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Criticism of Mormonism/Books/The Changing World of Mormonism/Chapter 15
Response to claims made in "Chapter 15: The Arm of Flesh"
| Chapter 14 | A FAIR Analysis of: Criticism of Mormonism/Books A work by author: Jerald and Sandra Tanner
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Chapter 16 |
431-439
Claim
- There has been no new revelation since the time of Joseph Smith.
Author's source(s) - [ATTENTION!]
431 - The Church teaches that you must let the leaders do your thinking for you
The author(s) of The Changing World of Mormonism make(s) the following claim:
The Church teaches that you must let the leaders do your thinking for you.
Author's sources: Improvement Era, June 1945, p.354
FAIR's Response
433 - Joseph F. Smith said that he never received revelation
The author(s) of The Changing World of Mormonism make(s) the following claim:
Joseph F. Smith said that he never received revelation.
Author's sources: Reed Smoot Case, Vol. 1, pages 483-484
FAIR's Response
Joseph F. Smith at the Reed Smoot hearings
Summary: It is claimed that at the Smoot hearings, Joseph F. Smith said that he never received revelation.
Jump to details:
434 - The Church chose to canonize two "new" revelations in order to counter claims made by the Tanners
The author(s) of The Changing World of Mormonism make(s) the following claim:
The Church chose to canonize two "new" revelations in order to counter claims made by the Tanners.
FAIR's Response
435
Claim
- The Church has never produced a copy of the revelation granting Blacks the ability to receive the priesthood.
Author's source(s) - [ATTENTION!]
- Those involved described the receipt of the revelation.
- Even if the revelation were published, are we to think that the Tanners would then be convinced and satisfied?
- Blacks and the priesthood—Lifting the ban
437 - Brigham Young claimed that his sermons were the same as scripture
The author(s) of The Changing World of Mormonism make(s) the following claim:
Brigham Young claimed that his sermons were the same as scripture.
Author's sources: Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 13:95.
FAIR's Response
- See Quote mining—Journal of Discourses 13:95 to see how this quote was mined.
Brigham explained his meaning, but the critics generally do not tell us what he means:
Brother Orson Hyde referred to a few who complained about not getting revelations. I will make a statement here that has been brought against me as a crime, perhaps, or as a fault in my life. Not here, I do not allude to anything of the kind in this place, but in the councils of the nations—that Brigham Young has said "when he sends forth his discourses to the world they may call them Scripture." I say now, when they are copied and approved by me they are as good Scripture as is couched in this Bible, and if you want to read revelation read the sayings of him who knows the mind of God, without any special command to one man to go here, and to another to go yonder, or to do this or that, or to go and settle here or there. (JD 13:264, 6 October 1870)
Notes