Foreword: As primary sources, I attempt to rely upon those accepted by the LDS church and its members, and that can be found with relative ease. I have also tried to keep opinion to a minimum.  I do believe that it is both healthy and essential to publicly challenge and rigorously debate all religious philosophies, claims, and assertions.  If you do not concur with this belief, then you are probably not ready to read this.

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PART I: Questions of Legitimacy

Regarding Scriptural Alterations

We will provide two of many examples of the type of alterations found throughout LDS scriptural and historical records.  Following each passage, we will attempt to ask one or more questions from the perspective of someone seeking truth and consistency.

The first example is found in Doctrine and Covenants, Section 10, which discusses Joseph Smith's loss of many transcribed pages from the Book of Mormon. The words in bold strikethrough were deleted from the original version of this account found in the Book of Commandments published in 1833. The words in red bold underline were added to the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants (a few minor changes were made in later translations):

"NOW, behold I say unto you, that because you have delivered up so many those writings, which you had power given unto you to translate by the means of the Urim and Thummim, into the hands of a wicked man, you have lost them, . and you also lost your gift at the same time, and your mind became darkened. nevertheless it has been is now restored unto you again: therefore, see that you are faithful and go continue on unto the finishing of the remainder of the work of translation as you have begun. Do not run faster or labor more than you have strength and means provided to enable you to translate, but be diligent unto the end. Pray always, that you may come off conquerer; yea, that you may conquer Satan, and those that you may escape the hands of the servants of Satan that do uphold his work.

"Behold they have sought to destroy you; yea, even the man in whom you have trusted, has sought to destroy you. and for this cause I said, that he is a wicked man, for he has sought to take away the things wherewith you have been intrusted entrusted; and he has also sought to destroy your gift, and because you have delivered the writings into his hands, behold they wicked men have taken them from you: therefore, you have delivered them up; yea, that which was sacred unto wickedness. And behold, Satan has hath put it into their hearts to alter the words which you have caused to be written, or which you have translated, which have gone out of your hands; and behold I say unto you, that because they have altered the words, they read contrary from that which you translated and caused to be written; and on this wise the devil has sought to lay a cunning plan, that he may destroy this work; for he has hath put it into their hearts to do this, that by lying they may say they have caught you in the words which you have pretended to translate.

"Verily I say unto you, that I will not suffer that Satan shall accomplish his evil design in this thing, for behold he has put it into their hearts to get thee to tempt the Lord their thy God, in asking to translate it over again; for And then, behold they say and think in their hearts, We will see if God has given him power to translate, if so, he will also give him power again; and if God giveth him power again, or if he translate translates again, or in other words, if he bringeth forth the same words, behold we have the same with us, and we have altered them: Therefore, they will not agree, and we will say that he has lied in his words, and that he has no gift, and that he has no power: therefore, we will destroy him, and also the work, and we will do this that we may not be ashamed in the end, and that we may get glory of the world.

"Verily, verily I say unto you, that Satan has great hold upon their hearts; he stirreth them up to do iniquity against that which is good, And their hearts are corrupt, and full of wickedness and abominations; and they love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil; therefore they will not ask of me. Satan stirreth them up, that he may lead their souls to destruction, and thus he has laid a cunning plan, thinking to destroy the work of God; but I will require this at their hands, and it shall turn to their shame and condemnation in the day of judgment. yea, he stirreth up their hearts to anger against the this work; yea, he saith unto them, Deceive and lie in wait to catch, that ye may destroy: behold this is no harm, and thus he flattereth them and telleth them that it is no sin to lie, that they may catch a man in a lie, that they may destroy him, and thus he flattereth them, and leadeth them along until he draggeth their souls down to hell; and thus he causeth them to catch themselves in their own snare; and thus he goeth up and down, to and fro in the earth, seeking to destroy the souls of men.

"Verily, verily I say unto you, wo be unto him that lieth to deceive, because he supposeth that another lieth to deceive, for such are not exempt from the justice of God. Now, behold they have altered those these words, because Satan saith unto them, He hath deceived you, and thus he flattereth them away to do iniquity, to get thee to tempt the Lord their thy God.

"Behold I say unto you, that you shall not translate again those words which have gone forth out of your hands; for behold, they shall not lie any more accomplish their evil designs in lying against those words; for behold, if you should bring forth the same words, they would will say that you have lied; and that you have pretended to translate, but that you have contradicted your words yourself; and behold they would will publish this, and Satan would will harden the hearts of the people, to stir them up to anger against you, that they might will not believe my words: thus Satan would thinketh to overpower your testimony in this generation, that the work might may not come forth in this generation: but behold here is wisdom, and because I show unto you wisdom, and give you commandments concerning these things, what you shall do, show it not unto the world until you have accomplished the work of translation." (Book of Commandments 9:1-7 and Doctrine and Covenants 10:1-34. Unfortunately, the Book of Commandments appears to only be found on anti-LDS websites. The following site appears to be the most innocuous, at least in presenting the book: http://www.2think.org/hundredsheep/boc/boc_main.shtml)

The second example is Book of Commandments, Section 4:5-6, wherein God purportedly stated the following:

"And thus, if the people of this generation harden not their hearts, I will work a reformation among them, and I will put down all lyings, and deceivings, and priestcrafts, and envyings, and strifes, and idolatries, and sorceries, and all manner of iniquities, and I will establish my church, like unto the church which was taught by my disciples in the days of old.

"And now if this generation do harden their hearts against my word, behold, I will deliver them up unto Satan, for he reigneth and hath much power at this time, for he hath got great hold upon the hearts of the people of this generation; and not far from the iniquities of Sodom and Gomorrah, do they come at this time; and behold the sword of justice hangeth over their heads, and if they persist in the hardness of their hearts, the time cometh that it must fall upon them...."

These verses were permanently removed in the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants without any clear explanation.

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Regarding Multiple Wives

The Book of Mormon states:

"For behold, thus saith the Lord: This people begin to wax in iniquity; they understand not the scriptures, for they seek to excuse themselves in committing whoredoms, because of the things which were written concerning David, and Solomon his son. Behold, David and Solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before me, saith the Lord. Wherefore, thus saith the Lord, I have led this people forth out of the land of Jerusalem, by the power of mine arm, that I might raise up unto me a righteous branch from the fruit of the loins of Joseph. Wherefore, I the Lord God will not suffer that this people shall do like unto them of old. Wherefore, my brethren, hear me, and hearken to the word of the Lord: For there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife; and concubines he shall have none; For I, the Lord God, delight in the chastity of women. And whoredoms are an abomination before me; thus saith the Lord of Hosts. Wherefore, this people shall keep my commandments, saith the Lord of Hosts, or cursed be the land for their sakes. 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. For behold, I, the Lord, have seen the sorrow, and heard the mourning of the daughters of my people in the land of Jerusalem, yea, and in all the lands of my people, because of the wickedness and abominations of their husbands. And I will not suffer, saith the Lord of Hosts, that the cries of the fair daughters of this people, which I have led out of the land of Jerusalem, shall come up unto me against the men of my people, saith the Lord of Hosts. For they shall not lead away captive the daughters of my people because of their tenderness, save I shall visit them with a sore curse, even unto destruction; for they shall not commit whoredoms, like unto them of old, saith the Lord of Hosts." (Jacob 2:22-33, bold added)

Joseph Smith introduced the doctrine of polygamy as follows:

"Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you my servant Joseph, that inasmuch as you have inquired of my hand to know and understand wherein I, the Lord, justified my servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as also Moses, David and Solomon, my servants, as touching the principle and doctrine of their having many wives and concubines... David also received many wives and concubines, and also Solomon and Moses my servants, as also many others of my servants, from the beginning of creation until this time; and in nothing did they sin save in those things which they received not of me... David's wives and concubines were given unto him of me, by the hand of Nathan, my servant, and others of the prophets who had the keys of this power; and in none of these things did he sin against me save in the case of Uriah and his wife; and, therefore he hath fallen from his exaltation, and received his portion; and he shall not inherit them out of the world, for I gave them unto another, saith the Lord."  (Doctrine and Covenants 132:1,38-39, bold added)

To continue, the header for Doctrine and Covenants, Section 132, states:

"... Although the revelation was recorded in 1843, it is evident from the historical records that the doctrines and principles involved in this revelation had been known by the Prophet since 1831."

LDS President Joseph F. Smith also claimed that:

"The great and glorious principle of plural marriage was first revealed to Joseph Smith in 1831, but being forbidden to make it public, or to teach it as a doctrine of the Gospel, at that time, he confided the facts to only a very few of his intimate associates." — Joseph F. Smith, Deseret News, May 20, 1886

Yet, this admission appears to contradict a purported revelation given in 1831 and published in the aforementioned Book of Commandments in 1833:

"And again, I say unto you, that whoso forbiddeth to marry, is not ordained of God, for marriage is ordained of God unto man: Wherefore it is lawful that he should have one wife, and they twain shall be one flesh, and all this that the earth might answer the end of its creation; and that it might be filled with the measure of man, according to his creation before the world was made." — Book of Commandments 52:16-17

Next, consider verses 1-3 of Section 132:

"VERILY, thus saith the Lord unto you my servant Joseph, that inasmuch as you have inquired of my hand to know and understand wherein I, the Lord, justified my servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as also Moses, David and Solomon, my servants, as touching the principle and doctrine of their having many wives and concubines... Behold, and lo, I am the Lord thy God, and will answer thee as touching this matter. Therefore, prepare thy heart to receive and obey the instructions which I am about to give unto you; for all those who have this law revealed unto them must obey the same." [bold added]

Now examine verses 51-52:

"Verily, I say unto you: A commandment I give unto mine handmaid, Emma Smith, your wife, whom I have given unto you, that she stay herself and partake not of that which I commanded you to offer unto her; for I did it, saith the Lord, to prove you all, as I did Abraham, and that I might require an offering at your hand, by covenant and sacrifice. And let mine handmaid, Emma Smith, receive all those that have been given unto my servant Joseph, and who are virtuous and pure before me; and those who are not pure, and have said they were pure, shall be destroyed, saith the Lord God." [bold added]

Joseph Smith apparently inquired to know God's stand on polygamy after he had already taken other wives. Yet, the Book of Mormon appears to assert that no one is to take more than one wife unless the Lord first commands them to do so:

"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." (Jacob 2:30)

In addition, Section 132 was not included in the Doctrine and Covenants until 1876, and was not widely circulated until long after Joseph Smith's death in 1844.

An "Article of Marriage" was added to the 1835 version of the Doctrine and Covenants, however. This article was deleted in the same year that section 132 was added. Here is part of that original "Article on Marriage":

"Inasmuch as this Church of Christ has been reproached with the crime of fornication and polygamy, we declare that we believe that one man should have one wife, and one woman but one husband, except in case of death, when either is at liberty to marry again." [bold and underline added]

The word "but" appears to possibly be significant as it appears in the case of the woman's partner(s), but not in the case of the man's partner(s).

Other declarations are equally puzzling:

"Do the Mormons believe in having more wives than one? No, not at the same time. But they believe that if their companion dies, they have a right to marry again. But we do disapprove of the custom, which has gained in the world, and has been practiced among us, to our great mortification, in marrying in five or six weeks, or even in two or three months, after the death of their companion. We believe that due respect ought to be had to the memory of the dead, and the feelings of both friends and children." — Joseph Smith, History of the Church, vol. 3, p. 28, see also Elder's Journal, cited in vol. I, no. II, pp 28-29, bold added).

Consider this public notice in the Times and Seasons 5:3:423, apparently written after Doctrine and Covenants 132 was given:

"TIMES AND SEASONS. CITY OF NAUVOO, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1844. NOTICE.

"As we have lately been credibly informed, that an Elder of the Church of Jesus Christ, of Latter day Saints, by the name of Hiram Brown, has been preaching Polygamy, and other false and corrupt doctrines, in the county of Lapeer, state of Michigan.

"This is to notify him and the Church in general, that he has been cut off from the church, for his iniquity; and he is further notified to appear at the Special Conference, on the 6th of April next, to make answer to these charges.

"JOSEPH SMITH,
HYRUM SMITH,
Presidents of said Church." [bold added]

Here are additional examples:

"CERTIFICATES OF WILLIAM AND HENRY MARKS. Inasmuch as John C. Bennett has called upon me through the Sangamo Journal to come out and confirm the statements which he has made concerning Joseph Smith and others, I take this opportunity of saying to the public, that I know many of his statements to be false, and that I believe them all to be the to be the offspring of a base and corrupt heart, and without the least shadow of truth, and further that he has used my name without my permission. I believe him to be a vile and wicked adulterous man, who pays no regard to the principles of truth or righteousness, and is unworthy the confidence of a just community. I would further state that I know of no Order in the Church which admits of a plurality of wives, and do not believe that Joseph Smith ever taught such a doctrine, and further, that my faith in the doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and in Joseph Smith, is unshaken." — William Marks, given in Nauvoo on July 26, 1842, Times and Seasons, 3:19:875 [bold added]

"We are charged with advocating a plurality of wives, and common property. Now this is as false as the many other ridiculous charges which are brought against us. No sect have a greater reverence for the laws of matrimony, or the rights of private property, and we do what others do not, practice what we preach..." (Times and Seasons, 4:9:143, October 1, 1842, or pp. 939-940, bold added)

"...[F]or the information of those who may be assailed by those foolish tales about two wives, we would say that no such principle ever existed among the Latter-day Saints, and never will. This is well known to all who are acquainted with our books and actions, the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants; and also all our periodicals are very strict on that subject, indeed far more so than the Bible." (Millennial Star, vol. 111, p. 74, bold added)

"What a thing it is for a man to be accused of committing adultery, and having seven wives, when I can only find one. I am the same man, and as innocent as I was fourteen years ago; and I can prove them all perjurers." — Joseph Smith, May 26, 1844, recorded in History of the Church, vol. 6, p. 411

To add to these questions, when President Gordon B. Hinckley was asked on Larry King Live about polygamy, he responded:

"The figures I have are from between two percent and five percent of our people were involved in it. It was a very limited practice; carefully safeguarded. In 1890, that practice was discontinued. The president of the church, the man who occupied the position which I occupy today, went before the people, said he had, oh, prayed about it, worked on it, and had received from the Lord a revelation that it was time to stop, to discontinue it then. That's 118 years ago. It's behind us... I condemn it, yes, as a practice, because I think it is not doctrinal. It is not legal. And this church takes the position that we will abide by the law. We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, magistrates in honoring, obeying and sustaining the law." — President Gordon B. Hinckley, Larry King Live radio program, September 8, 1998

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Regarding Spiritual Gifts

According to the Book of Commandments, Section 4:2, the following apparent revelation from God was given in March 1829:

"And he (Joseph) has a gift to translate the Book and I have commanded him that he shall pretend to no other gift, for I will grant him no other gift." [bold added]

One year later, on April 6, 1830, Joseph Smith presented the following purported revelation:

"BEHOLD, there shall be a record kept among you; and in it thou [Joseph Smith] shalt be called a seer, a translator, a prophet, an apostle of Jesus Christ, an elder of the church through the will of God the Father, and the grace of your Lord Jesus Christ, Being inspired of the Holy Ghost to lay the foundation thereof, and to build it up unto the most holy faith. Which church was organized and established in the year of your Lord eighteen hundred and thirty, in the fourth month, and on the sixth day of the month which is called April. Wherefore, meaning the church, thou shalt give heed unto all his words and commandments which he shall give unto you as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me; For his word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith. For by doing these things the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea, and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name's glory. For thus saith the Lord God: Him have I inspired to move the cause of Zion in mighty power for good, and his diligence I know, and his prayers I have heard. Yea, his weeping for Zion I have seen, and I will cause that he shall mourn for her no longer; for his days of rejoicing are come unto the remission of his sins, and the manifestations of my blessings upon his works. For, behold, I will bless all those who labor in my vineyard with a mighty blessing, and they shall believe on his words, which are given him through me by the Comforter, which manifesteth that Jesus was crucified by sinful men for the sins of the world, yea, for the remission of sins unto the contrite heart." (Doctrine and Covenants 21:1-9, bold added).

In the first edition of the Doctrine and Covenants, Section 5:4 in 1835, the aforementioned passage from the Book of Commandments was altered to read (the words in red bold underline were added and the words in bold strikethrough were deleted):

"And he has you have a gift to translate the Book plates; and this is the first gift that I bestowed upon you; and I have commanded him that he you shall should pretend to no other gift, until my purpose is fulfilled in this; for I will grant unto him you no other gift until it is finished." (This wording is the same in the current edition of the Doctrine and Covenants 5:4)

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Regarding the Book of Mormon

A revelation purportedly given to Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, and David Whitmer in Fayette, New York, June 1829, in the Book of Commandments, Chapter 15, reads:

"Behold I give unto you a commandment, that you rely upon the things which are written; for in them are all things written, concerning my church, my gospel, and my rock. Wherefore if you shall build up my church, and my gospel, and my rock, the gates of hell shall not prevail against you." [bold and underline added]

God appears to be stating that the things that were written up to that time — June 1829 — contained all that was necessary to build God's Church and proclaim his gospel to mankind.

In the Doctrine and Covenants, Section 16, however, this scripture has been altered to read the following (the words in red bold underline were added and the words in bold strikethrough were deleted):

"Behold I give unto you a commandment, that you rely upon the things which are written; for in them are all things written, concerning the foundation of my church, my gospel, and my rock. Wherefore ; wherefore, if you shall build up my church, and upon the foundation of my gospel, and my rock, the gates of hell shall not prevail against you."

Let us look in the Book of Mormon again to attempt to clarify this question. Jesus Christ [i.e. "the Lamb"] purportedly tells the prophet Nephi:

"For, behold, saith the Lamb: I will manifest myself unto thy seed, that they shall write many things which I shall minister unto them, which shall be plain and precious; and after thy seed shall be destroyed, and dwindle in unbelief, and also the seed of thy brethren, behold, these things shall be hid up, to come forth unto the Gentiles, by the gift and power of the Lamb. And in them shall be written my gospel, saith the Lamb, and my rock and my salvation. (1 Nephi 13:35-36)

The Book of Mormon is apparently to come forth from the seed of the Nephites, and it is supposed to contain God's gospel and rock just as the aforementioned Book of Commandments originally stated. Speaking again of the Book of Mormon, God purportedly said:

"For thus it behooveth the Father that it should come forth from the Gentiles, that he may show forth his power unto the Gentiles, for this cause that the Gentiles, if they will not harden their hearts, that they may repent and come unto me and be baptized in my name and know of the true points of my doctrine, that they may be numbered among my people, O house of Israel." (3 Nephi 21:6, bold and underline added)

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Regarding the Name of the Church

According to the Book of Mormon, Jesus Christ revealed the name of his church to the Nephite people: the "church of Christ".

"And they who were baptized in the name of Jesus were called the church of Christ." (3 Nephi 26:21, bold added)

"And they said unto him: Lord, we will that thou wouldst tell us the name whereby we shall call this church; for there are disputations among the people concerning this matter. And the Lord said unto them: Verily, verily, I say unto you, why is it that the people should murmur and dispute because of this thing? Have they not read the scriptures, which say ye must take upon you the name of Christ, which is my name? For by this name shall ye be called at the last day; And whoso taketh upon him my name, and endureth to the end, the same shall be saved at the last day. Therefore, whatsoever ye shall do, ye shall do it in my name; therefore ye shall call the church in my name; and ye shall call upon the Father in my name that he will bless the church for my sake. And how be it my church save it be called in my name? For if a church be called in Moses' name then it be Moses' church; or if it be called in the name of a man then it be the church of a man; but if it be called in my name then it is my church, if it so be that they are built upon my gospel. Verily I say unto you, that ye are built upon my gospel; therefore ye shall call whatsoever things ye do call, in my name; therefore if ye call upon the Father, for the church, if it be in my name the Father will hear you; And if it so be that the church is built upon my gospel then will the Father show forth his own works in it. But if it be not built upon my gospel, and is built upon the works of men, or upon the works of the devil, verily I say unto you they have joy in their works for a season, and by and by the end cometh, and they are hewn down and cast into the fire, from whence there is no return." (3 Nephi 27:3-11, bold added)

On April 6, 1830, LDS church leaders met together presumably to fulfill the requirements of the laws of the land, and they named their church consistent with the admonition of the Book of Mormon, "The Church of Christ."

On May 3, 1834, Joseph Smith, as moderator, made a motion to change the name of the church to, "The Church of the Latter Day Saints," which was adopted by unanimous vote (The Evening and Morning Star, vol. 2, no. 20, p. 160, May 1834; History of the Church 2:62).

Four years later, on April 26, 1838, it was again changed to "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" and has remained thus since.

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Regarding Objective LDS History

Apostle and Elder Boyd K. Packer, at the Fifth Annual Church Educational System Religious Educators' Symposium at Brigham Young University in August 1981, stated:

"I have come to believe that it is the tendency for many members of the Church who spend a great deal of time in academic research to begin to judge the Church, its doctrine, organization, and leadership, present and past, by the principles of their own profession. Oft-times this is done unwittingly, and some of it, perhaps, is not harmful...

"You seminary teachers and some of you institute and BYU men will be teaching the history of the Church this school year. This is an unparalleled opportunity in the lives of your students to increase their faith and testimony of the divinity of this work. Your objective should be that they will see the hand of the Lord in every hour and every moment of the Church from its beginning till now...

"Church history can be so interesting and so inspiring as to be a very powerful tool indeed for building faith. If not properly written or properly taught, it may be a faith destroyer...

"There is a temptation for the writer or the teacher of Church history to want to tell everything, whether it is worthy or faith promoting or not...

"Some things that are true are not very useful...

"That historian or scholar who delights in pointing out the weaknesses and frailties of present or past leaders destroys faith. A destroyer of faith — particularly one within the Church, and more particularly one who is employed specifically to build faith — places himself in great spiritual jeopardy. He is serving the wrong master, and unless he repents, he will not be among the faithful in the eternities...

"The final caution concerns the idea that so long as something is already in print, so long as it is available from another source, there is nothing out of order in using it in writing or speaking, or teaching. Surely you can see the fallacy in that. I have on occasion been disappointed when I have read statements that tend to belittle or degrade the Church or past leaders of the Church in writings of those who are supposed to be worthy members of the Church. When I have commented on my disappointment to see that in print, the answer has been. 'It was printed before, and it's available, and therefore I saw no reason not to publish it again.'

"You do not do well to see that it is disseminated. It may be read by those not mature enough for 'advanced history,' and a testimony in seedling stage may be crushed... Do not spread disease germs." — Elder Boyd K. Packer, "The Mantle is Far, Far Greater Than the Intellect," available through BYU Studies, vol. 21, no. 3, p. 262

Many historical documents are available only through those who openly profess to be antagonistic to the LDS church.  The website at  http://www.2think.org/hundredsheep/boc/boc_main.shtml, for example, contains the 1833 Book of Commandments. The website http://www.concordance.com/mormon.htm, as another example, has a search engine for early publications such as History of the Church, Journal of Discourses, Times and Seasons, Evening and Morning Star, and Elder's Journal. The website at http://www.xmission.com/~country/reason/pub1.htm contains several documents, including interviews and letters from David Whitmer, William McLellin, and William Law, the actual text of the Nauvoo Expositor, speeches by Brigham Young, and what remains of the end of the John Whitmer journals.(see http://www.2think.org/hundredsheep/boc/boc_main.shtml)

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PART II: Questions of Loyalty & Trust

Regarding Loyalty to Mortals

According to the Book of Mormon, the prophet Alma stated:

"Ye shall not esteem one flesh above another, or one man shall not think himself above another... Even so I desire that ye should stand fast in the liberty wherewith ye have been made free, and that ye trust no man to be a king over you. And also trust no one to be your teacher nor your minister, except he be a man of God, walking in his ways and keeping his commandments." (Mosiah 23:7,13-14, bold added)

The prophet Nephi from the Book of Mormon stated the following:

"O Lord, I have trusted in thee and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm." (2 Nephi 4:34)

"He commandeth that there shall be no priestcrafts; for, behold, priestcrafts are that men preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world; but they seek not the welfare of Zion. Behold, the Lord hath forbidden this thing..." (2 Nephi 26:29-30)

"They wear stiff necks and high heads; yea, and because of pride and wickedness, and abominations, and whoredoms, they have all gone astray save it be a few, who are the humble followers of Christ; nevertheless, they are led that in many instances they do err because they are taught by the precepts of men." (2 Nephi 28:14)

"Cursed is he that putteth his trust in man, or maketh flesh his arm, or shall hearken unto the precepts of men, save their precepts shall be given by the power of the Holy Ghost. Wo unto the Gentiles, saith the Lord of Hosts! For notwithstanding I shall lengthen mine arm unto them from day to day, they will deny me..." (2 Nephi 28:31-32, bold added)

The Biblical prophet Isaiah is quoted in 2 Nephi 13:12:

"And my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they who lead thee cause thee to err and destroy the ways of thy paths."

"For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed." (2 Nephi 19:16)

From the New Testament scripture that purportedly had great influence on Joseph Smith to scrutinize the religions of his day:

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." (James 1:5, bold added)

And from Corinthians in the New Testament:

"Ye are bought with a price; be ye not therefore the servants of men." (1 Corinthians 7:23, bold added)

Compare these passages with statements by modern LDS prophets. For instance, the LDS 12th Article of Faith, purportedly written by Joseph Smith (and contained alongside the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Coventants, Pearl of Great Price, and Bible in their canonized scriptures) states:

"We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law."

Wilford Woodruff, the third President of the LDS Church, also stated:

"The Lord will never permit me or any other man who stands as President of this Church to lead you astray. It is not in the programme. It is not in the mind of God. If I were to attempt that, the Lord would remove me out of my place, and so He will any other man who attempts to lead the children of men astray from the oracles of God and from their duty." (Excerpts from Three Addresses by President Wilford Woodruff Regarding the Manifesto, Doctrine and Covenants, under Declaration 1)

The April 2002 LDS General Conference provides another example:

"One of the sneaky ploys of the adversary is to have us believe that unquestioning obedience to the principles and commandments of God is blind obedience. His goal is to have us believe that we should be following our own worldly ways and selfish ambitions. This he does by persuading us that 'blindly' following the prophets and obeying the commandments is not thinking for ourselves. He teaches that it is not intelligent to do something just because we are told to do so by a living prophet or by prophets who speak to us from the scriptures.

"Our unquestioning obedience to the Lord's commandments is not blind obedience. President Boyd K. Packer in the April conference of 1983 taught us about this: 'Latter-day Saints are not obedient because they are compelled to be obedient. They are obedient because they know certain spiritual truths and have decided, as an expression of their own individual agency, to obey the commandments of God. . . . We are not obedient because we are blind, we are obedient because we can see' — Elder Boyd K. Packer, "Agency and Control," Ensign, May 1983, 66).

"We might call this 'faith obedience.' With faith, Abraham was obedient in preparing Isaac for sacrifice; with faith, Nephi was obedient in obtaining the brass plates; with faith, a little child obediently jumps from a height into the strong arms of his father. "Faith obedience" is a matter of trust. The question is simple: Do we trust our Heavenly Father? Do we trust our prophets?" — Elder R. Conrad Schultz, "Faith Obedience," April 2002 General Conference Report, Ensign)

From President Ezra Taft Benson:

"President Marion G. Romney tells of this incident, which happened to him: I remember years ago when I was a Bishop I had President [Heber J.] Grant talk to our ward. After the meeting I drove him home....Standing by me, he put his arm over my shoulder and said: 'My boy, you always keep your eye on the President of the Church, and if he ever tells you to do anything, and it is wrong, and you do it, the Lord will bless you for it.' Then with a twinkle in his eye, he said, 'But you don't need to worry. The Lord will never let his mouthpiece lead the people astray.'" — Elder Ezra Taft Benson Fourteen, "Fundamentals in Following a Prophet," given at the Marrriott Center at Brigham Young University, February 6, 1980; see also Ensign Conference Report, October 1960, p. 78 [bold added]

From the LDS-owned and -operated Deseret News newspaper and Improvement Era magazine:

"Any Latter-day Saint who denounces or opposes whether actively or otherwise, any plan or doctrine advocated by the prophets, seers, revelators' of the church, is cultivating the spirit of apostasy. One cannot speak evil of the lord's anointed... and retain the holy spirit in his heart. This sort of game is Satan's favorite pastime, and he has practiced it to believing souls since Adam. He [Satan] wins a great victory when he can get members of the church to speak against their leaders and to do their own thinking.

"When our leaders speak, the thinking has been done. When they propose a plan — it is God's Plan. When they point the way, there is no other which is safe. When they give directions, it should mark the end of controversy, God works in no other way. To think otherwise, without immediate repentance, may cost one his faith, may destroy his testimony, and leave him a stranger to the kingdom of God." (Ward Teachers Message, Deseret News, Church Section p. 5, May 26, 1945; also included in the Improvement Era, June 1945)

From Heber C. Kimball:

"In regard to our situation and circumstances in these valleys, brethren WAKE UP! WAKE UP, YE ELDERS OF ISRAEL, AND LIVE TO GOD and none else; and learn to do as you are told, both old and young: learn to do as you are told for the future, And when you are taking a position, if you do not know that you are right, do not take it [—] I mean independently. But if you are told by your leader to do a thing, do it. None of your business whether it is right or wrong... you and I want to live our religion and do as we are told, not questioning a word for a moment. You have got to stop that. It is enough for others to do that, without our meddling with those things. I am speaking to the Elders of Israel." — Heber C. Kimball, Journal of Discourses, vol. 3, pp. 32-33

Finally, LDS members who receive their temple endowment ceremony make a solemn covenant to avoid "evil speaking of the Lord's anointed," i.e. the LDS leaders.

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Regarding Loyalty to an Organization

Current LDS President Gordon B. Hinckley stated:

"The strength of this cause and kingdom is not found in its temporal assets, impressive as they may be. Faith underlies loyalty to the Church." ("The Miracle of Faith," Ensign, May 2001, bold added)

"Now, brothers and sisters, let us go forth from this conference with a stronger resolve to live the gospel, to be more faithful, to be better fathers and mothers and sons and daughters, to be absolutely loyal to one another as families, and absolutely loyal to the Church as members." ("Good-bye for Another Season," Ensign, May 2001, bold added)

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PART III: Questions of Authority

Regarding Melchizedek/Aaronic Priesthoods

Several details surrounding Joseph Smith's purported reception of authority — be it Melchizedek, Aaronic, or otherwise — are unclear based upon historical LDS records.  First, the exact date of the reception of the supposed Melchizedek Priesthood is not known.  Second, accounts of the reception and bestowal of this higher priesthood are confusing.  According to the Doctrine and Covenants:

"And also with Peter, and James, and John, whom I have sent unto you [note: this apparently refers to the Melchizedek Priesthood, as John the Baptist purportedly came alone to confer the Aaronic Priesthood on Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery], by whom I have ordained you and confirmed you [i.e. Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery] to be apostles, and especial witnesses of my name, and bear the keys of your ministry and of the same things which I revealed unto them; Unto whom I have committed the keys of my kingdom, and a dispensation of the gospel for the last times; and for the fulness of times, in the which I will gather together in one all things, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; And also with all those whom my Father hath given me out of the world. Wherefore, lift up your hearts and rejoice, and gird up your loins, and take upon you my whole armor, that ye may be able to withstand the evil day, having done all, that ye may be able to stand. Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, having on the breastplate of righteousness, and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, which I have sent mine angels to commit unto you..." (Doctrine and Covenants 27:12-16, bold added and notes added in brackets)

Oliver Cowdery, who claimed to be present when Joseph Smith received the Melchizedek Priesthood, wrote of one angel rather than three angels:

"I was present with Joseph when an holy angel [note: purportedly John the Baptist] from God came down from heaven and conferred on us, or restored, the lesser or Aaronic Priesthood, and said to us, at the same time, that it should remain upon the earth while the earth stands. I was also present with Joseph when the higher or Melchizedek Priesthood was conferred by the holy angel from on high. This Priesthood, we then conferred on each other by the will and commandment of God." (History of the Church, vol. 1, p. 40 footnote, bold added and note added in brackets)