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Criticism of Mormonism/Books/One Nation Under Gods: Difference between revisions
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|25||"But Moroni's most urgent message, which he repeated during each visit, involved the golden plates buried in the hill called Cumorah, just outside the village of Manchester.||The hill near Joseph's home was ''not'' called Cumorah by the angel Moroni, nor was it named Cumorah at the time that Joseph received the plates. The name ''Cumorah'' was applied later, ''as a result'' of Joseph finding the plates there.||None | |25||"But Moroni's most urgent message, which he repeated during each visit, involved the golden plates ''buried in the hill called Cumorah, just outside the village of Manchester''. {{ea}}||The hill near Joseph's home was ''not'' called Cumorah by the angel Moroni, nor was it named Cumorah at the time that Joseph received the plates. The name ''Cumorah'' was applied later, ''as a result'' of Joseph finding the plates there.||None | ||
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Revision as of 03:24, 7 December 2008
This article is a draft. FairMormon editors are currently editing it. We welcome your suggestions on improving the content.
About this work
Author: Richard Abanes
- [T]o be honest, your FAIR analysis of the hardbound is actually hurting you in some very interesting ways -- and you don't even know it. Suffice it to say, I have been enjoying the many times I've had the pleasure of point out to lots of Mormons (many of them now former Mormons) where FAIR has not been completely honest, and where FAIR has shown itself to be terrifically nit-picky and petty. I thank you.
- —The author, commenting on FAIR's analysis of this work. (Post to MADB, Nov. 21, 2008)
Claims made in this work
This is an index of claims made in this work with links to corresponding responses within the FAIRwiki. An effort has been made to provide the author's original sources where possible.
Quote mining, selective quotation and distortion
- See extensive examples on FAIR website: Abanes distortions
Non-existent quotes
| Reference | The claim... | The rest of the story... | Use of sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| 281 | Abanes quotes Brigham Young as saying "We shall pull the wool over the eyes of the American people and make them swallow Mormonism, polygamy and all." |
From Abanes' cited source, it cannot be determined that Brigham ever actually said this. |
|
Commentary
- Abanes seems to have relied on a secondary source without verifying its claim. There is no evidence in the Millennial Star that Brigham made the statement. Abanes haste to condemn the Mormons led him to repeat a false claim.
- See: Brigham Young—pulling the wool over Americans' eyes?
Unattributed quotes
| Reference | The claim... | The rest of the story... | Use of sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| 582 | The author writes:
|
The Tanners write:
|
|
Commentary
- The author takes this quote out of context in the same manner as his source. See: Did early Church leaders speak of plural marriage difficulties?
Other governments and religions to be destroyed from the earth?
| Reference | The claim... | The rest of the story... | Use of sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| xxi | "As for other governments and religions, according to Joseph Smith, they 'must eventually be destroyed from the earth'" (Footnote references History of the Church 5:212) | "Christ and the resurrected Saints will reign over the earth during the thousand years. They will not probably dwell upon the earth, but will visit it when they please or when it is necessary to govern it. There will be wicked men on the earth during the thousand years. The heathen nations who will not come up to worship will be visited with the judgments of God, and must eventually be destroyed from the earth." (emphasis added) |
|
Commentary
- The quote has been removed from context. Notice that the author has left out the reference to Christ reigning over the earth and inserted instead a reference to "other governments and religions" being destroyed.
- For further analysis of the misuse of this quote by the author, see Allen L. Wyatt, Author's Preface, About Mormon History Destroying Governments and Religions
Joseph was a "natural speaker," yet "afraid of the people"
| Reference | The claim... | The rest of the story... | Use of sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6-7 |
|
Here is additional material from Lewis' statement in Mormonism Unvailed, p. 267:
"From my standing in the Methodist Episcopal Church, I suppose he was careful how he conducted or expressed himself before me. At one time, however, he came to my house, and asked my advice, whether he should proceed to translate the Book of Plates (referred to by Mr. Hale) or not. He said that God had commanded him to translate it, but he was afraid of the people. (emphasis added) |
|
Commentary
- So, was Joseph "afraid of the people," or did he have "public speaking talent?" Lewis' testimony is suspect on a number of issues, and the author excluded the portion of the testimony that conflicted with Turner's statement.
- Lewis is the only person that ever claimed that Joseph asked his advice regarding whether he should translate the Book of Mormon—a ridiculous assertion that is contrary to numerous other published testimonies of the event.
- See The Hurlbut affidavits—Nathaniel Lewis
Odd claims
| Reference | The claim... | The rest of the story... | Use of sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | "LDS documents are strangely silent about their prophet's activities during the three years immediately following his 1820 First Vision." | Why would there be an "LDS documents" dealing with Joseph's life between 1820 to 1823? The Church didn't even exist until 1830, and Joseph wrote the stories of his First Vision and Moroni's visit well after 1823. The author simply wants to dramatically set the stage to talk about Joseph's money digging activities. | None |
Sarcasm
The author uses sarcasm to belittle LDS beliefs.
| Reference | The claim... | The rest of the story... | Use of sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | "This messenger from the great beyond declared himself to be Moroni, a resurrected and glorified servant of the Lord (i.e. an angel)." | How about Luke 1:30, which says, "And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God." Would the author refer to this angel as coming from the "great beyond?" Not likely. | None |
Lack of research
The following claims show a lack of research of the subject being discussed.
| Reference | The claim... | The rest of the story... | Use of sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | "But Moroni's most urgent message, which he repeated during each visit, involved the golden plates buried in the hill called Cumorah, just outside the village of Manchester. (emphasis added) | The hill near Joseph's home was not called Cumorah by the angel Moroni, nor was it named Cumorah at the time that Joseph received the plates. The name Cumorah was applied later, as a result of Joseph finding the plates there. | None |
Further reading
FAIR wiki articles
| Template code | Inserts this reference | Click to edit |
|---|---|---|
| {{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 |
| {{To learn more box:responses to: Ankerberg and Weldon}} | To learn more about responses to: Ankerberg and Weldon | edit |
| {{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 |
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