Mormonism, the Halloween Religion [Superbowl special

Many Mormons do not know about Joe Smith's family involvement in the Salem witch trials of 1692, when Joe Smith Sr.'s great-grandfather Samuel Smith and Samuel's father-in-law John Gould testified against Mary Easty and Sarah Wilds respectively. The testimony of these relatives of Joe Smith hanged these girls as witches. A belief in witchcraft was passed through the Smith generations. Even Orlando Saunders, whom Mormon apologists consider to be one of the most favorable witnesses to Joe Smith's character, said in an interview that both Joe Smith Sr. and Jr. believed in witchcraft (Frederic G. Mather, "The Early Days of Mormonism," Lippincott's Magazine 26, Aug. 1880, p. 198).

Mormon General Authority B. H. Roberts admitted that Joe Smith's ancestors believed in warlocks and witches, but he asserted that such belief was normal in Smith's day, "Yes, the Prophet's ancestors were credulous. . . . It may be admitted that some of them believed in fortune telling, in warlocks and witches. . . . To be credulous in such things was to be normal people" (B. H. Roberts, A Comprehensive History of the Church, vol. 1, pp. 26-27).

Fayette Lapham, who spoke with the Smiths at length to find out firsthand about Mormonism, said, "This Joseph Smith, Senior, we soon learned, from his own lips, was a firm believer in witchcraft and other supernatural things; and had brought up his family in the same belief" (Historical Magazine, 7 May 1870, p. 306).

Joshua Stafford, a neighbor of the Smith family, noted that their money digging started no later than about 1820, when Joe Smith, Jr., was about fifteen years old:

Orsamus Turner said, "Legends of hidden treasure had long designated Mormon Hill as the repository..."

“..You’re one step above the Nazis in my view because this kind of vitriol is what led directly to the Holocaust.”

Might I ask how an examination of the contradictions of any faith lead to the Holocaust?

Religions, are by definition, matters of faith. Whether one has faith in Gold Tablets found by Smith, or stone tablets brought down from a mountain by Moses, or the many teachings of an Essene named Jesus (all written down one or more centuries after He was crucified) - what matters may be how the believer lives and treats his fellows.

Colofornina seems to have a near endless source of Mormon contradictions. That in no way changes the good lives led by many Mormons.

Behavior is visible and verifiable. Belief is personal and internal.

The Founders wisely spoke of the primacy of mans need/obligation to relate to his creator. If one believes in the Holy Duracell Bunny, the Supreme Court has held that any religious belief sincerely held is afforded Constitutional protection as would be Christianity.

Courts have rightly held that a religious belief need not be believable, only that the person professing to believe in that “un-believable” faith be sincere in his belief.

What if I were to say: In the hills near my house, specifically the Hill BBQlessof, I was digging 'round for treasure, and found these gold-plated DVD-like plates.
Not sure knowing what to doeth with them, my various DVD players seemed to be good temporary hiding places since they fit perfectly.

Let's see this happened when I was 14...well, maybe 15...Or perhaps 16.

Others would say, of all the variations of your story, "It mattereth not."

Sounds like the obsessive anti-Mormons here also admire witch-burners. Bizarre.

Exodus 22:18 Thou shalt not suffer a murderer to live.

Joseph Smith Translation - Inspired Version

KJV = Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.

Apparently, WITCHES were WAY to close to home for Joseph!

They’re not going to hurt you.

Just going to spout some lies taught by demons: nothing to get upset about.

1 Timothy 4:1-2
1. The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.
2. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.

1 Timothy 4:6
If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed.

1 Timothy 1:3-4
3. As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer
4. nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God's work--which is by faith.

1 Timothy 1:7
They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.

2 Timothy 4:3-4
3. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
4. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

Titus 1:11
They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach--and that for the sake of dishonest gain.

Titus 2:1
You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine.

Titus 2:15
These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.

Hebrews 13:9
Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings.

2 Peter 2:1-3
1. But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves.
2. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.
3. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.

2 John 1:10
If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him.

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.