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"Modern Mohammedanism has its Mecca at Salt Lake... Clearly the Koran was Joseph Smith's model, so closely followed as to exclude even the poor pretension of originality in his foul 'revelations.' " (The Women of Mormonism, Frances E. Willard, 1882, Introduction, p. xvi)

Utter nonsense.

Mecca is the holiest city of Islam, so holy that non-Muslims are forbidden by law from entering the city. One of the five pillars of Islam is the Hajj, the obligatory pilgrimage to Mecca: every Muslim who is able to afford it is expected to make a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in his or her life.

In contrast, Salt Lake City is not considered holy by Mormons, nor are non-Mormons forbidden to enter the city. (In fact, the majority of the city's residents are not members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.) Pilgrimages are not a practice or requirement of our religion at all; hence, Mormons are not expected to undertake pilgrimages to Salt Lake City.

In my view, Salt Lake City functions more like Rome than like Mecca.

As for the allegation that the Koran was Joseph Smith's model, I suspect that the writer knew little of either the Book of Mormon or the Koran.

Utter nonsense. Mecca is the holiest city of Islam, so holy that non-Muslims are forbidden by law from entering the city.

Temples are the most sacred sites of Mormonism, so sacred that non-Mormons are forbidden from entering them.

In contrast, Salt Lake City is not considered holy by Mormons, nor are non-Mormons forbidden to enter the city... Pilgrimages are not a practice or requirement of our religion at all; hence, Mormons are not expected to undertake pilgrimages to Salt Lake City.

Utah has about 10% of all Mormon temples -- and the Salt Lake City metro area has about 30% of Utah temples (including South Jordan & Bountiful). If a Mormon wants to access one of the 130 Mormon temples in the world -- because most countries do not have one -- "pilgrimages" to Mormon temples ARE required if...
...(a) you want to enter the celestial kingdom (become a god);
...(b) if you want to get married in the Mormon temple (& Mormon doctrine links marriage with HAVING to become a Mormon god)
...(c) if you want to become one of those "saviors on Mt. Zion" Lds "prophet" John Taylor said grassroots Mormons are to be!

Likewise, Lds take "pilgrimages" all the time to Joseph Smith's home of Palmyra NY & death location in IL.

Salt Lake City functions more like Rome than like Mecca.

For the Muslims, Mecca operates as a literal geographical orientation for Muslim eyes; for the Mormons, Salt Lake City operates as a spiritual geographical orientation for Mormon eyes.

Mecca is the holiest city of Islam, so holy that non-Muslims are forbidden by law from entering the city.

TEMPLES are the HOLIEST buildings in MORMONism. Most MORMONs can't even get in them after they are 'dedicated'!

In my view, Salt Lake City functions more like Rome than like Mecca.

Oh?

Anahiem San Deigo

Methinks you have picked the WRONG city: FANTASY happens to be a comparing description of what is going on in THESE two places...

As for the allegation that the Koran was Joseph Smith's model, I suspect that the writer knew little of either the Book of Mormon or the Koran.

I "suspect" that JS didn't KNOW much about ANYTHING!

However....

If you cannot turn to the original Hebrew for possible meanings, it is sometimes helpful to try other translations. It is interesting to note that the Prophet Joseph Smith recommended such possible study procedures. He said:

“Our latitude and longitude can be determined in the original Hebrew with far greater accuracy than in the English version. There is a grand distinction between the actual meaning of the prophets and the present translation.” (See Documentary History of the Church, vol, 5, pp. 339–45.)

With reference to something of value noted in another translation of a part of the Bible, he once said:

“I have an old edition of the New Testament in the Latin, Hebrew, German and Greek languages. I have been reading the German and find it to be the most nearly correct translation, and to correspond nearest to the revelations which God has given to me for the last fourteen years.” (Times and Seasons, vol. 5, p. 614.)

From ---> http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=8003438d9b76b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD

More...

The influence of German and German people seems to have matured in the Prophet Joseph Smith before his death in 1844. He apparently had gained some understanding of the German language, for in his last public speech, given at the funeral of a man named King Follett, he remarked, "I have been reading the German, and find [the Lutheran Bible] to be the most (nearly) correct translation, and to correspond nearest to the revelations which God has given to me for the last fourteen years."¹² In the same sermon, the acknowledged climax of the Prophet's career, he translated into English while reading from the German Bible and added, "I know the text is true. I call upon all you Germans who know that it is true to say, Eye [sic]. (Loud shouts of 'Aye.')"¹³ A few days later Joseph Smith made further reference to this subject: "The Germans are an exalted people. The old German translators are the most nearly correct—most honest of any of the translators."¹⁴

^{(From ---> http://ash.byu.edu/publications/jbms/?vol=11&num=1&id=295&cat_id=311 )}

And yet, Joseph's GOD told him to re-'translate' the KJV of the Bible, instead of using the "More Correct" GERMAN one.

(And yet; the Salt Lake City bunch of MORMONs do NOT think the JST is considered to be SCRIPTURE. I wonder why?)