Whatever Happened to Truth and Openness?
by Charley Carle
Who is the real God? Can Brigham Young clear this up? He declared officially that ADAM is God! “When our father Adam came into the Garden of Eden… He is MICHAEL, the archangel, the ANCIENT OF DAYS… HE is our FATHER and our GOD, and the Only God with whom we have to do.” (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 1, pp. 50-51, 1854). Apostle Bruce R. McConkie in a speech at the BYU Marriot Center in 1980 said, “The devil keeps this heresy alive as a means of obtaining converts to cultism.” Imagine naming a university after Brigham Young! Sunday school children know better! The gods of Mormonism read like the loose-leaf binders explaining evolution! What happens when spiritual leaders, popes or prophets, do not know God? Can we trust them to show the way to eternal life?
Joseph Smith hotly rebuked the accusations of polygamy on May 3, 1844. “What a thing it is for a man to be accused of committing adultery, and having seven wives, when I can only find one” ¦ I am the same man, and as innocent as I was fourteen years ago” ¦” (History of the Church, Vol. 6, p. 411). Did he lie? D. Michael Quinn, in Dialogue, page 21, noted that he already had “more than thirty plural wives.” Several Mormon historians document Joseph Smith’s polygamy before 1844 or his earlier revelation. He had a history of lying to his wife, his church and the public! What kind of prophet is that? He broke Mormon scripture and Illinois state law. His sexual relationships included teenagers and other men’s wives.
Relevant books: Mormon Polygamy; A History, by Richard S. Van Wagoner. Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, by D. Michael Quinn. A Trajectory of Plurality: An Overview of Joseph Smith’s Thirty-three Plural Wives. The History of the Saints; or An Exposee of Joe Smith and Mormonism, by John C. Bennett. Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, vol. 27, No. l. Nauvoo Roots of Mormon Polygamy, A Preliminary Demographic Report by George D. Smith. In Sacred Loneliness: The Plural Wives of Joseph Smith, Todd Compton. Brigham Young and His Wives, John J. Stewart.
Apostle John A. Widtsoe wrote a dishonest book, Joseph Smith-Seeker After Truth. The First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles have published a manual called, “Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young.” Widtsoe’s writings were the primary source. It’s like taking a tour through the Bee-Hive house in Salt Lake City, the prophet of 55 wives is described in gushy terms as a monogamist. Priddis said, 10 % of the quotes are overtly lifted out of context, another 10 % are subtly altered, 5 % are abbreviated to avoid offense. Widtsoe altered history and the Church altered Widtsoe!
Oh, my! Credibility problems! Why do you suppose Jesus warned us to “Beware of false prophets” in Matthew 7:15? How would disciples then and now identify false prophets? They are described in Deuteronomy 13:1-5 and 18:20-22; Jeremiah 23:16 and 27:15; and Zechariah 13:2-5. The Mormon prophets fall under God’s condemnation!
Dear one, forgiveness and the assurance of eternal life is wonderful! Look here for a thoughtful presentation of the gospel of the Bible so you can gain acceptance with God.
