plural marriage is not essential to salvation or exaltation.		Mormon Doctrine (1958) p. 523.
31	Joseph Smith drank beer despite having received the Word of Wisdom.	Word of Wisdom	Millennial Star 23:720;History of the Church 6:424
33	Joseph encouraged others to break the Word of Wisdom by drinking whiskey	Word of Wisdom	Millennial Star 21:283; History of the Church 5:450
33	Joseph asked for a pipe and tobacco to settle Willard Richards' stomach.	Word of Wisdom	Millennial Star 24:471; History of the Church 6:614
34	Brigham Young ordered the destruction of Lucy Mack Smith's history Biographical Sketches of Joseph Smith published by Orson Pratt in 1853.		Millennial Star 27:657-58

Claims made in Chapter 3: Changes in Revelations

Page	Claim	Response	Use of sources
38	Revelations have been modified after they have been received.	Doctrine and Covenants textual changes
39	Joseph Fielding Smith said that there was no need for "eliminating, changing or adjusting" the revelations.		Doctrines of Salvation 1:170.
41-42	David Whitmer said that the revelations in the Book of Commandments were printed correctly.		An Address to All Believers in Christ p. 56.
42	David Whitmer objected to changing the revelations.		Saints' Herald, Feb. 5, 1887
43	D&C 68 was changed from its original printing in the Evening and Morning Star.
45	Joseph Smith was not supposed to do any translating beyond the Book of Mormon, as shown in Book of Commandments 4:2. Changed in D&C 5:4.	Doctrine and Covenants textual changes—Added material or expansions	Book of Commandments 4:2; D&C 5:4
47	Joseph Smith translated a parchment written by the Apostle John. Mormon writers cannot explain why this revelation was changed.	Doctrine and Covenants textual changes—Added material or expansions	Book of Commandments 6; D&C 7
52	The name "Urim and Thummin" was added to the revelations later.		Book of Commandments 9; D&C 10:1-12
59	The United Order was simply a form of Communism.		Book of Commandments 44; D&C 42:24-36
59	The United Order was Sidney Rigdon's idea.
62	A section on marriage was removed from the D&C.
62	The Lectures on Faith were removed from the D&C	Lectures on Faith removed from Doctrine and Covenants
62	Few Mormon writers will admit to changes in the D&C	Doctrine and Covenants textual changes—Changes were not hidden from the Church
63	The name "Michael" was deleted from Joseph Smith's vision of the Celestial Kingdom because Adam is Michael.

Claims made in Chapter 4: Joseph Smith and Money-Digging

Page	Claim	Response	Use of sources
67-70	Joseph Smith was convicted of "glass looking" in 1826	Joseph Smith's 1826 glasslooking trial
72	Hugh Nibley is claimed to have said that ""...if this court record is authentic it is the most damning evidence in existence against Joseph Smith," and that ""the most devastating blow to Smith ever delivered."		Nibley, The Myth Makers, p. 142
75	Joseph Smith was "deeply involved in money-digging" during the years that he was preparing to received the gold plates.
77	Martin Harris reported stories of treasures "sinking into the earth," and other "strange sights."		An interview with Martin Harris, published in Tiffany's Monthly, 1859, p.165
77	Brigham Young was "influenced by the superstitions of his day"	Use of sources/Journal of Discourses#19:36-7
78-79	Joseph found a seer stone while helping to dig a well.	The Hurlbut affidavits—Willard Chase	Comprehensive History of the Church 1:129;
79	Joseph said that the angel told him to "quit the company of the money-diggers."		Tiffany's Monthly, 1859, pp. 163-164, 167, 169
80	Joseph fastened two of his seer stones together to make his "Urim and Thummin."
80	Joseph's father-in-law Isaac Hale claimed that Jospeh's occupation was "pretending to see by means of a stone placed in his hat."	The Hurlbut affidavits—Isaac Hale	Affidavit of Isaac Hale, as printed in the Susquehanna Register, May 1, 1834
82	The seer stone is sometimes called the "Urim and Thummin"	Joseph Smith and seer stones	Mormon Doctrine, 1966, p. 818; Doctrines of Salvation 3:225
83	Mormon apologists have difficulty explaining Joseph's use of seer stones.	Mormon apologists explain Joseph's use of seer stones
83	Mormons aren't sure how to deal with Joseph Smith's "peeping" activities.	Joseph Smith and seer stones
84	The plates didn't even have to be present while Joseph was translating.	Book of Mormon translation method
84	Joseph Smith originally wanted to obtain the plates in order to get rich, and he was rebuked by the angel.
85	Brigham Young claimed that a chest of money "moved by itself" into the bank.
86	Joseph attempted to "cover up" Oliver Cowdery's work with a divining rod by changing a revelation.		Book of Commandments 7:3; D&C 8:6-7
87	Joseph went to Salem, Massachusetts to look for money hidden in a cellar.		D&C 111:1-2, 4, 9, 10; Comprehensive History of the Church, vol. 1, p.412
89	Joseph Smith had a "Jupiter Talisman" in his possession at the time of his death.	Joseph Smith and Jupiter talisman

Claims made in Chapter 5: The Book of Mormon

Page	Claim	Response	Use of sources
94	Brigham Young claimed that some of the Book of Mormon witnesses doubted that they had ever seen an angel.	Book of Mormon witnesses:Recant	Journal of Discourses 7:164
94	Oliver Cowdery may have had doubts about his testimony.		Times and Seasons 1841 (vol. 2, p.482):
96	The witnesses to the Book of Mormon were "very gullible"	Book of Mormon witnesses:Character
97	David Whitmer said that God told him to separate himself from among the Latter Day Saints.	David Whitmer told to leave	An Address to All Believers in Christ, pp. 27-28
97	Joseph said that John Whitmer, David Whitmer, Oliver Cowdery and Martin Harris are "too mean to mention."		History of the Church 3:232
97	Joseph said derogatory things about David Whitmer.		History of the Church 3:228.
97	The dissenters received a threatening letter before being driven out of Far West		Senate Document 189, Feb. 15, 1841 pp. 6-9
98	Oliver Cowdery was accused of being involved in counterfeiting.		History of the Church 3:16; A History of the Latter-day Saints in Northern Missouri From 1836 to 1839, p.146-147
99	Oliver Cowdery joined a Methodist church after his excommunication.		New Era, Jan. 1969, p. 56
99-100	Some of the Book of Mormon witnesses later followed James Strang.	James Strang
103	Martin Harris changed his religion thirteen times.
108	Martin Harris said that he saw the plates with his "spiritual eyes"	"Eye of Faith"/"Spiritual Eye" statements by Martin Harris
108	David Whitmer said that he "handled the plates," but that he "did not touch nor handle the plates."		Saints Herald, 1882
108	Martin Harris said that the eight witnesses never saw the plates.		Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, Winter, 1972, pp. 83-84
109	No visions actually occurred in the Kirtland Temple

Further reading

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{{To learn more box:responses to: 8: The Mormon Proposition}}	To learn more box:responses to: 8: The Mormon Proposition	edit
{{To learn more box:''Under the Banner of Heaven''}}	To learn more about responses to: Under the Banner of Heaven	edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Robert Price}}	To learn more about responses to: Robert Price	edit
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{{To learn more box:responses to: Ashamed of Joseph}}	To learn more about responses to: Ashamed of Joseph	edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Beckwith and Moser}}	To learn more about responses to: Beckwith and Moser	edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Beckwith and Parrish}}	To learn more about responses to: Beckwith and Parrish	edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Benjamin Park}}	To learn more about responses to: Benjamin Park	edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Bible versus Joseph Smith}}	To learn more about responses to: Bible versus Joseph Smith	edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Bible versus Book of Mormon}}	To learn more about responses to: Bible versus Book of Mormon	edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: ''Big Love''}}	To learn more about responses to: Big Love	edit
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{{To learn more box:responses to: Charles Larson}}	To learn more about responses to: Charles Larson	edit
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{{To learn more box:responses to: George D Smith}}	To learn more about responses to: George D Smith	edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Grant Palmer}}	To learn more about responses to: Grant Palmer	edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Hank Hanegraaff}}	To learn more about responses to: Hank Hanegraaff	edit
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{{To learn more box:responses to: James Brooke}}	To learn more about responses to: James Brooke	edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: James Spencer}}	To learn more about responses to: James Spencer	edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: James White}}	To learn more about responses to: James White	edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Jerald and Sandra Tanner}}	To learn more about responses to: Jerald and Sandra Tanner	edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Jesus Christ-Joseph Smith or Search for the Truth DVD}}	To learn more about responses to: Jesus Christ-Joseph Smith or Search for the Truth DVD	edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: John Dehlin}}	To learn more about responses to: John Dehlin	edit
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{{To learn more box:responses to: McKeever and Johnson}}	To learn more about responses to: McKeever and Johnson	edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: New Approaches}}	To learn more about responses to: New Approaches to the Book of Mormon	edit
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