Posted on 03/10/2013 5:26:20 PM PDT by delacoert
Last Friday, the LDS church announced a newly released digital edition of the LDS canon, which includes "adjustments" (as they call them). Many have called the changes a bomb detonated to revise history, especially on troubling issues such as racism and polygamy.
The reason for the changes? The first paragraph of official discussion on the "adjustments" says this:
Printing masters? In the digital age of desktop publishing they actually expect us to believe they had to do this because they were losing the printing masters?
The LDS church has all its scriptures, guides, footnotes, headings and more online, in digital format. When newspapers can daily transfer digital editions to printing masters for bulk volume, rapid prints, the church's reasoning that it was deteriorating printing masters looks like a ... lame excuse.
So why did the church take the "printing master" change-out opportunity to make "adjustments"?
Late last year, I posted a blog called the Infallible FAIL! which highlighted how the Mormon church's position on why they engaged in racist doctrinal practices in the past is a huge chasm to their claim of divine revelation. I will repeat a little of it again here.
One of the most significant 2013 edition changes is the heading to the Official Declaration 2, which states the following:
But then, in the preceding Official Declaration 1 are these words:
It is also taught in official church manuals.
Preceding the O.D.2 heading change on racism, in 2012, the church released a press statement that read: "It is not known precisely why, how, or when this restriction began in the Church but what is clear is that it ended decades ago...We condemn racism, including any and all past racism by individuals both inside and outside the Church."
This statement and the one in O.D.2 on racism are very profound. They, together with the statement in O.D.1, that the prophet not permitted to lead the church astray, tacitly admits that the previous statement, that the Lord won’t allow a prophet to lead the members astray, is false. For nearly 150 years the prophets have led the people astray with racist policies and the current prophet administration does not know why this happened, they just know firmly, racism is wrong. That repudiation of the former policy, of hundreds of statements made by Brigham Young, Wilford Woodruff, John Taylor, Bruce McConkie, and many more effectively opens the gate to an understanding that the current administrating prophets could be absolutely dead wrong on policies they have in place currently.
The other most interesting changes which many have already noted are those that change the headings. Removing the History of the Church references in the D&C reduces the influence of Joseph Smith's journal on the official history and allows them to keep sliding down history revisionism.
The other change is the Book of Abraham Introduction, from:
To:
“An inspired translation of the writings of Abraham. Joseph Smith began the translation in 1835 after obtaining some Egyptian papyri.”
They no longer admit, as Joseph Smith wrote in History of the Church, that it was written by the hand of Abraham. (History of the Church, 2:235–36, 348–51). Rather, it is an "inspired" translation. This is an obvious migration to one of the several solutions advanced by LDS apologists to overcome the deficit on the proven inability of Joseph Smith to actually translate Egyptian. Instead of claiming that Smith literally translated off of the actual papyri, the church appears to be evolving the story to one where Smith was inspired by the papryi, which acted as catalyst for an inspired account of Abraham's tale. It's actually a very clever, almost underhanded move.
The church leaders know they cannot directly, humbly address the concerns of members and critics who find the official claim of origins of the Book of Abraham highly suspect. They are now addressing them through a sliding of words that help re-define history, removing references to the source of these issues (the History of Church by Joseph Smith) and claiming that these changes are just minor necessary adjustments needed as the printing masters have aged.
In any case, the church is moving further from Joseph's claims about his "inspired translation" or revelation. I don't believe they will ever be able to completely remove Joseph Smith from the church, but this goes a long ways toward the beginning of marginalizing him.
My view is that LDS church leaders know that an onslaught of members have serious concerns, which cannot be addressed, mostly surrounding Joseph Smith. However, as is almost always seen in typical con-men modus operandi, they don't admit in humble honesty that Joseph Smith was an arrogant dictating opportunist, but rather try to carefully and slowly alter the equation without admission. They change without really admitting why they change. For as long as they can, they deny deny deny, but if forced, they change the problem without a lot of admission.
....One of the most significant 2013 edition changes is the heading to the Official Declaration 2, which states the following: "Early in its history, Church leaders stopped conferring the priesthood on black males of African descent. Church records offer no clear insights into the origins of this practice"....
....The other change is the Book of Abraham Introduction... They no longer admit, as Joseph Smith wrote in History of the Church, that it was written by the hand of Abraham. (History of the Church, 2:235–36, 348–51). Rather, it is an "inspired" translation. This is an obvious migration to one of the several solutions advanced by LDS apologists to overcome the deficit on the proven inability of Joseph Smith to actually translate Egyptian.
Huge kudos to the writer, for coming up with the brilliant "canonbombed!"
Ping
False religion. Other religions with obvious errors need to also admit their errors and return to the Bible. However, to say so here would cause a chorus of accusations of being a ___________-basher. lol.
So...The Lds church...
Unveils its...
...duplicious reasoning as to why it took "this opportunity" to make some editorial changes in its "sacred" docs...(as if we are somehow to believe that we don't live in a digital age)...
...openly racist past from the top-down -- from men who were supposedly THE very vocal chords of God on earth...
...plus the conclusion from the Mormon church that, "Hey, I guess our 'prophets' can lead the Mormon church astray, after all"
Next you’ll doubt the gold tablets, magic glasses and the Angel Moroni.
Well, considering the thousands of changes already to the BOM and DAC to correct for errors in geography and/or history... What’s a few more?
Say what you want about reconciling small vagaries between manuscripts of the OT and NT... They haven’t needed to be “fixed”.
Amazing is in is not that this “book” which was given directly from the lds god, has to be revised again because of all the mistakes and lds god mind changes.
Mormon leaders were expecting Mitt to be POTUS and had all this in the works before November. They were expecting millions to convert all at once, and doubled up on the missionary numbers by lowering the age.
Too bad for them.
Sounds like the description of a ride at universal studios.
The Angel Moroni is the gold figure on the top of the LDS Temples, or as my dad used to call it “Moron I” (number II is apparently in the White House...)
I would say there a lot more problematic things to consider than the mormons changing a few words in their scriptures.
When the rest of us address pedophilia in our churches we might then feel we can throw stones but so far we aren’t ready to do any stone throwing.
And then there is of course this:
Q-poll: Catholic voters are leading the USA to same-sex marriage.
Yeah, I would say there are a lot more problems than what Joseph Smith said or didn’t say 150 years ago. Or what the Baptist church turned KKK and Democrat party did in the south.
People that live in glass houses. . . .t ready to do any stone throwing.
And then there is of course this:
Q-poll: Catholic voters are leading the USA to same-sex marriage.
Yeah, I would say there are a lot more problems than what Joseph Smith said or didn
Well I’d say you just can’t make this up....
You did read your first sentence right?
You did know that polygamists have all the fun, don’t you?
Well while there maybe a brief up side there is that whole hell thing, and I am not just talking about having multiple mother in laws...
Like some poor sap being married to a MORMON when they ain't one themself?
Not if a broomstick is handy...
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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.
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.
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Indeed!!
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Text |
Original 1830 Edition, Book of Mormon |
Editions 1837, 1888, 1920, 1964, 1978 |
Title page |
Joseph Smith, Jr. The author and proprietor of this work |
Joseph Smith, Jr. the translator of this work |
Title page |
now if there be fault, it be the mistake of men... |
now if there are faults, they are the mistakes of men... |
1 Ne 13:40 |
the lamb of God is the Eternal Father |
the lamb of God is the son of the Eternal Father |
1Nephi 11:21 |
the Eternal Father |
son of the Eternal Father |
1 Nephi 11:32 |
the Everlasting God |
son of the Everlasting God |
1 Nephi 20:1 |
words added |
or out of the waters of Baptism |
2 Nephi 12:9 |
the mean man boweth down |
the mean man boweth not down |
Alma 29:4 |
Yea, decreeth unto them decrees which are unalterable |
words deleted |
Alma 37:21,24 |
directors |
Interpreters |
Alma 30:16 |
it is the effects of a phrensied mind |
it is the effect of a frenzied mind |
Throughout B of M |
now there was seven churches |
now there were seven churches |
Throughout B of M |
there were no blood to shed |
there was no blood to shed |
Throughout B of M |
there is two churches |
there are two churches |
Throughout B of M |
and also much horses |
and also many horses |
Throughout B of M |
these things had not ought to be |
these things ought not to be |
Throughout B of M |
as I was a journeying |
as I was journeying ("a" removed) |
Throughout B of M |
They did prepare for to meet them |
They did prepare to meet them ("for" removed) |
Throughout B of M |
some have arrested the scriptures |
some have wrested the scriptures |
Throughout B of M |
when they had arriven |
when they had arrived |
Throughout B of M |
having no respects to persons |
having no respect to persons ("s" removed) |
Throughout B of M |
they had fell into great errors |
they had fallen into great errors |
Throughout B of M |
which was wrote upon the plates |
which was written upon the plates |
Throughout B of M |
they were exceeding fraid |
they were exceedingly afraid |
Throughout B of M |
they had began to possess the land |
they had begun to possess the land |
Throughout B of M |
this they done that they might provide food |
this they did that they might provide food |
Alma 23:1 |
nor neither of their brethren |
nor either of their brethren |
Mosiah 21:28; Ether 4:1 |
king Benjamin |
Mosiah (Benjamin was dead at this time) |
1 Nephi 12:18 |
Jesus Christ |
Messiah (Jesus had not yet been revealed to the Nephites) |
1 Nephi 20:1 |
come forth out of the waters of Judah |
or out of the waters of baptism (these words added after "Judah" |
2 Nephi 16:2 |
seraphims |
seraphim (verse copied from older copy of KJV which made a gramatical error) |
It seems that the great harlot in rev 17 is causing a lot of strife, so many of the big religious institutes racing like mad to be the one.
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