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.
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Mormonism and church integrity: Difference between revisions
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|summary=Critics claim that the ordination blessing given to Orson Hyde is an example of false prophecy. They also claim that Hyde's blessing was altered in the History of the Church for propaganda reasons. | |summary=Critics claim that the ordination blessing given to Orson Hyde is an example of false prophecy. They also claim that Hyde's blessing was altered in the History of the Church for propaganda reasons. | ||
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|link=Lucy Mack Smith/Biography | |link=Lucy Mack Smith/Biography | ||
|subject=Brigham Young destroys Lucy Mack Smith's history of Joseph? | |subject=Brigham Young destroys Lucy Mack Smith's history of Joseph? | ||
|summary=Did Brigham Young attempt to suppress and destroy all copies of Lucy Mack Smith's Biographical Sketches of Joseph Smith because it contained information which would embarrass the Church? Critics claim that Brigham Young inserted the reference to Joseph Smith's First Vision into Lucy's book. Critics also try to prove that the silence of Joseph's mother and siblings in her history prove that the First Vision did not take place, and is a later fabrication by Joseph, and not well known to the early members of the church. | |summary=Did Brigham Young attempt to suppress and destroy all copies of Lucy Mack Smith's Biographical Sketches of Joseph Smith because it contained information which would embarrass the Church? Critics claim that Brigham Young inserted the reference to Joseph Smith's First Vision into Lucy's book. Critics also try to prove that the silence of Joseph's mother and siblings in her history prove that the First Vision did not take place, and is a later fabrication by Joseph, and not well known to the early members of the church. | ||
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|link= Non-existent quotes/Haight: assistance of the moon | |link= Non-existent quotes/Haight: assistance of the moon | ||
|subject=Did David B. Haight use astrological ideas about the moon, only to be censored later? | |subject=Did David B. Haight use astrological ideas about the moon, only to be censored later? | ||
Revision as of 04:25, 24 May 2011
Mormonism and church integrity
==Topics
==
Accusations of hypocrisy in Church practices
Summary: Critics claim that the Church, as a corporate entity, controls business properties that are not consistent with its stated purposes. Examples include claims that the Church owns controlling stock in the Coca-Cola company, tobacco companies, and alcohol companies."Lying for the Lord"
Summary: Critics have long charged the LDS with organizationally and systematically “lying for the Lord,” equating such with a policy of using any means necessary to achieve some “good” goal. This claim is false, and a biased reading of Church history. One must not use ethically questionable tactics because one believes the “end justifies the means.”Joseph Smith period
Crime in Nauvoo
Counterfeiting by Joseph Smith and apostles at Nauvoo?
Summary: Critics accuse Joseph and the apostles of "making counterfeit coins" in Nauvoo.Land speculation in Nauvoo
Summary: Did Joseph Smith engage in "land speculation" in Nauvoo?Joseph Smith taught 'it was right to steal'
Orson Hyde says Spirit of Lord may influence to steal
Hiding Joseph's use of a gun at the martyrdom?
Utah period
Brigham Young—pulling the wool over Americans' eyes?
Summary: I'm told that Brigham Young made the following statement: "We shall pull the wool over the eyes of the American people and make them swallow Mormonism, polygamy and all." Critics say this shows the fundamental dishonesty of LDS leaders. What can you tell me about this?Present day
Church art and historical accuracy
Summary: Critics charge that the Church knowingly "lies" or distorts the historical record in its artwork in order to whitewash the past, or for propaganda purposes. A commonly used example is the inaccuracy of any Church art representing the translation process of the Book of Mormon.Brigham Young manual hides the truth about polygamy
Summary: Critics claim that the Church's manual, The Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young, attempts to "hide history" by portraying Brigham Young (a well-known polygamist) as having only one wife."Censorship" and "revision" of LDS history?
- LDS histories over many years omit plural marriage—
Brief Summary: Some critics charge that LDS histories have a long history of omitting mention of plural marriage as a cause for the Saints' troubles in Illinois. (Click here for full article)∗ ∗ ∗ - Sidney Rigdon trial in Times and Seasons versus History of the Church—
Brief Summary: Critics charge that the account of Sidney Rigdon's 'trial' recorded in the Times and Seasons differs markedly from the version available in the History of the Church. They claim that this demonstrates the Church's tendency to "rewrite" history after the fact. (Click here for full article)∗ ∗ ∗ - Wilford Woodruff criticizes publication of polygamists—
Brief Summary: Some critics charge that the Church's desire to hide its historical plural marriage is exemplified by Wilford Woodruff's criticism of assistant Church Historian Andrew Jenson's decision to publish the names of those who were married to Joseph Smith. (Click here for full article)∗ ∗ ∗ - Hiding the facts in plain sight using Church publications—
Brief Summary: Quite a few items that critics claim were hidden by the Church were actually published in Church magazines such as the New Era, the Ensign and the Friend. (Click here for full article)∗ ∗ ∗ - Orson Hyde's blessing altered in the History of the Church?—
Brief Summary: Critics claim that the ordination blessing given to Orson Hyde is an example of false prophecy. They also claim that Hyde's blessing was altered in the History of the Church for propaganda reasons. (Click here for full article)∗ ∗ ∗ - Brigham Young destroys Lucy Mack Smith's history of Joseph?—
Brief Summary: Did Brigham Young attempt to suppress and destroy all copies of Lucy Mack Smith's Biographical Sketches of Joseph Smith because it contained information which would embarrass the Church? Critics claim that Brigham Young inserted the reference to Joseph Smith's First Vision into Lucy's book. Critics also try to prove that the silence of Joseph's mother and siblings in her history prove that the First Vision did not take place, and is a later fabrication by Joseph, and not well known to the early members of the church. (Click here for full article)∗ ∗ ∗ - Did David B. Haight use astrological ideas about the moon, only to be censored later?—
Brief Summary: Critics claim that Elder David B. Haight "reinvoked the astrological principle that people should 'do nothing without the assistance of the moon'" in a talk that he gave during General Conference in 1998. One critic takes this a step further by claiming that the phrase "do nothing without the assistance of the moon" was deleted from the transcribed version of Elder Haight's talk. This claim has evolved over time due to successive misinterpretation of the original sources. (Click here for full article)∗ ∗ ∗ - Lucy Mack Smith letter about First Vision suppressed? (Click here for full article)
∗ ∗ ∗ - President Boyd K. Packer on the truth (Click here for full article)
∗ ∗ ∗ - Elder Packer address to CES (Click here for full article)
∗ ∗ ∗ : "The Mantle is Far, Far Greater than the Intellect" - Sidney Rigdon trial in Times and Seasons versus History of the Church (Click here for full article)
∗ ∗ ∗ - Wilford Woodruff criticizes publication of polygamists (Click here for full article)
∗ ∗ ∗
- LDS histories over many years omit plural marriage—