Posted on 07/05/2007 3:00:33 AM PDT by Gamecock
The following draws from the book Is the Mormon My Brother by apologist James White. Earlier this year, Paul Kaiser reprinted a Worldview article titled 10 Mormonism Facts which generated a myriad of responses from visitors who stated that Mormons were being misrepresented and are simply our brothers & sisters in the Body of Christ. Let’s look at what Dr. White presents using LDS resources:
The First Vision
Without question the key revelation in Mormon Scripture regarding the nature of God is to be found in what is known as the First Vision of Joseph Smith. The vision itself is fundamental to all of LDS theology. Mormon Apostle Bruce R. McConkie described the vision:
That glorious theophany which took place in the spring of 1820 and which marked the opening of the dispensation of the fullness of times is called the First Vision. It is rated as first both from the standpoint of time and of pre-eminent importance. In it Joseph Smith saw and conversed with the Father and the Son, both of which exalted personages were personally present before him as he lay enwrapped in the Spirit and overshadowed by the Holy Ghost.
This transcendent vision was the beginning of latter day revelation; it marked the opening of the heavens after the long night of apostate darkness; with it was ushered in the great era of restoration, the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. (Acts 3:21.) Through it the creeds of Christendom were shattered to smithereens, and because of it the truth about those Beings whom it is life eternal to know began again to be taught among men. (John 17:3.) With this vision came the call of that Prophet who, save Jesus only, was destined to do more for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it. (D. & C. 135:3.) This vision was the most important event that had taken place in all world history from the day of Christ’s ministry to the glorious hour when it occurred.(1)
And Mormon Prophet Ezra Taft Benson said,
Joseph Smith, a prophet of God, restored the knowledge of God. Joseph’s first vision clearly revealed that the Father and Son are separate personages, having bodies as tangible as mans. Later it was also revealed that the Holy Ghost is a personage of Spirit, separate and distinct from the personalities of the Father and the Son. (See D&C 130:22.) This all-important truth shocked the world even though sustained by the Bible. (2)
How is it that the creeds of Christendom were shattered to smithereens and the knowledge of God was restored by this one vision? While the story is as familiar to Mormons as John 3:16 is to Christians, we present Joseph Smith’s own recounting of the story in full, taken from the LDS Scriptures (and hence carrying canonical authority). However, we note that the account that appears in the LDS Scriptures was written in 1838, eighteen years after the events described:
14 So, in accordance with this, my determination to ask of God, I retired to the woods to make the attempt. It was on the morning of a beautiful, clear day, early in the spring of eighteen hundred and twenty. It was the first time in my life that I had made such an attempt, for amidst all my anxieties I had never as yet made the attempt to pray vocally.
15 After I had retired to the place where I had previously designed to go, having looked around me, and finding myself alone, I kneeled down and began to offer up the desires of my heart to God. I had scarcely done so, when immediately I was seized upon bysome power which entirely overcame me, and had such an astonishing influence over me as to bind my tongue so that I could not speak. Thick darkness gathered around me, and it seemed to me for a time as if I were doomed to sudden destruction.
16 But, exerting all my powers to call upon God to deliver me out of the power of this enemy which had seized upon me, and at the very moment when I was ready to sink into despair and abandon myself to destruction—not to an imaginary ruin, but to the power of some actual being from the unseen world, who had such marvelous power as I had never before felt in any being just at this moment of great alarm, I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me.
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!
18 My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong)–and which I should join.
19 I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong;(3) and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.
20 He again forbade me to join with any of them; and many other things did he say unto me, which I cannot write at this time. When I came to myself again, I found myself lying on my back, looking up into heaven. When the light had departed, I had no strength; but soon recovering in some degree, I went home. And as I leaned up to the fireplace, mother inquired what the matter was. I replied, Never mind, all is well I am well enough off. I then said to my mother, I have learned for myself that Presbyterianism is not true. It seems as though the adversary was aware, at a very early period of my life, that I was destined to prove a disturber and an annoyer of his kingdom; else why should the powers of darkness combine against me? Why the opposition and persecution that arose against me, almost in my infancy? (Joseph Smith History 1:14-20).
What does this vision, recorded in LDS Scripture, teach concerning God? First and foremost, it presents to us the concept of a plurality of gods. This arises from the fact that God the Father is a separate and distinct physical entity from Jesus Christ, His Son. God the Father is possessed of a physical body, as is the Son. This is why McConkie can claim the creeds of Christendom were smashed to smithereens, for the vision has always been interpreted by the LDS leadership to teach that God the Father is a separate and distinct person and being from the Son. The unity of Being that is central to Christian theology is completely denied by Joseph Smith in the First Vision. Hence, you have one God, the Father, directing Smith to another God, the Son.
While it is not our intention to critique these teachings at this point, it should be noted that there are a number of problems with the First Vision, and with the entire development of the LDS concept of God as well. As we noted, this version of the First Vision was not written until 1838. Previous versions, however, differed in substantial details from this final and official account. Most significantly, the presence of both the Father and the Son as separate and distinct gods is not a part of the earlier accounts.(4)
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(1) Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine,2nd ed., rev. (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1966), pp. 284-285, LDSCL.
(2) Ezra Taft Benson, Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1988), p. 4, LDSCL. On page 101 of the same book, we read this strong statement:
The first vision of the Prophet Joseph Smith is bedrock theology to the Church. The adversary knows this and has attacked Joseph Smith’s credibility from the day he announced the visitation of the Father and the Son. You should always bear testimony to thetruth of the First Vision. Joseph Smith did see the Father and the Son. They conversed with him as he said they did. Any leader who, without reservation, cannot declare his testimony that God and Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith can never be a true leader, a true shepherd. If we do not accept this truth if we have not received a witness about this great revelationwe cannot inspire faith in those whom we lead.
(3) One of Mormonism’s leading scholars, James Talmage (and a General Authority), said the following in the General Conference of April, 1920:
This Church, therefore, from its beginning, has been unique, for the organization of the Church was forecasted in this declaration that at the time of Joseph Smiths first vision there was no Church of Jesus Christ upon the earth; and I do not see why people should take issue with us for making that statement (CR1920Apr:103).
(4) I noted a number of the historical problems with Mormonism in Letters to a Mormon Elder, pp. 88-106. For a fuller treatment of this issue, see H. Michael Marquardt and Wesley P. Walters, Inventing Mormonism (Salt Lake: Smith Research Associates, 1994), pp.1-41, and Jerald and Sandra Tanner, Mormonism: Shadow or Reality? (Salt Lake City: Utah Lighthouse Ministry, 1982), pp. 143-162.
It’s been a tough 13 months. Thanks for your condolences.
My first wife died from cervical cancer 4 1/2 years ago and I remarried 3 1/2 years ago. I had three children with the first and two with the second, ranging from nearly 14 years to a 6-week old. Oh, they’re all boys!
I yakked on so long yesterday because I couldn’t get any work done - the wife was exhausted and let me take care of the baby in the office. Having a fussy, crying baby really puts one out of the mood to work.
Now, I’m behind schedule and watching the Harry Potter movie only made things worse ... Still I had a good time with the family.
Thanks for the advice. I take Off with me whenever I go camping or up to our cabin...
My co-worker's idea of camping is staying at a Motel 6. LOL.
Not cool - I do not condemn you as an “antichrist” just because we believe differently and do not appreciate such name calling.
As for Matt 13:36, read it carefully - it is a REPRESENTATION and is not taken literally. Why? Are you literally a seed that is planted in the soil?
Stop it.
Discuss the issues all you want, but do NOT make it personal.
So true. You can see His hand in everything around you. We were down at Bryce Canyon last week. It is a world class area to star gaze. I went to a star-gazing party one night there and the stars were magnificent, even more so through the telescope. I even learned some of the stars (Orion's belt, Cassiopeia, and Corona Borealis.) I can always find the Big and Little Dipper, and the Milky Way and the North star, but that's about it. I've also seen the Southern Cross in Australia. One of these years I'd like to go to Finland in June for the White Nights....
Great picture. Looks just like our campground. And nothing tastes better than food cooked over a fire in the out of doors.
On our way home from Bryce last week, my brother wanted to stop at La Casita in Springville for dinner. None of us had showered since Monday night. I guess our money overcame the smell and the hat hair and the dirty clothes...
My sister and her family are on a 3 week trip with their camper. It is a cross between one of those soft sided pop-up campers and a hard-sided one. They have a 15 passenger van, her husband drives 47 miles an hour (because that way you get the best gas mileage.) My sister does not drive 47 miles an hour, she's like our dad, has a leadfoot.
Dutch oven potatoes Au Gratin mmmmm!
37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;
38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;
39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.
41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Oh, great, you again. Didn’t we have an exchange on this exact issue here five or so years ago?
We sit “in” the table
We sit “at” the table
Do these phrases mean the same thing? No. “At” signifies something close to or adjacent. Bethlehem is adjacent to Jerusalem. When people ask me where I’m from I tell them I live at “Vancouver, Canada” despite I actually live in Burnaby, which is adjacent to Vancouver since it won’t be possible for them to be familiar with the micro geography of my region.
Am I lying? No, I am merely giving them a frame of reference or geographic designator.
Regardless, if you knew your history, like the Amarna Letters, you would’ve known Bethlehem was described as located in the “land of Jerusalem.”
“Land of Jerusalem,” not “city of Jerusalem.”
Besides, I find it ludicrous anti-Mormons claim Alma 7:10 is an error when any child in 19th century America would’ve known the Christmas carols and popular biblical teachings of
Jesus being born in Bethlehem. Could Joseph Smith have made such a basic error? Not likely.
Dutch oven anything. Mountain Man breakfast (my arteries harden just thinking about it.) It is hash browns, scrambled eggs, cheese, sausage, bacon, onions, and green peppers. Yum. Upside-down Pineapple cake. Roast and vegetables. Now I’m hungry. :)
Gripping my heart in pain. Oh the price that must be paid to enjoy really tasty food.
What did Jesus say when He gave the literal translation of His parable of the sower and the seed?
Good, I’m glad you’re examining my posting history - I’m not ashamed of what I write or the positions I’ve taken.
I approach life using my head instead of blindly believing things either from childhood, in my church, or in school. I’ve changed my position several times upon reflection.
I have many beliefs, some conservative, some libertarian, some liberal - someone will surely have something to vehemently disagree with me, but that’s life.
Let me give some examples:
1. Yes, I supported Michael Schiavo against Terri’s family and the autopsy irrefutably proved his position was right.
2. I also support the legalization of all drugs, prostitution, and gay marriage DESPITE believing all these things are IMMORAL because I do not believe the state has the right to legislate morality.
I find it hypocritical people who can legally smoke or drink have the nerve to demand people who smoke pot be imprisoned and fined. Why should their addictive, harmful substances that kills millions every year be legal while pot with its zero deaths be illegal? If I, a person who hasn’t smoked, drank alcoholic beverages, partaken of harmful drugs, or even coffee and tea in 22 years, don’t demand the government punish drug users; what gives others the right?
Why is prostitution illegal but pornography legal when both have people getting paid for sex? The only difference is one has sex in front of a camera making the participants “actors”?
I’ve never cheated on either of my wives, but find it insane the government can fine and imprison a man and destroy his life for “solicitation” if he picks up a prostitute but it’s perfectly legal for wealthier men to hire “escorts” where sex is inevitable. Sure, one pays for “sex” while the other pays more for “companionship that includes sex”; but there’s still “money for sex” at the heart of both transactions.
While a missionary, I met a Catholic woman who was later abandoned by her husband with four young children to feed and clothe. Since she was always a housewife and had no work experience and no relatives willing to help; she resorted to prostitution to feed her children. Should she deserve to go to prison?
As for gay marriage, I frankly have no problem if gays want to marry as long as the government doesn’t force churches to perform the rites or recognize the unions if it is against their doctrines.
I simply reject the notion the government has the right to punish adults for what they put into their own bodies as long as they don’t harm others and similarly reject the notion it can punish consenting adults for what they do in the bedroom.
3. I believe any law-abiding citizen has the right to carry arms, and even concealed weapons, anywhere, including churches, schools, and shopping malls. An armed society is a polite society.
4. I believe doctors who perform late-term abortions where the fetus is viable outside the womb are murderers and should be executed.
5. I believe the media should be fair and balanced and their owners, editors, and writers should be imprisoned with lengthy sentences when they harm national security or endanger the troops.
6. I believe politics should be absent from the classroom. Any professor who shoves his political views down his students’ throats should lose their tenure and be fired.
7. I believe Islam the greatest threat to the West’s freedom, peace, and prosperity.
8. I believe “man-made Global Warming” is a myth and is just sheer hysteria. All man-made carbon dioxide and other emissions in history account for just .3 of 1% of “greenhouse gases.” IOW, 99.7% of all greenhouse gases are natural, not man-made. If you want a culprit for any rise in temperature, look upward to the sun.
9. I support the war in Iraq. The US and other nations did the right thing in removing a mass murderer’s terror regime.
10. I believe President Bush should resign or be impeached because of his refusal to secure America’s borders and for his immigration reform bill.
11. I believe tap water is better than bottled water.
12. I believe recycling is a water of money and resources - we’re not running out of trees, we’re not running out of landfills, we’re not running out of resources.
13. I believe in eating meat and in hunting.
14. I believe the government does not have the right to seize someone’s property citing eminent domain just because they want to build a development project.
15. I believe people have the right to access water and any minerals under their land.
16. I believe in genetically modified foods and that they are beneficial.
17. I believe there’s nothing wrong with DDT.
18. I believe we in the West are dying demographically and culturally and anyone wishing to preserve our way of life should have at least four children.
19. I believe multiculturalism, moral relativity, and liberalism are cancers that are destroying our society.
20. I believe the opposite of whatever Jimmy Carter says.
And a lot more.
Flame away!
You really need to re-think this declaration of belief. It is ill-conceived on many levels. Morality is defined by Merriam Webster Dictionary as:
1 a : a moral discourse, statement, or lesson b : a literary or other imaginative work teaching a moral lesson 2 a : a doctrine or system of moral conduct b plural : particular moral principles or rules of conduct 3 : conformity to ideals of right human conduct
Definitions 2 and 3 particularly apply as it relates to the enactment of legislation intended to enforce "a system of moral conduct" in society.
If your position were adopted, laws prohibiting theft, fraud, murder, bribery, perjury, embezzlement, forgery, domestic abuse, indecent exposure, and a myriad of other morally based crimes would be repealed because they are based on "a system of moral conduct."
Is that really what you want? I hope not. Your unstated assumption that drug usage and prostitution are "victimless" activities is also erroneous.
You state you have no objection to gay marriage as long as the government doesn’t require religious institutions to peform such marriages.
The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued The Family: A Proclamation to the World. It contains the following statements:
“We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.”
“We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.”
How do you reconcile your position on gay marriage with the LDS Church’s Proclamation that “responsible citizens” should “promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family?” Is the Proclamation the “truth” you embrace? Do you really think that allowing gay marriage is a measure designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society?
You might want to re-think this declaration of belief.
Mine can CERTAINLY sympathize with yours!
My fix of Red Rocks and sand has been 2 years in the coming, and the first 2 weeks of September will find her on yet another Death March (Her term; not mine!) thru God's country!
(I'm hunting (like Ahab for Moby) a downed rocket in Hatch Canyon that I read about in a guide book.)
Hey!
That's one of the stops 2 years ago!
My first time down on the trail - BEAUTIFUL!
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