Founding of America and gospel Restoration are divinely connected

Mormon Times ^ | June 29, 2010 | Trent Toone

[Colofornian]

Even with religious freedom and the birth of a new nation, the Restoration of the gospel was still an uphill battle. Only with a divinely orchestrated plan and precise timing was a space carved out for the young Mormon church to grow.

That was the thesis of a phone conversation with John C. Thomas, who teaches LDS Church history and other subjects in the Department of Religious Education at BYU-Idaho…

"I don't know if we (the church) survived by the skin of our teeth, but it was a tough go," Thomas said. "It's remarkable that you had to bring a 17-year-old Joseph Smith and a centuries-old record into proximity so that (the Book of Mormon) could happen…”

SNIP

Even then, it was an uphill battle. Local Protestant churches accused the Mormons of being religious heretics. Following the Civil War, the federal government thought Mormons were dangerous because they were different from other churches, Thomas said.

SNIP

First, Elder Maxwell outlined, the Lord raised up highly talented and wise men (see Doctrine and Covenants 101:80). Second, they needed to live in one geographic area on this planet. Third, this contiguity had to occur in a short time frame. Fourth, the citizens had to be prepared and want to implement and sustain self-governance.

Citing historian Barbara Tuchman, Elder Maxwell called the Founding Fathers "the most remarkable generation of public men in the history of the United States or perhaps of any other nation. It would be invaluable if we could know what produced this burst of talent from a base of only two and a half million inhabitants."

[Colofornian]

From the article: the Restoration of the gospel...

Boy, I didn't know that Jesus Christ lost both His Bride (the Church) and the testimony among men about Himself???

From the article: Local Protestant churches accused the Mormons of being religious heretics. Following the Civil War, the federal government thought Mormons were dangerous because they were different from other churches, Thomas said.

Many gods exist. You can be one of them. Heresy? (Ya think?) And this guy teaches history that the feds thought Mormons "were dangerous" just "because they were different?"

Mass civil disobedience (polygamy). The Mountain Meadow Massacre, etc.

[Colofornian]

From the article: First, Elder Maxwell outlined, the Lord raised up highly talented and wise men (see Doctrine and Covenants 101:80)… Elder Maxwell called the Founding Fathers "the most remarkable generation of public men in the history of the United States or perhaps of any other nation. It would be invaluable if we could know what produced this burst of talent from a base of only two and a half million inhabitants."

Well, it’s good the Constitution had such a footing. Because the early Mormon church seemed to lack such “talented and wise men.” Even the Mormon Times – at - Scribes recorded Prophet's 'crooked, broken language' - conceded:

...so many of his scribes fell away or died. The list is saddening: Whitmer, Rigdon, Parrish and Robinson all left the church, never to return. Cowdery, Williams and Phelps were excommunicated, but came into full fellowship. Hyde was disfellowshipped for a time. Mulholland and Thompson died in Illinois. Whitmer even took some of the documents with him on the way out of the church. Only Richards, Bullock and Clayton stayed in the church the whole time.

Indeed. Over half of those who worked closest with Smith and got to know him best either apostatized, were ex-communicated or were disfellowshipped (8 of the above-mentioned 14). I think that says more about Smith than about his employees, doncha think?

So that was the mid to late 1830s into the 1840s. What about the early 1830s? [Next post]

[Colofornian]

Since the focus this week is on the "founders" of certain entities -- the U.S., the Mormon church (anniversary of Joseph Smith's death last Sunday), the Q is: Yes, such talent existed among the founding fathers of the U.S...but how would the early Mormon church be evaluated? (By Joseph Smith himself?)

Did Smith himself show harmony, kind feelings, and true charity toward the Kirtland Mormons?

Well, all you have to do is to examine Smith's Doctrine & Covenants' words toward them:

Example #1: According to Smith, he said the Kirtland Mormons were "wicked" in all manners of ways (D&C 98:19-20). (Not very uplifting or edifying)

Example #2: He addressed the Kirtlanders in 1831 and called them "terrible" (D&C 45:70). [Whoa! More compliments!]

Example #3: By the Spring of 1831, the Kirtlanders had "progressed" to "abominable" (D&C 54:20).

Example #4: By the end of 1833 (Dec. 16, 1833), perhaps as a Christmas "present," Smith was still lambasting the Kirtlander Mormons. This time, in D&C 101:1-2, he was blaming afflictions & persecution as being their fault -- because of their "transgressions."

Example #5: This Lds article -

So. Smith pummels them in words & calls that "Scripture" forevermore...saying they were "wicked...terrible...abominable..." deserving of affliction & persecution because of their "transgressions" and then accused them of not having "the Spirit of God."

(And then he furthermore has the gall to say): ...“As long as my brethren stand by me and encourage me...

(Oh, sure, such "wonderful" compliments of your sheep "always" elicits wonderful "encouragement" as a response!)

Example #6 -- From the same above article: Lds “prophet” Woodruff quote (footnote #13): “When he arose he said, ‘I am still the President, Prophet, Seer, Revelator and Leader of the Church of Jesus Christ. God, and not man, has appointed and placed me in this position, and no man or set of men have power to remove me or appoint another in my stead, and those who undertake this, if they do not speedily repent, will burn their fingers and go to hell.’ He reproved the people sharply for their sins, darkness and unbelief..."

More compliments from Smith about his sheep...apparently Smith thought they were full of "sins, darkness and unbelief" and said if men who were internally against him didn't repent, he was going to send them "to hell." Imagine that. Joseph Smith claiming he had the power to personally send people to hell. Wow! What a god!

[ConservativeMind]

The early 1830’s had the first major critique of the first edition of the Book of Mormon by Alexander Campbell. He tore it to shreds, but it forced the Book of Mormon to edit a number of things to take out the most laughable lies.

The Mormon church is based on grotesque lies, but I can say that virtually all Mormon’s I’ve known are decent people who mean to follow God, but are simply misled.

[svcw]

My gosh these people are really full of themselves.
My guess is that the people of old where just sick of the weird unBiblical beliefs as well as this “we are so holy and you are nothing” attitude of the lds.

[svcw]

"We (the Mormons) actually had to leave America in 1846 from Nauvoo — but they took with them their attachment to the constitutional ideals that suggested they really could choose for themselves," Thomas said.

Wrong-o, JS wanted to over through the US Constitution. Good grief do these people not know what their leaders have stated? (Oh, sorry that was a good joke.)

[LiteKeeper]

A day will come when the True Gospel will be known by all. I suspect there will be a lot of disappointed people.

[BlueMoose]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2165423/posts

#36

[Godzilla]

and who are we responding to today BM? more of your little post to no one game?

[Elsie]

 

 

"Any Latter-day Saint who denounces or opposes, whether actively or otherwise, any plan or doctrine advocated by the 'prophets, seers, and revelators' of the Church is cultivating the spirit of apostacy..."

(Improvement Era, June 1945, p. 354)

 

 

 

Reinforced here......

 

MP3 File

This is the audio clip of Dallin H. Oaks, current Mormon Apostle leader, from the PBS documentary, "The Mormons", declaring unequivocally:

"IT'S WRONG TO CRITICIZE LEADERS OF THE (MORMON) CHURCH, EVEN IF THE CRITICISM IS TRUE."

 

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Don't criticize?

 

Dallin H. Oaks, Mormon Apostle 

 

 

 

And here:

 

Temple Recommend Questions:

 1 Do you have faith in and a testimony of God the Eternal Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost?

 2 Do you have a testimony of the Atonement of Christ and of His role as Savior and Redeemer?

 3 Do you have a testimony of the restoration of the gospel in these the latter days?

 4 Do you sustain the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the Prophet, Seer, and Revelator and as the only person on the earth who possesses and is authorized to exercise all priesthood keys? Do you sustain members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as prophets, seers, and revelators? Do you sustain the other General Authorities and local authorities of the Church?

 5 Do you live the law of chastity?

 6 Is there anything in your conduct relating to members of your family that is not in harmony with the teachings of the Church?

 7 Do you support, affiliate with, or agree with any group or individual whose teachings or practices are contrary to or oppose those accepted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?

 8 Do you strive to keep the covenants you have made, to attend your sacrament and other meetings, and to keep your life in harmony with the laws and commandments of the gospel?

 9 Are you honest in your dealings with your fellowmen?

10 Are you a full-tithe payer?

11 Do your keep the Word of Wisdom?

12 Do you have financial or other oblgations to a former spouse or children? If yes, are you current in meeting those obligations?

13 If you have previously received your temple endowment:

     Do you keep the covenants that you made in the temple?

     Do you wear the garment both night and day as instructed in the endowment and in accordance with the covenant you made in the temple?

14 Have there been any sins or misdeeds in your life that should have been resolved with priesthood authorities but have not been?

15 Do you consider yourself worthy to enter the Lord's house and participate in temple ordinances?

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Oh, they can say that their leaders were NOT speaking for GOD when they said ___WHATEVER__ but that's NOT the same as criticizing!

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( Remember fellow Christians:  the Mormon's criticize US because they've been taught that they CAN'T criticize ANY of their leaders; so they HAVE to vent somehow! )

[Paragon Defender]

Awesome source article thanks! Really though you should post the whole thing next time.

Be sure to click through and read the whole great article!

[reaganaut]

Bookmark for my novel.

The LDS do not get that this is replacement theology and very similar to the same doctrines of white supremacist groups.

[reaganaut]

I suspect there will be a lot of disappointed people.

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Well I know there will be a lot of Mormons who are FAR more than disappointed.

Burning in Hell for eternity = NOT fun.

[fishtank]

“””I don’t know if we (the church) survived by the skin of our teeth, “”

Did they survive by the “white and delightsome” skin of their teeth?

Btw, I’m in slc for my first time (biz meeting). Anything I could do different while i’m here?

[reaganaut]

Btw, I’m in slc for my first time (biz meeting). Anything I could do different while i’m here?

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I don’t know, it has been almost 20 years since I prowled around SLC. Pinging some of the inmans who live in the area or have lived there.

[Tennessee Nana]

Just how did Jesus "lose" His Bride ???

[Tennessee Nana]

Founding of America and gospel Restoration are divinely connected
______________________________________

But America was founded by a lot of “apostates”

[colorcountry]

You should go to Temple Square. There are evangelicals there on Thursday evening you could talk to.

Are you male or female?

[Utah Binger]

There are no really great joints in Salt Lake, however here are the ones I sometimes hit.

http://www.slctravel.com/nightlife.htm

Lumpy’s on Highland Drive is an older crowd.

[Hoffer Rand]

Welcome to the valley of the annointed!! Are you looking for touristy kinds of things or places to eat or what? Are you downtown?

If you want architecture and touristy kinds of stuff and you’re downtown, get on the light rail (TRAX) and head east. Go see the Salt Lake City library and further east is the Olympic torch at Rice Eccles Stadium. Temple Square is good for architecture, too. Ignore the missionaries. There’s a fine arts museum at the University of Utah. TRAX runs right by it.

If you like outdoors stuff, you’re going to need a car. There are a lot of hiking trails in the canyons.