Priesthood of Joseph Smith [The OTHER World Series]

Mormon Coffee (Mormonism Research Ministry) ^ | Aug. 5, 2010 | Setfree

[Colofornian]

LDS History of the Church Vol. 4 (pp 571-81) includes an editorial Joseph Smith, Jr. submitted to the Times and Seasons newspaper. “Try the Spirits” was written in response to “occurrences that [had] transpired amongst” his congregation. In the article, Smith identifies a spiritual problem– that is, people wrongly believe God is behind every manifestation of power, but in fact the credit is very often due to an evil or deceiving spirit. He writes,

“there always did… seem to be a lack of intelligence pertaining to this subject. Spirits of all kinds have been manifested, in every age, and almost amongst all people… and all contend their spirits are of God…all nations have been deceived, imposed upon and injured through the mischievous effects of false spirits…”

Smith also offers the solution to this problem: it is only persons specifically chosen by God (i.e. apostles and prophets), including, of course, Joseph Smith himself, who are able to distinguish bad spirits from good ones “through the medium of the Priesthood.”

Ironically, the LDS Church began with Joseph’s own alleged spirit-visitation, a visitation which preceded any priesthood- “holding” on Joseph’s part. Thus, by his own standard, he could not have discerned whether or not the spirits visiting him were true and good, or false and evil. More than that, though, Joseph’s article reveals his understanding of the nature of priesthood. He writes:

“If Satan should appear as one in glory, who can tell his color, his signs, his appearance, his glory? …who can drag into daylight and develop the hidden mysteries of the false spirits… We answer that no man can do this without the Priesthood…for as ‘no man knows the things of God, but by the Spirit of God,’ so no man knows the spirit of the devil, and his power and influence, but by possessing intelligence which is more than human, and having unfolded through the medium of the Priesthood the mysterious operations of his devices…”

“…The Apostles in ancient times held the keys of this Priesthood… and consequently were enabled to unlock and unravel all things pertaining to…the future destiny of men, and the agency, power and influence of spirits; for they could control them at pleasure, bid them depart in the name of Jesus, and detect their mischievous and mysterious operations…”

“…Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and many other prophets possessed this power. Our Savior, the Apostles, and even the members of the Church were endowed with this gift…”

“…wicked spirits have their bounds, limits, and laws by which they are governed or controlled… it is very evident that they possess a power that none but those who have the Priesthood can control…”

Smith, the founder of the Mormon Church, believed that the priesthood is a power, and that it, among other things, enables a person to exercise control over evil spirits. Did Joseph Smith want this kind of power? Yes, he did. I recommend (among others) the free online book Joseph Smith’s New York Reputation Reexamined for a deeper understanding of these issues. (The book is about the testimonies and eyewitness accounts given by early neighbors of the Smith family, and a rebuttal of the later dismissal of these testimonies by LDS apologists. The appendix gives the neighbors’ affidavits.)

Did Joseph think that the priesthood spoken of in the Bible was the kind of power he needed? Indeed, he did, as you can determine by reading his editorial in full (click on link, and then search for “Try the Spirits”).

Of course, Joseph’s perception of the Biblical priesthood was far from correct. Priesthood in the Bible is not a POWER, but a word referring to the role, responsibilities, and requirements of a priest–a person whose job is to represent the people before God. Old Testament priests did not study up on the “bounds, limits, and laws” governing demons so “they could control them at pleasure.” On the other hand, before becoming a prophet Joseph Smith had made a name for himself attempting (and failing) to locate buried treasure with his peepstone. His failure, he claimed, was because of those pesky guarding ghosts….

Smith’s need and desire for power, together with his quest for biblical-backing, provides a fine example of eisegesis (i.e., imposing one’s own interpretation onto a biblical text). Joseph, in attempting to ascertain the role and nature of biblical priesthood, simply saw what he wished to see.

In conclusion, Smith describes one of the incidents that inspired his editorial. He writes:

“There have also been ministering angels in the Church which were of Satan appearing as an angel of light. A sister in the state of New York had a vision, who said it was told her that if she would go to a certain place in the woods, an angel would appear to her. She went at the appointed time, and saw a glorious personage descending, arrayed in white, with sandy colored hair; he commenced and told her to fear God, and said that her husband was called to do great things, but that he must not go more than one hundred miles from home, or he would not return; whereas God had called him [via Smith] to go to the ends of the earth, and he has since been more than one thousand miles from home, and is yet alive. 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? By the color of his hair; that is one of the signs that he can be known by and by his contradicting a former revelation.”

The “spirits” Joseph consulted as he built his church DID contradict former revelation; irony, again. The nature of God, the number of gods, the nature of Jesus, the nature of man, the place of Jesus’ atonement, the virginity of Mary, the role of and need for the priesthood, heaven and hell, just to name a few, are all Biblical revelations that have been contradicted in Joseph’s religion. Setting aside hair color, were the spirits Joseph dealt with true and good? Or false and evil? How do you know?

Mormonism’s Jesus is one of many gods. He is Lucifer’s spirit-brother, humankind’s spirit-brother, and the son of the god “Elohim.” He did not create all, he was not clearly virgin born, and he is not to be directly worshiped by people on this planet. Mormonism thus fails the test of 1 John 4:1-3. Joseph’s spirits, if they existed at all, were of the false and evil variety.

[Colofornian]

From the article: (Joseph) Smith identifies a spiritual problem– that is, people wrongly believe God is behind every manifestation of power, but in fact the credit is very often due to an evil or deceiving spirit. He writes, “there always did… seem to be a lack of intelligence pertaining to this subject. Spirits of all kinds have been manifested, in every age, and almost amongst all people… and all contend their spirits are of God…all nations have been deceived, imposed upon and injured through the mischievous effects of false spirits…” Smith also offers the solution to this problem: it is only persons specifically chosen by God (i.e. apostles and prophets), including, of course, Joseph Smith himself, who are able to distinguish bad spirits from good ones “through the medium of the Priesthood.” Joseph’s article reveals his understanding of the nature of priesthood. He writes: “If Satan should appear as one in glory, who can tell his color, his signs, his appearance, his glory? …who can drag into daylight and develop the hidden mysteries of the false spirits…no man knows the spirit of the devil, and his power and influence, but by possessing intelligence which is more than human, and having unfolded through the medium of the Priesthood the mysterious operations of his devices…”

So, Smith was asking who can discern Satanic/demonic manifestations from other spirit visitations (like angels)? He claims here that Mormon priests operated as spirit "mediums."

More on Mormon spirit medium-priests on later posts.

This is part of an ongoing Halloween occult series on Mormonism.

For a sampling of similar articles, please see:

Discerning Ghost-spirits, demons, and other entities Series:
* Mormon Doctrine on Shaking Hands With Spirits [The Other World Series]
* Lds Temple Haunted? Did Declaration of Independence signers appear as ghosts to leader? [Vanity]
* They see dead people?
* Are ghosts among us? Many believe in spirits, but churches offer stern warnings

Occult Worldview of Mormonism:
* Mormonism, the Halloween Religion
* GOD-MEN AND SPIRITUAL VEGETABLES: The Occult Worldview of Mormonism (Top FREEPER-commented upon occult thread from October, 2010)
JOSEPH SMITH’S INVOLVEMENT WITH MAGIC, MASONRY, AND THE OCCULT
* Early Mormonism and the Magic World View
* The Occult and the Restoration Story: Joseph Smith and RLDS/LDS Origins

[Colofornian]

Why is this question – the ability to discern the spirits – especially relevant for Mormons?

The answer is that their leaders have long encouraged contact with the dead; contact with other-worldly entities. Lds “prophet” Lorenzo Snow talked about a sort of spirit revolving door with Mormons: Per one Lds writer, “Lorenzo Snow said that it is the ‘grand privilege of every Latter-day Saint…to have the manifestations of the spirit every day of our lives…’ (Deseret Book CEO Sheri Dew, No Doubt About It, p. 108 Bookcraft)

Hence, for manifestation-happy Mormons “Revelation includes…visions…the visitations of angels and spirits…voices…” ( Truman G. Madsen, “Smith, Joseph: Teachings of Joseph Smith” Church History: Selections from the Encyclopedia of Mormonism, ed. By Daniel H. Ludlow Deseret Book Co 1992, p. 511)

[Colofornian]

Shortly after the Book of Mormon was published, Smith, needing $, tried to sell off its rights in Canada by sending cohorts there. When that didn't come into fruition, his cohorts asked him why that venture failed:

"Joseph...enquired of the Lord about it, and behold the following revelation came through the stone: 'Some revelations are of God: some revelations are of men: and some revelations are of the devil.'" (David Whitmer, An Address to All Believers in Christ, Toronto, 1887)

Smith essentially said the same thing in D&C 46:7 (March 8, 1831): "...that ye may not be seduced by evil spirits, or doctrines of devils, or the commandments of men; for some are of men, and others of devils."

Whereas true Christians leave "revelation" as a God-alone category, Smith didn't. He openly said some of "revelations" aimed his way came from the devil and men.

Here is an Lds "apostle" commenting upon this, claiming that 'the evil one has the power to tap in those channels of revelation': “But ‘all inspiration does not come from God. (See D&C 46:7),’ declared Boyd K. Packer. He wrote, ‘The evil one has the power to tap in those channels of revelation and send conflicting signals which can mislead and confuse us. These are promptings from evil sources which are so carefully counterfeited as to deceive even the very elect. (See Matthew 24:24). Nevertheless, we can learn to discern these spirits. Even with every member having the right to revelation, the church can be maintained as a house of order’ and safety. (Ensign, November 1989, p. 14). But ‘nothing,’ said Joseph Smith, ‘is a greater injury to the children of men than to be under the influence of a fale spirit when they think they have the Spirit of God.’ (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 205).” (Priesthood Blessings: A Hidden Treasure and a Crowning Privilege, Donald E. Goff, 1997, SunRise Publishing, Orem, UT, P. 143)

Mormons have concluded experientially that Satan tapped into their channels of revelation, leading to confusion and counterfeiting and deception...especially given the Mormon problem whereby all Mormons can claim their own"right to revelation."

Was it thereby "coincidental" that the authority of the Mormon Melchizedek priesthood was "manifested" at the exact same time that "the man of sin was revealed" in Mormonism's own history account?

“On the 3rd of June, the Elders from the various parts of the country where they were laboring, came in; and the conference before appointed, convened in Kirtland; the Lord displayed His power to the most perfect satisfaction of the Saints. The man of sin was revealed, and the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood was manifested and conferred for the first time upon several of the elders.” (History of the Church, vol. 1, p. 175-176 1831)

[Colofornian]

Mormonism has a MAJOR revelational heresy re: angels.

You see, Joseph Smith, when he tried to convince his first wife by "revelation" that polygamy was "A-OK"...began teaching that some men -- upon getting "out of the world" (D&C 132:15) -- "are appointed angels in heaven" (D&C 132:16).

Men become angels? [Sounds a bit like the Jehovah's Witness belief that Jesus was an angel who became a man and a god (god with small "g")].

The revelational problem with this -- and why Mormons flunk Biblical theology on angels -- is that the Old Testament clearly teaches that...
...angels are distinct from humans (see Psalm 8:4-5)
-- and furthermore, angels don't die (see Luke 20:36).

Hence the entity who jumpstarted Mormonism and now sits atop their temples (Moroni) was a dead guy...turned "angel." Another word for a dead guy making manifestations is a "ghost"; and another word for an angel appearing to present a false gospel is a demon!
This Mormon source concedes this "angel" appearing to Joseph Smith was a "deceased" spirit: In later visions and revelations, angelic visitors revealed lost teachings and authority to Joseph. The first of these was the angel Moroni, a deceased prophet of the ancient Americas. He prepared Joseph for 4 years, and then gave him the metal plates containing the Book of Mormon…
(Source: Moroni is a 'Ghost' )

From Lds "apostle" Parley P. Pratt -- just 4 years before being shot to death for attempting to steal a wedded woman from the South:
Who communicated with our great Prophet, and revealed through him as a medium, the ancient history of a hemisphere, and the records of the ancient dead? Moroni, who had lived upon the earth 1400 years before...Who revealed to him the plan of redemption, and of exaltation for the dead who had died without the Gospel and the keys and preparations necessary for holy and perpetual converse with Jesus Christ, and with the spirits of just men made perfect?... Those from the dead!...Shall we, then, deny the principle, the philosophy, the fact of communication between worlds? No! verily no! Editors, statesmen, philosophers, priests, and lawyers, as well as the common people, began to advocate the principle of converse with the dead, by visions, divination, clairvoyance, knocking, and writing mediums, etc., etc. This spiritual philosophy of converse with the dead, once established by the labors, toils, sufferings, and martyrdom of its modern founders, and now embraced by a large portion of the learned world, show a triumph more rapid and complete — a victory more extensive, than has ever been achieved in the same length of time in our world. An important point is gained, a victory won, and a countless host of opposing powers vanquished, on one of the leading or fundamental truths of "Mormon" philosophy, viz. — "that the living may hear from the dead."
Source of above quotes: Journal of Discourse, Vol. 2, pp. 44-46...doesn't matter if you go here:
Source: Journal of Discourses/Volume 2/Spiritual Communication or here: Journal of Discourses, Vol. 2, pp. 44-45 ... they both read the same...the first link is a little easier to access and read/wade through.

[Colofornian]

Continuing April 6, 1853 sermon given by Lds “apostle” Parley P. Pratt:
The fact of spiritual communications being established, by which the living hear from the dead - being no longer a question of controversy with the well informed, we drop that point, and call attention to the means of discriminating or judging between the lawful and the unlawful mediums or channels of communication - between the holy and impure, the truths and falsehoods, thus communicated. The words of the holy Prophet in our text, while they admit the principle of the living hearing from the dead, openly rebuke, and sharply reprove, persons for seeking to those who have familiar spirits, and to wizards that peep and mutter, and remind us that a people should seek unto their God for the living to hear from the dead!

Pratt advocated the living to hear from the dead.
Skipping down past Parley P Pratt talking about modern revelation and having angels speak... We get to this:
Thirdly, Jesus Christ is the only name given under heaven, as a medium through which to approach to God. None, then, can be lawful mediums, who are unbelievers in Jesus Christ, or in modern revelation; or who remain in their sins; or who act in their own name, instead of the name appointed.

This then gets to this 'Mormon question' of whether using "mediums" (beyond Jesus Christ) is "unlawful": (Is it?...Or, is it "A-OK" for Mormon "apostles" to call Joseph Smith a "medium"?)

REAL Pratt Gem: "Who communicated with our great modern Prophet, and revealed through him as a MEDIUM, the ancient history of a hemisphere, and the records of the ancient dead? Moroni, who had lived upon the earth fourteen hundred years before." (Pratt, p. 44)

Pratt confesses that this dead guy named Moroni, appears as a ghost -- and he likewise treats Joseph Smith as a "medium" interacting with such deceased entities.

Source of above quotes: Journal of Discourse, Vol. 2, pp. 44-45...doesn't matter if you go here:
Source: Journal of Discourses/Volume 2/Spiritual Communication or here: Journal of Discourses, Vol. 2, pp. 44-45 ... they both read the same...the first link is a little easier to access and read/wade through.

[Colofornian]

Another REAL Pratt gem: How do the Saints expect the necessary information by which to complete the ministrations for the salvation and exaltation of their friends who have died? By one holding the keys of the oracles of God, AS A MEDIUM THROUGH WHICH THE LIVING CAN HEAR FROM THE DEAD. Shall we, then, deny the principle, the philosophy, the fact of communication between worlds? No! verily no! The spiritual philosophy of the present age was introduced to the modern world by Joseph Smith. The people of the United States abandoned him to martyrdom, and his followers to fire, and sword, and plunder, and imprisonment, and final banishment to these far-off mountains and deserts, simply because a medium of communication with the invisible world had been found, whereby the living could hear from the dead. (p. 44)

A third REAL Pratt Gem: (Similar to C): ...the Lord has appointed a Holy Priesthood on the earth, and in the heavens, and also in the world of spirits...and has committed to this Priesthood the keys of holy and divine revelation, and of CORRESPONDENCE, OR COMMUICATION BETWEEN angels, SPIRITS, AND MEN (p. 45)

A fourth REAL Pratt Gem E: ...an obscure boy and his few associates, in the western wilds of New York, commenced to hold CONVERSE WITH THE DEAD...ONE OF THE LEADING OR FUNDAMENTAL TRUTHS OF "MORMON" PHILOSOPHY, viz. - "That the living may hear from the dead." (p. 45)

Source of above quotes: Journal of Discourse, Vol. 2, pp. 44-45...doesn't matter if you go here:
Source: Journal of Discourses/Volume 2/Spiritual Communication or here: Journal of Discourses, Vol. 2, pp. 44-45 ... they both read the same...the first link is a little easier to access and read/wade through.

Anyone wanting to question Mormonism's 19th century occultic roots of communicating with the dead?

[Colofornian]

Joseph Smith's nephew, Joseph F. Smith, became the sixth President of the Mormon church. In a book published by the highest office in the Mormon church (The First Presidency), he wrote:

"One individual cannot place an affliction upon another in the way that these soothsayers would have the people believe." (p. 147)

Yet, if what Joseph F. Smith wrote was true, then why almost 70 years earlier did his uncle, Joseph Smith, say it was a "revelation" from God that allows individuals to place curse-afflictions upon others?
“And inasmuch as mine enemies come against you to drive you from my goodly land, which I have consecrated to be the land of Zion…ye shall curse them; And whomsoever ye curse, I will curse.” (D&C 103:24-25)

Bottom-line: The Mormon leaders are historically consistent hypocrites.

Joseph F. Smith, cont'd: "It is a trick of Satan to deceive men and women...These peepstone men and women are inspired by the devil and are the real witches, if any such there be. Witchcraft and all kindred evils are solely the creations of the superstitious imaginations of men and women who are steeped in ignorance and derive their power over people from the devil, and those who submit to this influence are deceived by him. Unless they repent, they will be destoryed...you can never obtain that Spirit by seeking diviners and men and women who 'peep and mutter.'" (Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, 2:147-148, Sept, 1902 Published by the First Presidency of the Mormon church, 1971)

Here, Joseph F. Smith said that "peepstone men...are inspired by the devil and are real witches...you can never obtain that Spirit by seeking diviners and men...who 'peep'..." Yet per the article posted on this thread: On the other hand, before becoming a prophet Joseph Smith had made a name for himself attempting (and failing) to locate buried treasure with his peepstone. His failure, he claimed, was because of those pesky guarding ghosts...

[Godzilla]

Mormons used to cite that the bom had a ‘familiar spirit’ and use Isaiah 29:1-14 (quoted in 2 Nephi 26:16) to support the bom. Haven’t heard it tried here, nor know if the missionaries are still trying to use it to support the bom.

However, when one researches the use of ‘familiar spirit’ in the OT, one discovers that every citation it refers to witchcraft or a spiritist/occultist contacting the dead.

In your posts, numerous mormon historical citation regarding the contacting of ghosts/spirits by smith and other mormon presidents/apostles are shown.

Those who did that were condemned to death in the bible.

[Tennessee Nana]

Williard Mitt Romney wants to be high-priest-in-chief...

[Colofornian]

Mormons used to cite that the bom had a ‘familiar spirit’ and use Isaiah 29:1-14 (quoted in 2 Nephi 26:16) to support the bom. Haven’t heard it tried here, nor know if the missionaries are still trying to use it to support the bom.

Yes. Actually still presented by Mormon leaders. I posted a whole thread about this October a year ago:
The "familiar spirit" in 2 Nephi 26:16

The article is from a Mormon "take" -- the comments more from us Christians in response.

[Graybeard58]

The revelational problem with this -- and why Mormons flunk Biblical theology on angels -- is that the Old Testament clearly teaches that... ...angels are distinct from humans (see Psalm 8:4-5) -- and furthermore, angels don't die (see Luke 20:36).

Hollywood stole the idea from Joseph Smith that people die and then become Angels? Seems that Mormon inc. should be suing for some royalties.

[Graybeard58]

Pratt advocated the living to hear from the dead.

King Saul did too and that didn't work out well for him.

[Elsie]

Smith, the founder of the Mormon Church, believed that the priesthood is a power, and that it, among other things, enables a person to exercise control over evil spirits.

I guess HE was surprised when he found out different!

Mama always told me to wear clean underwear in case I ever went to the hospital. I wonder if JS was wearing his...

---

JESUS: Hey Smith!       Remember that boast you made about doing more than even I had done to hold the 'church' together?

JOSEPH SMITH: Where am I?

JESUS: Don't you remember? A few seconds ago you were in that jail.

JOSEPH SMITH: Oh; yeah; but where am I NOW?

JESUS: Don't you remember? Does bang - bang ring a bell?

JOSEPH SMITH: Oh; yeah - that crummy gun I had was about USELESS!

JESUS: I hope you left instructions on how to hold your church together.

JOSEPH SMITH: Dang! I knew there was SOMETHING I was forgetting!

JESUS: Looks like there's a power struggle going on down there.

JOSEPH SMITH: Yeah; there was always SOMEone who wanted the power that I held - especially over the LADIES - wink wink.

JESUS: No need to worry about that now; remember what my friend Matthew wrote down?

JOSEPH SMITH: This? “At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven” (Matthew 22:30)

JESUS: That's it.

JOSEPH SMITH: I thought that was mistranslated.

JESUS: Nah - it was right.

JOSEPH SMITH: Oh well; it was fun while it lasted. My buds will still get it on with the girls.

JESUS: Uh; I'm sorry; in just a few more years; your followers will cavein to the United States government and abandon the 'Eternal Covenant' that you came up with.

JOSEPH SMITH: ME!? YOU are the one that told me to do that!

JESUS: Sorry; but you must have mistranslated what I told you. What part of Do NOT commit ADULTERY did you not understand?

JOSEPH SMITH: mumble....

JESUS: What did you say?

JOSEPH SMITH: Oh, nothing.

JESUS: Well; it was interesting talking to you; but now I must get back to perparing a place for those who believe in Me.

JOSEPH SMITH: Oh, yeah; the Celestial Kingdom.

JESUS: No...

JOSEPH SMITH: The Telestial one?

JESUS: Nope.

JOSEPH SMITH: SUREly not the TERRESTRIAL one!!

JESUS: Nope. Didn't you read that the mind of man had NOT conceived of it? Paul wrote it down in 1 Corinthians 2:9.

JOSEPH SMITH: I thought that was mistranslated.

JESUS: No; it wasn't.

JOSEPH SMITH: You SURE?

JESUS: Yes. Now I must be going: what did you say your name was again?

JOSEPH SMITH: Joseph Smith.

JESUS: Hmmmm. According to my Heavenly FAITHbook, you didn't sign in as one of my friends - sorry, I never knew you.

JOSEPH SMITH: But.... 

[Elsie]

---

---

 

"Joseph; I advise you not to go to that jail."

 

"Darn gnats!!"

 

 

"Joseph; I'm telling you to not to go to that jail."

 

"Flies are BAD today!!"

 

 

"Joseph; It ain't gonna be pretty if you ignore me and go to that jail!"

 

"Crummy mosquitos are EVERYWHERE!!!"

 

 

"Joseph!  Do NOT go to that jail!"

 

"And those bedbugs really savaged me last night, too!"

 

 

"JOSEPH!!  Wake up boy!   Do Not Go To That JAIL!!!"

 

"All right Sheriff - here I am, so give me a nice room while my Lawyer, my Advocate, my Comforter presents the LAW to the Judge and I am VINDICATED!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Elsie]

Dang!

I shudda shook his hand!!

---

The Doctrine and Covenants

 Section 129

 

Instructions given by Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Nauvoo, Illinois, 9 February 1843, making known three grand keys by which the correct nature of ministering angels and spirits may be distinguished (see History of the Church, 5:267).

1–3, There are both resurrected and spirit bodies in heaven; 4–9, Keys are given whereby messengers from beyond the veil may be identified.

---

 1 There are two kinds of beings in ^aheaven, namely: ^bAngels, who are ^cresurrected personages, having ^dbodies of flesh and bones—

 2 For instance, Jesus said: Handle me and see, for a spirit hath not ^aflesh and bones, as ye see me have.

 3 Secondly: the ^aspirits of ^bjust men made ^cperfect, they who are not resurrected, but inherit the same glory.

 4 When a messenger comes saying he has a message from God, offer him your hand and request him to shake hands with you.

 5 If he be an angel he will do so, and you will feel his hand.

 6 If he be the spirit of a just man made perfect he will come in his glory; for that is the only way he can appear—

 7 Ask him to shake hands with you, but he will not move, because it is contrary to the ^aorder of heaven for a just man to ^bdeceive; but he will still deliver his message.

 8 If it be the ^adevil as an angel of light, when you ask him to shake hands he will offer you his hand, and you will not ^bfeel anything; you may therefore detect him.

 9 These are three grand ^akeys whereby you may know whether any administration is from God

[Elsie]

Yet, if what Joseph F. Smith wrote was true, then why almost 70 years earlier did his uncle, Joseph Smith, say it was a "revelation" from God that allows individuals to place curse-afflictions upon others?

Surely NO!!!

---

 

THE
DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS
OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS

SECTION 132

51–57, Emma Smith is counseled (commanded) to be faithful and true; 58–66, Laws governing the plurality of wives are set forth.

51 Verily, I say unto you: A commandment I give unto mine handmaid, Emma Smith, your wife, whom I have given unto you, that she stay herself and partake not of that which I commanded you to offer unto her; for I did it, saith the Lord, to ^aprove you all, as I did Abraham, and that I might require an offering at your hand, by covenant and sacrifice.

52 And let mine handmaid, Emma Smith, ^areceive all those that have been given unto my servant Joseph, and who are virtuous and pure before me; and those who are not pure, and have said they were pure, shall be destroyed, saith the Lord God.

53 For I am the Lord thy God, and ye shall obey my voice; and I give unto my servant Joseph that he shall be made ruler over many things; for he hath been ^afaithful over a few things, and from henceforth I will strengthen him.

54 And I command mine handmaid, Emma Smith, to abide and ^acleave unto my servant Joseph, and to none else. But if she will not abide this commandment she shall be ^bdestroyed, saith the Lord; for I am the Lord thy God, and will destroy her if she abide not in my law.

55 But if she will not abide this commandment, then shall my servant Joseph do all things for her, even as he hath said; and I will bless him and multiply him and give unto him an ^ahundredfold in this world, of fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, houses and lands, wives and children, and crowns of ^beternal lives in the eternal worlds.

56 And again, verily I say, let mine handmaid ^aforgive my servant Joseph his trespasses; and then shall she be forgiven her trespasses, wherein she has trespassed against me; and I, the Lord thy God, will bless her, and multiply her, and make her heart to ^brejoice.

 

 

---

Whatever HAPPENED to Emma???

---

 

Eliza was a devout Mormon.

At age 38, she became Joseph Smith's 14th plural wife (in addition to Smith's lawful wife, Emma).

 

In 1842, after learning Eliza was pregnant, Emma Smith beat Eliza with a broomstick and

knocked her down a flight of stairs, causing Eliza to miscarry Smith's baby.

 

Wow!!

 

I guess ol' Emma got VAPORIZED by GOD!!!

 

We know that multiply him thing sure didn't work out!                                       http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children_of_Joseph_Smith,_Jr.

[Boogieman]

“How, it may be asked, was this known to be a bad angel? By the color of his hair; that is one of the signs that he can be known by”

Ahhh, that must be one of the “mistranslated” passages in the Bible. It’s not “by their fruits ye shall know them”, it was supposed to be “by their ROOTS ye shall know them”! False prophets must be using the Grecian formula.

[MHGinTN]

LOLing placemarker ... good one!