Joseph Smith, Jr., the founder of Mormonism.
Posted on 10/10/2013 3:15:56 PM PDT by matthewrobertolson
In defiance of Deuteronomy 17:17, Matthew 19:4-6, and other Biblical passages, the founder of Mormonism, Joseph Smith, endorsed the practice of polygamy. However, the largest Mormon church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), later outlawed the practice. This presents a problem for LDS theology.
In verses 61-63 of Section 132 of the Doctrine and Covenants, Joseph Smith reveals a "revelation" about polygamy supposedly given to him by God. The verses teach that a man "cannot commit adultery" -- even if "he have ten virgins given unto him by this law" of polygamy -- as long as his women are "vowed to no other man".
So, polygamy was allowed in the first 47 years of Mormonism. But in 1890, due to Official Declaration 1 -- which is "authoritative and binding" -- polygamy was banned by the LDS church.
While the Declaration says that the church never "inculcate[d] or encourage[d]" the practice, it at least never claims that it did not allow or officiate it.
In the "Excerpts" section at the bottom of the online Declaration, it quotes LDS President Wilford Woodruff as saying that it would have been unwise "to continue to attempt to practice plural marriage," because "adherence to this principle" of polygamy resulted in "suffering" for the church's members, due to strong U.S. federal laws against it. Woodruff bluntly said that it was time to "cease the practice and submit to the law".
All of this, taken together, shows that the church did accept polygamy, and it only backed down on the issue so that it could continue to exist and thrive. Basically, it changed its religious teachings to suit the secular laws of the government, which would obviously go against Biblical teachings, because God's laws are not subject to the State. In the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13), one verse reads: "Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."
What makes this all even more interesting is that even the Book of Mormon seems to oppose polygamy. Jacob 2:27 reads: "Wherefore, my brethren, hear me, and hearken to the word of the Lord: For there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife; and concubines he shall have none.."
This all leads to the big question: Do you think that an organization could be so wishy-washy with its teachings if it were really "The Church of Jesus Christ"? I do not think so, and I must therefore conclude that this Mormon magisterium is invalid.
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Joseph Smith, Jr., the founder of Mormonism.
Correction: Polygamy was allowed in the first 46 years after Joseph Smith’s death.
The name of your blog is “Answering Protestants” - what does Mormonism have to do with Protestantism?
I guess you know that Mormonism is an entirely different religion, that it isn’t Christian?
An Open Letter to Mormons who are
sincere and serious about their faith...(but slightly troubled and embarrassed by poststhat raise problems with mormon teachings andbeliefs that cannot be answered)If you peruse the Free Republic religion forums
you will notice a pattern. There’s a group of
Christians who spend a great deal of time posting
from Official Mormon Sources - both the Book of
Mormon as well as Mormon Prophets and Church
materials - real quotes from real mormon materials.You will also notice that many of these Christians
are former Mormons who left Mormonism and came to
know the Biblical Jesus Christ and His Gospel of Grace- apart from the treadmill of human works.They have a passion to share what they learned withother Mormons.Of course, they are attacked regularly by a very,
small group of Mormons on FR who have zeal, but no real
knowledge beyond what the Mormon Church has told
them.Why can't these so-called "defenders" provide any:… Objective Facts
… Objective Evidence
… Or Logical supportAnything OBJECTIVE that any reasonable person would
see and agree that it lends support the claims of
Mormonism.God is a God of real history. He wove the strands ofhuman DNA, His Book, the Bible is rooted and groundedin real places on real maps and is verified througharcheology, geography, history and genetics.If Mormonism is true, why is it based only on subjective
feelings and why doesn't it have the same kind of objective
support the Bible does?Has God changed?Is He no longer in control of the world?If they could support the claims of Mormonism with facts,
you know they would. But it never happens. I've even heardthese "defenders" say God hid all evidence to make ourfaith greater. Has the God of the universe now becomethe Cosmic Easter Bunny? Or is He unchangeable, like theBible teaches?*** Why would God provide every kind of objective support
for the Bible's rich history and none for the Book of
Mormon? ***These "defenders" post links over and over again that
“address” things yet never provide an answer that is
buttressed by the ring of truth, echoed by history,
archeology, genetics, geography, etc.You deserve more than feelings and non-answers.After reading both sides on this thread and others,
you may very well be wondering about what you were
taught when you joined the LDS church. You also may
be wondering how to resolve the tension of a faiththat is based entirely on subjective claims, yetwants to claim the same God who has commanded youto love Him with "all your mind."You are not alone in this journey.Many have approached us who are Christians asking whereto find out more and some, even, to ask how to come toknow the Biblical Christ and some even how to gracefullyleave Mormonism and start a new life with Christ.Many here have already set out to finally and joyfully know
the true God and Savior. They understand the terrible choice
of being totally sincere about your faith, but increasingly
concerned that it isn't everything you once believed and hoped for.
After coming to know the truth, they are on a path that gives them
the rest God promised to His children and the certainty of His
ultimate plan for them.Here are some links to get you started in your quest to know
the Biblical Christ:In the end though, links may raise more questions and concernsand sometimes it helps to have someone who has already wrestledwith all these issues already.I invite you to private FReep-mail any of the Christians
on this thread to ask questions about the concerns you have.We always do our best to directly answer your questions with
facts, evidence and logical support.Take a step. I also challenge you to not only pray about these issues,but go the one step farther and examine them to see if they aretrue quotes, true teachings of the LDS church. Are you intellectuallyhonest enough to do this, or are you satisfied with just feelingsand a lack of facts, evidence and logic? If you are not willing toexamine your faith, is it because of what you might learn? Or are youindeed intellectually lazy?What do you have to lose at this point? And you have much togain.If something is true, it can withstand any question, no matterhow tough. If it is false, it is better to know while your lifeis in front of you.There is peace and rest waiting for you today. Take a step tofind it now.All the Best,
ampu
Gee, thanks for making it so large and annoying, which is too bad since it probably would read OK if it was readable.
Love your peaceful spirit, ampu.
I just want to blast all the idiots off the planet. lol
Looks fine to me.
The use of the term, “magisterium” makes me think this is a confused RC trying to dump biblical believers into the pot of cults like Mormons, JW, Moses David & the Children of God, Witness Lee & the local Church, et al.
“Gee, thanks for making it so large and annoying, which is too bad since it probably would read OK if it was readable.”
No problem and no extra charge for using larger font sizes and font faces. We aim to please.
matthewrobertolson I’m curious to hear your argument for Mormonism being Christian.
Are you going to show up on your own thread?
Gee, thanks for making it so large and annoying...
It’s easy on my eyes.
“what does Mormonism have to do with Protestantism?”
Everything and nothing.
If a Protestant never studies Mormonism then they conclude Mormons are “Christians too” and simply another doctrine within the larger body of Christ.
Protestants don’t understand that LDS co-opted the Bible, added another non-existent book and even expanded upon one of the three great parables “Pearl of Great Price” to demonstrate their uniqueness.
Further, while Protestants may come to the conclusion that Mormons are just like them, Mormons unmistakably do not consider themselves “Christians too”.
Mormons will inform you with a manipulative phrase that omits quite a bit and used mostly to lure others into a conversation whereby they can learn “The Truth”, about Joseph Smith and “The one True Church”.
The dishonest phrase they use is “I’m Christian” which to the unsuspecting implies they are just like you.
Of course, they are not and “I’m Christian” is a term of exclusion on the one hand a bit of puffery for the ego as the Mormon who declares, using that phrase, if part of an exclusive group in which all divine things are given to them alone.
Protestants don’t understand they are being lied to and the missionary learns how to artfully phrase in the MTC just like 50,000 others do each years.
No, Mormons are not “Christians too” nor will they ever utter the phrase “I’m a Christian”.
Their phrase objectifies Christianity and they alone have the keys to heaven.
They don’t.
I wonder if you can separate agreeing with the text from evaluating how overdoing that post hurts the effectiveness of the text and hurts what could be an educating thread against the confusion of the thread poster and his naming of Mormonism as Christian.
A lot of Mormon threads turn into messes of badly done extravagant posts.
Just to note; Deuteronomy 17:17 says not to take or make ‘many’ wives. Given that Deuteronomy was written by Moses and that Moses had two wives (Zipporah and an Ethiopean woman) it’s unlikely that he meant to proscribe having more than one wife. Frankly, it’s illogical to assume that the Torah proscribed polygamy since polygamy persisted throughout Israel and Judah on into Roman times.
Just saying.
Actually Protestant Christians seem to understand Mormonism better and are seen as the most dedicated to educating the public on Mormonism, in fact they takes lots of flak from Catholics and liberals for it.
It is Catholics that are famously susceptible to Mormonism as new recruits, and who are usually defending it on threads here at FR.
I consider Mormonism to be “Christian” only in the vaguest sense of the word. But I am well aware of Mormonism’s awkward theology, so I understand why most are not as generous about their use of the term.
Dominus vobiscum (”The Lord be with you”).
Mormons believe that God was once a man who now has a goddess wife; that men can become gods; that there are many gods; that God had sex with Mary; and that there was no salvation before Joseph Smith. Mormonism is not Christian in any way, shape or form.
It’s amazing you think otherwise, especially since the Catholic church calls Mormonism a cult.
What does that mean? You consider Mormonism Christian?
Because of the name of your blog and your posting so far, you seem to think so.
I would like to hear how you came to think of them as Christians when no Christian church does?
Which church are you speaking from when you write your blog about other Christians?
bump
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