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To: TChris; Elsie

Why did Joseph Smith hate the PRESBYTERIANS?

He did not hate the Presbyterians.

- - - - -
No, he just went around saying they were an corrupt and their creeds abomination before God. But to be fair, he said that about ALL Christian Churches.


148 posted on 12/01/2009 11:32:41 AM PST by reaganaut (Ex-Mormon, now Christian - "I once was lost, but now am found; was blind but now I see")
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To: reaganaut
No, he just went around saying they were an corrupt and their creeds abomination before God. But to be fair, he said that about ALL Christian Churches.

Well, no. But you're closer to the truth than Elsie's claim.

Joseph Smith recorded, "...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.'"

Some notes on the REAL quote:

1) Their creeds are an abomination - As an example, if the Mormons are right, and the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are actually separate beings, not the conglomerate taught in the Nicean Creed, then that creation of men is an abomination. It's a question of who is right and who is wrong.

2) The professors thereof (i.e. priests, pastors, etc.) are all corrupt - That is NOT a condemnation on the general members of the various sects. A person can be good, honest and sincere and simply wrong about important doctrines. But one who is making a profession of teaching things he doesn't actually believe, and working to win converts to increase his paycheck would certainly be a "corrupt professor". Even well-intentioned ministers can be influenced to one degree or another by the money involved, which corrupts his motivations.

But in any case, that condemnation is not against the membership. In fact, the Book of Mormon says of these, "...they have all gone astray save it be a few, who are the humble followers of Christ; nevertheless, they are led, that in many instances they do err because they are taught by the precepts of men." (2 Nephi 28:14) This confirms that Mormons understand that there are "humble followers of Christ" who have simply been taught false doctrines.

So, the claim that Joseph Smith hated any people of any sect is completely false. He did not. He also did not condemn the people of any sect, Presbyterians or otherwise. He taught that their creeds and many of their doctrines were wrong.

Is that any different than any other church? Doesn't the Catholic church teach that protestants are wrong? Don't protestant churches teach that Catholics are wrong?

Of course they do, in one way or another. So why condemn Joseph Smith for teaching that other churches are wrong? If not so, then he would have simply joined one of them.

228 posted on 12/01/2009 1:36:07 PM PST by TChris ("Hello", the politician lied.)
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