[Zakeet]

I do believe that the Book of Abraham is the most well documented fraud in the History of the United States.

This calls for a vote!

Your comment got me thinking about what exactly was Joseph's biggest fraud. I propose we vote to determine the best of the worst. My nominees are:

1. The Book of Mormon: the most correct of any book on earth containing stories mass migrations in submarine barges, snakes herding cattle, American Indians smelting steel and living in cement houses, and so much, much more.

2. The Book of Abraham: Joseph's translation debunked by Egyptologists. The poor guy missed the author of the document, the purpose for the document, and every single word contained in the document.

3. The Failed Prophesies: from such gems as predicting the violent overthrow of the United States in the 1830's, to the second coming of Christ sometime before 1891, to the discovery of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel living in cement houses in a valley near the North Pole, to the finding the moon is inhabited by men dressed like Quakers, to the prediction the earth has knobs on each end. Joseph wasn't afraid go for broke. And he got there time and time again.

4. The First Vision: or more specifically, the nine different versions of the first vision; or ten if you include the Salamander account pronounced genuine by LDS Church leadership.

5. The 1826 Bainbridge Conviction for Fraud: the Conquistador's gold was really down there. It wasn't Joseph's fault the farmer dug so slowly the ground opened up and kept swallowing the treasure.

6. The Book of Commandments / Doctrine and Covenants: supposedly dictated to the prophet by Mormonism's god, but changed thousands of times and still replete with examples of false statements and contradictions with other Mormon scripture.

7. The Kirtland Safety Society: the Enron scandal of the 1830's (and for a time the largest financial fraud in U.S. history). This happened shortly after Mormonism's god promised a banking institution, who like Aaron's rod shall swallow up all other banks … and grow and flourish and spread from the rivers to the ends of the earth, and survive when all others should be laid in ruins.

8. The United Order: Rigdon talked Smith into trying communism about 30 years or so before Marks and Engels. The Saints got the same results.

9. The Garden of Eden: located in Independence, Missouri. This was the place where Adam and Eve were given Sacred Temple Garments (i.e. long johns with secret Masonic symbols) to cover their nakedness after they were expelled from paradise.

10. The Kinderhook Plates: phony pieces of brass which Joseph pronounced genuine and then determined they contained information about a descendant of Ham.

11. Doctrine & Covenants Section 132: polygamy as a result of a new and everlasting covenant; and if ye abide not that covenant, then are ye damned; for no one can reject this covenant and be permitted to enter into my glory.

12. The Science of Kolob: the Sun borrows its light from Kolob through the medium of Kae-e-vanrash, and other stars receive their power through the revolutions of Kolob. Similarly, the earth receives its power through the medium of Kli-flos-is-es, or Hah-ko-kau-beam.

13. Salvation through Joseph: or more specifically, the idea no one receives exaltation without recognizing Smith is a prophet of god and will pass before him in order to gain entry to the highest kingdom of heaven.

14. The Eternal Progression: As man now is, god once was. As god now is, man may become

15. I'm greater than Jesus: Joseph's pompous boast made on May 26, 1844. Less than a month later, a vain prophet was thrown down exactly as prophesied by Smith.

It would be interesting to learn peoples' opinions. Perhaps the readers of this thread would like to weigh in by choosing one of the above. Or perhaps you would like to add some other examples of your own.

[MHGinTN]

I didn’t notice the specious doctrine of baptism for dead people ... which of course presumes that ALL of Christianity was a failed system until Joe Smith came along to restore it to authority, so Mormons get baptised for the dead hoping to ‘git er dun’ for all the poor souls who trusted in Jesus for Salvation but could not get it until Joe re-established the authority to baptism to finish salvation. For THAT one, Smith will enjoy extreme temps for eternity, IMHO. [I reference the Books of Romans, Galatians and Ephesians]

[greyfoxx39]

BTTT....good work, Zakeet.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

In my opinion, the biggest FRAUD of the mormon church
is not listed...

It is the TOTAL FAILURE to teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ,
so that people can have eternal life in the presence of God.

To accomplish this, and substitute a gospel of earthly works,
is a travesty and subverts what Christ did on the cross. It is
without a doubt the biggest fraud in history.

All the other things you’ve listed were done to support
this fraud.

best,
ampu

[SkyPilot]

Very good post.

Thanks.

[pby]

Holy cow, Zakeet!

POW!

With so many excellent examples to choose from (any of which denounces Joseph Smith's credibility as a prophet)...I am going to have to think on which one is the biggest.

[SkyPilot]

to the discovery of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel living in cement houses in a valley near the North Pole,

Actually, I think this is one of Smith's predictions that came true.

[Utah Binger]

The biggest fraud is the sanctimony; the big pretenders all so full of themselves. Mark Hoffman played these guys like a fiddle and they fell for it hook line and sinker.

At the time, my thoughts were: Why didn’t God tell them?

That was the icing on the cake for me.

[Colofornian]

The Book of Commandments

Since the Joseph Smith "Lectures of Faith" were distributed as "Scripture" as part of the "Book of Commandments" for generations, where are they now? Why no footnote in the D&C that these "plain & precious" things have been removed, censored & banned as "ex-Scripture" by the deceivers, the LDS Church general authorities?

Furthermore, how can you even have a category of "ex-Scriptures?"

[Elsie]

Do we need yet anOTHER list??