MORMON'S, AND WHAT THEY
REALLY TEACH (BELIEVE)
A) INTRODUCTION.
B) ERRORS IN THE BOOK OF MORMON.
C) WE WILL BE GOD[s].
D) CHRIST CONCEIVED PHYSICALLY BY GOD.
E) SATAN IS THE BROTHER OF JESUS.
F) LDS SUNDAY SCHOOL MANUAL.
G) THE MORMON PROPHET JOSEPH SMITH.
H) TO JOSEPH SMITH’S FAILED PROPHECIES.
I) CLAIMS ABOUT JOSEPH SMITH MAID BY THE MORMON church.
J) THE BOOK OF MORMON AND ARCHAEOLOGY.
K) MORMON TEACHING ON THE BIBLE.
L) MORONI OR NEPHI.
A) INTRODUCTION
IF YOU HAVE THE TRUTH IT CANNOT BE HARMED BY INVESTIGATION.
When and if introduced to today’s Mormonism, on the surface it is family friendly and very helpful to people interested in the church. Many family-oriented events keep people absorbed and comforted. And this is their mainstay; and it is a good one.
I have talked to people contemplating becoming Mormons or Mormon missionaries themselves (the term “Mormon” being a term Mormons do not like to be associated with any longer), and when thinking of becoming Mormon, or when asked about the Bible, you will be told it has errors and the Mormon religion has been established to correct Its errors.
So we are to believe that God’s Holy Word, The Bible, which has been attacked for literally over thousands of years on Its historicity, prophecy, literacy, and anything else you can think of, and has come out shining with more understanding of Its depth, and is ALWAYS 100% correct when the investigations are over, we are now to believe can no longer be trusted?
The problem with Mormonism today, and yes, I say “PROBLEM,” is the sad truth that MOST Mormons do not know what their religion really teaches. I hope and pray that this Study will be both enlightening to Mormons and those attempting to witness to them; or if you are considering becoming one.
What separates many “LDS” beliefs from historical, orthodox Christianity? In reality, there is really very little in the “Book of Mormon,” that is doctrinally disagreeable to orthodox Christians. But we will see what is.
The real meat of Mormonism is found in their other scriptures: The books, “Doctrine and Covenants,” and “The Pearl of Great Price,” and “Journal of Discourses.” These are where Christians will find what concerns them. These books, however, Mormons do not hand out at the door -- and for good reason. If people knew up front what they were really going to be asked to believe (things such as God once being a man, denial of the Trinity, Satan being Jesus’ brother, the pre-existence of souls, etcetera, etcetera), you may not be quite so willing to put aside your skepticism after just reading the “Book of Mormon,” and attending their very friendly churches.
Note: The book “Journal of Discourses” is now considered to be untrustworthy (for good reason), and is not available to the average Mormon. One must find an older Mormon who still has a copy of it.
“Man was also in the beginning with God [in Heaven]. Intelligence, or the light of truth, was not created or made, neither indeed can be.” “Doctrine and Covenants,” 93:29.
“Now the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were organized before the world was; and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones.” “Abraham,” 3:21-22; “Pearl of Great Price.” Continuing on: “And I, the Lord God, spake unto Moses, saying: That Satan, whom thou [Moses] hast commanded [meaning, Moses “commanded” Satan while in Heaven before being on earth]. . .” “Moses,” 4:1; “Pearl of Great Price.”
B) ERRORS IN THE BOOK OF MORMON
I will start with the errors in the “Book of Mormon,” for once there are errors in one’s main belief system, rejection of its false doctrines and thoughts of becoming a Mormon need to be discarded.
First, let me state that the Bible was attested to by every apostle and saint, under the threat of execution, by dying for Its authenticity, rather than renounce It. While on the other hand, the “Book of Mormon” had three witnesses (Mormons now claim eight; but a Google search still shows Mormons defending, “What Happened To The Three Witnesses?) who signed their names, claiming to have heard the voice of God, seen an angel, and even saw the supposed “Golden Plates.” HOWEVER, before their deaths, Oliver Cowdery, David Whitner, and Martin Harris, renounced Mormonism, and as a result, where “condemned as reprobates” and in particular, Cowdery is classed as a “dissenter” by the Mormon church. Evidence for this can be found in “The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints” literature, under Oliver Cowdery, which states that the church “excommunicated Cowdery.” “High Council Minutes,” 12 April 1838, in “Minute Book 2,” pages 118-126. Although becoming a Methodist for 10 years, after that time he returned to the Mormon church.
However, Latter-day Saint scholar Daniel Peterson, has noted that, “the original manuscript of the ‘Book of Mormon’ seems to corroborate Smith's story in that it was in its majority dictated to Cowdery, with aural errors in it; and the Printer’s Manuscript, in which Cowdery participated in producing, contains copyist errors with his calligraphy, rendering him unlikely of being aware of the content beforehand.” Stanley R. Gunn, on Oliver Cowdery, Second Elder and Scribe (Salt Lake City, 1962). “The Logic Tree of Life, or, Why I can’t Manage to Disbelieve” -- “FairMormon,” conference 2018. “FairMormon Retrieved,” May 3, 2019.
David Whitner later became the most interviewed upon the authenticity of the “Book of Mormon’s,” “golden plates.” Whitmer resigned and separated from the church. He was formally “excommunicated” from the church. “Far West Record,” pags 123–25; Ebenezer Robinson, in his, “Items of Personal History of the Editor,” “The Return,” (Davis City, Iowa: Church of Christ), Volume 1, Number 9, September 1889, pages 134–135. He was latter denounced by the church with a term used in those days, as one of those “dissenters.” Whitmer then used his position as one of the Three Witnesses to condemn the church: “If you believe my testimony to the Book of Mormon,” wrote Whitmer, “if you believe that God spake to us three witnesses by his own voice, then I tell you that in June, 1838, God spake to me again by his own voice from the heavens and told me to ‘separate myself from among the Latter Day Saints, for as they sought to do unto me, so it should be done unto them.’ ” D. Whitner (1887), “All Believers In Christ.” Ellis, Jonathan, December 28, 2017, “Primary Sources In Mormon History,” by David Whitmer’s, “An Address to All Believers in Christ,” Medium. Retrieved February 17, 2021. Why do I say “Retrieved.” Because you will now no longer find David Whitner in Mormon literature.
Regarding Martin Harris, in 1838, Joseph Smith called the Three Witnesses, Cowdery, Harris, and Whitmer, “too mean to mention; and we had liked to have forgotten them.” B.H. Roberts, ed. “History of the Church” (Salt Lake City: Deseret News, 1905), 3,” page 232. In 1838, Harris is said to have told “he never saw the plates with his natural eyes, only in vision or imagination,” “Stephen Burnett to Lyman E. Johnson,” April 15, 1838, in Vogel 1996–2003, 2: 291, which FLIES against the testimony of Joseph Smith. In March 1838, disillusioned church members said that Harris had publicly denied that any of the Witnesses to the “Book of Mormon” had ever seen or handled the golden plates. Harris's statement reportedly induced five influential members, including three apostles, to leave the church. “Stephen Burnett to Luke S. Johnson,” April 15, 1838, in “Joseph Smith's Letterbook,” “Vogel,” 1996–2003, 2: 290-92. In 1870, at age 87, Harris moved to the Utah Territory and shortly afterward was rebaptized into “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.” I cannot prove this except to say, if you do a Google search, “Martin Harris rebaptism,” it will confirm that statement. THEREFORE, it begs the question, why did he leave the church for most of his life (even though he never recanted on his supposed vision)?
Joseph Smith stated “that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book,” “History of the Church,” Volume 4, page 461. That would include the Holy Bible; which is 100 PERCENT CORRECT.
From “Alma,” 3:6-10 (you may not consider this to be an error if you do not understand racism in the 18th century), we learn that the “Black Race” is cursed and they could not enter into the Mormon Temple until after 1978: “And the skins of the Lamanites were dark, according to the mark which was set upon their fathers, which was a curse upon them because of their transgression and their rebellion against their brethren, who consisted of Nephi, Jacob, and Joseph, and Sam, who were just and holy men. And their brethren sought to destroy them, therefore they were cursed; and the Lord God set a mark upon them, yea, upon Laman and Lemuel, and also the sons of Ishmael, and Ishmaelitish women.
“And this was done that their seed might be distinguished from the seed of their brethren, that thereby the Lord God might preserve his people, that they might not mix and believe in incorrect traditions which would prove their destruction. And it came to pass that whosoever did mingle his seed with that of the Lamanites did bring the same curse upon his seed. Therefore, whoso ever suffered himself to be led away by the Lamanites was called under that head, and there was a mark set upon him.”
The Mormons have always taught that the “black race” has always been “cursed.” In “2 Nephi,” 5:17-23, it specifically teaches that if you convert them, they will become white and blond. Many examples of racism can be sighted in the “Book of Mormon.” See “Alma,” 3:5-10 & 14-17; “Jacob,” 3:5-9; “1 Nephi,” 11:13-15; 12:23; 13:15; “2 Nephi,” 5:21-23; 26:33; 30:6-7; “3 Nephi,” 2:14-16; 19:25-30; “4 Nephi,” 1:10 & 17; “Mormon,” 5:14-15; 9:6; “Mosiah,” 19:13-14; From “Pearl of Great Price;” “Moses,” 5:24; 7:8 & 12 & 22; “Abraham,” 1:21 & 27). In truth, the Bible teaches that God made the black man (see Jeremiah 13:23), thus meaning the black man is in the image of God.
From “Alma,” 7:10, we read: “And behold, he [meaning Jesus] shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem which is the land of our forefathers. . .” The Bible teaches that Jesus would be born in, and historically WAS born in Bethlehem. ALL HISTORIANS AGREE WITH THE BIBLE. See Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:1; Luke 2:4-7 & 11 & 15; John 7:42.
In “Alma,” 10:3, it claims that those who descended from Manassas “offered sacrifice and burnt offerings according to the Law of Moses.” This contradicts the Bible in which only those who were descended from the Levitical priestly tribe of Levi could do so. See Numbers 3:6-7.
In “Alma,” 13:18, it claims that Melchisedec “did reign under his father.” While the Bible is clear that he was “Without father, without mother, without descent,” Hebrews 7:3. Granted, as a human Melchisedec would have had a father and the Bible is speaking spiritually of the reign of Christ’s priestly ministry. But to add that Melchisedec reigned “under his father” is to conjecture a falsehood. For we do not know, nor can the “Book of Mormon,” prove, that Melchisedec’s father was a “king and priest,” Hebrews 7:1, as was Melchisedec.
In “Alma,” 34:36, it states: “And this I know, because the Lord hath said he dwelleth not in unholy temples, but in the hearts of the righteous doth he dwell; yea, and he has also said that the righteous shall sit down in his kingdom, to go no more out; but their garments should be made white through the blood of the Lamb.” However, the Mormon book, Doctrines and Covenants CONTRADICTS its own prophet in 130:3, “The appearing of the Father and the Son, in that verse, is a personal appearance; and the idea that the Father and the Son dwell in a man’s heart is an old sectarian notion, and is false.” Remember, most Christians can agree with statements in the Book of Mormon (such as the one above). It is the other writings of theirs where the problems arise.
In “Helaman,” 14:20, it is prophesied that the earth would be dark for 3 days. History cannot (nor will it) confirm any such event; which most historians of the time of Christ’s crucifixion would have surly recorded. See Mark 15:33 for it only being three (3) hours.
“Mosiah,” 9:16, states that “cimeters,” which are curved swords (see under “Scimitars”), existed in B.C. 200-187 (See also Enos 1:20, Mosiah 10:8, Alma 2:12, 27:29, 43:18, 20, 37, 44:8, 60:2, Heaman 1:14). However, it is an historically proven fact that “Scimitars” did not exist until around 500 A.D.
According to “1 Nephi,” 18:25, covering a period from B.C. 590-589 (see also “2 Nephi,” 12:7; 15:28; “Enos,” 1:21; “Alma,” 18:9 & 10 & 12 & 20:6; “3 Nephi,” 3:22 & 4; 6:1; 21:14; “Ether,” 9:19), “horses” existed upon the American plains. However, “horses” did not come to the America’s until the 16th Century. And any native American Plains Indians and the Spanish Conquistadors can testify of that fact.
The “Book of Mormon” correctly teaches that there is only one God in “Mosiah,” 15:1 & 5; “Alma,” 11:28; “2 Nephi,” 31:21. However, Joseph Smith himself contradicts himself in “Journal of Discourses,” Volume 6, page 5, by teaching that there are “many gods.” However, we must remember my note above: The book “Journal of Discourses” is now considered to be untrustworthy (for good reason), and is not available to the average Mormon. One must find an older Mormon who still has a copy of it.
The “Book of Mormon” correctly teaches that God is unchanging in “Mormon,” 9:9 & 19; “Moroni,” 8:18; “Alma,” 41:8; “3 Nephi,” 24:6, while Joseph Smith contradicts himself in “Journal of Discourses,” Volume 6, page 120, by stating that God is increasing in knowledge.
The “Book of Mormon” correctly teaches that God is Spirit, in “Alma,” 18:24 & 28; 22:9 & 11, while Joseph Smithcontradicts himself in “Journal of Discourses,” Volume 6, page 3, stating that God has the form of a man.
The “Book of Mormon” incorrectly teaches that “hell” is eternal in “Jacob,” 3:11; 6:10; “2 Nephi,” 19:16; 28:21-23. See my Bible Study: “Death, The Biblical Truth About.”
The “Book of Mormon” correctly condemns “polygamy,” in “Jacob,” 1:15; 2:23 & 24 & 27 & 31; 3:5; “Mosiah,” 11:2 & 4; “Ether,” 10:5 & 7; while Brigham Young came along as the new, or succeeding prophet of the Mormon church, and wrote in the “Journal of Discourses,” Volume 3, page 266, that “polygamy” was to be taught and practiced. Also, the amount of wives Joseph Smith owned is not fully categorized.
According to “3 Nephi,” 17:7, Jesus states, “Have ye any that are sick among you? Bring them hither…and I will heal them, for I have compassion upon you.” “Verse 8” continues with Jesus stating: “For I perceive that ye desire that I should show unto you what I have done unto your brethren at Jerusalem.” By contrast, the Jesus of the Bible constantly attempted to keep His healings on a low key so He would not be crucified before His time (see Matthew 8:4; 9:30; 12:16; Mark 1:32-38; etcetera).
The Gospel writers are very clear that the darkness which occurred during the crucifixion lasted for three hours (see Mat. 27:45; Mark 15:33; Luke 23:44). In contrast to that, the “Book of Mormon” consistently mistakes these three hours for three days of darkness.
According to “3 Nephi,” 8:33, we have this silly prophecy of one side of the earth experiencing 3 days of darkness, while on the other side of the earth it only experienced 3 hours of darkness. Surely some historian somewhere would have recorded this event if it had occurred.
Here is “1 Nephi,” 19:10: “. . .[the Christ] will be lifted up, according to the words of Zenock, and to be crucified, according to the words of Neum, and to be buried in a sepulcher, according to the words of Zenos, which he spake concerning the three days of darkness, which should be a sign given of his death.” A similar prophecy is attributed to “Samuel, the Lamanite” (“Helaman,” 14:1), where he says that at the time of the crucifixion “darkness should cover the face of the whole earth for the space of three days.” “Helaman,” 14:27. See verse 17 which confirms the context is definitely speaking of the death of Christ.
“3 Nephi,” 8:3 & 20 & 23 claims, “the people began to look with great earnestness for the sign which had been given by the prophet Samuel, the Lamanite, yea, for the time that there should be darkness for the space of three days over the face of the land. . . and it came to pass that there was thick darkness upon all the face of the land. . . that it did last for the space of three days that there was no light seen.”
The “Book of Mormon” makes the “mistake” of having Jesus appear to the Gentiles: “And after they [the Jews] had slain the Messiah, who should come, and after he had been slain he should rise from the dead, and should make himself manifest, by the Holy Ghost, unto the Gentiles.” “1 Nephi,” 10:11.
Bible Scripture is clear that “the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch,” Acts 11:26 (about 40 A.D.). However, Joseph Smith is having the term “Christian” used well before any were known by that name and well before the Messiah was born. A hundred years before this term was used, Joseph Smith, in the “Book of Mormon,” in the “Alma” section, records that the faithful were diligently working “that they might maintain that which was called by their enemies the cause of Christians.” This is found in “Alma,” 48:10; and supposedly, according to Joseph Smith, this took place in B.C. 72.
FINALLY: Bottom Line, the “Book of Mormon” is NOT inspired by God. And, it is a sad reality that today millions of sincere people honestly (without investigation), but ignorantly and uncritically, follow an autocratic system that openly opposes Divinely revealed truths. A doctrine that opposes and goes against any already Divinely revealed truth MUST be seen as apostate by the very nature of it being in opposition (i.e., to the Holy Bible).
C) WE WILL BE GOD[s]
The doctrine that is hidden from most Mormons, but to be honest, is no longer taught in today’s Mormonism, is the teaching that you will be “a God,” not, “like God,” but literally “God’s.” Again, I must reference again my Note, that the book “Journal of Discourses” is now considered to be untrustworthy (for good reason), and is not available to the average Mormon. One must find an older Mormon who still has a copy of it.
EXAMPLES ARE:
First, did you know that the Official Roman Catholic church, in their officially established doctrinal publication, “Catechism of the Catholic Church,” Ignatius Press, page 116 (page 129, in 2nd edition by “Doubleday”), and in “St. Athanasius De Inc.” 54 & 3: page 25, 192B; “St. Thomas Aquinas,” “Opusc.” 57:1-4; and “St. Irenaeus,” “Adv. Haeres,” pages 3 & 19, 1:PG71, 939, states, “For the Son of God became man so that we might become God.” Did the Mormons learn this from the Roman Catholics who originated this doctrine into Christianism?
“After men have got their exaltations and their crowns -- have become Gods,” “Journal of Discourses,” Volume 6, page 275.
“If we should take a million worlds like this and number their particles, we should find that there are more gods than there are particles of matter in those worlds.” “Journal of Discourses,” Volume 2, page 345.
God was “once a man in mortal flesh as we are” and “has once been a finite being,” “Journal of Discourses,” Volume 7, page 333.
“God was once a man who, by obedience, advanced to his present state of perfection; through obedience and celestial marriage we may progress to the point where we become like God.” “Achieving a Celestial Marriage: Student Manual.” Copyright 1992 by Corporation of the President of The church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, pages 4-5. Note that “God,” “by obedience.” I ask, “Obedient to who or what and marriage to who?”
“. . .in his mortal condition man is God in embryo. However; any individual now a mortal being may attain the rank and sanctity of godship.” “Articles of Faith,” page 529, by Elder James E. Talmage.
Adam “was crowned with glory immortality and eternal lives and was numbered with the Gods for such he became through his faithfulness.” “L. John Nuttall Journal,” February 7, 1887, 1:19, as recorded in “Michael/Adam,” by Ogden Kraut. The Bible is clear, that only God [the One and only] “hath immortality,” First Timothy 6:16.
“. . . you have got to learn how to be gods yourselves. . . the same as all gods [PLURAL] have done before you.” “History of the Church,” Volume 6, page 306.
“The mind or the intelligence which man possess is co-equal with God himself.” “History of the Church,” page 310. Note: According to this “Statement of Beliefs,” you are already a god.
“The first principles of man are self-existent with God.” “History of the Church,” page 312. Again, the Bible is clear, that only God [the One and only] “hath immortality,” First Timothy 6:16.
“. . . man will yet attain unto the power of the godhead.” “New witness for God,” page 461 [1895 edition].
“. . . man is a god in embryo.” “Ration Theology,” page 25.
“Man was also in the beginning with God, Intelligence, or the light of truth, was not created or made, neither indeed can be.” “Doctrine and Covenants,” 93:29.
“God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens. . . I am going to tell you how God came to be God. We have imagined and supposed that God was God from all eternity. I will refute that idea, and take away the veil, so that you may see. . . He was once a man like us; yea that God himself, the Father dwelt on an earth, the same as Jesus Christ himself did.” “Mormon Doctrine,” page 321.
To be clear, Mormons teach that Adam (the first man) is “God of this earth.” See McConkie, Bruce R., “The Seven Deadly Heresies,” under www.speeches.byu.edu. Retrieved 2017-11-04, from this speech: “The Adam-God doctrine was a theological doctrine taught in mid-19th century Mormonism by church president Brigham Young, and accepted by later presidents John Taylor, and Wilford Woodruff, and by apostles who served under them in the leadership of the “LDS” church. Although the doctrine is rejected by the “LDS” church today, it is still an accepted part of the modern theology of some Mormon fundamentalists.”
According to president Brigham Young, he was taught by Joseph Smith that Adam is “our Father and our God, and the only God with whom we have to do.” “Minutes of Meeting, at Historian’s Office,” Great Salt Lake City; 7 P.M., April 4, 1860, published in “The Office Journal of Brigham Young,” 1858-1863, Appendix B. “It was Joseph’s doctrine that Adam was God.” Brigham Young, 1852, page 50, statement given in the general conference of the “LDS” church on April 9, 1852.
In a side note, Brigham Young (‘BRING THEM YOUNG”) was a polygamist, with his youngest “wife” being ONLY 13 years of age (Google it). Let’s be honest -- a PERVERT. He had seventeen wives and fifty-six children. Branches of the “LDS” church, the “FLDS,” still hold to the original polygamist doctrines of the church.
D) CHRIST CONCEIVED PHYSICALLY BY GOD
According to Mormons, Jesus is literally our “elder brother.” “Discourses of Brigham Young,” page 26.
“Now, we are told in Scriptures that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God in the flesh. Well, now for the benefit of the older ones, how are children begotten? I answer just as Jesus Christ was begotten of the flesh. . . Jesus is the only person who had our Heavenly Father as the father of his body.” Joseph F. Smith, “Family Home Evening Manual,” pages 125-126 (1972 Edition).
“When the Virgin Mary conceived the child Jesus, the Father had begotten him in his own likeness. He was not begotten by the Holy Ghost.” “Journal of Discourses,” Volume 1, pages 50-51.
“The birth of the Saviour was as natural as are the births of our children; it was the result of natural action. He partook of flesh and blood -- was begotten of his Father [NOT the Holy Spirit], as we were of our fathers.” Brigham Young, “Journal of Discourses,” Volume 8, page 115.
“I believe the Father came down from Heaven, as the apostles said he did, and begat the Saviour of the world; for he is the ONLY-begotten of the Father, which could not be if the Father did not actually beget him in person. . . I believe the Father came down in His tabernacle and begat Jesus Christ.” Brigham Young, “Journal of Discourses,” Volume 1, page 238.
“In relation to the way in which I look upon the works of God and his creatures, I will say that I was naturally begotten; so was my father, and also my Saviour Jesus Christ. According to the Scriptures, he is the first begotten of his father in the flesh, and there was nothing unnatural about it.” Heber C. Kimball, “Journal of Discourses,” Volume 8, page 211.
“Christ was Begotten by an immortal Father in the same way that mortal men are begotten by mortal fathers.” Bruce R. McConkie, “Mormon Doctrine,” page 547 (1966 edition).
“And Christ was born into the world as the literal Son of this Holy Being; he was born in the same personal, real, and literal sense that any mortal son is born to a mortal father. There is nothing figurative about his paternity; he was begotten, conceived and born in the normal and natural course of events, for he is the Son of God, and that designation means what it says.” Bruce R. McConkie, “Mormon Doctrine,” page 792 (1966 edition).
E) SATAN IS THE BROTHER OF JESUS
“The importance of not accommodating temptation in the least degree is underlined by the Savior’s example. Did not he recognize the danger when he was on the mountain with his fallen brother, Lucifer, being sorely tempted by that master tempter?” “The Teaching of Spencer W. Kimball,” page 163.
“Who is it that is at the head of this? It is the Devil, the mighty Lucifer, the great prince of the angels, and the brother of Jesus.” “Journal of Discourses,” Volume 6, pages 207-208, October 11, 1857.
“Since God was possessed of the greatest foresight for planning, and of the greatest skill for carrying out in action, before He commenced this business of the world, -- inasmuch as there was in Him, and always is, the fountain of full and most complete goodness, -- in order that goodness might spring as a stream from Him, and might flow forth afar, He produced a Spirit like to Himself, who might be endowed with the perfections of God the Father.” “Lactantius, Divine Institutes,” 2.9. in Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, eds. “The Ante-Nicene Fathers,” 10 volumes (1885; reprint, Peabody: Hendrickson, 2004), 7:52-53.
“God is not only our ruler and Creator; he is also our Heavenly Father. . . Every person who was ever born on earth was our spirit brother or sister in Heaven. The first spirit born to our Heavenly parents was Jesus Christ (see “Doctrines and Covenants,” 93:21), so he is literally our elder brother (see “Discourses of Brigham Young,” page 26).” “Gospel Principles,” 1997, page 11.
This is discussed in the current “LDS Sunday School Manual” for children ages 8-11:
“In the premortal life we were spirit children and lived with our Heavenly parents (Hebrews 12:9) [Hebrews 12:9 DOES NOT TEACH THIS]. Jesus was the firstborn spirit child of Heavenly Father (“D&C,” 93:21) and is the older brother of our spirits. Lucifer, who became Satan, was also a spirit child of Heavenly Father.” In other words, Satan is the brother of Jesus.
“That brothers [SPEAKING OF JESUS AND SATAN] would make dramatically different choices is not unusual. It has happened time and again, as the Scriptures attest: Cain chose to serve Satan; Abel chose to serve God.” “Moses,” 5:16-18.
“We can only imagine the sorrow of our Heavenly Father as he watched a loved son [speaking of SATAN] incite and lead a rebellion and lose his opportunity for exaltation. But we can also imagine the Fathers love and rejoicing as he welcomed back the beloved son [Jesus from earth] who had valiantly and perfectly fought the battles of life and brought about the great Atonement through his suffering and death.” From “I Have a Question,” “Ensign,” June 1986, pages 25-26.
“The story of Lucifer is the most terrible example of such apostasy. . . He pitted his own plan and will against the purposes of God. He strove to gain the birthright of his Elder Brother, Jesus the Christ.” “Evidences and Reconciliations,” page 209.
“God lives in the family unit. He is our Father in Heaven -- the literal and personal Father of the spirits of all men. He begat us; we are the offspring of Heavenly Parents: we have an Eternal Father and an Eternal Mother. We were born as spirits, and we dwelt in the presence of our Eternal Parents; we lived before our mortal birth. As spirits we were in all respects as we are now save only that we were not housed in mortal bodies as is the present circumstance. Christ was the Firstborn of all the Heavenly host; Lucifer was a son of the morning: each of us came into being as conscious identities in our appointed order; and Christ is our Elder Brother.” “The Mortal Messiah,” volume 1, page 21.
“The importance of not accommodating temptation in the least degree is underlined by the Savior’s example. Did not he recognize the danger when he was on the mountain with his fallen brother, Lucifer, being sorely tempted by that master tempter?” “The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball,” page 163.
“Similarly Satan had contended for the subservience of Moses. Satan, also a son of God, had rebelled and had been cast out of Heaven and not permitted an earthly body as had his brother Jehovah.” “Faith Precedes the Miracle,” page 87.
“The adversary. . . aims to destroy us. Angry that his plan was not adopted in the heavens; angry at his failure in the rebellion against God and at his expulsion from the courts of glory; angry at his being deprived of a body, he and those who fell with him have been eager ever since that dreadful time to destroy their brethren and sisters who did not rebel with them. We who are here tonight, as well as all who are upon the earth, kept our first estate. We did not listen to Lucifer. He was a mighty angel; he had exceedingly great power in the presence of God. He used his great influence with the family of God to convince them that the plan which he proposed was the better one, and to persuade them to reject the plan of God and his Son Jesus, our elder brother. Failing in this, he has, apparently, declared war against all his brethren and sisters who were honorable and maintained their allegiance to God.” “Collected Discourses,” edited by Brian Stuy, volume 1, May 19th, 1889, page 255.
“Now there is another personality of which I desire to speak. . . that person is Satan, the Devil. But according to our understanding and teaching, Satan is a person with a spirit body, in form like that of all other men. He is a spirit brother of ours and of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is our Elder Brother in the spirit world.” “LDS Conference Report,” April 1949, page 27.
“And again, we exclaim, O Mormonism! No wonder that Lucifer, son of the morning, the next heir to Jesus Christ, our eldest brother, should fight so hard against his brethren.” “Times and Seasons,” volume 5, page 758, January 1, 1844, article by W. W. Phelps.
This doctrine was further explained in the June 1986 “LDS Magazine,” “Ensign.” The question was asked “How can Jesus and Lucifer be spirit brothers when their characters and purposes are so utterly opposed?”
Jess L. Christensen, Institute of Religion director at Utah State University, Logan, Utah, responded:
“On first hearing, the doctrine that Lucifer and our Lord, Jesus Christ, are brothers may seem surprising to some -- especially to those unacquainted with latter-day revelations. But both the Scriptures and the prophets affirm that Jesus Christ and Lucifer are indeed offspring of our Heavenly Father and, therefore, spirit brothers. Jesus Christ was with the Father from the beginning. Lucifer, too, was an angel who was in authority in the presence of God, a son of the morning. (See Isa. 14:12; “D&C,” 76:25-27). Both Jesus and Lucifer were strong leaders with great knowledge and influence. But as the Firstborn of the Father, Jesus was Lucifer’s older brother. (See Col. 1:15).” “Doctrines and Covenants,” 93:21.
In regards to Colossians 1:15, the term “firstborn” literally means, “first in rank.” Never meaning, “first created; or else the Bible contradicts Itself when stating in the next verse (16) that Jesus created everything. Note that you cannot be the Creator of “all things,” if you are created yourself. In regards to Isaiah 14:12, Ezekiel 28:13 tells us that Satan is a “created” being. And therefore, since Jesus created everything, Jesus also created Satan and he cannot be the “brother of Christ” as Mormons teach.
“The story of Lucifer is the most terrible example of such apostasy. . . He pitted his own plan and will against the purposes of God. He strove to gain the birthright of his Elder Brother, Jesus the Christ.” “Evidences and Reconciliations,” page 209.
F) LDS SUNDAY SCHOOL MANUAL
This is discussed in the current “LDS Sunday School Manual for Children for ages 8-11.”
1. In the premortal life we were spirit children and lived with our Heavenly parents.
2. Jesus was the firstborn spirit child of Heavenly Father (“D&C,” 93:21) and is the older brother of our spirits.
3. Lucifer, who became Satan, was also a spirit child of Heavenly Father.
4. Heavenly Father called a meeting for all his spirit children. At this meeting he explained his plan for us to become like him.”
5. At this meeting Heavenly Father also explained that on earth we would all sin and we would all die. Heavenly Father needed someone to be the Savior, to suffer for our sins, and to die for us so that we could be resurrected.
6. Lucifer wanted Heavenly Father to change his plan. Lucifer said he would save everyone by taking away their freedom to choose, . . . Lucifer also wanted all the honor (“Moses,” 4:1).
7. Because he loved us (John 15:13), Jesus volunteered to be our Savior. He wanted to follow Heavenly Fathers plan and give the glory to Heavenly Father (“Moses,” 4:2).
8. Heavenly Father chose Jesus to be our Savior. Lucifer was angry and rebelled against Heavenly Father (“Moses,” 4:34). See Revelation 12:9.
9. Heavenly Fathers spirit children had to decide whether to follow Jesus or Lucifer.
10. One-third of Heavenly Fathers spirit children chose to follow Lucifer, and they were all cast out of heaven. Lucifer became Satan, and the spirits who followed him became evil spirits, who try to get us to do wrong things. These spirits who followed Satan did not receive physical bodies.
11. All the spirits who chose Heavenly Fathers plan and followed Jesus in the premortal life have been or will be born on earth with physical bodies of flesh and blood.
12. All the children in this classroom chose to follow Heavenly Fathers plan and have been born on earth with mortal bodies. (“Primary 7--New Testament”, Lesson 2, 1997, “LDS children’s manual for ages 8-11”).
G) THE MORMON PROPHET -- JOSEPH SMITH
The character of the man Joseph Smith from his own mouth: “God mad Aaron to be the mouthpiece for the children of Israel, and He will make me be god to you in His stead, and the Elders to be mouth for me; and if you don’t like it, you must lump it.” “Teachings Of The Prophet Joseph Smith,” page 363.
Continuing on: “ [408] I have more to boast of than ever any man had. I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days [409] of Adam. A large majority of the whole have stood by me. Neither Paul, John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did it. I boast that no man ever did such a work as I.” “History of the Church,” Volume 6, pages 408-409.
Joseph Smith’s brother was more forgiving of his brother’s predictions when he stated that if a prophet “hit once in 10 times that is alright.” “The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power” (Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 1994), page 639.
If a person dies having never been baptized in this life, a Mormon relative can be baptized in his place. Then the dead person may have a chance after death to believe the gospel, repent, and be saved; contrary to the Biblical teaching that “the dead know not anything,” Ecclesiastes 9:5 (see verse 6 also), and that the dead will be resurrected only and not until Christ Comes, First Thessalonians 4:16. By contrast, Joseph Smith taught that seeking the dead in this manner is a Mormon’s greatest responsibility, “Marvelous Work and a Wonder,” page 189.
In the book, “Doctrines and Covenants,” page 113:1-2, the question is asked of Joseph Smith, “Who is the Stem [Stump] of Jesse spoken of in the 1st, 2d, 3d, 4th, and 5th verses of the 11th chapter of Isaiah? He answers, “Verily thus saith the Lord:” Joseph Smith answers, claiming revelation from “the Lord,” “It is Christ.” Friends, the rotting “stump,” the cut down tree, is NOT “Christ.” The “stem” is the wicked Jewish nation. Christ comes from the root system, NOT the “stump.”
Continuing on in the book, “Doctrines and Covenants,” page 113:3-4, the question is asked of Joseph Smith, “What is the rod spoken of in the first verse of the 11th Chapter of Isaiah that should come of the Stem of Jesse?” Again Joseph Smith incriminates himself by stating a false hood, “Behold, thus saith the Lord: It is a servant in the hands of Christ, who is partly a descendant of Jesse as well as of Ephraim, or of the house of Joseph, on whom there is lain much power.” Neither “Ephraim” or “Joseph” are alluded to in Isaiah, Chapter 11.
Continuing on in the book, “Doctrines and Covenants,” page 113:5-6, the question is asked of Joseph Smith, “What is the root of Jesse spoken of in the 10th verse of the 11th chapter?” Once again Joseph Smith incriminates himself by stating a false hood, “Behold, thus saith the Lord: It is a descendant of Jesse, as well as of Joseph, unto whom rightly belongs the priesthood, and the keys of the kingdom, for an ensign, and for the gathering of my people in the last days.”
Breaking it down, Mormonism identifies the “stump” as being Jesus, the “roots” as being Jesse’s descendants, plural, and the “Shoot” or “Branch” as being someone in the “root of Jesse.” Which guess who that is? Joseph Smith. He takes the place of Jesus.
In fact, this is clearly shown, pictures and all, in, “Book of Mormon, Seminary Teacher Manual,” October 2017, where the class is asked to read “2 Nephi,” page 21.” Then read “Elder Bruce R. McConkie (1915-85) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles,” who clearly identifies Joseph Smith as being, “a descendant of Jesse as well as of Ephraim, or of the house of Joseph.”
H) TO JOSEPH SMITH’S FAILED PROPHECIES
Let’s start off with an interesting point. Of the 88 prophesies of Joseph Smith’s, only 46 can be found today.
Here are some, only some, as I am still searching, of Joseph Smith’s failed prophecies. He specifically states this is a prophecy of his, “in the Name of the Lord God of Israel,” meaning it is “blasphemy” if it does not come to fruition: “I prophesy in the Name of the Lord God of Israel, unless the United States redress the wrongs committed upon the Saints in the state of Missouri and punish the crimes committed by her officers that in a few years the government will be utterly overthrown and wasted, and there will not be so much as a potsherd left.” “History of the Church,” volume 5, page 394. How long is “a few years?”
Joseph Smith prophesied, speaking of the “hieroglyph,” Egyptian pictorial writings, “Facsimile 2,” in Joseph Smith’s “Book of Abraham,” that what we now know to be the Egyptian gods “Min & Nehebkau,” gods of fertility with erections always depicted, that these false gods, “Represents God sitting upon his throne, revealing through the heavens the grand Key-words of Priesthood [secret handshakes, passwords, etcetera, which is what Joseph is referring to here]; as, also, the sign of the Holy Ghost unto Abraham, in the form of a dove.” What Joseph Smith just did is falsely prophecy that the gods “Min & Behebkau” are the true God and Holy Spirit.
Joseph Smith prophesied that Hiram Page and Oliver Cowdery would go to Canada and find a buyer for the copyright of the “Book of Mormon.” “PGP,” Joseph Smith -- “History,” 1:40. They did go to Canada, but they never found a buyer for their book.
Joseph Smith prophesied that “within three years they should march to Jackson County and there should not be a dog to open his mouth against them.” “Reed Peck Manuscript,” page 3. Still waiting.
Joseph Smith’s prophecy of the Second Coming of Christ states: “. . .the Coming of the Lord, which is nigh -- even fifty-six years should wind up the scene.” “History of the Church,” volume 2, page 182. Written in 1855.
Joseph Smith received a revelation to go to Salem, Massachusetts, where he would receive “its wealth pertaining to gold and silver.” “Doctrine and Covenants,” page 111:4. Smith returned from there without gold or silver.
On July 23, 1857, Joseph Smith issued a revelation saying that Thomas B. Marsh would be “exalted. . . unto the ends of the earth. . . [among] the mountains, and among many nations. . . [for Smith says] I know thy heart.” “Doctrine and Covenants,” 112:3-4 & 7-8 & 11. Marsh was “excommunicated” two years later.
On April 17, 1838, Joseph Smith stated that Apostle David W. Patten would go on a mission trip “next spring. . . to testify of my name and bear glad tidings unto all the world.” “Doctrine and Covenants,” page 114:1. Patten was killed at the “Battle of Crooked River,” a few months later, on October 25, 1838.
On January 20, 1845, Joseph Smith prophesied that he and Orson Hyde would be drinking wine together in Palestine. See Joseph Smith, “Manuscript Diary,” January 20, 1843. It is interesting to note that in Joseph Smith’s own “Word of Wisdom,” he commands that you should not drink “wine.” Smith died, or better, was martyred, on June 27, 1844, and never even visited Palestine.
In “History of the Church,” volume 5, page 536, Joseph Smith states: “I prophesy in the Name of the Lord God, and let it be written -- the Son of Man will not Come in the clouds of Heaven till I am eighty-five years old. . . And Hosea, 6th Chapter. After. . . 2520 years; which brings it to 1890.” Again, Smith was killed on June 27, 1844.
Joseph Smith , in “MS,” Volume 22, page 455, written December 14, 1843: “While discussing the petition to Congress, I prophesied, by virtue of the holy Priesthood vested in me, and in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that, if Congress will not hear our petition, and grant us protection, they shall be broken up as a government, and god shall damn them. And there shall nothing be left of them -- not even a grease spot.” The United States rejected the Mormon’s petitions and it is interesting to note that when the Mormon’s reprinted this prophecy in “History of the Church,” Volume 6, page 116, wherein the last 18 words are left out, with a period placed after “government.”
In 1844, on February 6th, Joseph Smith prophesied, “that 5 years would not roll round before the company would all be able to live without cooking.” Joseph Smith, Manuscript Diary, February 6, 1844. Note: Omitted in “HC,” but cited in “Quinn,” page 642; cf. “Faulring,” page 445.
Joseph Smith prophesied that his unborn child (David) would be “church president and king over Israel.” “Quinn,” page 844. David Smith never became church president, dying in 1904 at the age of 60, having spent the last 27 years of his life in an insane asylum. And by-the-way, he NEVER went to, nor even visited “Israel.”
Joseph Smith said that, “there are men living on the moon who dress like Quakers and live to be nearly 1000 years old.” “The Young Woman’s Journal,” Volume 3, pages 263-264; “Shadow or Reality,” by Jerald and Sandra Tanner, page 4.
In an 1892 “LDS” publication (Good luck trying to get a hold of this publication now), under the heading, “THE INHABITANTS OF THE MOON,” this interesting information is given by Oliver B. Huntington:
“Nearly all the great discoveries of men in the last half century have, in one way or another, either directly or indirectly, contributed to prove Joseph Smith to be a Prophet.”
“As far back as 1837, I know that he said the moon was inhabited by men and women the same as this earth, and that they lived to a greater age than we do -- that they live generally to near the age of 1000 years.
“He described the men as averaging near six feet in height, and dressing quite uniformly in something near the Quaker style.”
However, you can find this statement (good luck) in “The Young Woman’s Journal,” published by the “Young Ladies’ Mutual Improvement Associations of Zion,” 1892, Volume 3, pages 263-264. “As far back as 1837 I know that he [Joseph Smith] said the moon was inhabited by men and women the same as the earth, and that they lived to a greater age than we do -- that they lived generally to near the age of one thousand years. He described the men as averaging near six feet in height and dressing quite uniformly in something near the Quaker style. . . In my Patriarchal blessing, given by the father of Joseph the Prophet, in Kirtland, 1837, I was told that I should preach the gospel before I was 21 years of age; that I should preach the gospel to the inhabitants upon the islands of the sea, and -- to the inhabitants of the moon, even the planet you can now behold with your eyes.”
I) CLAIMS ABOUT JOSEPH SMITH MADE BY THE MORMON church
“If it had not been for Joseph Smith and the restoration, there would be no salvation. [THEIR HIGHLIGHTS - not mine]. There is no salvation outside The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” Bruce R. McConkie, Apostle of the “LDS” church, “Mormon Doctrine,” page 472.
“In the beginning, the head of the Gods called a council of the Gods; and they came together and concocted a plan to create the world and people it.” “Journal of Discourses,” Volume 6, page 5. The use of the word “concocted,” let alone stating there is more than one God, is typical Joseph Smith jargon, and not some message from a Holy angel such as Moroni.
“Well, now, examine the character of the Savior, and examine the character of those who have written the Old and New Testaments; and then compare them with the character of Joseph Smith, the founder of this work. . . and you will find that his character stands as fair as that of any man’s mentioned in the Bible. We can find no person who presents a better character to the world when the facts are known than Joseph Smith, Jun., the prophet and his brother Hyrum Smith, who was murdered with him.” “Journal of Discourses,” Volume 14, page 203.
“. . . no man or woman in this dispensation will ever enter into the celestial kingdom of God without the consent of Joseph Smith. . . Every man and woman must have the certificate of Joseph Smith, junior, as a passport to their entrance. . . I cannot go there without his consent. . . He reigns there as supreme a being in his sphere, capacity, and calling, as God does in Heaven.” “Journal of Discourses,” volume 7, page 289. However, remember my not about the book, “Journal of Discourses” being now rejected by the “LDS” church.
J) THE BOOK OF MORMON AND ARCHAEOLOGY
AN INTRODUCTION TO ARCHAEOLOGY: Many Mormon archaeologists, along with Christian and secular archaeologists (granted the Christian and secular archaeologists are against Mormon teachings), have not been able to support the archaeology of the “Book of Mormon.” However, Dr. John Clark of the “New World Archaeological Foundation” has compiled a list of sixty items mentioned in the “Book of Mormon.” As an example, the list includes items such as “steel swords, barley, cement, thrones,” and “literacy.” Based on the writings of the “Book of Mormon,” in 1842, only eight (or 13.3%) of those sixty items were confirmed by archaeological evidence.
Authors John Anderberg and John Weldon, concluded in their book on this topic, “In other words, no Book of Mormon cities have ever been located, no Book of Mormon person, place, nation, or name has ever been found, no Book of Mormon artifacts, no Book of Mormon scriptures, no Book of Mormon inscriptions. . . nothing which demonstrates the Book of Mormon is anything other than myth or invention has ever been found.” “The Facts on the Mormon Church,” page 30.
The Bible is full of “customs, feasts, rituals, religious beliefs and celebrations” of the Jews. Yet silence comes of these things in the “Book of Mormon” (feast mentioned 12 times; celebration mentioned once -- a direct quote of the Bible, not its own entity or concoction). “Unleavened bread, year of jubilee, Sabbatical year, new moons, the Law of cleanliness, all these being essential to Jewish culture are not mentioned, with the exception of taking extracts from the “KJV” Bible.
From the book “Joseph Smith’s Plagiarism,” by the Tanners, we read: “While the Book of Mormon shows a fair knowledge of a Biblical Christianity and a real interest in the religious topics that were being debated during Joseph Smith’s lifetime, it seems to be almost totally deficient when it comes to the issues which were of great importance to Jews prior to the Coming of Christ.”
The “Book of Mormon” mentions “Jesus Christ” more than the Bible. You ask, “What is wrong with that?” According to the false history of the “Book of Mormon,” the people in the America’s who were speaking of “Jesus Christ” were mentioning Him before He was even born, which the Bible never mentions that Title or Name until the New Testament. That is POINT ONE. POINT TWO would be that “Jesus Christ” is Greek linguistic, and the Greek language was not available to the America’s at the time of their mentioning of “Jesus Christ,” in B.C. 600.
K) MORMON TEACHING ON THE BIBLE
“The words contained in this Bible are merely a history of what is gone by; it was never given to guide the servant of God in the course he should pursue. [One might ask: What then was God’s guide before Mormonism?] The Bible is not a sufficient guide, it is only the history of the people who lived 1800 years ago.” “Journal of Discourses,” Volume 2, page 75.
“There are many plain and precious things taken away from the book [The Bible]. Because of these things which were taken away out of the gospel of the Lamb, an exceeding great many do stumble, yea, insomuch that Satan hath great power over them.” “Book of Mormon,” “1 Nephi,” 13:28b, 29b.
Here is the quote as found today in “1 Nephi,” Chapter 13, page 24: “Nephi sees in vision the church of the devil set up among the Gentiles, the discovery and colonizing of America, the loss of many plain and precious parts of the Bible, the resultant state of gentile apostasy, the restoration of the gospel, the coming forth of latter-day scripture, and the building up of Zion. About 600–592 B.C.”
“Who knows that even one verse of the Bible has escaped pollution so as to convey the same sense that it did in the original?” “Divine Authenticity of the Book of Mormon,” page 47.
AS A SIDE NOTE, the “Book of Abraham” is an 1835 work produced by Joseph Smith that he said was based on an Egyptian papyri that he purchased from a traveling mummy exhibition. According to Smith, the book was “a translation of some ancient records. . . purporting to be the writings of Abraham, while he was in Egypt, called the “Book of Abraham,” written by his own hand, upon papyrus.” From the “Writings of Joseph Smith,” written in 1842, page 704. Smith’s translation of the papyri describes a story of Abraham’s early life, including a vision of the cosmos. The work was canonized in 1880 by the “LDS” church as part of its “Pearl of Great Price,” in “Gee 2000,” pages 4-6.
Joseph Smith claimed that the “Book of Abraham” was translated from a papyrus, which we can now decipher. The hieroglyphics of this papyrus, as it turns out, bear absolutely no resemblance to any text of the “Book of Abraham.” For reference see: “The Book of Abraham Found: An answer to Dr. Hugh Nibley’s Book,” “The Message of the Joseph Smith Papyri, an Egyptian Endowment:” As it relates to the source of the “Book of Abraham.” Sandy, UT: “Marquandt,” 1975.
Probably the most used and arguable text used by Mormons is Matthew 19:17; Mark 10:18; Luke 18:19, where supposedly Jesus tells a “certain ruler” that He [Jesus speaking] is not God. Here is what Jesus stated, “Why callest thou Me good? There is none good but One, that is, God.” Most normal, Biblically literate people, know that this was a test to the “certain ruler,” to see if he would accept that Jesus either was God, from God, had the power of God, or was authorized by God to represent God in the flesh, in order for the “certain ruler” to be open to the fact that Jesus was acknowledging that He is God in the flesh. “And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God,” First John 4:3.
Jesus also asked His disciples, “But whom say ye that I Am,” Matthew 16:15; Mark 8:29; Luke 9:20. Notice that Mormons do not use these verses to conclude the same principle as they do with Matthew 19:17.
First Corinthians 8:5 is a tremendous example how not only Mormons, but many other denominations use one text that causes doubt, or raises questions about other doctrines, which enforces their own doctrine, without regard to context. Here is First Corinthians 8:5: “For though there be that are called gods, whether in Heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,).” You see? There are many Gods.
However, context, context, context!!! Here is the proceeding verse, First Corinthians 8:4, which states: “As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but One.”
L) MORONI OR NEPHI
Moroni or Nephi; which came first? In many early documents, the angel is not even named at all. But when he is, his name is Moroni. The angel is Moroni in the 1835 edition of the “Doctrine and Covenants.” It is Moroni in a letter from Oliver Cowdery, published in the April 1835 issue of the “Latter-Day Saints’ Messenger,” and “Advocate.” It is Moroni in “Questions and Answers with Joseph Smith,” published in the July 1838, “Elders’ Journal.” It is Moroni in an 1839 discourse from Joseph Smith as recorded by Willard Richards.
The first existing instance of the angel being referred to as “Nephi” appears in mid-1839 in the earliest extant manuscript of what we know today as “Joseph Smith -- History.” We can notice that it is written in the first-person as if Joseph Smith himself is writing it -- but he is not. Smith is overseeing this project. By contrast, this is the handwriting of his clerk, James Mulholland.
The passage in question reads, “He called me by name and said unto me that he was a messenger sent from the presence of God to me and that his name was Nephi.” In this original writing one can notice here that there is a little asterisk above “Nephi,” with the word “Moroni” placed there. This was a note added by Albert Carrington, probably in 1871, after Brigham Young assigned the Historian’s Office to look into this discrepancy. The corresponding footnote reads, “evidently a clerical error … should read Moroni.” This was the correction of an error, not the church changing Joseph’s story. Reasoning that the angel’s name had always been Moroni up to this 1839 document.
However, that little note there basically sums up what most Latter-day Saints think about this issue. They view it as a mistake that slipped through the cracks. James Mulholland wrote 59 pages of the history of that period before he passed away. On page 5, the angel responsible for bringing forth the “Book of Mormon” is called “Nephi.” Ironically though, on page 52, Mulholland quotes from the book, “Doctrine and Covenants,” which names Moroni as the personage responsible for visiting Smith.
While this manuscript draft is the first instance of the angel “Nephi” reference, it is not the only instance. The critics of Mormonism are usually quick to point out that an angel “Nephi” reference shows up in “The Millennial Star.” Also, there is another reference to “Nephi” in Lucy Mack Smith’s memoir. Plus, in the 1851 edition of “Pearl of Great Price,” the angels name is “Nephi.” But that has been changed in later editions that Mormons have access to today, for the church would not want this kind of information to leak out (that they keep changing their original books and literature). Therefore, let’s connect the dots.
Here is what happened. In the 1839 manuscript where this supposed error originally occurs, it ends up ultimately being published a piece at a time in the “Times and Seasons,” in 1842, under the title of, “History of Joseph Smith.” The part we’re interested in appears in the April 15th issue. Here is where things get interesting. The “Nephi” reference first shows up in the “Millennial Star.” That is because the August 4th, 1842 issue of the “Millennial Star,” reprinted the “Times and Seasons” article. Later in that same issue, an editorial also lists and labels the angels name as “Nephi.” Where would that author be getting that information? According to him, from “the history of our beloved brother, Joseph Smith.” Again, it was in the original (now changed) “Times and Seasons,” and “History of Joseph Smith.”
HERE IS THE MAIN POINT: The supposed angel Moroni is believed by Mormons to be a “prophet-warrior” who died after a great battle between two “pre-Columbian” civilizations. And then, after he died, he miraculously became an angel. According to the 100% correct Holy Bible, dead people do not talk or raise from the dead until Christ Comes a Second Time. See Ecclesiastes 9:5-6, and my Bible Study: “DEATH, THE TRUTH ABOUT.”