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About the Journal of Discourses, it is not scripture. It is a collection of speeches and sermons. There is no way to check its acuracy. They were written down by people other than the speakers. I don't know the complete history behind the Journal of Discourses. I have only seen the set of books once or twice in my life. They are online though.

It's kind of like the apocraphal and Gnostic writings of the early church. Why aren't they part of the New Testament if they are writings of the apostles? Why doesn't every Christian read them and accept them as truth? Why try to hold Mormons to different standards than your own? Here is a link with all of the "Acts", "Gospels", and other text. You could make a another Book the size of the New Testament or more with all of these.

http://www.gnosis.org/library/cac.htm

And the history of Christianity is sqeeky clean too, isn't it. There is plenty obout Christianity in it's history that can be used to try to condemn it. You can use Mormon history to try to condemn the LDS church also. Men do bad things. Men are limited in their understanding. We cannot trust in the arm of flesh. That is why we all need the blood of Jesus Christ to save us. Without Him, all are lost.

Your right all men have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Many horrible things done in the name of Christ. I judge a church by the Word of God. If its not in the Bible, its not right. I have been talking about things like plural marriage , blood atonement, Adam God, Babtism for the dead, Holy Underwear?, Blacks could not hold the priesthood? These are things that the church taught and practiced for many years. All contrary to the Word of God. I might have liked Joseph smith, it was what he taught that I have a problem with. Just because some of these things are no longer taught does not mean that it never was taught?

The Journal of Discourses is a 26 volume compilation of LDS presidents and apostles sermons, covering about 35 years. There were several men who were officially assigned by the LDS Church to record the talks. Volume one of the series contains a letter from the LDS First Presidency (Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball and Willard Richards), dated June 1, 1853, authorizing the publishing of the sermons:

This 26 volume set is available on the New Mormon Studies CD-ROM. It is also available on the CD-ROM GospeLink 2001, sold through the LDS Church owned bookstore, Deseret Book. (See their online store at DeseretBook.com)

The Assistant Manager for Deseret Book Company, gave the following endorsement of the Journal of Discourses in a a letter dated June 12, 1963:

In having in your library the 26 volume of the "Journal of Discourses", you have a library containing the sermons of the Presidents and Apostles of the Church. If anyone tells you that the sermons found therein are not recognized by the Church, they know not what they are talking about. (Deseret Book Co. Letter, June 12, 1963)

The Journal of Discourses is listed as an official publication of the LDS Church in the following books:

Essentials in Church History, by Joseph Fielding Smith, published by the LDS Church, p. 674.

Deseret News 1989-90 Church Almanac, p. 188, published by a company owned by LDS Church.

The Journal of Discourses is quoted repeatedly in LDS publications and in LDS conference reports. See for example, Doctrines of the Gospel, Student Manual, Religion 231 and 232, published by the LDS Church Educational System, 1986, p.83. See also Ensign Magazine (official publication of the LDS Church) May 1996, Conference talk by James E. Faust, of the First Presidency, p.7.

It is inconsistent of the Mormons to question the accuracy of the Journal of Discourses while the LDS leaders continue to quote from it. They never follow their quote with a disclaimer about the accuracy of the account. This issue only comes up when someone outside of Mormonism quotes something from their leaders that they are embarrassed about. It is a double standard.