More False Prophecies of the Mormon Church

Location of Garden of Eden

Answers to Gospel Questions 2:95 lists a question from a member of the Church and the answer that is given by Joseph Fielding Smith, the tenth president of the LDS Church, son of the sixth president of the LDS Church, Joseph F. Smith.  In this particular “Q & A” I found his answer so unbelievable that I had to share it with the public.

““I have a friend who is interested enough in the doctrines of the Church to ask many questions. From someone she obtained the information that we believe that the Garden of Eden was in the state of Missouri, and she asked me about it. I had always understood this to be what we believe and I told her so. She wanted to know how we explain what is in the Bible, where it tells about the river in the garden which divided into four more, the Pison, Gison, Hiddekel, and Euphrates. We know where the Euphrates is today, and the Bible map shows that the land of Havilah is located in Ethiopia. Could you please explain our views?””

The first thing that struck me as odd with this volume of work is why the members are writing to Church officials to ask why there are discrepancies and how to explain them to non-members.  It’s like they are asking their leaders how to lie.  And why doesn’t she open her Bible to find out the truth for herself?

“Answer: The rivers spoken of in Genesis and in the Book of Moses are rivers that existed when all the waters of the earth were in one place. If all the waters were in one place, then obviously all the land was in one place. This was before the days of the flood. In Genesis we read:

And God said, let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place and let the dry land appear: and it was so. (Genesis 1:9. See also D. & C. 133:22-24.)”

Tell me, if all the waters of the earth were in one place, how could there be any rivers?  I understand the land mass hadn’t been divided yet, but how could all the waters be in one place? 

“According to the revelations of the Lord, Noah and his family in the Ark sailed… from some place evidently in what is known now as America, and landed at Ararat thousands of miles away…Without any question a considerable distance separated the point where the Ark commenced the journey and where it landed…The land surface was in the process of division into continents. The rivers mentioned in Genesis were rivers that existed in the garden of Eden long before the land was divided into continents and islands. (Genesis 7:11.)”

The only part that is reasonably truthful is that the Ark landed at Ararat.  The Bible does not disclose the place where the ark landed.  This subject wasn’t even part of the question and they’re adding more lies to the lie they’ve already told.  Let’s read on to see what else they have to say:

“NATURAL TO NAME PLACES AFTER FAMILIAR LOCATIONS

It would be the most natural thing in the world for Noah, after he arrived at his destiny in Ararat, to give names to rivers and to country, similar to the names with which he was familiar when his journey in the Ark commenced. It is the custom even today for explorers to name countries and rivers after familiar points and streams in their native countries. We are informed that there are great ancient river beds buried in the land of Missouri. Therefore the River Euphrates in Asia took the name naturally.”

????  This explanation is based on “customs” and presumptions.  There is no historical or biblical proof this took place.

“Remember also that not too many centuries after Noah landed at Ararat, the entire land surface of the earth was changed and divided, and what had previously been one grand continent, was broken up into many continents and islands. So it is impossible for us today to know exactly what changes were made in that world catastrophe. (Ibid., 10:25.)”

It’s interesting to note that the Church in this particular case (Gen. 10:25) relies on the Bible to be translated correctly…

“Of course we rely definitely on the word of the Lord to the Prophet Joseph Smith. In one of the revelations given to the Church, May 19, 1838, the Lord said, speaking of a certain point inMissouri known as Spring Hill, inDaviessCounty:

ADAM-ONDI-AHMAN, because, said he, it is the place where Adam shall come to visit his people, or the Ancient of Days shall sit, as spoken of by Daniel the prophet. (D. & C. 116. See also Sec. 78:15.)”

Of course there is nothing in the Bible that speaks of this, not to mention that Adam is never referred to as the Ancient of Days.  That term belongs to Jesus (He is our judge who sits on the Throne of Judgment Dan. 7:9) ready for that great and dreadful day.  The above teaching from Joseph Smith is a false prophecy.

“We also read in Section 107: Three years previous to the death of Adam, he called Seth, Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared, Enoch, and Methuselah, who were all high priests, with the residue of his posterity who were righteous, into the valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman, and there bestowed upon them his last blessing. And the Lord appeared unto them, and they rose up and blessed Adam, and called him Michael, the prince, the archangel.”

Nowhere in the Bible does it mention that Seth, Enos, Cainan or any of the others held the priesthood.  Secondly, I thought Adam was the Ancient of Days according to Smith; now he’s Michael the prince, the archangel?

Notice how far off the subject matter this fellow goes when answering this woman’s question:

“And the Lord administered comfort unto Adam, and said unto him: I have set thee to be at the head; a multitude of nations shall come of thee, and thou art a prince over them forever.

And Adam stood up in the midst of the congregation; and, notwithstanding he was bowed down with age, being full of the Holy Ghost, predicted whatsoever should befall his posterity unto the latest generation. (Ibid., 107:53-56.)

UNDERSTANDABLE TO THOSE WHO KNOW THE TRUTH

There is no difficulty when we understand the truth, that is, that while these rivers carry the same names, they are not the same rivers which were in the Garden of Eden.”

Wow, after all the filler words, we finally got to the bottom line and an explanation.  Mind you, their explanation is a false prophecy, but whew, look at all the other “stuff” mixed in to confuse the reader! 

And then to let the reader know that only those “who know the truth” understand what they’re saying.  I remember those types of comments while being Mormon.  The one thing I clearly “thought I understood”:  I was stupid.

Three apostles never died. 

D&C 7:1-8; “And the Lord said unto me: John, my beloved, what desirest thou? For if you shall ask what you will, it shall be granted unto you.  And I said unto him: Lord, give unto me power over death, that I may live and bring souls unto thee… And for this cause the Lord said unto Peter: If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? For he desired of me that he might bring souls unto me, but thou desiredst that thou mightest speedily come unto me in my kingdom….And I will make thee to minister for him and for thy brother James; and unto you three I will give this power and the keys of this ministry until I come. Verily I say unto you, ye shall both have according to your desires…”

To summarize, they have claimed that three of the apostles never died; James, John and Peter.  Of course just the opposite is true. We have historical as well as biblical accounts which serve as proof that all three did in fact die. 

James was the first apostle to be martyred circa 44 AD.  James, the brother of John was present at the transfiguration and then journeyed to Judea, Samaria and Spain to spread the gospel.  Herod ordered James’ death at which time the guard was converted by his testimony of Jesus.  Thus the guard was beheaded as well. (1)

John died peacefully on Patmos circa 100 AD after being arrested while living in Ephesus.  While his brother James was the first apostle to die, John would be the last.

Jesus referred to John and James as the Sons of Thunder.  He was a disciple of John the Baptist and traveled with Jesus on His first tour through Galilee.  He was present at the wedding in Cana (John 2:1-11) and owned a home in Jerusalem where it is believed the interview with Nicodemus took place.

He was the one the Bible refers to as ‘the one whom Jesus loved’, he was present at the raising of Jairus’ daughter (Mark 5:37) and at the transfiguration (Matt. 17).  At the crucifixion Jesus placed Mary into John’s care.  He moved to Ephesus before the destruction of Jerusalem and was subsequently arrested and exiled to the isle of Patmos, off the coast of Turkey.  (2)

Peter was the first to acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah and was given the promise of authority in the new church.  (Matt. 16:15-17).  Although he had a moment of betraying Jesus during the arrest and crucifixion, Peter was the first to believe that Jesus had risen from the dead (1 Cor. 15:5). 

He survived nine months in the Mamertine prison cell.  This cell is said to be the pits of hell, no other torture chamber has ever been made like Mamertine.  He was manacled in an upright position to a wall while never being able to lie down to rest.  During this time he glorified God and brought numerous converts into the fold of Christianity.  Jesus alluded to the way in which Peter would die in John 21:18.  From all that history tells us he was crucified in Rome upside down believing he wasn’t worthy enough to die in the same manner as the Lord, circa 67 AD.  (3)

Now the reason I took a side road in explaining the demise of the three apostles was to serve three purposes.  One, to show that D&C 7 is a false prophecy.  Two, to show that the church was indeed operating very well after Jesus’ death, therefore proving there was no need for a “restoration”.  Thirdly, I am praying that by studying the true, historical facts it may dispel the darkness of the lies in Mormonism as well as inspire the members of the LDSChurch to find out more information for themselves.

And then there are the obvious questions…

If the original apostles never died; where are they; why the need for a restoration? 

What purpose does it serve the Church to have this as “scripture”? 

How does it cause growth in the faith of the members?

Also see 3 Nephi 28:1-8 for the same story.  The entire chapter is filled with speculations by Smith as to where the three disciples lived and how their bodies were sustained for the past 2,000 years.

No temple built in Independence, MO. 

D&C 84:4 & 1 Nephi 3:7; “Verily this is the word of the Lord, that the city New Jerusalem shall be built by the gathering of the saints, beginning at this place, even the place of the temple, which temple shall be reared in this generation.”

“And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.”

Here we have two false prophecies.  First of all there was no temple built in Independence, MO within a generation.  If we’re real generous and say that a generation is 100 years instead of say 40 years, it still qualifies as a false prophecy.  The prophecy was made by Joseph Smith on September 22-23, 1832. 

Secondly, the verse from the Book of Mormon is proven false based on the verse in D&C.  While the subject matters are totally different in D&C 84:4 and 1 Nephi 3:7 it shows that somebody’s lying:  God, Nephi or Joseph, your choice.

Zion was not to be moved. 

D&C 97:19; “And the nations of the earth shall honor her, and shall say: Surely Zion is the city of our God, and surely Zion cannot fall, neither be moved out of her place, for God is there, and the hand of the Lord is there.”

They believed that Zion was in Missouri at this time.  Zion has been moved to Utah.

D&C 101:17; “ Zion shall not be moved out of her place, notwithstanding her children are scattered.”

Again, this is in reference to Zion being in Missouri.

United Order should be everlasting. 

D&C 104:1; “Revelation to Joseph Smith, April 23, 1834. History of the Church 2:54-60. Verily I say unto you, my friends, I give unto you counsel, and a commandment, concerning all the properties which belong to the order which I commanded to be organized and established, to be a united order, and an everlasting order for the benefit of my church, and for the salvation of men until I come.”

United Order to be dissolved.  D&C104:47, 53; “And now, a commandment I give unto you concerning Zion, that you shall no longer be bound as a united order to your brethren of Zion, only on this wise.”

“Therefore, you are dissolved as a united order with your brethren, that you are not bound only up to this hour unto them, only on this wise, as I said, by loan as shall be agreed by this order in council, as your circumstances will admit and the voice of the council direct.”

Apparently Smith said that God wanted the people to “pool” their monies and properties for the rest of time and eternity and they would call it “United Order”.  The prophecy was first listed in verse 1 of this section of the D&C.  By the time verse 47 and 53 happened it had obviously been “for all time and eternity” because God dissolved their united order.

Who’s in Charge? 

D&C 112:15; “Exalt not yourselves; rebel not against my servant Joseph; for verily I say unto you, I am with him, and my hand shall be over him; and the keys which I have given unto him, and also to youward, shall not be taken from him till I come.”

Obviously this cannot be true!  Smith was gunned down in June 1844.

Missionary doesn’t make it to the mission field.  D&C 114:1-2; “Revelation through Joseph Smith, Far West, Missouri, April 17, 1838. History of the Church 3:23… that he may perform a mission unto me next spring, in company with others, even twelve including himself, to testify of my name and bear glad tidings unto all the world….”

History of the Church 3:170-1; “Captain Patten then ordered a charge, which was instantly obeyed. The parties immediately came in contact, with their swords, and the mob were soon put to flight, crossing the river at the ford and such places as they could get a chance. In the pursuit, one of the mob fled from behind a tree, wheeled, and shot Captain Patten, who instantly fell, mortally wounded, having received a large ball in his bowels.”

Patten was one of the disciples.  Smith prophesied that Patten would go on a mission the next spring, but Patten was killed in a gun fight just 6 months later without being able to fulfill that prophecy.

Who is Oliver? 

D&C 117:12; “And again, I say unto you, I remember my servant Oliver Granger; behold, verily I say unto him that his name shall be had in sacred remembrance from generation to generation, forever and ever, saith the Lord.”

Have you ever heard of Oliver Granger?

Where is the judgment? 

Joseph Smith’s Testimony 1:45; “He commenced, and again related the very same things which he had done at his first visit, without the least variation; which having done, he informed me of great judgments which were coming upon the earth, with great desolations by famine, sword, and pestilence; and that these grievous judgments would come on the earth in this generation. Having related these things, he again ascended as he had done before.”

This is the account of Moroni’s second of three visits to Smith in one night.  The “these grievous judgments would come on the earth in this generation is what qualifies it as a false prophecy.  One generation would be 40 years and that is being generous!  The prophecy supposedly took place on September 21, 1823; that was 180 years ago! 

See http://www.lifeafter.org/who_is_moroni for more info on Moroni.

All About Polygamy

God Condemns Polygamy. 

Jacob 2:24-27; “Behold, David and Solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before me, saith the Lord…Wherefore, I the Lord God will not suffer that this people shall do like unto them of old.  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.”

D&C 132:39 says; “David’s wives and concubines were given unto him of me, by the hand of Nathan, my servant, and others of the prophets who had the keys of this power; and in none of these things did he sin against me save in the case of Uriah and his wife; and, therefore he hath fallen from his exaltation, and received his portion; and he shall not inherit them out of the world, for I gave them unto another, saith the Lord.”

Again, contradicting Mormon scripture and Mormon prophecy qualifies itself to be placed in the category of false prophecies.

Polygamy (plural marriage) banned.  D&C 132:4-6 says; “For behold, I reveal unto you a new and an everlasting covenant; and if ye abide not that covenant, then are ye damned; for no one can reject this covenant and be permitted to enter into my glory.  For all who will have a blessing at my hands shall abide the law which was appointed for that blessing, and the conditions thereof, as were instituted from before the foundation of the world.  And as pertaining to the new and everlasting covenant, it was instituted for the fulness of my glory; and he that receiveth a fulness thereof must and shall abide the law, or he shall be damned, saith the Lord God.”

This is the “prophecy” of polygamy.  Polygamy was outlawed in 1890 through the Edmunds-Tucker Act.  If they did not abide the law of multiple wives then they were going to be damned by God, if they did practice it then the state of Utah would lose their bid for statehood.

All About Race

The Race Issue–

In regards to the 1978 revelation, Mormon Doctrine, pg. 527 says; “In all past ages and until recent times in this dispensation, the Lord did not offer the priesthood to the Negroes. However, on June 1, 1978, in the Salt Lake Temple, in the presence of the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve, President Spencer W. Kimball received a revelation from the Lord directing that the gospel and the priesthood should now go to all men without reference to race or color.”

Journal of Discourses 11:272; “The Lamanites or Indians are just as much the children of our Father and God as we are. So also are the Africans. But we are also the children of adoption through obedience to the Gospel of his Son. Why are so many of the inhabitants of the earth cursed with a sin of blackness? It comes in consequence of their fathers rejecting the power of the Holy Priesthood, and the law of God. They will go down to death. And when all the rest of the children have received their blessings in the Holy Priesthood, then that curse will be removed from the seed of Cain, and they will then come up and possess the priesthood, and receive all the blessings which we now are entitled to.”

Moses 7:7-8; “And the Lord said unto me: Prophesy; and I prophesied, saying: Behold the people of Canaan, which are numerous, shall go forth in battle array against the people of Shum, and shall slay them that they shall utterly be destroyed; and the people of Canaan shall divide themselves in the land, and the land shall be barren and unfruitful, and none other people shall dwell there but the people of Canaan;  For behold, the Lord shall curse the land with much heat, and the barrenness thereof shall go forth forever; and there was a blackness came upon all the children of Canaan, that they were despised among all people.”

Pure or White? 

2 Nephi 30:6; “And then shall they rejoice; for they shall know that it is a blessing unto them from the hand of God… and many generations shall not pass away among them, save they shall be a pure and a delightsome people.” 

Up until 1982 this verse used to say:  “…save they shall be a white and delightsome people.” 

What is the meaning of “white” and what is the meaning of “pure”?  Why change it if it’s “the most correct book ever written”?  Also, the Sioux, the Cherokee, Navajo, Eskimos and other indigenous Native Americans are still the same color they’ve always been!

Also see Mosiah 18:5; “Now, there was in Mormon a fountain of pure water, and Alma resorted thither….”

Does this theory still stand true?  Could we use the word “white” instead of “pure”?

Blacks and Whites are Saved. 

2 Nephi 26:33; “… and he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembered the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile.”

The above selection is an example of how they’ve had to change doctrine because of false prophecies.  Blacks weren’t allowed to hold the priesthood in the Church until 1978 because they had sinned in the pre-existence.  They weren’t supposed to ever have the priesthood or hold any status in the Church until AFTER all of Adam’s offspring were done being born.  It’s also a classic example of why the members of the LDSChurch are always confused.

Negroes Under Restriction. 

DoS 2:55; “The only souls coming to this world who are under restriction are the Negroes, and they cannot hold the priesthood; but Negroes may be baptized, and we have many Negroes in the Church. Therefore, by what right or reason are we going to deprive innocent children whether they are black, brown, or yellow who die in their infancy-innocent and without sin-from entering the celestial kingdom? If a Negro can receive the celestial kingdom by baptism, and the Chinese, Japanese and all other races, where would there be consistency in saying that any children, because they are born under adverse circumstances, should be deprived of entrance into that kingdom? It seems definitely clear that the Lord means exactly what he said to the Prophet Joseph Smith.”

All About the Book of Mormon

No Changes to the Book of Mormon –

Answers to Gospel Questions 2:200; “…Copies of the first edition of the Book of Mormon are in the Historian’s Office library, and it bears witness that no drastic changes have been made.

There have been thousands of changes in the Bible in recent years, but people do not seem to complain about that. We have books in our library written by an atheist who treats the Bible in the same spirit which these critics treat the Book of Mormon, but his criticism does not prove the Bible false. We all know that there are contradictions in the Bible and many misinterpretations, but we do not go about finding fault and condemning the Bible because these things occur…”

Most Correct Book –

History of the Church, vol. 4:461; “The Prophet’s Estimate of the Book of Mormon.

Sunday, 28.—I spent the day in the council with the Twelve Apostles at the house of President Young, conversing with them upon a variety of subjects. Brother Joseph Fielding was present, having been absent four years on a mission to England. I told the brethren 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.”

It should be stated here that to date there have been over 4,300 changes made to the Book of Mormon since its first printing in 1830.  These are not typographical changes; they are grammatical in nature, which changes the meaning of the text!

All About Joseph

Joseph the Translator.   

In the LDS publication of the Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pgs. 348 and 371 we catch a quick glimpse at some of Joseph Smith’s handiwork as a translator.  He took the liberty to change “the very first sentence in the Bible” of the account of God’s creation of the earth.  It is incredible to me time and again how easy it was for him to outright lie and people believed him!

Here is an example; from pg. 348 of TPJS it says “I will make a comment on the very first sentence of the history of the creation in the Bible—Berosheit. I want to analyze the word. Baith—in, by, through, and everything else. Rosh—the head. Sheit—grammatical termination. When the inspired man wrote it, he did not put the baith there. An old Jew without any authority added the word; he thought it too bad to begin to talk about the head! It read first, “The head one of the Gods brought forth the Gods.” That is the true meaning of the words. Baurau signifies to bring forth. If you do not believe it, you do not believe the learned man of God. Learned men can teach you no more than what I have told you. Thus the head God brought forth the Gods in the grand council.”

So let’s take a moment and really “analyze” this.  In the Hebrew from Genesis 1:1 it says;

“In the beginning” in the Hebrew:  re’shiyth.  Transliteration:  beginning, first, chief, choice part.  It is taken from the root word “rosh” which means chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning, head (of man, animals), top, tip (of mountain), height (of stars), chief, head (of man, city, nation, place, family, priest), head, (front, beginning).

“God”: in the Hebrew is ‘elohiym.  Transliteration:  (plural) rulers, judges, divine ones, angels, gods, (plural intensive – singular meaning), god, goddess, godlike one, works or special possessions of God, the (true) God, (the fullness or Deity) God

 “Created:  in the Hebrew is bara’.  Transliteration:  to create, shape, form (Qal is type of voice tense) to shape, fashion, create (always with God as subject); of heaven and earth, of individual man, of new conditions and circumstances, of transformations; as found in Gen. 1:1. (Niphal, voice) to be created, of heaven and earth, of birth, begotten, of something new, of miracles, as in Gen. 2:4, Ex. 34:10.  (Piel, Arab. future), to cut down as with a sword, Ezek. 23:47; wood with an axe Josh. 17:15, to form or to fashion, to cut out, to plane, polish, Ezek. 21:24.  (Hiphil-voice) to make yourselves fat – 1 Sam 2:29.

“ ‘eth ”: (this is a contraction which appears in the manuscripts – sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative).

“the heaven”:  in the Hebrew is shamayim.  Transliteration:  heaven, heavens, sky visible heavens, sky as abode of the stars, as the visible universe, the sky, atmosphere, etc., Heaven (as the abode of God)

“and”:  in the Hebrew is ‘eth.  See above.

“the earth”:  in the Hebrew is ‘erets.  Transliteration:  whole earth (as opposed to a part),  earth (inhabitants), land, country, territory, district, region, tribal territory. 

Now with our “language class” behind us we can see how Smith has twisted these words around to fit his agenda!  It is imperative to know which mood, tense and voice the language is speaking from in order to have a full/complete understanding of the meaning.  Keep in mind he did all of these changes in just one verse of the Bible so we can just imagine what took place with the rest of it!  Something else to remember; the members of the Church enjoy “bragging” about Joseph only having a 3^rd grade education.  They will tell its members they must have an education because knowledge is one of the keys to salvation and yet… (4)

The “enemies” are still here! 

D&C 121, intro and verse 15; “Prayer and prophecies written by Joseph Smith while a prisoner in the jail at Liberty, Missouri, March 20, 1839. History of the Church 3:289-300.”

Verse 15: “And not many years hence, that they and their posterity shall be swept from under heaven, saith God, that not one of them is left to stand by the wall.”

The above is in reference to Joseph Smith’s enemies.  What do the terms “done with” and “not many years hence” mean?  According to the Church today I would be considered an enemy.

Joseph’s “enemies” outlives him. 

D&C 127:2; “And as for the perils which I am called to pass through, they seem but a small thing to me, as the envy and wrath of man have been my common lot all the days of my life; and for what cause it seems mysterious, unless I was ordained from before the foundation of the world for some good end, or bad, as you may choose to call it… It all has become a second nature to me; and I feel, like Paul, to glory in tribulation; for to this day has the God of my fathers delivered me out of them all, and will deliver me from henceforth; for behold, and lo, I shall triumph over all my enemies, for the Lord God hath spoken it.”

This is such an obvious lie!  Joseph was killed in a gun battle while jailed in Nauvoo, Illinois in June 1844.

References:

1 – John Kitto’s, An Illustrated Guide to the Holy Bible.

2 – William Steuart McBirnie, PhD; The Search for the Twelve Apostles

3 – Ibid

4 – Discourses of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pg. 203; “Knowledge saves a man; and in the world of spirits no man can be exalted but by knowledge. So long as a man will not give heed to the commandments, he must abide without salvation. If a man has knowledge, he can be saved; although, if he has been guilty of great sins, he will be punished for them. But when he consents to obey the gospel, whether here or in the world of spirits, he is saved. (HC 6:314.).” 

Also on page 203 it says; “I did not like the old man being called up for erring in doctrine. It looks too much like the Methodists, and not like the Latter-day Saints. Methodists have creeds which a man must believe or be asked out of their church. I want the liberty of thinking and believing as I please. It feels so good not to be trammelled. It does not prove that a man is not a good man because he errs in doctrine.”