Joseph Smith: Creator of the Fourth Abrahamic Faith; Mormonism

Auhtor's website ^ | September 15, 2007 | G. Richard Jansen

[Reno232]

The test was the prayer he offered that produced the Heavenly manifestation. If the Father & Son appeared to you, would you test them? Or would you accept what they told you?

[Reno232]

You bring this reference up all the time which I find fascinating. If Peter, after having learned from the Savior, would have said, “I have learned for myself that Judaism is not true”, “the law of Moses is fulfilled in Me”. Would that have offended you back then as a Jew? Would that have changed what is true?

Now, I really have to go.

[MHGinTN]

There are so many false axioms in your posts, it is hard to know where to begin! With Joe Smith’s history of playing the con game of treasure divining with a peep stone in his hat, FIRST, I would need tremendous proof to believe Smith when he claimed (in various tellings the claim took different chracterizations) that God Who is greater than the Creation and His Son Jesus appeared to Joe Smith in bodies. SECOND ... well, with the conman, adulterous, false prophet who claimed to rewrite the King James Bible from the King James Bible as his only reference, with THAT witness of the audacity but zero veracity of Joe Smith, there is no second.

[Elsie]

In addition to these testimonies, I have seen visions, healed the sick, spoken with tongues, prophesied, and had inspiration that can only come from God distill upon my mind.

[DelphiUser]

“Trying to tick you off” may be a side benefit, but the real purpose of invoking the “burning in the colon” is to diffuse what you and most Mormon’s view as a debate closer

A Your prediction for ticking people off as entertainment does not speak well of you.
B It is a debate closer for us, once God speaks, what any one else says is irrelevant. We do not expect it to close the debate for you.

‘I felt a burning in the bosom and therefore I’m right’. You believe in revelation, but seem incapable of admitting that anyone else might have a revelation that was counter to yours.

Yes, you are correct, God will only tell the truth, he will not tell me yes, and you no, I made an analogy with math earlier...

Indeed, many of us have had a revelation that Mormonism is a cult and that it needs to be opposed because it drains the souls of men (if we had not had such a revelation, why would we battle so hard?).

Really? Please tell me how this revelation came to you. When you tell me, the burden of proof is on you, to prove you are not lying because I have received a witness, and I have personally caught anti's telling Blatant lies to try to injure the testimonies of Mormons who read here. Do you know who Mark Hoffman is? He is an excellent example of an anti Mormon, he grew up in he church, committed sins, went before his bishop and passed an interview for a mission (he lied and knew he was lying) and he went on his mission anyway, figuring that if he could lie to his bishop the church wasn't true (even though the doctrine is clear that God will allow men to chose to lie and reap the consequences) He returned from his mission, and pretended to be a good solid member, while forging documents designed to bring down the Church. We may never know (in this life) all the forgeries, so if I were an anti, I would be mad at him for muddying the water of anything I might find. In the end, he was so sure he was right he began murdering people with car bombs to cover his tracks (murdering for Jesus?) he was injured when one of his bombs went off in his car as he was transporting it, caught, tried and confessed all of this. I link to Wikipedia which has a brief description which differs in some minor details from my memory, but i do not consider them significant and am willing to go with Wikipedia on this if you have a problem my recitation, either will show you the lengths Anti Mormons will go to.

Moreover, you generically deny Objective evidence, trying to turn everything into the subjective which you can trump with your burning in the bosom speach.

Objective like having differing interpretations of scripture? LOL!

Unfortunately for you, the objective evidence in the form of historical documents is huge.

Yeah, that's what Mark thought, 'nuf said.

It shows Joseph Smith was a petty peep stone diviner before latching on to the religion scam, it shows the Book of Mormon an artifact of early settler lore about the connections of Jews and American Indians (totally falsified by current DNA data), it shows the Kirtland bank scandal to be a scam which required purging numerous stout Mormons from the fold to hide the truth. And so much more.

Peep stone? Yes, he had the ability to divine, it was a common thing back then to use divining rods and etc. so? (I heard Jesus taught in the temple before he started his ministry... Shhhh!)

Religion Scam? So much for your objectivity.

Early settler lore, LOL! Such a fabrication.

DNA evidence? Talk about Subjective, here, read This Kirtland bank scandal, LOL This has been debunked so many times it's pathetic that you bring this back from a well deserved rest.

I think we can agree on one thing: Very few are the number of people who have a neutral opinion of Joseph Smith and there has been so much said on both sides that the truth is difficult to find.

This obfuscation of the truth is why I encourage people to pray and ask God for he knows the truth far better than you or I.

Moreover, while the Mormons have at times been treated unfairly, Much as we are being treated here.

any reading of both sides of the historical documents shows that the Mormons incited as much animosity as not, and Joseph Smith was cut from the mold of a dandy/tinpot general/fraudster/king. Brigham Young was perhaps even worse, being a murderous thief. One cannot read the accounts of Missouri and of Illinois Governor Ford and not be struck by the realization that the Gentiles were acting out of fear of the Mormon Danites and militia and the possibility of a breakaway theocracy in their midst as much as any animosity to individual Mormons. Indeed, the Mormons could have been annihilated a number of times except for the forbearance of Gentiles.

If you remember, my ancestry comes from "The other side" of Mormonism, don't tell me they were forbearing, they weren't. Like most people, they did what was best for them, they tried to look out for number one while not stepping in number two.

BTW, your sidewise swipes at good men, detracts from your argument.

Now people can certainly come to less severe conclusions than I have based on the records

You can say that again, and again.

You might want to consider Matt. 7: 1-2

1 Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

I for one would hate to stand before the Bar of God with harsh judgment on my record.

but just as assuredly it is impossible to read the FAIR and FARM spin on history and not realize in juxtaposition to the records that a whitewashing has occurred.

Really? The anti sites that still quote from proven forgeries can be trusted?
Which is worse, to believe good of evil men or to believe evil of Good men?
As to your Whitewashing theory, please not that the Link to Mark Hoffman on Wikipedia that I listed earlier mentions that we gave a "incriminating" letter (that was forged, but we didn't know it then) to the RLDS church because it was important to them. Individual Mormons have undoubtedly covered up things that they thought damaged the church even when the church would have wished otherwise, the Catholics have the same problem in their history. The LDS church is very open on it's web site as is the Catholic church, and that I applaud, non Mormons are just as free to download the study materials and talks as I am. This charge of conspiracy to cover up our "flaws" just does not hold water. However, I do not expect you to see that.

When a church thrives on distortion of history, on secrecy and excommunication of apostates by the droves,

Distortion not!
Secrecy only the Temple ceremonies are kept Sacred and from the world, all else is published and in nauseating detail.
excommunication of apostates by the droves Well, our numbers should be declining dramatically, no wait, we are one of the fastest Growing religions. I ask you, should a Church (earthly organization) tolerate those who openly flout and disobey? Thus impairing the Church (earthly organization) from Preaching the Gospel (Eternal message of salvation that encompasses all man kind)?

Have you been paying attention to what is happening to the Episcopal Church with the Gay marriage issue? This is what happens when a church does not clean house. (My apologies to Episcopalians, I have several friends who feel this very deeply)

one knows the jig is up.

Yes, I not that you have not quoted a single source, what too much of a hurry?

The steady bleed of apostates who have been harmed by Mormonism is itself a revelation that all is not well in the land of Oz.

The "Steady bleed" is not enough to keep our numbers from Growing, and while regrettable is predictable, every church has those who do not continue in faith to it.

You post these things as if they are a triumphal victory over Mormonism, well, I would never dream of robbing you of your moment of success, alas, a moment was all I could spare... (The Scarlet pimpernell)

[FastCoyote]

[B It is a debate closer for us, once God speaks, what any one else says is irrelevant. We do not expect it to close the debate for you.]

Proving again my point that any Gentile who votes for a Mormon for president would needs be blind. ANY political position a non-Mormon takes can be trumped by a “burning in the bosom”. Might as well debate with a post.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

“What do you think he was refering to when he stated “the truth claims of all whirling dervishes and other cultic religions are proven false”?

“He” was stating that none of those things are the correct
basis for truth claims. ALL are subjective and demonstrably
falsifiable. Their existence in Satanic cults and false
religions demonstrates that they are not the basis of truth -
as has been put forth on this forum by a follower of the
cult of mormonism.

best,
ampu

[Reno232]

Well MHG, I see you’re in usual form today. Forget about answering the question, just get right down to the sandbox mentality, complete w/ name calling, falsehoods, etc.

Have fun!

[MHGinTN]

Is there a class in how to pose non sequiturs in Mormonism apologetics training? You got a good grade if there was.

[Reno232]

And all this b/c you say so, oh wise one. The only correct basis for truth where there is no doubt is the Lord Himself as espoused here by several of my brethren here. Thanks for the verification.

[Colofornian]

Do you know who Mark Hoffman is? He is an excellent example of an anti Mormon, he grew up in he church, committed sins, went before his bishop and passed an interview for a mission (he lied and knew he was lying) and he went on his mission anyway, figuring that if he could lie to his bishop the church wasn't true (even though the doctrine is clear that God will allow men to chose to lie and reap the consequences) He returned from his mission, and pretended to be a good solid member, while forging documents designed to bring down the Church. We may never know (in this life) all the forgeries, so if I were an anti, I would be mad at him for muddying the water of anything I might find. In the end, he was so sure he was right he began murdering people with car bombs to cover his tracks (murdering for Jesus?) he was injured when one of his bombs went off in his car as he was transporting it, caught, tried and confessed all of this. I link to Wikipedia which has a brief description which differs in some minor details from my memory, but i do not consider them significant and am willing to go with Wikipedia on this if you have a problem my recitation, either will show you the lengths Anti Mormons will go to.

Boy, talk about deluded and desperate: I suppose every scandalous Mormon is in reality an "anti-Mormon" who are simply moles operating in conjunction as some vast right-wing conspiracy...how did you say it...oh, yeah designed to bring down the church.

What's most ironic with this statement is that it comes in a thread discussing ex-Mormons and even ex-communication. This kind of post-departure dissection is almost like an LDS spiritual exorcism: a spiritual post-mortem of Mormons gone bad is conducted, thereby allowing LDS to at least spiritually ex-communicate these folks after the fact. (That allows plausible denial...It's like saying, "See these scandalous Mormons were never really even Mormons at all; they were these wicked evil possessed anti-Mormons dressed in drag in disguise. There, we've dissected the problem & properly conducted a spiritual exorcism. See, he's not really part of our body!")

[Colofornian]

Joseph Smith never 'tested' the two spirits that visited him; but merely accepted what they told him.

Good point, Els. Note in the "official version" no question is even recorded asking who they are...some sort of identity...anything...but nothing...just two unnamed "personages." (Boy talk about a major flunking of testing the spirits)

[FastCoyote]

Even better, when I have posted a thread of ex-Mormons, some of whom expressed suicidal tendencies, one of the apologists berated me for presenting the views of crazy people as evidence of Mormon brainwashing.

The apostates are always crazy, even though they’ve often been driven crazy by Mormonism.

[1000 silverlings]

Maybe this is one reason Paul gets short shrift in their bibles, all those warnings

[1000 silverlings]

Do you know who Mark Hoffman is

He was the darling of the church though when he was "finding" documents that proved Mormonism, lol. The church elders were paying him hundreds of thousands of dollars when he brought them in, first happily and then when they proved embarassing, like the salamander incident, to hide them.

For lurkers who may not know, Hoffman went to libraries and stole rare books. He tore out the blank leaves and then using an ink that he made which resembled ink from the 1800's, he made up all sorts of phony documents.

When people caught on, well, he built bombs and tried to blow them up.

[FastCoyote]

[Among Hofmann’s earliest critics were former LDS members Jerald and Sandra Tanner. Though Hofmann’s “discoveries” often appeared to bolster the Tanners’ own arguments against the church, Jerald had by early 1984 concluded there was significant doubt as to the Salamander Letter’s authenticity. By late 1984, Jerald Tanner questioned the authenticity of most, if not all, of Hofmann’s “discoveries” based in part on their unproven provenance.]

There’s a tough one to explain, honest apostates.

[1000 silverlings]

Maybe they can claim that the documents are authentic but Hoffman wasn’t, lol

[1000 silverlings]

Plus I wonder how many Mormons today know that Moroni was first a salamander.

[DelphiUser]

From post # 1204:

I have posted here before that after much study, prayer and fasting, I received a message from the Holy Spirit that the Book of Mormon was not a message from God, that Joseph Smith's "revelation" was not from the spirit of God, and that Christ is the Savior of mankind. That Christ is with me always, and that HE is the only way to salvation through HIS grace, not through empty works or rituals.

This is MY testimony to all.

I invite all Christians to praise Him here, but I don't believe it necessary to "defend" your faith against a challenge from those who are mislead. If any care to take up the challenge of reading the Book of Mormon and asking God its truth, please do so. But be aware that if you receive a message that it is NOT true, you will be told by Mormons that YOU failed in some way.

I did not realize that this was intended as an explanation of how you knew it was a negative answer.

I repeat my questions from Post # 1193

• Did you read the whole Book of Mormon?
• Did you pray in faith?
• How exactly was the negative answer conveyed?

I have been asked specific questions right here, I answered, you dodged.

Did you actually FORGET my post #1204? I posted my testimony there. You replied to it.

Yes, I did, but it did not address the questions, which is why I still ask them.

Now let me address the specifics of your Testimony, which lead me to believe you did not read the entire Book of Mormon.

1. The Book of Mormon testifies of Jesus Christ.
2. Mormons believe Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation.
3. Mormons believe Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation.
4. Mormons do not believe that empty works or rituals can lead to salvation.

Since you did not get these Doctrines plainly taught in he Book of Mormon, I have to wonder if you actually read it. If you did not read it, then you were praying about (if you'll pardon the expression) a pig in a poke, and God expects you to do your part by reading (it's like someone who prays about the Bible unread).

Then after your testimony, you invite all to praise him, but discourage people from reading the very thing you say led you to a knowledge of the truth about us. (you'll let them if they Care to...)

Logically, if you had such a revelation, you would be encouraging others to read it also and know it to be false. Hence your actions are not the same as your words, and the discerning reader will see something amiss there.

[DelphiUser]

I've been viewing these "testimony" posts exchanges with interest but haven't weighed in on this topic on any thread til now.

Well, then it's about time!

When the Bible repeats itself almost word for word, it means "pay special attention." Solomon, the wisest man in the Old Testament, did that by repeating in Prov. 16:25 what he wrote in Prov. 14:12: "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death."

So, man's way can lead to death, I agree.

(It'd be real interesting to see/hear a Latter-day saint acknowledge that for once...that feelings and inner "certainties" can lead to death)

Absolutely, which is why we say to ask God.

Solomon knew how feelings could be especially misleading. And he didn't stop there. In Prov. 12:15, he wrote: "The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice." (Solomon elsewhere also lauds receiving the counsel of MANY--instead of just taking the word of ONE 14 yo boy...LDS prophets have already said that everything stands or falls on ONE man--Smith).

Actually, asking for Confirmation from God makes 2 and then there were witnesses, testimonies borne here , and many more at your local LDS meeting house (we also make house calls)

It might be beneficial for me to point out that your salvation rests upon one person, Jesus Christ to give up his life for you. (which thankfully he did.)

The Israelites were dependent on Moses...

Also, in Prov. 18:17, he wrote: "The first to present his case seems right, till another comes forward and questions him."

I don't recall ever being the first to post on one of these threads...

For example, a Mormon missionary who gets to a South Pacific Islander first may have the inner pathway, but the young missionary, when appropriately questioned, may suddenly begin to lose his case.

Well, he's young, I stood up to many a preacher while still a lad, and many more than I have too. (It's harder to deny the spirit when talking to a Mormon in person)

And the fact that it's gotten heavy into this area, what I call the final frontier--the Last Stand--for Mormons generally is quite interesting. It tells me we've come to the stage of "Don't confuse me with the facts; I've got my feelings to rely upon, thank you."

LOL! Facts? there has been so much misinformation thrown around on this board that without the spirit it'd be impossible to locate one (that's OK, I'll lead you to them...

I've seen it many times, and heard others describe it many times. When LDS are backed into a corner, what they'll flail out with is "I bear you my testimony that Joseph Smith is a true prophet of God, that..."

Please explain to me what corner I have supposedly been backed into, I was told I was in a hole (most holes don't have "corners", being freshly dug.) you guys need to get together on your metaphors.

And it's right here in this kind of phrasing that shows you this is NOT the gospel of the Bible.

Yeah! the Bible doesn't testify of anything (giggle)

IF THE MOST IMPORTANT TESTIMONY TO CONVEY IS ONE THAT WASN'T ON THIS PLANET TIL 1830--TIL 1800 YEARS AFTER CHRIST'S INCARNATIONAL PRESENCE HERE, THEN SOMETHING IS DEEPLY, DEEPLY WRONG AND MISGUIDED AND MISDIRECTED ABOUT SUCH A RELIGIOUS SYSTEM. WAKE UP! (Smell the coffee beans created by Jesus, not by Smith)

First, Momrons Don't drink Coffee. Second, of course they were created by Jesus, Third if Joseph Smith wasn't a prophet of God no one would care a whit about him (other than his descendants). Fourth and last, The Book of Mormon Testifies of Jesus Christ, which is the most important thing about it.

This leads then to the natural question. What IS the most important testimony to convey? Don't trust me for the answer; read the following from Jesus' beloved apostle, John:

(7) For there are three that testify:
(8) the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.
(9) We accept man's testimony, but God's testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given ABOUT HIS SON
(10)Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given ABOUT HIS SON.
(11)And this is the testimony: God HAS given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. (12)He who HAS the Son HAS life; he who does not HAVE the Son of God does not HAVE life.
(13)I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may KNOW that you HAVE eternal life.
(14)This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
(15)And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.
(1 John 5:7-15)

Whew, boy learn to break on the verse will ya? Besides, you quoted it wrong, here, let me. 1 John 5:7-15

7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.
10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

LOL! John is telling us to ask God for what we desire, I desired to know the truth, God told me, The witness I received is not from Men, but of God. This is funny, your scripture quotations support me more than they support you.

So, to sum up:
(1) LDS overweigh their personal testimony at the expense of God's testimony...1 John 5:7-8 (the Spirit, who uses the Word; the blood, which was importantly shed on Calvary, not just sweated in Gethsemane which is where LDS say the atonement took place; and the water).

BZZT Wrong! I invited all to PRAY (and not to me, and not to Joseph Smith) to God for an answer. Somebody here can't read english and it's not me.

(2) "I bear you witness..." cannot compare to "I, God, bear you witness..." God's testimony is greater than man's (1 John 5:9)...it'd be nice for LDS to acknowledge that for once.

That is why I said I wanted to invite all to hear God's witness, in fact, I specifically said not to believe me but to believe God, have you even been reading this thread?

(3) LDS misdirect their testimony to a man who lived 1800 years after Jesus Christ, thereby overshadowing Christ and his cross of Calvary (note that cross & Calvary are notably missing from just about all semblences of LDS meeting places and hymns). John, twice (1 John 5:9-10), says this true testimony is ABOUT HIS SON...It's not about Joseph!!!

Um, again with the we pray to Joseph thing, it's beyond oops now, we pray to God, and we invite all to ask God if the Book of Mormon is God's word. Who give a flying Fig about anything Joseph Smith wrote on his own. The questions is what does God say?

(4) Note that the testimony that LDS offer, either here on this thread, or an LDS missionary at your door, doesn't promise present-tense eternal life. Re-read 1 John 5:11-13 and note the "Has" references and the "HAVE" references; "eternal life" isn't the 3 degrees of glory...John 17:3 makes it clear that eternal life=knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ, which can happen right here, right now. For LDS, eternal life is something ONLY future tense (for Christians, it's past, present, and future).

now your getting silly, Know God, so a creed created 325 years after Jesus ascended to heaven which was so radical that they had to KILL people who would not convert to it, was not a dent in "knowing God"? God is restoring the knowledge that is necessary to have eternal life, true knowledge of God. Eternal life is more than just living forever, that can be a hell if done wrong, Eternal life is living like God doing his works forever. I'd hate living forever with nothing to do. Luckily, that is not God's plan.

(5) Finally, 1 John 5:14-15 is the context needed for James 1:5. We need to ask according to his will. I don't think asking thousands of times, "Is this your word?" over each & every verse in the Quran, is his will. I don't think asking about the Urantia UFO book, "Is this your word?" is his will. I don't think asking about Anton Lavey's Satanic Bible, "Is this your word?" is his will. I don't think asking about Bhagavida & Hindu texts, "Is this your word?" is his will.

Hey, Look, if I just organize the scriptures my way, I can make God say anything!
The scriptures in a book are arranged the way they are because God arranged them, even Mormons know that. 2 Pet. 1: 20:

19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

You seek to interpret scriptures for others, you deny that my testimony is of God, God have mercy on you.

Beloved saints, if you haven't realized it by now, there's always going to be MANY, MANY who read these things and conclude "no" and MANY, MANY who read these things and conclude "yes." Such subjectivity cannot be the hope where we place our trust for eternal life.

I agree, this is too important to take a mans' word for it, for any man no matter how learned can be wrong, ask God and be sure of your answer.

1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

Seems pretty clear to me, to protect yourself from the antichrists and false prophets we are commanded to ask, to try to seek answers from God, anyone who tells you to believe them and not to ask, is not in agreement with Scripture that is plain and needs no Context form elsewhere in the Bible, as for me and My house, we will follow the Lord.

Go back to 1 John 5:8...the blood is there for an important reason: Real blood was shed; real historical blood that streamed from his body which was noted by historical writers. Objective blood. Yes, we agree, as John says, "We accept man's testimony" (1 John 5:9), but whenever man's testimony focuses on only another mere man, and whenever it winds up trumping God's testimony, what John says is true: "Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar." (1 John 5:10)

How can the servant be called the master? What a twisting of truth and reality, Joseph Smith was a modern day prophet of God, he spent his life and died testifying of God. Joseph knew that if he recanted his faith they would let him live. knowing this, he died true to his testimony of Jesus Christ, read these words, Joseph Smith's words and tell me that he is not a man of God.

22 And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!
23 For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father—
24 That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God.

I will add my poor testimony to theirs, I know that my redeemer lives, I know that Jesus Christ whom I serve Came in the flesh upon the earth, to suffer and be crucified for my sins, I know that I am not worthy to unlatch the buckle of his sandal, yet he willingly died for me. I know this by the same spirit that testified to me that the Book of Mormon is his word and is Good for learning about him. I know though I will be persecuted and reviled for my faith, I like Joseph know, and I know that God knows that I know, and I will not betray God no matter what is said about me by my detractors here, know that I testify of Jesus my savior, my deliverer.

In the name of Jesus Christ, AMEN.