Posted on 07/24/2008 12:37:23 PM PDT by Gamecock
The well-publicized story of Joseph Smith's First Vision is not a true account of the origin of the Latter-day Saint movement. The facts are decided against it! First, the historical evidence shows that Joseph Smith, Jr. could not have been stirred by an 1820 revival, to ask which church was true. Second, early Mormon statements do not support his claim that in 1820 he learned through a visitation of the Father and the Son that all existing churches were wrong. Third, the details known about Joseph's early life contradict his assertion that in 1820 he had such a divine visitation and was persecuted by the community for telling such a story.
No 1820 Revival
First, his neighborhood in 1820 experienced no revival such as he described, in which "great multitudes" joined the Methodist, Baptist and Presbyterian churches. The Presbyterian records for the Palmyra Presbyterian Church show that it experienced no revival in 1820. (See Geneva Presbytery "Records," Presbyterian Historical Society.) The local Baptist church gained only six on profession of faith the entire year ("Records for the First Baptist Church in Palmyra," American Baptist Historical Society) while the Methodists actually lost members that year as well as the preceding and following years (Minutes of the Annual Conference).
Joseph Smith claimed that his mother, sister and two brothers were led to join the local Presbyterian Church as a result of that 1820 revival. However, four years before he made this claim, his own church paper had stated that the revival in which his family had been led to join the Presbyterian Church took place in 1823 (Messenger & Advocate I, pp. 42, 78). In fact, that account says it was the same 1823 revival that led him to go to his bedroom (not to a sacred grove) and pray "if a Supreme being did exist" and to know that "he was accepted of him." An angel (not a deity) is then reported to have appeared and told him of his forgiveness and of the gold plates.
Joseph's mother, likewise, knew nothing of an 1820 vision. In her unpublished account, she traces the origin of Mormonism to a bedroom visit by an angel. Joseph at the time had been "pondering which of the churches were the true one." The angel told him "there is not a true church on Earth. No not one" (First draft of "Lucy Smith's History," LDS Church Archives).
Furthermore, she tells us that the revival which led her joining the church took place following the death of her son, Alvin. Alvin died Nov. 19, 1823, and following that painful loss she reports that, "about this time there was a great revival in religion and the whole neighborhood was very much aroused to the subject and we among the rest, flocked to the meeting house to see if there was a word of comfort for us that might relieve our over-charged feelings" (p. 55-56).
She adds that although her husband would only attend the first meetings, he had no objection to her or the children "going or becoming church members." There is plenty of additional evidence that the revival Lucy Smith refers to did occur during the winter of 1824-25. It was reported in at least a dozen newspapers and religious periodicals. The church records show outstanding increases due to the reception of new converts. The Baptist church received 94, the Presbyterian 99, while the Methodist work grew by 208. No such revival bringing in "great multitudes" occurred in 1820.
It is clear that the revival Joseph Smith, Jr. described did not occur in 1820, but in 1824. Joseph Smith arbitrarily moved that revival back four years to 1820 and made it fit a First Vision story that neither his mother nor other close associates had heard of in those early days. The historical facts completely discredit Joseph Smith's First Vision story. (For further details, see "Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought" Spring 1969, pp. 59-100.)
Bible Reading Vs. Revelations
Furthermore, about 1832 Joseph Smith, Jr. began an account of the origin of the Mormon Church (the only one written in his own hand) that contradicts the official First Vision story he dictated some six years later. The account was never finished. (See the text in BYU Studies, Spring 1969, pp. 278ff.)
In this version Joseph presents himself between the ages of 12 and 15 as being a committed and perceptive reader of the Bible. He claims that his study of the Scriptures led him to understand that all of the denominations were wrong. He wrote: "By searching the Scriptures I found that mankind did not come unto the Lord but that they had apostatized from the true and living faith and there was no society or denomination that built upon the Gospel of Jesus Christ as recorded in the new testament."
Six years later, when he set forth his official First Vision story, he decided that he never had reached the firm conclusion that all churches were wrong from his study of the Bible. Instead, he claimed that it was during a vision of the Father and the Son that he first learned this information. He presented this as coming as a great surprise, for he added parenthetically -- "for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong." That statement even contradicted what Joseph had said a few paragraphs earlier in the same account. There he claimed that "I often said to myself ...Who of all these parties are right; or are they all wrong together?" Although the former statement appears in the original manuscript (see BYU Studies above, pg. 290), such a serious contradiction could not be allowed to stand, and after Joseph's death the embarrassing words were edited out.
Even without those words, however, the 1838 official account is in conflict with the 1832 version. In the 1832 account it is his Bible reading that stirs him to seek God, while in the 1838 story it is a non-existent revival that motivates him.
In the 1832 version he claims to have seen only Christ, while in the 1838 rendition both the Father and the Son appear. In the 1832 account he already knows all the churches are wrong, while in the 1838 story it is the dual deities who first inform him of this. Different people may have different views of the same event, but when one person tells contradictory stories about an event, he completely loses his credibility.
Persecution Vs. Acceptance
The 1838 First Vision story not only runs into trouble with Joseph's earlier 1832 version, but it is also contradicted by what we know about his early years in Palmyra. In his official version Joseph claims he was persecuted by all the churches in his area "because I continued to affirm I had seen a vision." However, Orsemus Turner, an apprentice printer in Palmyra until 1822, was in the same juvenile debating club with Joseph Smith. He recalled that Joseph "after catching a spark of Methodism ...became a very passable exhorter in evening meetings" (History of the Pioneer Settlement of Phelps and Gorham's Purchase, 1851, p. 214). Thus, instead of being opposed and persecuted as his 1838 account claims, young Joseph was welcomed and allowed to exhort during the Methodist's evening preaching. Furthermore, no one, either Mormon or non-Mormon, seems ever to have heard of Joseph's encounter with two divine Personages until after 1838. (See this admission in Dialogue, Autumn 1966, pp. 30-31; Saints Herald, June 29, 1959, pg. 21.)
From all available lines of evidence, therefore, Joseph's First Vision story appears to be a fabrication. There was no revival [as described by Smith] anywhere in the Palmyra area in 1820. Joseph was welcomed, not persecuted, by the Methodists. His 1832 account represents him as perceiving from his personal Bible study that all the churches were apostate, while his 1838 account said it "never entered into my heart that all were wrong." His 1832 version claimed only a vision of Christ, while the 1838 story transformed this into the Father and the Son. No one ever heard such a story until after he dictated it in 1838. In the light of such strong contradictory evidence, the First Vision story must be regarded as only the invention of Joseph Smith's highly imaginative mind. The facts and Joseph's words discredit it.
saves=saved
What mormons believe is totally different and not anything like the true path of Christ.
It is true that attending any one of these buildings does not make you a Christian any more than going to McDonalds makes you a BigMac.
Although I heard once you are what you eat - and some may resememble that remark LOL
I know a half-dozen or so here in Idaho. All but one of these read what is recorded in history, much of that stored within the Church. A couple went through great effort, even reading microfilm copies of browned newspapers. One found a couple of quotes from Joseph Smith that made their faith in the LDS Church crash.
Big Mac...
If only McDonald's had not gone gay...
The claim was made that there were "300,000 a year from their ranks..." converted from Christianity to mormonism. I requested some kind of proof of that claim and it was never provided. I'm aware there are many resignations from the mormon church yearly, but the official stats from SLC, of course, are not available to the public.
I'm still waiting for some kind of proof of those 300,000 Christians converting to mormonism yearly.
OK - Let the “flaming” begin -—
No flames from me. I was about to give you the example of "SENTINEL" but I scrolled a bit and found that he had already given his powerful testimony. Christians have an obligation to share the good news of Jesus Christ and SENTINEL does it well.
Joeseph Smith nor any other man is neccessary for salvation, the false prophet Smith is a hinderance.
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh to the Father but by me." John 14:6.
Not very cost effective from a business perspective, only 300,000 new customers annually world wide...
Couldn't be the product, could it? ;-)
Coincidentally, the Christian Church (DOC) was established at approximately the same time as the mormon church.
How about you?
I know it wasn't addressed to me but I'll answer anyway.
I belong to one of the churches that J. Smith said was "apostate".
That narrows it down a lot, huh?
Seems he had a thing for Mohammad...
http://bsimmons.wordpress.com/2006/11/29/i-will-be-a-second-mohammed/
Please note the annotations in the article, again citing words from Smith himself...
Thank you for your testimony at number 91.
Mormons CANNOT accept that simple fact.
The "great work" that the mormon church does in their temples depends upon the "requirements" (ie. baptism, endowments, sealing for eternity, etc.) being performed for the dead, as well as the living.
The aim of the membership of the LDS church is to be "temple worthy" in order to take part in these rituals which are a necessity in order to gain "exaltation". Temple "worthiness" requires obedience and bowing to LDS authority as seen in these questions for acquiring a "temple recommend":
1 Do you have faith in and a testimony of God the Eternal Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost?
2 Do you have a testimony of the Atonement of Christ and of His role as Savior and Redeemer?
3 Do you have a testimony of the restoration of the gospel in these the latter days?
4 Do you sustain the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the Prophet, Seer, and Revelator and as the only person on the earth who possesses and is authorized to exercise all priesthood keys? Do you sustain members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as prophets, seers, and revelators? Do you sustain the other General Authorities and local authorities of the Church?
5 Do you live the law of chastity?
6 Is there anything in your conduct relating to members of your family that is not in harmony with the teachings of the Church?
7 Do you support, affiliate with, or agree with any group or individual whose teachings or practices are contrary to or oppose those accepted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?
8 Do you strive to keep the covenants you have made, to attend your sacrament and other meetings, and to keep your life in harmony with the laws and commandments of the gospel?
9 Are you honest in your dealings with your fellowmen?
10 Are you a full-tithe payer?
11 Do your keep the Word of Wisdom?
12 Do you have financial or other oblgations to a former spouse or children? If yes, are you current in meeting those obligations?
13 If you have previously received your temple endowment:
Do you keep the covenants that you made in the temple?
Do you wear the garment both night and day as instructed in the endowment and in accordance with the covenant you made in the temple?
14 Have there been any sins or misdeeds in your life that should have been resolved with priesthood authorities but have not been?
15 Do you consider yourself worthy to enter the Lord's house and participate in temple ordinances?
Pay attention to No. 14: "Have there been any sins or misdeeds in your life that should have been resolved with priesthood authorities but have not been?
"Sins and misdeeds" are to be resolved with men.
I believe that my sins and misdeeds are to be resolved by a MUCH higher authority.
4 Do you sustain the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the Prophet, Seer, and Revelator and as the only person on the earth who possesses and is authorized to exercise all priesthood keys? Do you sustain members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as prophets, seers, and revelators? Do you sustain the other General Authorities and local authorities of the Church?
Isn't amazing that there is always more prophets around in the LDS to succeed the ones that have moved on. I mean even in God's hey day prophets were rare, but now we have a whole parade of them, who just so conveniently happen to be both mormons and in the chain of command of the LDS...
And then there is:
10 Are you a full-tithe payer?
Oh yeah, got to keep the bill paid to get into heaven.Maybe even have a good credit rating as well, I think I saw something about that in Paul's letter to the Bank of Rome...
Hmm, sounds like a cult to me...a lot of freemasonry in it too, perhaps?
I just got on this thread and am so blessed by your testimony. I thank God for you.
There ARE lurkers whose lives have been affected by the truth of the Gospel vs. the truth of Mormonism. That’s why we keep doing this.
Great post, colorcountry. It’s an honor to know you.
That’s not all Christians do, Stourme. We believe IN Him, we live FOR Him, we confess our sins TO Him and He cleanses us from all unrighteousness when we do. It’s a walk, a journey, and the Holy Spirit guides us into all truth. He convicts us of sin and we have to repent of that sin when He does. He has prepared works for us to do from the foundation of the world. It’s not just doing nice things for your church and community, although they might be good things to do, but what has HE prepared for YOU to do. Ask Him. He will guide you into those places prepared for you.
Wellll, tithing IS something Christians should be doing.
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