Criticism of Mormonism/Books/Becoming Gods/Index

Index to claims made in Becoming Gods: A Closer Look at 21st-Century Mormonism

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.

Claims made in Preface: "Can't We All Just Get Along?"

Page Claim Response Use of sources
13 Mormons exist in "two distinct groups:" Chapel Mormons and Internet Mormons. Internet Mormons vs. Chapel Mormons
  • Jason Gallentine (a.k.a. "Dr. Shades"), "Internet Mormonism vs. Chapel Mormonism"
15 The Journal of Discourses was viewed on par with the Standard Works by early Church members. Journal of Discourses
16 "Gospel Principles" is published by the Church, but contains a disclaimer that states that it is not an official publication of the Church.
17, 331 n.35 Mormons "focus on a minor issue while dismissing the broader point that is being made by a critic of the church." Mormons believe in Celestial Sex?
  • The author uses as an example in the endnotes the alleged LDS belief in "Celestial Sex."

Claims made in Chapter 1: God's Latter-Day Prophet

Page Claim Response Use of sources
24 Joseph's family survived by "money digging." Joseph Smith and money digging
24 Joseph was adept at "occult ritual." Joseph Smith and the occult
  • No reference given by the author: The note simply says "Smith was well-known as a money-digger throughout western New York and northern Pennsylvania."
24 Joseph's neighbors thought that he was "an imposter, hypocrite and liar." The Hurlbut affidavits
26 During the First Vision, Joseph was told that "all Christian creeds" were an abomination and that "all Christian teachers" were corrupt. Individual versus organizational apostasy  [needs work]
26 Many Mormons believe that "their salvation, to a limited degree, rests upon Smith." Joseph Smith's status in LDS belief
  • In a note on page 332, Abanes says "I do not mean to say the Mormons hold Joseph Smith on an equal par with Jesus Christ. Smith holds a place just below Christ."
  • Jerald and Sandra Tanner, The Case Against Mormonism, 2 vols., (Salt Lake City, 1967), vol. 1, p. 75.
  • Joseph Field Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, p. 302
26 Bruce R. McConkie said that "we must turn to Joseph Smith to gain salvation." Joseph Smith's status in LDS belief
  • Bruce R. McConkie, The Millennial Messiah (SLC: Deserat Book, 1982), p. 334.
26 Dallin Oaks said that "I have built my life on the testimony and mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith." Joseph Smith's status in LDS belief
  • Dallin Oaks, "Joseph, the Man and the Prophet," Ensign, May 1996, p. 71.
27 Joseph Smith was "harsh and violent." Personal failings of Joseph Smith
27 James E. Faust said that Joseph Smith "was the greatest prophet who ever lived upon the earth." Joseph Smith's status in LDS belief
  • James E. Faust, "The Importance of Bearing Testimony," Liahona, Mar. 1997, p.3.
28 Joseph Smith may have been a "pious fraud," who believed that he had been called of God while perpetrating fraud. Psychobiographical analysis of Joseph Smith
  • Dan Vogel in Waterman, p. 50
28 Joseph Smith and other church leaders "often used deception to conceal their activities." Personal failings of Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith's character  [needs work]
28 Polygamy was practiced in secret and denied publicly. Joseph Smith and polygamy
  • Times and Seasons, Mar 15, 1843, vol. 4, no. 9, p. 143
28 Heber C. Kimball predicted that the world would someday see Joseph Smith as "a god." Joseph Smith's status in LDS belief
  • Heber C. Kimball, Journal of Discourses, 5:88
28 Brigham Young applied 1 John 4:3 to Joseph Smith.
  • Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 8:176
29 LDS claim that Joseph Smith "told but one" First Vision. First Vision accounts
  • Preston Nibley, Joseph Smith the Prophet (SLC: Deseret News, 1944), p. 30.
30 The 1832 account of the First Vision states that Joseph was in his "sixteenth year," and that he "probably meant when he was 16 years old. Different age provided in the 1832 text
  • Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents, 1:28
30 The 1832 account does not mention two personages. Only one Personage appears in the 1832 account
  • Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents, 1:28
30 The 1832 account does not mention that "all the churches in Joseph's day were false." 1832 account doesn't forbid joining a church
  • Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents, 1:28
31 Joseph claimed that he learned about the errors in Christendom through personal Bible study several years before the First Vision.
  • Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents, 1:27
31 Orson Pratt said the the two personages "declared themselves to be angels." Orson Pratt confused about "angel" or Father-Son
  • Pratt in "Biography and Journal of William I. Appleby, Elder in the Church of Latter Day Saints," 1848 reprinted in Vogel, Early Mormon Documents, vol. 1, pp. 146-147.
31 Church historian Andrew Jenson said that "The angel again forbade Joseph to join any of these churches." Andrew Jenson called personage an "angel"
  • Andrew Jenson, "Joseph Smith, The Prophet," Jan. 1888, vol. 3, nos. 1-3, p. 355.
31 Joseph dictated the 1838 account of the First Vision to counter the leadership crisis in Kirtland. 1838 account modified to offset leadership crisis?
31 The visit of Moroni was confused with the First Vision, and "was probably the real first vision." First Vision fabricated to give "Godly authority"
34 "Not a single piece" of literature published in the 1830's mentions a visit by the Father and the Son. No reference to First Vision in 1830s publications?
34 Joseph's mother said that the First Vision was of an angel. Prophet's mother said First Vision was of an "angel"
  • Lucy Mack Smith, letter to Solomon Mack Jr., Jan. 6, 1831, reprinted in Vogel, Early Mormon Documents, vol. 1, p. 216.
34 Joseph privately began reworking the story of seeing an angel into a vision of Christ. Oliver Cowdery not aware of First Vision in 1834-35
  • Oliver Cowdery, Messenger and Advocate, Feb. 1835, vol. 1, no. 5, pp. 77-80.
34 Without "Mormonism's so-called" Melchizedek Priesthood, no man can see God and live. D&C 84 says God not seen without priesthood
34 Nobody knows "when or how" the Joseph received the Melchizedek Priesthood. Date of the restoration of the Melchizedek priesthood
  • Online reference to anti-Mormon site "lds-mormon.com"
34 Joseph "had to backdate" the First Vision to 1820 in response to a leadership crisis. 1838 account modified to offset leadership crisis?
35 The First Vision originally stated that the personages were angels. The "Angels" of the 1835 account
  • William Smith, Vogel, Early Mormon Documents, vol. 1, p. 495.
  • George A. Smith
  • Lucy Smith
  • Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 2:171
  • John Taylor, Journal of Discourses vol. ?, p. 167.
  • Heber C. Kimball, Journal of Discourses, 6:29"
35 There was no 1820 revival in Palmyra that converted "great multitudes" of people. Religious revivals in 1820
  • Oliver Cowdery, Messenger and Advocate, Feb. 1835, vol. 1, no. 3, pp. 42.
35 Joseph Smith joined other churches after having been told that churches were wrong. Joseph Smith joined other churches
35, 342 n. 79, n. 80 Newspapers reported in 1829 that Joseph Smith had a dream in 1827 about a spirit visiting him three times in one night.
  • From the Palmyra Freeman: Golden Bible, Niagra Courier, Aug. 27, 1829, vol. 2, no. 18.
  • "The Gold Bible," Rochester Advertiser and Telegraph, Aug. 31, 1829.
35-36, 343 n. 83 Joseph Smiths First Vision may have been a dream of a "bloody ghost dressed as a Spaniard.
  • Hiel Lewis, letter ot James T. Cobb, Amboy Journal, Apr. 30, 1879, reprinted in Wyl, pp. 79-80
  • Fayette Lapham in Vogel, Early Mormon Documents, vol. 1, p. 459."
36, 343 n. 85 Joseph Smith was an "occultist." Joseph Smith and the occult
  • Lance S. Owens, "Joseph Smith: America's Hermetic Prophet," Gnosis, Spring 1995, no. 35, p. 60
36 Early Mormons believed in "witchcraft."
  • John L. Brooke, The Refiner's Fire: The Making of Mormon Cosmology, 1644-1844, pp. 71-72.
36 Joseph's mother talked about "magic circles" and the "faculty of Abrac."
  • Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents, vol. 1, p. 285.
37, 344 n. 93 Joseph's family had a "magick dagger" that was owned by Hyrum Smith.
  • No source given.
  • The endnote describes the dagger and its alleged importance to Joseph without acknowledging the source of the information.
37, 344 n. 94 Joseph's family had "three magick parchments." One of these was owned by Hyrum Smith.
  • No source given.
  • The endnote mentions the ""Holiness to the Lord,"" the ""Saint Peter Bind Them,"" and the ""Jehovah, Jehovah, Jehovah"" parchments without showing how they are related to the Smith family.
  • An indirect reference is made to the book Occult Sciences."
37, 344 n. 95 Joseph had a "Jupiter talisman" with him the day he died. Joseph Smith and Jupiter talisman
  • No source given.
  • The endnote simply states the date of Joseph's death."
38 "Researchers of Mormonism" now believe that Joseph was influenced by "Jewish kabbalism."
38 Joseph considered the date April 6th to have "astrological significance."
38-39, 346 n. 104-109 Joseph was arrested in 1826 for being a "disorderly person and an imposter." Joseph Smith's 1826 glasslooking trial
  • Dan Vogel, "Rethinking the 1826 Judicial Decision," Mormon Scripture Studies: An E-Journal of Critical Thought.
39 No "statements of repentance by Smith" for money digging have ever been found.
  • Sam Katich, "Joseph Smith," www.fairlds.org/apol/morm201/m20117b.html
40, 348 n. 123 Gordon B. Hinckley cited false documentation to support the story of an 1820 revival. Religious revivals in 1820  [needs work]
  • Gordon B. Hinckley, Truth Restored, pp. 1-2.
42, 349 n. 126 There is no evidence that Joseph Smith was "persecuted" for telling the story of his vision between 1820 and 1824.
  • Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents, vol. 1, p. 29, 46-47.
42 Contradictions in the stories of Paul's vision were "long ago resolved by scholars analyzing the Greek texts."
  • No reference given.
42 Brodie's idea that the First Vision may have been "the elaboration of some half-remembered dream stimulated by the early revival excitement" is a satisfactory way to "explain things." Psychobiographical analysis of Joseph Smith
44 Brodie's idea that the First Vision may have been "created some time after 1830 when the need arose for a magnificent tradition to cancel out the stories of his fortune-telling and money-digging" "further weakens" Mormon claims. Psychobiographical analysis of Joseph Smith
45, 351 n. 144 Joseph "continued practicing magick, divination, astrology, and soothsaying long after the LDS Church was founded in 1830." Joseph Smith and seer stones
  • No specific reference is provided.
  • The note simply mentions that seer stones continued to be used after the Church was organized in 1830 - a fact that could be easily deduced from reading the Doctrine and Covenants.
46 Brigham Young used Oliver Cowdery's divining rod to point out the location where the temple would be built in Salt Lake City.
46 Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball were given divining rods by Joseph Smith.
46 Joseph received a revelation praising Oliver's gift of using his divining talents. Oliver Cowdery and the "rod of nature"
48 Joseph continued to discover and use new seer stones. Joseph Smith and seer stones  [needs work]
48 Joseph "never stopped being" an occultist. Joseph Smith and the occult
  • Author's conclusion.
49 The activities of Joseph's family may have been "satanic." Joseph Smith and the occult
  • Author's conclusion.

Claims made in Chapter 2: And it Came to Pass

Page Claim Response Use of sources
51, 353 n. 2, 354 n. 3 Some Book of Mormon stories are simply reworked from the Bible or the Apocrypha. Book of Mormon plagiarized from the Bible
55 The 1839 history of the Church identified the angel who delivered the plates to Joseph as Nephi rather than Moroni. Nephi or Moroni
  • Joseph Smith 1839 History
  • Messenger and Advocate, vol. 3, no 12, pp. 53, 71.
  • 1851 Pearl of Great Price, "Joseph Smith History," p. 41
  • Lucy Mack Smith, Biographical Sketches of Joseph Smith the Prophet, and His Progenitors for many Generations, p. 79.
  • John C. Whitmer, "The Eight Witnesses," published in Andrew Jenson, HR, Oct. 1888, vol. 7, p. 621."
56 The name "Nephi" is related to "generic terms used by nineteenth-century occultists for spirit messengers."
56, 357 n. 34 Joseph used his seer stone to locate the plates.
  • Martin Harris, Tiffany's Monthly interview, 1859.
  • Hosea Stout, On the Mormon Frontier: The Diary of Hosea Stout, Juanita Brooks, ed., vol. 2. p. 593.
56, 357 n. 33 Joseph Smith's vision of Moroni may have taken place through his seer stone
  • Steven C. Walker, "Joseph Smith: 'The Gift of Seeing,'" in Bryan Waterman ed., The Prophet Puzzle, p. 97.
56, 357 n. 35, 36 The "golden book" was originally supposed to be about "hidden treasure" — the "religious twist" was added later.
  • Parley Chase, letter to James T. Cobb, Apr. 3, 1879, in Wilhelm Ritter von Wymetal, Joseph Smith, the Prophet, His Family, and His Friends, p. 276, reprinted in Vogel, Early Mormon Documents, vol. 3, p. 135.
  • Hiel Lewis, The Amboy Journal, Apr. 30, 1879, quoted in Wesley P. Walters, "The Mormon Prophet Attempts to Join the Methodists"
56 Joseph translated the plates by looking at his seer stone in his hat. The plates were not nearby. Joseph Smith and seer stones
  • Isaac Hale, "Mormonism," Susquehanna Register, and Northern Pennsylvanian, May 1, 1834, p. 1.
57, 358-9 n. 47 Each sentence and word in the 1830 Book of Mormon "had supposedly come directly from God." Book of Mormon translation method
  • Joseph F. Smith, quoted by Oliver B. Huntington, Journal of Oliver Huntington, p. 168.
57-58, 359 n. 49 A voice from heaven proclaimed that the translation was correct, therefore no further editing should have been required. Book of Mormon textual changes
  • History of the Church, vol. 1, pp. 54-55.
58, 359 n. 50, 51 The use of the word "synagogue" in the Book of Mormon is an anachronism. Book of Mormon anachronisms/Synagogues  [needs work]
  • Book of Mormon, 1830 edition, p. 268
  • Alma 16꞉13
  • The New International Dictionary of the Bible, p. 972
58, 359 n. 52, 53 There are references to cows, oxen, horses, and goats in the New World hundreds of years before Christ. Book of Mormon anachronisms/Animals
  • 1 Nephi 18꞉25
  • Thomas D.S. Key, ""A Biloogist Looks at the Book of Mormon,"" Journal of the American Scientific Affiliation, June 1985, XXX-VIII, p. 3."
58, 359 n. 53 "LDS apologist John Sorenson has suggested that Smith mistranslated numerous words" from the gold plates and that "cattle and oxen should have been rendered deer and bison," and that "horses should also have been translated deer." Book of Mormon anachronisms/Animals
  • John L. Sorenson, An Ancient American Setting for the Book of Mormon, pp. 191-276, 299.
58, 359 n. 54 The Book of Mormon "is simply a rehashing" of the speculation in the 19th century regarding Indian origins due to the presence of burial mounds "dotting the land." Book of Mormon and the Mound Builders
60, 360 n. 58 Joseph Smith incorporated text from Josiah Priest's The Wonders of Nature into the Book of Mormon. Book of Mormon plagiarism accusations/The Wonders of Nature
  • Josiah Priest, The Wonders of Nature, 1825
  • Abanes, p. 69
  • The Tanners are the source of this comparison, although it is not explicitly stated by the author. The author does mention that the Tanners demonstrate that a copy of the book was available in the Manchester library."
60-61, 360 n. 59-63 Joseph Smith plagiariazed Ethan Smith's View of the Hebrews Book of Mormon and View of the Hebrews
  • Ethan Smith, View of the Hebrews, 1825
  • David Persuitte, p. 107, 122
  • Sandra Tanner, ""Where Did Joseph Smith Get His Ideas for the Book of Mormon?"""
61 Anyone who looked on the gold plates would die. Viewing the gold plates would result in death?
  • Martin Harris, Tiffany's Monthly interview, 1859.
62, 361 n. 69-72 The witnesses never actually physically saw the plates - they only saw them in visions. Book of Mormon witnesses/Spiritual or literal
64 Martin Harris said that he never saw the plates with his "natural eyes." "Eye of Faith"/"Spiritual Eye" statements by Martin Harris
  • LDS apostle Stephen Burnett, letter to Lyman E. Johnson, April 15, 1838 reprinted in Vogel, Early Mormon Documents 2:291
64, 362 n. 81-82 Cowdery, Whitmer and Harris's statements that they actually saw the plates only refer to times that the plates were either covered with a cloth or in a wooden box. Book of Mormon witnesses/Spiritual or literal
64, 362 n. 83-84 Martin Harris said that none of the eight witnesses had seen or handled the plates. Book of Mormon witnesses/Spiritual or literal
65 The Book of Mormon "can hardly be considered unique" since James Strang produced a set of plates that were seen by witnesses. James Strang
65, 362 n. 87 LDS defenders (apologists) have redefined many of the terms that Joseph Smith used in the Book of Mormon text: steel means iron, horses are deer, tents are huts, etc. Book of Mormon anachronisms
  • Dan Vogel, Brent Metcalfe, American Apocrypha, p. xiii.
66, 362 n. 88 LDS scholars such as Dee F. Green have stated that Book of Mormon archaeology is a "myth." Book of Mormon archeology
  • Dee F. Green, "Book of Mormon Archeology: The Myths and the Alternatives," Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought (Summer 1969), vol. 4, pp. 72-80
66, 362 n. 89 Dr. Michael Coe stated that there was no Book of Mormon archaeology. Amerindians as Lamanites/Maya and Olmec
  • Michael Coe, "Mormons and Archaeology: An Outside View," Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought (Winter 1973), vol. 8, p. 44.
66, 363 n. 92 LDS scholar Terryl L. Givens "admitted" that no connection has been made between the Book of Mormon and cultures or civilizations in the Western hemisphere. Amerindians as Lamanites/Maya and Olmec
  • Terryl L. Givens, By the Hand of Mormon, p. 155.
  • The author acknowledges in his endnote that Givens "however, also quoted BYU professor Daniel Peterson, who made a statement in support of the BOM's unique character." Daniel C. Peterson, "Editor's Introduction: By What Measure Shall We Mete? (Review of Hodgson's Test)," FARMS Review of Books 2/1 (1990): vii–vii. off-site"
67, 363 n. 95-96 The limited geography theory "cannot bear rigorous scrutiny" and "does violence" to the text of the Book of Mormon. Book of Mormon geography/New World/Limited Geography Theory
  • Vogel and Metcalfe, American Apocrypha, pp. viii-ix.
  • Deanne G. Matheny, "Does the Shoe Fit? A critique of the Limited tehuantepec Geography," in New Approaches to the Book of Mormon: Explorations in Critical Methodology.
67, 363 n.99 Apologists have suggested that "not a single early Mormon, including Joseph Smith, ever bothered reading the Book of Mormon 'closely enough to grasp the fact' " that the plates were not buried in the hill where the final Nephite battle occurred.
  • John L. Sorenson and Matthew Roper, "Before DNA," Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 12/1 (2003). [6–23] link, p. 10.
70, 365 n.115 Joseph Smith said that the angel told him that all American Indians were "literal descendants of Abraham," but DNA has disproved this Amerindians as Lamanites
  • Joseph Smith's 1835 account of the First Vision found in the Ohio Journal—1835-1836, Nov. 9, 1835, reprinted in Vogel, Early Mormon Documents, vol. 1, p. 44.
  • Joseph Smith, Mar. 1, 1842, letter to John Wentworth, History of the Church, Vol. 4, p. 537.
  • Meldrum, "Children of Lehi"
71, 365 n.120 Joseph Smith founded the "Restored Church" on the belief that all Native Americans were descendants of the Israelites.
  • Oliver Cowdery's Speech to the Delawares. Parley P. Pratt, Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt.
72, 366 n.127 All modern Mormons believed that all inhabitants of the New World were descendants of the Lamanites until "science showed it to be erroneous." Book of Mormon geography/Borders of the Lamanites
  • DC 54꞉8—"And thus you shall take your journey into the regions westward, unto the land of Missouri, unto the borders of the Lamanites"
72, 366 n.128 The "updated LDS paradigm" claims that Nephites intermarried with non-Israelite natives, thus diluting their DNA Amerindians as Lamanites
72, 366 n.130 The LDS view has always been that Israelites were the first people to populate the Americas, since the land was "kept from the knowledge of other nations." Book of Mormon anachronisms/Demographics
  • 2 Nephi 1꞉6
  • J. Reuben Clark, "Prophecies, Penalties, and Blessings," Improvement Era, July 1940, vol. xliii., no. 7 quoted in Bill McKeever, "DNA and the Book of Mormon Record," Mormonism Research Ministry.
73, 367 n.131-135 Not many Christians actually believe that the world was created around 4000 B.C., or that the flood occurred around 2000 B.C. In fact, "[T]he majority of traditional Christians unddrstand that the world is older than 6000 years," therefore the claim that the DNA argument is fundamentalist "suicide bombing" is false. Fundamentalist "suicide bombing"
  • No source is provided by the author for his claim that the "majority of Christians" understand that the world is older than 6000 years.
  • Daniel C. Peterson, FAIR Conference, untitled lecture, Aug. 8, 2003, author's private notes.
  • David Stewart, "DNA and the Book of Mormon"
73, 367 n.136 The Lamanites were supposed to become "white" once they converted en masse to Mormonism. This was to be accomplished by having LDS men take Indian wives. Native Americans to become "white and delightsome" through polygamous marriage?
  • W.W. Phelps, "Revelation Received West of Jackson County, Missouri, July 17, 1831," reprinted in H. Michael Marquardt, The Joseph Smith Revelations: Text & Commentary, p. 375.
73, 367 n.137 The phrase "white and delightsome" was changed to "pure and delightsome" in the Book of Mormon Book of Mormon textual changes/"white" changed to "pure"
73, 367 n.138 LDS leaders claimed that the alteration to the Book of Mormon had nothing to do with the Indians physically turning white. LDS leaders taught that the curse would one day be removed. Lamanite curse
74 LDS apologists dismiss Church teachings in order to make Mormonism compatible with scientific findings Mormonism and science
  • Author's opinion
75, 368 n.142 LDS apologist B.H. Roberts "reached a shocking conclusion" that that Book of Mormon wasn't authentic B.H. Roberts and "Studies of the Book of Mormon"
  • B.H. Roberts, Studies of the Book of Mormon, p. 271, 243.
76, 368 n.143 B.H. Roberts "had come to realize that the Book of Mormon was a nonhistorical document." B.H. Roberts' testimony of the Book of Mormon
  • Wesley P. Lloyd statement at www.lds-mormon.com/bhrlettr.shtml
76 FARMS claims that Roberts was playing "devils advocate," but have never provided documentation to support this assertion. They only focus on his declarations that he made before he reached his "final conclusion." B.H. Roberts' testimony of the Book of Mormon
  • Truman G. Madsen, "B.H. Roberts and the Book of Mormon," BYU Studies (Summer 1979), volume 19, pp. 427-445.
77 368 n.145-147 Thomas Stuart Ferguson lost his testimony of the Book of Mormon after failing to find archaeological evidence.
  • Thomas Stuart Ferguson, One fold and One Shepherd.
  • Jerald and Sandra Tanner, "Ferguson's Two Faces," Salt Lake City Messenger #69, Sept. 1988, p. 3
  • Ferguson letter dated Feb. 9, 1976.
  • Ferguson letter dated Feb. 9, 1976.
77 369 n.150-153 LDS scholars believe that Quetzalcoatl was Jesus Christ. However, Quetzalcoatl's association with a "feathered serpent" constitutes "snake worship," and is therefore inconsistent with worship of Jesus Christ. Quetzalcoatl and Jesus Christ
  • John L. Sorenson, "The Decline of the God Quetzalcoatl, " in Pressing Forward with the Book of Mormon, p. 234.
  • Joseph Allen, Exploring the Lands of the Book of Mormon.
  • Joseph Allen, "The White god Quetzalcoatl," Meridian Magazine, 2003.
  • Adela Fernandez, Pre-Hispanic Gods of Mexico, p. 68
  • Quetzalcoatl the Myth, www.weber.ucsd.edu.

Claims made in Chapter 3: Thus Saith Joseph

Page Claim Response Use of sources
84, 370 n.9-11 The revelations in the Book of Commandments were modified because they were "showing their age," "contained outdated information," "included erroneous statements" and "abandoned doctrines." Some of the revelations "revealed too much information about LDS beliefs." Doctrine and Covenants textual changes
  • Karl F. Best, "Changes in the Revelations, 1833-1835," Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought (Spring 1992), vol. 25, no. 1, p. 90.
  • H. Michael Marquardt, The Joseph Smith Revelations: Text & Commentary, p. 17.
85, 371 n.14 Mormons view divine truth as "not absolute or fixed; it is changeable, flexible." Changing doctrine
87, 370 n.23 Joseph received a "false revelation" through his seer stone to go to Toronto, Canada to sell the Book of Mormon copyright Did Joseph Smith attempt to sell the Book of Mormon copyright?
  • David Whitmer, An Address to All Believers in Christ.
87, 371 n.25 Some of the modified revelations had their meanings "reversed." Doctrine and Covenants textual changes
89, 372 n.28 Joseph modified the revelation now found in D&C 5:4 to add additional gifts. After translating the Book of Mormon he was not supposed to become a prophet or organize a Church. Doctrine and Covenants textual changes
  • Karl F. Best, "Changes in the Revelations, 1833-1835," Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought (Spring 1992), vol. 25, no.1, p. 98.
89, 372 n.29-30 Joseph modified what is now D&C 8:6-9 to hide Oliver Cowdery's use of a divining rod. Oliver Cowdery and the "rod of nature"
90, 372 n.34, 375 n.35 Apostle William E. McLellin left the Church because he was "shaken by the changes made in the revelations."
  • "The Early History of the Saints and Their Enemies," Sept. 28, 1875, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, Dec. 5, 1878
  • William McLellin, Saint's Herald, vol. 17, pp. 556-557.
90 Mormons claim that Biblical writers modified revelations, but cannot provide data to support this. This is an "argument from silence." Argument from silence?
  • Stephen W. Gibson, One-Minute Answers to Anti-Mormon Question, p. 82
94 Joseph Smith turned the "Book of Breathings" into the "Book of Abraham." Joseph claimed that the "Book of the Dead" had been written by Joseph of Egypt. Book of Abraham/Papyri
  • No source provided.
94-98 The restoration of the missing portions of Facsimile 1 were "terribly wrong." Book of Abraham/Papyri
  • Charles M. Larson, By His Own Hand Upon Papyrus: A New Look at the Joseph Smith Papyri, 2nd ed., (Grand Rapids, MI: Institute for Religious Research, 1992), .
99 LDS apologists' main purpose is to explain away "any and all criticisms that might damage the validity of Smith's writings." Apologetics
  • Author's opinion.
100 Documents show how the hieroglyphs from the papyri were matched to the Book of Abraham text. One or two words in Egyptian were expanded to entire paragraphs in English. Kirtland Egyptian Papers
  • Richard L. Bushman, "Joseph Smith as Translator, in Waterman, p. 81.

Claims made in Chapter 4: One God Versus Many Gods

Page Claim Response Use of sources
109 Mormons embrace polytheism—the belief in a plurality of gods. Polytheism
  • Definition of "polytheism" taken from Vergilius Ferm, ed., The Encyclopedia of Religion, p. 774.
112 n. 25-26 Mormons redefine monotheism to be the worship of one "primary or supreme god above all other gods." Polytheism
  • The author adds the endnote: "LDS theology recognized that other supreme gods exist for other universes and world. But Mormons contend that we have nothing to do with these gods."
  • John Widtsoe, A Rational Theology, p. 67.
  • Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 11:41.
  • Joseph Smith, Lecture on Faith, Lecture 2, paragraph 2.
114 Early biblical church quotes used by Mormons to support tritheism only superficially support their position. Upon closer examination, they do not provide this support. Godhead and the Trinity
114 Mormons worship the Godhead as "one god." Godhead and the Trinity
115, 379 n.47-48 The Trinity is "one of the most important doctrines of the Christian faith" and is at the "heart of the Christian conception of God." Godhead and the Trinity
  • Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, p. 226.
  • Stanley Grenz, Theology for the Community of God, p. 99.
130 The Mormon concept of the "eternality of matter" is a pagan belief. Creatio ex nihilo
  • Source not provided.
130 The Mormon concept of "pre-existence of spirits" is a pagan belief.
  • The author claims that this is derived from "pure Greek philosophy."
130 The Mormon concept of "human deification" is a pagan belief. Deification of man
  • Source not provided.

Claims made in Chapter 5: Heavenly Father is a Man

Page Claim Response Use of sources
136 Biblical verses that describe God as having body parts are "difficult to interpret and require careful study." Corporeality of God
  • Author's opinion.
136 Mormons do not believe that "God is not a man" in spite of Biblical verses that state such. God is a man?
137 God is a Spirit. God is a Spirit
149 The title "Son of Man," does not mean "son of a man," contrary to what Mormons may assert. "Son of Man" or "son of a man?"
  • No source given.

Claims made in Chapter 6: Siblings from Eternity Past

Page Claim Response Use of sources
154 Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother "through some kind of sexual union" clothed each of us with a spirit body. Mormons believe in Celestial Sex?
  • Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 750.
156, 394 n. 28-31 The belief in a "Heavenly Mother" is not supported by scripture and was simply added by Joseph Smith so that his views about God "would make sense." Heavenly Mother
  • Milton R. Hunter, The Gospel Through the Ages, p. 98.
  • Cannon, in Daniel H. Ludlow, vol. 2, p. 961.
  • Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 516.
  • Gordon B. Hinckley, "Daughters of God," Ensign, Nov. 1991, p. 100.
157 According to Brigham Young, our spirit body was created via a sexual union of Heavenly Father and Mother. Mormons believe in Celestial Sex?
  • Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 11:123
162 LDS belief in a "queen of heaven" is a pagan belief. Heavenly Mother

Claims made in Chapter 7: After All We Can Do

Page Claim Response Use of sources
183 Mormons reject the "Evangelical belief" that "Christ was born of the virgin Mary, who, when the Holy Ghost came upon her, miraculously conceived the promised messiah." Jesus Christ's conception
184 "Until recently, the common belief clearly implied throughout the history of Mormonism...was that Jesus' conception occurred via sexual intercourse between Heavenly Father (Elohim) and Mary." More distortion regarding Jesus Christ's conception
185, 405 n.41 Early LDS leaders redefined "virgin" to mean a woman who has never known a mortal man, since Heavenly Father is immortal. Jesus Christ's conception
  • Joseph F. Smith, Charles Penrose, "Message of the First Presidency," vol. 5, p. 34. "...his unique status in the flesh as the offspring of a mortal mother and of an immortal, or resurrected and glorified, Father"
  • This is the author's conclusion. The author wants to talk about a "sexual union" again, but the statement he uses in his citation in the endnotes says nothing about redefining "virgin" to mean a woman who has never known a mortal man. It is certainly true that Latter-day Saints believe Jesus Christ to be the literal son of our Heavenly Father, but the author takes liberties in drawing his conclusions about the event.
201 The third and highest kingdom of glory has three levels, and only those who reach the highest level become gods.
  • Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, "Those who obtain exaltation will gain all power and thus themselves be omnipotent...Godhood is to have the character, possess the attributes, and enjoy the perfections which the Father has. It is to do what he does, have the powers resident in him, and live as he lives."
201 The three heaven doctrine has no basis in the Bible, but is only based upon a vision of Joseph Smith.

Claims made in Chapter 8: Ye Are Gods

Page Claim Response Use of sources
205 Many Bible verses refute the notion of deification. Deification of man
213 The concept of "deification" is actually derived from Greek philosophy. The concept of deification derived from Greek philosophy?

Claims made in Chapter 9: More Than One Wife

Page Claim Response Use of sources
225 In Mormon theology, "creating" includes not only making a world, but peopling it through procreating, through sexual union with one's spouse.
  • Melodie Moench Charles, "The Need for a New Mormon Heaven," Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, Fall 1988, vol. 21, no. 3, pp. 77-78. The reference to "sexual union" comes from Melodie Moench Charles.
226 The statement in the 1835 D&C condeming polygamy was "perhaps in an attempt to conceal Smith's affair." 1835 Doctrine and Covenants denies polygamy
  • D&C CI:4 (1835 edition), p. 251.
233, 422 n.47 Mormons believed that plural marriage was necessary for deification in the Celestial Kingdom. Polygamy a requirement for exaltation
  • J.W. Musser, "The New And Everlasting Covenant Of Marriage: An Interpretation Of Celestial Marriage, Plural Marriage, Polygamy."
233, 422 n. 48-49 Brigham Young said, "The only men who become Gods, even the Sons of God, are those who enter into polygamy." The only men who become gods are those that practice polygamy?
  • Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 11:268-269
237 "Although wives continued to live with their husbands, they would receive conjugal visits from Smith whenever the need arose." Joseph Smith and polygamy
  • Richard S. Van Wagoner, Mormon Polygamy: A History (Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 1989), 62.
  • Jedediah Grant, Journal of Discourses 2:14.
  • The sources quoted in the endnotes do not say anything about "conjugal visits" to women to which Joseph was sealed who already had husbands for time.
237, 424 n. 71 Zina Huntington married Brigham Young while still married to Henry Jacobs, and Henry stood as a witness.
237, 425 n. 73-75 "Wife swapping" was "wholly acceptable."
  • Jedediah M. Grant, Journal of Discourses 2:14
  • Lee, Confessions of John D. Lee, p. 165
  • C.F. Keil and F. Delitzsch, Commentary on the Old Testament, vol. 1, p. 73.
237 The Bible does not sanction or command polygamy. "Most Israelites were monogamous." Abraham's polygamy "portrays his acceptance of plural marriage as a mark of disobedience to, and a lack of faith in, God." Polygamy not Biblical
  • Author's interpretation.
239, n. 80-83 "Early Mormon leaders" believed that Jesus and his apostles were polygamists.
  • Jedediah M. Grant, Journal of Discourses 1:346.
  • Orson Hyde, Journal of Discourses 2:210.
  • Orson Pratt, "Celestial Marriage," The Seer, vol. 1, no. 11, p. 172.
240 The Book of Mormon "seems to condemn polygamy," but Latter-day Saints "deny that this is the case." Book of Mormon condemns polygamy
  • Jacob 1꞉15
  • Jacob 2꞉24-27
  • Jacob 3꞉5
  • The author does not mention Jacob 2꞉30, which states "For if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up seed unto me, I will command my people; otherwise they shall hearken unto these things" as the reason that Latter-day Saints "deny that this is the case."
241 How could Jesus have been a god before he was born, before he had a physical body?
241 How could the Holy Ghost be a god, since he does not have a physical body?
244 "...nowhere in the Old Testament is polygamy linked with any mandates to practice it."
  • No source given.
245, n. 97 Plural marriages were performed after the 1890 Manifesto. Polygamy after the Manifesto
  • 1911 telegram to Reed Smoot from Joseph F. Smith, Apr. 1, 1911.

Claims made in Chapter 10: The "Christian" Question

Page Claim Response Use of sources
255, 434 n. 15 LDS leaders spent decades denouncing mainstream Christianity. Did early LDS leaders denounce Christianity?
  • Joseph Smith, EJ", vol. 1, no. 4, p. 60
  • Joseph Smith, History of the Church 5:218.
  • Orson Pratt, "Baptism for the Remission of Sins," The Seer, p. 255.
  • Wilford Woodruff, Journal of Discourses, 2:196.
  • Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 5:73.
  • Heber C. Kimball, Journal of Discourses 5:89-90.
  • Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 5:229.
  • John Taylor, Journal of Discourses 2:25.
  • Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 8:171.
  • Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 8:199.
  • John Taylor, Journal of Discourses 13:225.
  • Andrew Jenson, Collected Discourses 2:150.
  • B.H. Roberts, The Mormon Doctrine of Diety, p. 116.
  • Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, pp. 132, 246, 269, 314-315.
256 The Book of Mormon teaches that there are only two churches: 1) the false church of the devil and 2) the true church of the Lamb. Great and abominable church
257 The "ongoing condemnation of Christianity" is "built into the very core of Mormonism as a central tenet." Did early LDS leaders denounce Christianity?
  • Author's opinion
262, 440 n. 46 The "Mormon Jesus" is one of three gods overseeing this planet. Polytheism
  • Source not specified.
262, 440 n. 46 The "Mormon Jesus" is the literal brother of Lucifer. Jesus Christ is the brother of Satan
  • No source specified.
262, 440 n. 46 The "Mormon Jesus" atoned only for Adam's transgression, providing us with the opportunity to obtain "eternal life" by our own efforts.
  • Source not specified.
262, 440 n. 46 The "Mormon Jesus" provides no salvation without accepting Joseph Smith as a prophet of God. Joseph Smith's status in LDS belief
  • Source not specified.
268 The bible does not mention a total apostasy. No complete apostasy?
273 Baptism for the dead is unbiblical. Baptism for the dead
  • No source given.
274-276 The need for the Aaronic priesthood ceased and was replaced by a new one that is held by all believers. Hebrews 7 and the Aaronic Priesthood
  • Hebrews 7-10
276-279 The Melchizedek priesthood was never a literal order of priests. It belonged only to Melchizedek and Christ.
  • Hebrews 7꞉24
  • D. Guthrie and J.A. Motyer, eds., The Eerdman's Bible Commentary, p. 1241.

Further reading

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{{To learn more box:responses to: Carol Wang Shutter}} To learn more about responses to: Carol Wang Shutter edit
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{{To learn more box:responses to: Charles Larson}} To learn more about responses to: Charles Larson edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Christopher Nemelka}} To learn more about responses to: Christopher Nemelka edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Colby Townshed}} To learn more about responses to: Colby Townshed edit
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{{To learn more box:responses to: D. Michael Quinn}} To learn more about responses to: D. Michael Quinn edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Dan Vogel}} To learn more about responses to: Dan Vogel edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: David John Buerger}} To learn more about responses to: David John Buerger edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: David Persuitte}} To learn more about responses to: David Persuitte edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Denver Snuffer}} To learn more about responses to: Denver Snuffer edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Dick Bauer}} To learn more about responses to: Dick Bauer edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Duwayne R Anderson}} To learn more about responses to: Duwayne R Anderson edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Earl Wunderli}} To learn more about responses to: Earl Wunderli edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Ed Decker}} To learn more about responses to: Ed Decker edit
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{{To learn more box:responses to: Ernest Taves}} To learn more about responses to: Ernest Taves edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Fawn Brodie}} To learn more about responses to: Fawn Brodie edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: George D Smith}} To learn more about responses to: George D Smith edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Grant Palmer}} To learn more about responses to: Grant Palmer edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Hank Hanegraaff}} To learn more about responses to: Hank Hanegraaff edit
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{{To learn more box:responses to: James Brooke}} To learn more about responses to: James Brooke edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: James Spencer}} To learn more about responses to: James Spencer edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: James White}} To learn more about responses to: James White edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Jerald and Sandra Tanner}} To learn more about responses to: Jerald and Sandra Tanner edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Jesus Christ-Joseph Smith or Search for the Truth DVD}} To learn more about responses to: Jesus Christ-Joseph Smith or Search for the Truth DVD edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: John Dehlin}} To learn more about responses to: John Dehlin edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Jonathan Neville}} To learn more about responses to: Jonathan Neville edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Kurt Van Gorden}} To learn more about responses to: Kurt Van Gorden edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Laura King Newell and Valeen Tippetts Avery}} To learn more about responses to: Laura King Newell and Valeen Tippetts Avery edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Loftes Tryk aka Lofte Payne}} To learn more about responses to: Loftes Tryk aka Lofte Payne edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Luke WIlson}} To learn more about responses to: Luke WIlson edit
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{{To learn more box:responses to: Martha Beck}} To learn more about responses to: Martha Beck edit
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{{To learn more box:responses to: Richard Abanes}} To learn more about responses to: Richard Abanes edit
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{{To learn more box:responses to: Rick Grunger}} To learn more about responses to: Rick Grunger edit
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{{To learn more box:responses to: Rod Meldrum}} To learn more about responses to: Rod Meldrum edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Roger I Anderson}} To learn more about responses to: Roger I Anderson edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Ronald V. Huggins}} To learn more about responses to: Ronald V. Huggins edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Sally Denton}} To learn more about responses to: Sally Denton edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Simon Southerton}} To learn more about responses to: Simon Southerton edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Thomas Murphy}} To learn more about responses to: Thomas Murphy edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Todd Compton}} To learn more about responses to: Todd Compton edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Vernal Holley}} To learn more about responses to: Vernal Holley edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Walter Martin}} To learn more about responses to: Walter Martin edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Wesley Walters}} To learn more about responses to: Wesley Walters edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Will Bagley}} To learn more about responses to: Will Bagley edit


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