Joseph Smith/Status in LDS belief/Further Reading

Table of Contents <onlyinclude>

Joseph Smith, Jr.

Jump to Subtopic:

• Early Smith family history
• Joseph Smith's character
• Joseph Smith's alleged narcissism
• Treasure seeking, money digging and Joseph Smith, Jr.
• The relationship between Joseph Smith's seer stone and the Urim and Thummim
• Joseph Smith's First Vision
• Joseph Smith and the "occult" or "magick"
• Joseph Smith as a translator
• The "Joseph Smith Translation" of the Bible
• Joseph Smith and miracles
• Joseph Smith and the priesthood
• Joseph Smith as a prophet
• Joseph Smith and legal issues
• Kirtland Safety Society
• Joseph Smith, politics and government
• Joseph Smith and polygamy
• Death of Joseph Smith
• Joseph Smith's status in Latter-day Saint belief

Early Smith family history

Jump to Subtopic:

• Contemporary witnesses regarded Joseph Smith's family as trustworthy and hard-working
• Joseph Smith's education

Joseph Smith's character

Summary: It is claimed that Joseph Smith was a disreputable person.

Jump to Subtopic:

• Was Joseph Smith, Jr. a "disreputable person?"
• The Hurlbut affidavits
• Was Joseph Smith simply telling "amusing recitals" and "tall tales"?
• Joseph Smith's personality and temperament

Joseph Smith's alleged narcissism

Jump to Subtopic:

• Accusations that Joseph Smith was ego-maniacal, proud, and narcissistic
• Accusations that Joseph Smith was prone to boasting

Treasure seeking, money digging and Joseph Smith, Jr.

Summary: Was Joseph Smith's engagement in "money digging" or looking for buried treasure a blot on his character?

Jump to Subtopic:

• Joseph Smith's money digging activities and how it relates to his character
• Joseph Smith's family and "folk magic"

The relationship between Joseph Smith's seer stone and the Urim and Thummim

Summary: Joseph Smith used the Nephite Interpreters as well as his own seer stone (both of which were later referred to as "Urim and Thummim") to translate the Book of Mormon.

Jump to Subtopic:

• Joseph Smith's use of seer stones as a youth
• The "Urim and Thummim" used by Joseph Smith to translate the "gold plates"
• Joseph Smith used the same "rock in hat" seer stone for translating that he used for "money digging"
• Statements regarding instruments used by Joseph Smith to translate or receive revelation

Joseph Smith's First Vision

Summary: Joseph Smith's claim that he saw the Father and the Son in 1820 has produced a wide variety of criticism. This set of articles addresses the various critical claims related to the First Vision. The linked articles below are designed to help readers to see some of the weaknesses that are found in arguments that are made against Joseph Smith's First Vision accounts. Some of these arguments are currently being advocated in anti-Mormon literature that is handed out near the Sacred Grove in Palmyra, New York.

Jump to Subtopic:

• Criticisms of the First Vision accounts
• Criticisms of events leading up to the First Vision
• Criticisms of events occurring after the First Vision
• Doctrinal issues related to the First Vision
• Primary sources related to Joseph Smith's First Vision

Joseph Smith and the "occult" or "magick"

Summary: Citing Joseph Smith's experiences with folk magic, treasure seeking and seer stones, it is claimed that Joseph Smith's spiritual experiences were originally products of magic and the occult. Some charge that only much later did Joseph retrofit his experiences in Christian, religious terms: speaking of God, angels, and prophethood rather than in terms of magic, treasure guardians and scrying. It is also claimed that a "vagabond fortune-teller" named Walters became popular in the Palmyra area, and that when Walters left the area, "his mantle fell upon" Joseph Smith.

Jump to Subtopic:

• The origin of Joseph Smith's spiritual experiences
• Joseph Smith's family and "folk magic"

Joseph Smith as a translator

Summary: It is claimed that Joseph Smith claimed to translate other texts or items, which can be checked against modern academic translations. They claim that this "cross-checking" proves that Joseph could not have translated the Book of Mormon or other ancient texts.

Jump to Subtopic:

• The "Urim and Thummim" used by Joseph Smith to translate the "gold plates"
• Joseph Smith and the Kinderhook plates
• Other translation claims

The "Joseph Smith Translation" of the Bible

Jump to Subtopic:

• Joseph Smith's corrections to the Bible do not match known Biblical manuscripts
• Use of the Joseph Smith translation of the Bible
• Relationship of the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible to the Book of Mormon
• Relationship of the Joseph Smith Translation to the Book of Abraham

Joseph Smith and miracles

Jump to Subtopic:

• Healings and miracles

Joseph Smith and the priesthood

Jump to Subtopic:

• Date of the restoration of the Melchizedek priesthood

Joseph Smith as a prophet

Jump to Subtopic:

• Joseph Smith's 1832 prophecy of the Civil War
• Joseph Smith's Rocky Mountain prophecy
• Mormon belief that the original Garden of Eden was located in Missouri
• The Mormon temple to be built in Independence, Missouri
• Joseph Smith: Alleged false prophecies
• Biblical Keys for Discerning True and False Prophets
• The White Horse Prophecy
• Response to claims made in One Nation Under Gods, "Appendix B: Failed Joseph Smith Prophecies"

Joseph Smith and legal issues

Jump to Subtopic:

• Joseph Smith was accused and brought to courts of law on a variety of charges
• Joseph Smith appeared in court in 1826 for "glasslooking"

Kirtland Safety Society

Jump to Subtopic:

• What was the purpose of the Kirtland Safety Society?
• The failure of the Kirtland Safety Society

Joseph Smith, politics and government

Jump to Subtopic:

• Joseph Smith's run for President of the United States

Joseph Smith and polygamy

Summary: Joseph Smith is frequently criticized for his introduction and practice of polygamy. From a Christian perspective, these attacks usually focus on arguing that polygamy is unchristian or unbiblical, and that Joseph hid the truth from the world. From a secular perspective, it is asserted that the practice of polygamy sprung from Joseph's carnal desires to marry young women. Of particular interest is the fact that Joseph was sealed to women who were already married to other men (polyandry).

Jump to Subtopic:

• Plural wives of Joseph Smith, Jr.
• Implementation of plural marriage
• Doctrinal issues related to plural marriage
• Critics' claimed motivations for Joseph's implementation of plural marriage
• Keeping plural marriage a secret
• Entering into plural marriage
• Joseph Smith and polyandry
• Emma Smith and polygamy
• Children of Joseph Smith by polygamous marriages
• Mormonism and divorce in the nineteenth century

Death of Joseph Smith

Jump to Subtopic:

• Events surrounding the death of Joseph Smith, Jr.
• Joseph Smith's qualification as a martyr
• The Nauvoo Expositor
• Joseph Smith drank wine in Carthage Jail
• Joseph Smith fired a gun at Carthage Jail
• Brigham Young University-Idaho Devotional, "The Prophet Joseph Smith"

Joseph Smith's status in Latter-day Saint belief

Summary: Do members worship Joseph Smith or treat him as more than a man? Critics charge that since Joseph claimed (or it was claimed in his behalf) the right to "approve whether or not someone gets into heaven," this arrogates to a mortal a right properly reserved for God and Jesus Christ. Some critics have even charged that "Mormons worship Joseph Smith."

Jump to Subtopic:

• Question: Do Mormons believe that Joseph Smith must approve whether or not they get into heaven?
• Question: What is the origin of the idea that Joseph Smith will participate in the final judgement?
• Question: Did Bruce R. McConkie state that we must turn to Joseph Smith to gain salvation?

Joseph Smith and legal issues

Jump to Subtopic:

• Joseph Smith was accused and brought to courts of law on a variety of charges
• Joseph Smith appeared in court in 1826 for "glasslooking"

Joseph Smith: Alleged false prophecies

Jump to Subtopic:

• Question: Does Joseph Smith fail the "prophetic test" found in Deuteronomy 18?
• Question: Are there not supposed to be any more prophets after Christ's day?
• Question: Did Joseph Smith prophesy that he couldn't be killed within 5 years of August 1843?
• Question: Why did Joseph Smith say that David Patten would serve a mission when he was killed only six months later?
• Question: Did Joseph Smith state that the moon was inhabited, and that it's inhabitants were dressed like Quakers?
• Question: Did Joseph utter a false prophecy and show disregard for the Word of Wisdom in telling Orson Hyde that he would drink wine with him in Palestine?
• Question: Did Joseph Smith claim at one time that Kirtland Safety Society notes would be "as good as gold"?
• Question: Did Joseph Smith give a false prophecy by claiming that queens would pay respect to the Relief Society within ten years?
• Question: Did Joseph Smith prophesy that Jesus Christ would return in 1890?
• Question: Was a "forged" prophecy about Stephen A. Douglas added to the History of the Church?
• Question: Why did Joseph prophesy that the wicked "of this generation" would be swept from the face of the land and the Lost Ten tribes would be gathered?
• Question: Why did Joseph Smith claim that Thomas B. Marsh, who later apostatized, would be "exalted," and that he would preach "unto the ends of the earth"?
• Question: Why did Joseph describe the United Order in revelation as "everlasting" and "immutable and unchangeable" until Jesus comes?
• Question: Did Joseph Smith prophesy that Zion, in Jackson County, Missouri, would be redeemed by September 1836?
• Question: Was Joseph Smith's prophecy that the Independence, Missouri temple "shall be reared in this generation" a failed prophecy?

Joseph Smith as a prophet

Jump to Subtopic:

• Joseph Smith's 1832 prophecy of the Civil War
• Joseph Smith's Rocky Mountain prophecy
• Mormon belief that the original Garden of Eden was located in Missouri
• The Mormon temple to be built in Independence, Missouri
• Joseph Smith: Alleged false prophecies
• Biblical Keys for Discerning True and False Prophets
• The White Horse Prophecy
• Response to claims made in One Nation Under Gods, "Appendix B: Failed Joseph Smith Prophecies"

Revelation after Joseph Smith

Summary: If every President of the Church is a prophet, seer, and revelator, why have so few revelations after Joseph Smith been added to the Doctrine and Covenants? Revelations used to be printed in Church periodicals such as the Times and Seasons and the Evening and Morning Star. Why are revelations no longer published on an ongoing basis?

Jump to Subtopic:

• Do modern prophets prophesy, or are they simply "men of their time?"
• Apostles as personal witnesses of Christ
• Divine manifestations since the time of Joseph Smith
• Prophecy fulfillment
• Blessings given by Oliver Cowdery
• Brigham Young ordination blessing
• President Monson bearing witness of foundational doctrines of Mormonism
• Joseph F. Smith at the Reed Smoot hearings

Do modern prophets prophesy, or are they simply "men of their time?"

Summary: Is they anything special about prophets that set them apart from others, or are they simply "men of their time?" Do modern day prophets actually prophesy of anything?

Jump to Subtopic:

• Question: Are prophets simply "men of their time," without any special ability to guide the Church?
• Question: Why are revelations no longer published on an ongoing basis?
• Question: If every President of the Church is a prophet, seer, and revelator, why have so few revelations after Joseph Smith been added to the Doctrine and Covenants?
• Question: Are Latter-day Saint prophets not really "prophets" because they don't foretell unknown events?
• Brigham Young (1859): "have I yet lived to the state of perfection that I can commune in person with the Father and the Son at my will and pleasure? No, though I hold myself in readiness that he can wield me at his will and pleasure"
• Wilford Woodruff (1869): "We had the privilege of beholding the face of the prophet...and seeing the workings of the Spirit of God with him, and the revelations of Jesus Christ unto him and the fulfilment of those revelations"
• Heber C. Kimball (1865): "I know it by revelation by the Spirit of God, for in this way my Heavenly Father communes with me"
• Orson Pratt (1878): "I have been blessed with some revelations and prophecies, and with dreams of things that have come to pass"
• Orson F. Whitney (1926): "One night I dreamed … that I was in the Garden of Gethsemane, a witness of the Savior’s agony"
• George Q. Cannon (1896): "I know that God lives. I know that Jesus lives; for I have seen him"
• Henry B. Eyring (1996): "I know as surely as did the Apostles Peter, James, and John that Jesus is the Christ, our risen Lord"
• James E. Faust (1995): "Jesus is our divine Savior, Redeemer, and the son of God the Father. I know of his reality by a sure perception so sacred I cannot give utterance to it"
• Harold B. Lee: "I have received a witness that I cannot or dare not deny. When I see Jesus, I cannot mistake His identity. I know that He lives!"
• Oaks (2000): "it is usually inappropriate to recite miraculous circumstances to a general audience that includes people with very different levels of spiritual maturity"
• Oaks (1997): "rarely speak of them publicly because...because we understand that the channels of revelation will be closed if we show these things before the world"
• Boyd K. Packer (1980): "We do not talk of those sacred interviews that qualify the servants of the Lord to bear a special witness of Him, for we have been commanded not to do so"
• George F. Richards: "The Lord has given me dreams which to me are just as real and as much from God as was the dream of King Nebuchadnezzar"
• Marion G. Romney: "I have never told anybody some of the experiences I have had, not even my wife. I know that God lives. I not only know that he lives, but I know him"
• David B. Haight: "I was there with the outpouring of the Spirit in that room so strong that none of us could speak afterwards"

Apostles as personal witnesses of Christ

Summary: It is claimed that Brigham Young and his successors lacked the ability to bear witness of Christ as a true apostle because they had not had divine manifestations.

Jump to Subtopic:

• Question: Were Brigham Young and subsequent apostles personal witnesses of Christ?
• Question: Must a man see Christ literally in order to be called as an apostle?

Divine manifestations since the time of Joseph Smith

Jump to Subtopic:

• Question: Did any nineteenth century leader after Joseph Smith report divine visions?
• Question: Did any twentieth century leader after Joseph Smith report divine visions?

Prophecy fulfillment

Summary: The fulfillment of prophecy does not end with death--blessings, promises, and fulfillment extend into the Millennial years of the Lord.

Jump to Subtopic:

• Question: Can prophecy fulfillment or promises made in a patriarchal blessing extend into the Millennium?
• Question: Does the ordination blessing given to Heber C. Kimball contain a false prophecy that he may "stand unto the coming of our Lord"?
• Question: Did Parley P. Pratt make a prophecy in 1838 to La Roy Sutherland about the latter being struck dumb and coming to an untimely end?
• Question: Is Joseph Smith Sr.'s promise in a father's blessing to Joseph Smith Jr. that he would continue in the Priest's office until Christ comes a false prophecy?
• Question: Did Wilford Woodruff prophesy that New York would be destroyed by earthquake, Boston by flood, and Albany by fire?

Blessings given by Oliver Cowdery

Jump to Subtopic:

• Question: Does Oliver Cowdery's blessing and promise to Orson Hyde contain a false prophecy, which was then altered before being printed in History of the Church?
• Question: Is a blessing given to Lyman Johnson that he would live until the gathering accomplished a false prophecy?
• Question: Was William Smith promised in a blessing that he would remain on the earth until Christ comes?

Brigham Young ordination blessing

Summary: FairMormon has found no criticism about the blessing given to Brigham Young upon his ordination as an apostle. His blessing is referenced by at least one other blessing, however, and so is included here for reference.

Jump to Subtopic:

• Brigham Young ordination blessing

President Monson bearing witness of foundational doctrines of Mormonism

Summary: It has been claimed that President Thomas S. Monson does not bear testimony of such foundational concepts as the truth of the Book of Mormon, the reality of Joseph Smith's First Vision, and so forth. Some have wondered if this means that he intends to downplay such doctrines, or if he does not believe strongly in them.

Jump to Subtopic:

• Question: Is it possible that President Monson doesn't bear witness of foundational doctrines?

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 Subtopic:

• Question: At the Reed Smoot Senate hearings, did Joseph F. Smith tesify that he never received revelation?

The Proclamation on the Family

Jump to Subtopic:

• Question: Is the Mormon Proclamation on the Family official doctrine?
• Question: Have the doctrines in the Mormon Proclamation on the Family long been taught in the Church?
• Question: Has the Mormon Proclamation on the Family been taught frequently?

Criticisms related to 19th-century prophets

Brigham Young's sermons are scripture?

Jump to Subtopic:

• Question: Did Brigham Young state that everything he said could be considered "scripture"?

John Taylor 1886 revelation

Jump to Subtopic:

• Question: Did John Taylor receive a revelation on September 27, 1886 that promised that polygamy would never be abandoned by the Church?

Missouri myths?

Summary: Will members "walk back to Jackson County" before the second coming of Christ? Will the whole Church return to Jackson county before the second coming?

Jump to Subtopic:

• Question: Will Mormons "walk back to Jackson County" before the second coming of Christ?
• Question: Will all Mormons return to Jackson county before the second coming?
• Question: Will there be immense destruction in Jackson County before the second coming of Christ?

Wilford Woodruff's 1889 revelation

Summary: Did Wilford Woodruff receive a revelation on November 24, 1889 the said that the Church would prevail against the Government effort to seize the Church's assets?

Criticisms related to modern day prophets

LDS prophets don't prophesy?

Summary: Some critics say that Latter-day Saint prophets aren't really "prophets" because they don't prophesy by foretelling unknown events. They commonly issue challenges such as, "If Gordon B. Hinckley is a prophet, tell me one event that he's prophesied." Do LDS prophets "prophesy"?

Jump to Subtopic:

• Question: Are Latter-day Saint prophets not really "prophets" because they don't foretell unknown events?

Prophetic inerrancy?

Summary: Critics sometimes impose absolutist assumptions on the Church by holding inerrantist beliefs about scriptures or prophets, and assuming that the LDS have similar views. Critics therefore insist, based upon these assumptions, that any statement by any LDS Church leader represents LDS doctrine and is thus something that is secretly believed, or that should be believed, by Latter-day Saints.

Jump to Subtopic:

• Question: Do Mormons consider their prophets to be infallible?
• Question: Can a Prophet Make Mistakes?
• Question: How is it possible for a Church leader or prophet to have been influenced by racism, yet be consistent with the Lord not allowing prophets to lead the Church astray?
• Neil L. Andersen (2012): "A few question their faith when they find a statement made by a Church leader decades ago that seems incongruent with our doctrine"
• "Approaching Mormon Doctrine," LDS Newsroom (May 2007): "Not every statement made by a Church leader, past or present, necessarily constitutes doctrine"
• Charles W. Penrose (1912): "Do you believe that the President of the Church, when speaking to the Church in his official capacity is infallible?"
• Question: How are Church members protected against error by leaders?
• Question: Should Church members simply have "blind trust" in their leaders?
• Question: Were Biblical prophets infallible?
• Question: How do Biblical prophets compare to modern prophets?

David O. McKay liked to be lionized?

Summary: Some authors distort a biography of President McKay to claim that he liked to be "lionized."

Jump to Subtopic:

• Question: Did David O. McKay like to be "recognized, lauded, and lionized"?

Do Latter-day Saint prophets not address current issues?

Summary: It is claimed that General Authorities are very silent about some issues, and that academic or volunteer organizations take their place

Jump to Subtopic:

• Question: Are General Authorities very silent about some issues, allowing academic or volunteer organizations take their place?

Church Public affairs does not represent the Church?

Summary: Some people do not agree with statements issued by the Church's public affairs department. They claim that the public affairs department does not always reflect the beliefs or statements of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. This claim is both absurd and false.

Jump to Subtopic:

• Question: Does the Church's public affairs department act independently of direction from Church leadership?

False revelation or private matters

Summary: Statements by leaders of the Church on the propriety of Church members teaching new doctrines, or publicizing personal revelations, dreams, visions, etc.

Jump to Subtopic:

• Question: What does the Church say on the propriety of Church members publicizing personal revelations, dreams or visions?

No paid ministry

Jump to Subtopic:

• Question: What do the scriptures teach about paid ministry in the Church of Jesus Christ?
• Question: Does the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints employ a professional clergy?
• Question: Is the fact that some General Authorities, mission presidents, and others receive a living stipend while serving the Church evidence of the “hypocrisy” of the Church?
• Question: Why do General Authorities receive living stipends?
• Question: Do General Authorities receive a large sum of money when they are called?
• Question: Do General Authorities sign a non-disclosure agreement promising to never divulge what they are paid?
• Question: Who is the highest-paid Church employee in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?

Mormonism and doctrine

Jump to Subtopic:

• Official or "core" Mormon doctrine
• Establishing new Mormon doctrine
• Mormon doctrine of the past
• Repudiated concepts
• Mormon views of various beliefs

Official or "core" Mormon doctrine

Jump to Subtopic:

• "Official" Mormon doctrine

"Official" Mormon doctrine

Summary: What constitutes official or "core" doctrine of the Church? Joseph Smith defined our fundamental core doctrine: "The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 121.)

Jump to Subtopic:

• "Approaching Mormon Doctrine," LDS Newsroom (May 2007): "Not every statement made by a Church leader, past or present, necessarily constitutes doctrine"
• D. Todd Christofferson (Apr 2012): "it should be remembered that not every statement made by a Church leader past or present necessarily constitutes doctrine"
• Neil L. Anderson (Nov 2012): "The doctrine is taught by all 15 members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve. It is not hidden in an obscure paragraph of one talk"
• Question: What is official or core Mormon doctrine?

Establishing new Mormon doctrine

Jump to Subtopic:

• Procedures to establish or modify Mormon doctrine
• Church publications as doctrine

Procedures to establish or modify Mormon doctrine

Jump to Subtopic:

• "Approaching Mormon Doctrine," LDS Newsroom (May 2007): "Not every statement made by a Church leader, past or present, necessarily constitutes doctrine"
• Question: How does the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints establish new doctrine?
• Question: Is "Mormon doctrine" constantly changing?

Church publications as doctrine

Summary: Are Church publications considered doctrine? It is claimed that anything that is, or ever was, officially published by the Church at any time ought to represent doctrine, thus define what Latter-day Saints really believe. However, just as Brigham Young taught principles that applied to the 19th-century saints, modern prophets teach us what we need for our particular time.

Jump to Subtopic:

• Question: Is everything that is published by the Church considered doctrine?
• Question: Are some publications misrepresented as "official" publications of the Church?

Mormon doctrine of the past

Jump to Subtopic:

• Statements made by past prophets as "scripture"
• The Law of Adoption: The sealing of men and women as children to prominent Latter-day Saint leaders

Statements made by past prophets as "scripture"

Summary: Are statements of past prophets considered doctrine? It is claimed that anything that is, or ever was, officially published by the Church ought to represent doctrine.

Jump to Subtopic:

• Question: Did Brigham Young state that everything he said could be considered "scripture"?
• Question: When are the writings or sermons of Church leaders entitled to the claim of scripture?

The Law of Adoption: The sealing of men and women as children to prominent Latter-day Saint leaders

Summary: Critics point to the early practice of sealing men and women as children to prominent LDS leaders as an example of changes in LDS belief.

Jump to Subtopic:

• Question: What is the "Law of Adoption" practiced among 19-century Mormons and why has it changed?
• Question: What is the history behind the Mormon practice called the "Law of Adoption"?
• Question: Why were men sealed to other men during the early days of the Church?
• Question: Did Joseph Smith perform marriages between brothers and sisters?

Repudiated concepts

Summary: Some teachings previously considered doctrinal have since been repudiated by the Church.

Jump to Subtopic:

• Why would a current prophet repudiate the teachings of an earlier prophet?
• "Blood atonement"
• Mormonism and the concept that some were "neutral" in the "war in heaven"
• Mormonism and the "curse of Cain"
• Brigham Young's Adam-God theory

Why would a current prophet repudiate the teachings of an earlier prophet?

Jump to Subtopic:

• Question: If a doctrine is repudiated, does that mean that it was false when it was being taught?
• Neil L. Andersen: "The doctrine...is not hidden in an obscure paragraph of one talk...The leaders of the Church are honest but imperfect men"
• Question: Does the repudiation of a doctrine that was once taught by a prophet mean that that prophet is now considered a "heretic"?

"Blood atonement"

Summary: It is claimed that during the administration of Brigham Young apostates were secretly put to death. They claim this is in line with the teachings of LDS leaders at the time that apostasy was the unforgivable sin, and that the only thing an apostate could do to redeem himself was to give his own life, willingly or unwillingly.

Jump to Subtopic:

• Question: What is "blood atonement"?
• Charles Penrose (1912): "Do you believe in "blood-atonement"?
• Question: Did early Mormon leaders teach that apostasy was the unforgivable sin, and that the only thing an apostate could do to redeem himself was to give his own life, willingly or unwillingly?
• Question: Were apostates secretly put to death by "blood atonement" during the administration of Brigham Young?
• Question: Was Thomas Coleman (or Colbourn) "blood atoned"?
• Question: Did Brigham Young's preaching style induce people to perform "blood atonement"?

Mormonism and the concept that some were "neutral" in the "war in heaven"

Summary: It is true that LDS scripture states that those with lighter skin color "are favored because of what they did as spirits in a pre-earth life?" Is it true that some Church leaders taught that people who were born with dark skin were "neutral" in the pre-existence?

Jump to Subtopic:

• Gospel Topics: "Today, the Church disavows the theories advanced in the past that black skin is a sign of divine disfavor or curse, or that it reflects actions in a premortal life; that mixed-race marriages are a sin; or that blacks or people of any other race or ethnicity are inferior in any way to anyone else"
• Joseph Fielding Smith: "We know of no scripture, ancient or modern, that declares that at the time of the rebellion in heaven that one-third of the hosts of heaven remained neutral"
• Question: Was the idea that Blacks were neutral in the "war in heaven" ever official doctrine?
• Question: Did Church leaders ever teach that Blacks were neutral in the "war in heaven?"
• Question: Did the Church repudiate the idea of neutrality in the "war in heaven?"

Mormonism and the "curse of Cain"

Jump to Subtopic:

• Gospel Topics: "Today, the Church disavows the theories advanced in the past that black skin is a sign of divine disfavor or curse, or that it reflects actions in a premortal life; that mixed-race marriages are a sin; or that blacks or people of any other race or ethnicity are inferior in any way to anyone else"
• Gospel Topics: "Even after 1852, at least two black Mormons continued to hold the priesthood"
• Question: What are the "curse of Cain" and the "curse of Ham"?
• Question: When did a biblical curse become associated with the "Hamites?"
• Question: When did the "mark of Cain" become associated with black skin?
• Question: How did the "curse of Ham" or "curse of Cain" become associated with Mormonism?
• Question: Is interracial marriage prohibited or condemned within the Church?
• Question: Do the Book of Abraham and the Book of Mormon link a person's skin color to their behavior in the pre-existence?

Brigham Young's Adam-God theory

Summary: Brigham Young taught that Adam, the first man, was God the Father. Since this teaching runs counter to the story told in Genesis and commonly accepted by Christians, critics accuse Brigham of being a false prophet. Also, because modern Latter-day Saints do not believe Brigham's "Adam-God" teachings, critics accuse Mormons of either changing their teachings or rejecting teachings of prophets they find uncomfortable or unsupportable.

Jump to Subtopic:

• Question: What is the Adam-God Theory?
• Question: What is the history of Brigham Young's Adam-God Theory and why was it rejected by the Church?
• Stephen E. Robinson: "Yet another way in which anti-Mormon critics often misrepresent LDS doctrine is in the presentation of anomalies as though they were the doctrine of the Church"
• Matthew Brown (2009): "Brigham Young repeated these ideas and expounded upon them during the next 25 years. His viewpoints have been variously classified as doctrine, theory, paradox, heresy, speculation, and some of the mysteries"
• Question: If the Adam-God doctrine isn't true, how come D&C 27:11 calls Adam the Ancient of Days which is clearly a title for God in Daniel 7?
• Question: What attempts have been made to reconcile the Adam-God Theory with the doctrines of the Church?

Mormon views of various beliefs

Rapture and LDS theology

Summary: What is the "Rapture"? Do Latter-day Saints believe in this or a similar doctrine?

Jump to Subtopic:

• Question: Do Mormons believe in the "rapture"?

The Law of Adoption: The sealing of men and women as children to prominent Latter-day Saint leaders

Summary: Critics point to the early practice of sealing men and women as children to prominent LDS leaders as an example of changes in LDS belief.

Jump to Subtopic:

• Question: What is the "Law of Adoption" practiced among 19-century Mormons and why has it changed?
• Question: What is the history behind the Mormon practice called the "Law of Adoption"?
• Question: Why were men sealed to other men during the early days of the Church?
• Question: Did Joseph Smith perform marriages between brothers and sisters?

</noinclude>

Joseph Smith's First Vision

Summary: Joseph Smith's claim that he saw the Father and the Son in 1820 has produced a wide variety of criticism. This set of articles addresses the various critical claims related to the First Vision. The linked articles below are designed to help readers to see some of the weaknesses that are found in arguments that are made against Joseph Smith's First Vision accounts. Some of these arguments are currently being advocated in anti-Mormon literature that is handed out near the Sacred Grove in Palmyra, New York.

Jump to Subtopic:

• Criticisms of the First Vision accounts
• Criticisms of events leading up to the First Vision
• Criticisms of events occurring after the First Vision
• Doctrinal issues related to the First Vision
• Primary sources related to Joseph Smith's First Vision

FairMormon web site

Joseph Smith FairMormon articles on-line

• Ron Barney, "Joseph Smith’s Visions: His Style and his Record" FairMormon link

Joseph Smith other visionary issues FairMormon links

• Craig Ray, "Joseph Smith's History Confirmed," (Mesa, Arizona: FAIR, August 2002) FairMormon link

External links

• Stephen R. Gibson, "Can People Go To Heaven Without Joseph Smith's Consent?," in One-Minute Answers to Anti-Mormon Questions (Bountiful, Utah: Horizon Publishers, 2005) ISBN 0882907840. off-site

Printed material

Joseph Smith, Jr. printed materials

• Richard L. Bushman, "Joseph Smith's Family Background," in The Prophet Joseph: Essays on the Life and Mission of Joseph Smith, ed. Larry C. Porter and Susan Easton Black (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1988), 1–18. ISBN 0875791778. GL direct link
• Richard L. Bushman, Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling (New York: Knopf, 2005), 1.
• Mark L. McConkie, Remembering Joseph: Personal Recollections of Those Who Knew the Prophet Joseph Smith (Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret Book Company, 2003).(print version) ISBN 978-1570089633 GL direct link (Key source)