Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

JOSEPH SMITH, JR: Founder and first "Prophet, Seer, and Revelator" (1805-1844)(Mormon - OPEN)
Uncommon Sense Ministries, Inc. ^ | 2001 | Sword of the Spirit

Posted on 10/24/2010 8:05:32 AM PDT by Colofornian

Joseph and Lucy Mack Smith. Both parents were poorly educated, very superstitious, and deeply involved in the occult (magic). The destitute Smith family moved frequently, with the mystical Joseph Sr. etching out a meager existence by farming, digging for buried treasure, and "water witching." When all else failed, he even attempted to mint his own money (a practice that was disliked by the local constabulary).

The Smith family had a reputation for low moral character. According to more than sixty affidavits signed by members of the community, "...we have no hesitation in saying, that we consider them destitute of moral character, which ought to entitle them to the confidence of the community. They were particularly famous for visionary projects, spent much of their time in digging for money which they pretended was hid in the earth;...Joseph Smith, Senior, and his son Joseph, were in particular, considered entirely destitute of moral character, and addicted to vicious habits." 1

Joseph, Jr. learned well from the poor examples shown by his parents. According to one acquaintance, "...his habits of exaggeration and untruthfulness...and by reason of the extravagances of his statement, his word was received with the least confidence by those who knew him best. He would utter the most palpable exaggeration or marvelous absurdity with the utmost apparent gravity." 2

Joseph Smith, Jr. spent his youth practicing what we know today to be witchcraft and occultism--drawing magic circles, crystal gazing (with his famous "peep stone"), water-witching, sacrificing animals to manipulate the spirits, enchantments, communication with familiar spirits (necromancy), and astrological magic talismans and swords.

SNIP

(1) Walter Martin, The Maze of Mormonism, 1983, p. 25 (from Mormonism Unvailed, E. D. Howe, 1834, p. 261) (2) Ibid. (from The Origin, Rise and Progress of Mormonism, Tucker, 1847, p. 16)

(Excerpt) Read more at usminc.org ...


TOPICS: Apologetics; History; Other Christian; Religion & Culture
KEYWORDS: inman; josephsmith; lds; mormon; occult
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-115 next last
To: Elsie
GO.......

Defense worked last night!!!!!

61 posted on 10/24/2010 4:24:36 PM PDT by Utah Binger (Mount Carmel Utah, where the wolrd comes to see conservative America)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 59 | View Replies]

To: Colofornian

In 1823, at age 17, Joseph Smith was visited by an angelic being in his home in New York state:

“He called me by name, and said unto me that he was a messenger sent from the presence of God to me, and that his name was Moroni; that God had a work for me to do; and that my name should be had for good and evil among all nations, kindreds, and tongues, or that it should be both good and evil spoken of among all people” (http://lds.org/library/display/0,4945,104-1-3-1,00.html)

This prediction is being fulfilled. It doesn’t surprise me to hear the intense opposition and ridicule that has been directed towards him. It has always been the case with the servants of God.

I know that Joseph Smith was called by God to be a prophet in these latter days — this testimony has come to me and millions more through the witness of the Holy Ghost. I believe that his same witness can come to all who seek to know the truth from God through the prayer of faith, with a sincere desire to know the truth.

Normandy


62 posted on 10/24/2010 4:49:34 PM PDT by Normandy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Normandy; All
In 1823, at age 17, Joseph Smith was visited by an angelic being in his home in New York state

ALL: you need to understand a few things Mormons believe about angels:
(1) A figure of the angel Moroni sits atop Mormon temples. The cross isn't the primary symbol of the Mormon church; this angel is.
(2) Who are angels according to Joseph Smith? And particularly who was Moroni?
Answer: "Moroni, who deposited the plates in a hill in Manchester, Ontario County, New York, being dead and raised again therefrom, appeared unto me, and told me where they were, and gave me directions how to obtain them." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 119)

So who was Moroni per Smith? Why, he was a deceased spirit. A ghost. A ghost was the jumpstarter of Mormonism!

Smith went on to describe a "sister's" first vision in which "Many true things were spoken by this personage, and many things that were false. How, it may be asked, was this known to be a bad angel? (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 214)

So how, perchance, was Smith able to "distinguish" between a "good" angel and a "bad" one? Why, he answered that, too: "By the color of his hair; that is one of the signs that he can be known by..." (pp. 214-215)

Bottom-line, Smith had ZERO discernment on how to tell the difference between a demon masquerading as a ghost (Moroni), and a true angel.

63 posted on 10/24/2010 5:09:48 PM PDT by Colofornian
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 62 | View Replies]

To: Normandy; Elsie; All
In 1823, at age 17, Joseph Smith was visited by an angelic being in his home in New York state:

The other way Joseph Smith advocated that people discern between a...
..."just...angel",,,
...and a "deceiv[ing]...devil" (Mormon Doctrine & Covenants 129:4-8)
...is to "offer him your hand and request him to shake hands with you" (Mormon Doctrine & Covenants 129:4).
If you wind up shaking your hand with the devil, says ole Joe, "you will not feel anything; you may therefore detect him" (D&C 129:8).

So there ya go. Hair color and handshaking.

Tell me something. Would you buy even a used car from a used car dealer who told you the way you can discern between a well-maintenaced vehicle & and a lemon is the color of the car and the nature of the handshake of the dealer???

64 posted on 10/24/2010 5:17:55 PM PDT by Colofornian
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 62 | View Replies]

To: Normandy
Perhaps with the servants of the god of Mormonism. I notice you give your 'testimony' of your bosom burning, but never seem able to address the actual quotes from your leadership. Below are a few of your peepstone sexual predator of married women prophet's teachings on whom the god of Mormonism is, from Joseph Smith AND more recent Mormon teachers. These are quotes from Momron sources, if that makes any difference to the reader:

“I learned a testimony concerning Abraham, and he reasoned concerning the Gods of heaven. '...Intelligences exist one above another, so that there is no end to them.' If Abraham reasoned thus--If Jesus Christ was the Son of God, and John discovered that God the Father of Jesus Christ had a Father, you may suppose that He had a Father also. Where was there ever a son without a father? And where was there ever a father without first being a son? Whenever did a tree or anything spring into existence without a progenitor? And everything comes in this way. Paul says that which is earthly is in the likeness of that which is heavenly. Hence if Jesus had a Father, can we not believe that He had a Father also? I despise the idea of being scared to death at such a doctrine, for the Bible is full of it. I want you to pay particular attention to what I am saying. Jesus said that the Father wrought precisely in the same way as His Father had done before Him. As the Father had done before? He laid down His life, and took it up the same as His Father had done before. (Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 373)

"We were begotten by our Father in Heaven; the person of our Father in Heaven was begotten on a previous heavenly world by His Father; and again, He was begotten by a still more ancient Father; and so on, from generation to generation, ... we wonder in our minds, how far back the genealogy extends, and how the first world was formed, and the first father was begotten" (Orson Pratt, The Seer, p.132).

In the beginning, the head of the Gods called a council of the Gods; and they came together and concocted a plan to create the world and people it. (Joseph Smith, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 6, p. 5, 1844)

"Some people are troubled over the statements of the Prophet Joseph Smith.... The matter that seems such a mystery is the statement that our Father in heaven at one time passed through a life and death and is an exalted man. This is one of the mysteries.... The Prophet taught that our Father had a Father and so on. Is not this a reasonable thought, especially when we remember that the promises are made to us that we may become like him?" (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 1, pp.10, 12).

I will go back to the beginning, before the world was, to show what kind of a being God is. What sort of a being was God in the beginning? Open your ears and hear, all ye ends of the earth; for I am going to prove it to you by the Bible, and to tell you the designs of God in relation to the human race, and why he interferes with the affairs of man. God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted Man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens. That is the great secret. (Joseph Smith, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 6, p. 3, 1844)

The above direct quotes from Momron sources reveal the truth about Momronism and why it is considered 'not Christianity in any shape or form' by all the major Christian denominations in the World. The god of Mormonism is a lie, just low enough in imaginary standing so that Mormons are encouraged to strive to someday be a god also.

65 posted on 10/24/2010 5:23:36 PM PDT by MHGinTN (Some, believing they can't be deceived, it's nigh impossible to convince them when they're deceived.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 62 | View Replies]

To: MHGinTN

I understand that the doctrines found in your quotations don’t fit into what many Christians believe.

However, I don’t find anything objectionable in these teachings. I’m glad to learn new truths about God, and I’m thankful that through the restoration of Christ’s church we have been given additional revelations about the nature of God, man, and the purpose of life.


66 posted on 10/24/2010 6:19:54 PM PDT by Normandy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 65 | View Replies]

To: Normandy; MHGinTN
I’m glad to learn new truths about God, and I’m thankful that through the restoration of Christ’s church we have been given additional revelations about the nature of God, man, and the purpose of life.

Even though the bible clearly teaches that there is only one God in all existence anywhere. That truth is diametrically opposed to the 'truth' put forth by smith. They cannot co-exist.

67 posted on 10/24/2010 6:26:20 PM PDT by Godzilla (3-7-77)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 66 | View Replies]

To: aMorePerfectUnion

Shame on you for continuing to post that bit so full of falsehoods. You don’t even get through the first paragraph.

Honest and sincere lurkers will read that paragraph alone, do their own research and voila.... one of those ahah moments I mention. Thanks for continuing to prove my point but wouldn’t it make you feel better if you were just truthful?

Claiming that you merely post (occasionally) from “Official Mormon Sources” is a falsehood based on omission. You omit that after wards follows the straw man arguments, misrepresentations and twisting of truth.

Perhaps you would like to add that in. It would be a start and might make you feel a little better about yourself.


68 posted on 10/24/2010 6:49:41 PM PDT by Paragon Defender
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]

To: Paragon Defender

“Shame on you for continuing to post that bit so full of falsehoods.”

... ABSOLUTELY, 100% TRUTH. You apparently do not have
a familiarity with what truth feels like or looks like.

“You don’t even get through the first paragraph.”

... I got through all the paragraphs.

“Honest and sincere lurkers will read that paragraph alone, do their own research and voila.... one of those ahah moments I mention.”

... Let us know when that happens. Are you implying that
if they do not see it your way, that they are not honest
and sincere? That sounds familiar, for some reason.

“Thanks for continuing to prove my point but wouldn’t it make you feel better if you were just truthful?”

... It must be cozy in the world you live in. :-)

“Claiming that you merely post (occasionally) from “Official Mormon Sources” is a falsehood based on omission.”

... Christians post from the Book of Mormon ALL DAY here, as
well as other official sources. You deny them all, unless
you post them. That speaks for itself.

“You omit that after wards follows the straw man arguments, misrepresentations and twisting of truth.”

...I have never made a straw man argument, like you do in every
one of your non-factual, non-evidential, non-logical posts.
That’s OK, post whatever you wish.

“Perhaps you would like to add that in.”

... If I did, it would be a falsehood, which I do not
include in my posts.

“It would be a start and might make you feel a little better about yourself.”

... My posts are not about me and I already feel blessed.
They are not about you either, except the part about not
providing anything but feelings and links that never
contain facts, evidence or logical support for mormonism.
That part at least sounds like it describes your posting
history here.

In any case, I wish you well in life. Please continue to
demonstrate a non-defense of mormonism and we will continue
to list facts, evidence and logical argument that invalidates
mormonism.

best,
ampu

PS- FUN MORMON FACT: There are 4 mormon earth gods:

1. Heavenly Father, who used to be a man
2. Mormon Jesus, who was a created spirit being
3. Holy Ghost, who was a created spirit being
4. Heavenly Mother, who used to be a woman, and now as a goddess, breeds with Heavenly Father to populate the earth.


69 posted on 10/24/2010 7:06:18 PM PDT by aMorePerfectUnion
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 68 | View Replies]

To: aMorePerfectUnion; Paragon Defender
PS- FUN MORMON FACT: There are 4 mormon earth gods:

The other sister wives are not pleased being left out.

Adam-God is upset as well.

70 posted on 10/24/2010 7:32:12 PM PDT by Godzilla (3-7-77)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 69 | View Replies]

To: aMorePerfectUnion

Christians post from the Book of Mormon ALL DAY here, as
well as other official sources. You deny them all, unless
you post them.


Another false statement. Just keep piling em on eh?


71 posted on 10/24/2010 7:47:47 PM PDT by Paragon Defender
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 69 | View Replies]

To: Normandy
 

In 1823, at age 17, Joseph Smith was visited by an angelic being in his home in New York state:

 
 
We agree on this point; but only a person with BLINDERS on would state it was NOT an Angel of LIGHT!!


KJV
 Galatians 1:6-9
 6.  I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
 7.  Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
 8.  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
 9.  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
 
 
 
 
ANYBODY???
 
Like this fine looking fellow???
 
 
 
 
 

2 Corinthians 11:12-15
 12.  But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.
 13.  For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
 14.  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
 15.  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
 
 

Like THESE guys??
 
 
 
 
17 It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!
 
 


 
Ephesians 2:1-2 
1.  And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:


 
1 Corinthians 4:17
  For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.
 
1 Corinthians 11:2
   Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.
 
2 Thessalonians 2:15
   Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
 
2 Timothy 1:13
   Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
 
2 Timothy 3:14-15
 14.  But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
 15.  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.


72 posted on 10/24/2010 8:00:45 PM PDT by Elsie ( Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 62 | View Replies]

To: Normandy
I’m glad to learn new truths about God...

Sadly; your 'new truth' conflicts with the OLD truth.

But that is no problem for MORMONs, for they EASILY reject the OLD in favor of the NEW.


 
 

In conclusion let us summarize this grand key, these “Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophet”, for our salvation depends on them.


1. The prophet is the only man who speaks for the Lord in everything.
2. The living prophet is more vital to us than the standard works.
3. The living prophet is more important to us than a dead prophet.
4. The prophet will never lead the church astray.
5. The prophet is not required to have any particular earthly training or credentials to speak on any subject or act on any matter at any time.
6. The prophet does not have to say “Thus Saith the Lord,” to give us scripture.
7. The prophet tells us what we need to know, not always what we want to know.
8. The prophet is not limited by men’s reasoning.
9. The prophet can receive revelation on any matter, temporal or spiritual.
10. The prophet may advise on civic matters.
11. The two groups who have the greatest difficulty in following the prophet are the proud who are learned and the proud who are rich.
12. The prophet will not necessarily be popular with the world or the worldly.
13. The prophet and his counselors make up the First Presidency—the highest quorum in the Church.
14. The prophet and the presidency—the living prophet and the First Presidency—follow them and be blessed—reject them and suffer.

I testify that these fourteen fundamentals in following the living prophet are true. If we want to know how well we stand with the Lord then let us ask ourselves how well we stand with His mortal captain—how close do our lives harmonize with the Lord’s anointed—the living Prophet—President of the Church, and with the Quorum of the First Presidency.

Ezra Taft Benson

(Address given Tuesday, February 26, 1980 at Brigham Young University)

73 posted on 10/24/2010 8:03:38 PM PDT by Elsie ( Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 66 | View Replies]

To: Normandy
I’m glad to learn new truths about God...

Sadly; your 'new truth' conflicts with the OLD truth.

But that is no problem for MORMONs, for they EASILY reject the OLD in favor of the NEW.


 
Old stuff below...



TRUTH IGNORED
 
 

Smith, Young, Taylor, Pratt, Snow, Kimbal,l Woodruff ...

 
 
 

 1 Timothy 3:2-3
 2.  Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
 3.  not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.
 
 
1 Timothy 3:12
   A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his household well.
 
 
 Titus 1:6
   An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient.




 
BEHOLD!!!!  The Restorative Power  of the Book of Mormon!!
 



 
THE BOOK OF JACOB
THE BROTHER OF NEPHI
CHAPTER 2
 
  24 Behold, David and Solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before me, saith the Lord.
  25 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.
  26 Wherefore, I the Lord God will not suffer that this people shall do like unto them of old.
  27 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;
  28 For I, the Lord God, delight in the chastity of women. And whoredoms are an abomination before me; thus saith the Lord of Hosts.
  29 Wherefore, this people shall keep my commandments, saith the Lord of Hosts, or cursed be the land for their sakes.
  30 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.
  31 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.
  32 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.
 
 

74 posted on 10/24/2010 8:04:54 PM PDT by Elsie ( Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 66 | View Replies]

To: Paragon Defender
Shame on you for continuing to post that bit so full of falsehoods.

Where??

I saw NONE!

Can you point out what YOU found??

75 posted on 10/24/2010 8:06:02 PM PDT by Elsie ( Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 68 | View Replies]

To: Paragon Defender
Perhaps you would like to add that in. It would be a start and might make you feel a little better about yourself.

If you are going to call someone a LIAR; it would behoove you to actually point out the LIE you claim they said.

76 posted on 10/24/2010 8:08:43 PM PDT by Elsie ( Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 68 | View Replies]

To: Paragon Defender
Another false statement. Just keep piling em on eh?

Flanagan; it's getting old...

77 posted on 10/24/2010 8:10:13 PM PDT by Elsie ( Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 71 | View Replies]

To: Elsie
Joseph and Lucy Mack Smith. Both parents were poorly educated, very superstitious, and deeply involved in the occult (magic). The destitute Smith family moved frequently, with the mystical Joseph Sr. etching out a meager existence by farming, digging for buried treasure, and "water witching."

PD says the above is a LIE!

78 posted on 10/24/2010 8:12:07 PM PDT by Elsie ( Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 77 | View Replies]

To: Paragon Defender

“Christians post from the Book of Mormon ALL DAY here, as
well as other official sources. You deny them all, unless
you post them.

“Another false statement. Just keep piling em on eh?

Man up and prove it-though I know you cannot...


79 posted on 10/24/2010 8:29:02 PM PDT by aMorePerfectUnion
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 71 | View Replies]

To: Tennessee Nana

TN Nana, It’s ironic, I met LDS members when living in Murfreesboro, TN. They didn’t curse, drink, smoke, always smiled, had positive things to say, prayed with me, and were good to my family.
Some of the nicest people I’ve ever met.

So here we go, Mitt Romney, Orin Hatch, Bill Bennett or any other Mormon politician to my knowledge have never forced their beliefs on the public. Barry Soetoro a mormon - that’s a new one for me. I believe Black Liberation Theology / Islamic studies in Indonesia as a child is the correct religion(s).

We could go down that path; Jimmy Carter - Southern Baptist, Pelosi - Catholic, Biden - Catholic, Lieberman - Jewish, G. W. Bush - Methodist, Clinton - Baptist, etc...

To my knowledge, Obama and Pelosi are the only ones legislating the way “God wants”, eg: I am my brother’s keeper, as Obama puts it.

And yes Elsie, I now know that I am on a RELIGION thread. Thank you informing me.


80 posted on 10/24/2010 8:45:54 PM PDT by everlast
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 51 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-115 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson