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.
Mark Hofmann
If Gordon B. Hinckley was a prophet, why was he fooled by Mark Hofmann?
But as you cannot always judge the righteous, or as you cannot always tell the wicked from the righteous, therefore I say unto you, hold your peace until I shall see fit to make all things known unto the world concerning the matter.
—Doctrine and Covenants 10:37
Questions
Question: What are the Hofmann forgeries and the Salamander Letter?
The Church purchased several alleged nineteenth-century documents from Mark Hofmann which were later identified as forgeries
Gordon B. Hinckley, then a member of the First Presidency, purchased several apparently nineteenth-century documents from Mark Hofmann which were later identified as forgeries.
Hofmann made the decision to lie and cover his lies with murder. Tragic as such choices are, LDS doctrine would not expect God to typically intervene via a prophet, or personally, to prevent a person bent on making wicked choices from carrying out his or her plans.(See DC 10꞉37 If God did so routinely, unfettered choice would be threatened.
But as you cannot always judge the righteous, or as you cannot always tell the wicked from the righteous, therefore I say unto you, hold your peace until I shall see fit to make all things known unto the world concerning the matter.
—Doctrine and Covenants 10:37
Questions
Question: What are the Hofmann forgeries and the Salamander Letter?
The Church purchased several alleged nineteenth-century documents from Mark Hofmann which were later identified as forgeries
Gordon B. Hinckley, then a member of the First Presidency, purchased several apparently nineteenth-century documents from Mark Hofmann which were later identified as forgeries.
Hofmann made the decision to lie and cover his lies with murder. Tragic as such choices are, LDS doctrine would not expect God to typically intervene via a prophet, or personally, to prevent a person bent on making wicked choices from carrying out his or her plans.(See DC 10꞉37 If God did so routinely, unfettered choice would be threatened.
Template loop detected: Question: If Gordon B. Hinckley were a true prophet, why did he not discern the nature of the Hofmann forgeries? Template loop detected: Question: Was President Hinckley suspicious that the Salamander letter might not be authentic?
Church reaction to forgeries
Summary: Did the Church acquire the "Salamander letter" with the intent of 'suppressing' it? The reality is that the historical record is clear that the Church did nothing to hide the Hofmann "Salamander Letter," even though to some it appeared to pose problems for the Church's story of its origins.
But as you cannot always judge the righteous, or as you cannot always tell the wicked from the righteous, therefore I say unto you, hold your peace until I shall see fit to make all things known unto the world concerning the matter.
—Doctrine and Covenants 10:37
Questions
Question: What are the Hofmann forgeries and the Salamander Letter?
The Church purchased several alleged nineteenth-century documents from Mark Hofmann which were later identified as forgeries
Gordon B. Hinckley, then a member of the First Presidency, purchased several apparently nineteenth-century documents from Mark Hofmann which were later identified as forgeries.
Hofmann made the decision to lie and cover his lies with murder. Tragic as such choices are, LDS doctrine would not expect God to typically intervene via a prophet, or personally, to prevent a person bent on making wicked choices from carrying out his or her plans.(See DC 10꞉37 If God did so routinely, unfettered choice would be threatened.
Template loop detected: Question: If Gordon B. Hinckley were a true prophet, why did he not discern the nature of the Hofmann forgeries? Template loop detected: Question: Was President Hinckley suspicious that the Salamander letter might not be authentic?
Church reaction to forgeries
Summary: Did the Church acquire the "Salamander letter" with the intent of 'suppressing' it? The reality is that the historical record is clear that the Church did nothing to hide the Hofmann "Salamander Letter," even though to some it appeared to pose problems for the Church's story of its origins.
Church reaction to forgeries
Summary: Did the Church acquire the "Salamander letter" with the intent of 'suppressing' it? The reality is that the historical record is clear that the Church did nothing to hide the Hofmann "Salamander Letter," even though to some it appeared to pose problems for the Church's story of its origins.
Notes