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Criticism of Mormonism/Websites/MormonThink/Media efforts by MormonThink managing editor Tom Phillips/Responses to claims made in Thomas S. Monson summons
A response to the seven claims made in the Thomas S. Monson court summons produced by MormonThink editor Tom Phillips
Questions
The complaint alleges that President Monson does not believe the following seven claims, and that he committed fraud by requiring church members to pay 10% of their income to the Church.
- The Book of Abraham is a literal translation of Egyptian papyri by Joseph Smith.
- The Book of Mormon was translated from ancient gold plates by Joseph 'Smith is the most correct book on earth and is an ancient historical record.
- Native Americans are descended from an Israelite family which left Jerusalem in 600 B.C.
- Joseph and Hyrum Smith were killed as martyrs in 1844 because they would not deny their testimony of the Book of Mormon.
- The Illinois newspaper called the Nauvoo Expositor had to be destroyed because it printed lies about Joseph Smith.
- There was no death on this planet prior to 6,000 years ago
- All humans alive today are descended from just two people who lived approximately 6,000 years ago
Detailed Analysis
It is claimed that Latter-day Saints believe that "The Book of Abraham is a literal translation of Egyptian papyri by Joseph Smith"
LDS.org, "Introduction to the Pearl of Great Price"
LDS.orgThe Book of Abraham. An inspired translation of the writings of Abraham. Joseph Smith began the translation in 1835 after obtaining some Egyptian papyri. The translation was published serially in the Times and Seasons beginning March 1, 1842, at Nauvoo, Illinois.
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It is claimed that Latter-day Saints believe that "The Book of Mormon was translated from ancient gold plates by Joseph 'Smith is the most correct book on earth and is an ancient historical record"
It is claimed that Latter-day Saints believe that "Native Americans are descended from an Israelite family which left Jerusalem in 600 B.C."
The Book of Mormon, "Introduction"
The Book of MormonThe book was written by many ancient prophets by the spirit of prophecy and revelation. Their words, written on gold plates, were quoted and abridged by a prophet-historian named Mormon. The record gives an account of two great civilizations. One came from Jerusalem in 600 B.C. and afterward separated into two nations, known as the Nephites and the Lamanites. The other came much earlier when the Lord confounded the tongues at the Tower of Babel. This group is known as the Jaredites. After thousands of years, all were destroyed except the Lamanites, and they are among the ancestors of the American Indians.