False Doctrines of Joseph Fielding Smith

02 April

Ecclesiastes 12:14; For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”

Matthew 12:36-37; “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”

Doctrines of SalvationThe Doctrines of Salvation is a three volume compilation of doctrines, teachings, and even prophecies meted out by the 10th prophet/president of Mormonism; Joseph Fielding Smith. As I was looking for a specific quote the other day, I came across a number of things this man said, so today we’re looking at a few of them.

As I was reading these, I couldn’t help but wonder what godly purpose these doctrines serve for the Mormon people. His writings, etc., are still used today in their everyday teachings, and so our purpose of posting  these is threefold.

1.To educate the Christian, and Mormon communities at large.

2.To give Christians an idea of what to pray about for the Mormons in their lives.

3.To use as a witnessing tool when you have the opportunity.

My heart breaks whenever I come across such blatant lies about God. I remember all too well the confusion I lived in every day I was a Mormon, and it wasn’t easy by any stretch of the imagination!

When the Church gives directives to its members to study their bibles, and goes so far as to use them in their lessons, you can just imagine how caustic the internal warfare would be for the average person.

I spent a total of maybe 10 minutes looking over one small section of this vital Mormon work, and had to limit myself to just a few examples to share today. The totality of it is overwhelming!

One thing is certain, Mr. Smith’s teaching that every little word of mankind isn’t recorded is nothing but a lie…

Doctrines of Salvation 1:54; “The Holy Ghost is given to faithful members of the Church to guard and direct them: theirs is the privilege, through their faithfulness, to have such guidance and protection.

There is no angel following us about like a stenographer taking notes and making a record of our lives. The Lord has a more perfect way by which the acts of our lives are recorded.”

Mr. Smith was referring to the Holy Ghost keeping members from saying bad things, but his doctrine here contradicts what Jesus told us in Matthew’s gospel. As for a stenographer…I can’t imagine the Omniscient, Omnipresent, and Omnipotent God I worship needing a stenographer.

Doctrines of Salvation 1:55; “SECOND COMFORTER NOT HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE. The Holy Spirit of Promise is not the Second Comforter. The Holy Spirit of Promise is the Holy Ghost who places the stamp of approval upon every ordinance that is done righteously; and when covenants are broken he removes the seal.”

For the sake of brevity here, we’re only addressing the latter part of what he’s said.

When God makes a covenant with man it’s eternally valid. Man, with a sin nature, will never stop sinning. No matter how righteous you are as a human being, the internal struggle inside of you will always persist. Romans 7 is a good resource to learn how, and why this happens.

Because God already knows what He’s dealing with (meaning mankind), it wouldn’t make sense that a benevolent God would react in such a totalitarian manner.

The synopsis of what Mr. Smith said is –

Your sin = God’s departure

Doctrines of Salvation 1:146; “ANCIENT PROPHETS SAW OUR CIVILIZATION. I read in the scriptures, if I understand them correctly, that many of the prophets of old had opened to their vision scenes pertaining to the history of the children of men down to the end of time, and the Lord revealed unto them the conditions that would prevail in the earth in this generation.

They saw, if I understand the matter correctly, our automobiles, our railroad trains; they saw, very probably, the communication that was taking place upon the face of the earth so wonderfully by wireless communication, or by means of wires by which news is conveyed. They saw, I believe, the airplanes flying in the midst of the heavens, because we can read in the prophecies of these ancient scriptures many things that indicate that these things were revealed unto those ancient prophets.”

This last example is just downright silly! If Abraham saw what Mr. Smith claims he did, then why didn’t Abraham write up the plans for the internet? Good grief.

An example is seen in John 8:56; “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day”. Yes, Abraham rejoiced in thinking of the time the Messiah would arrive on earth. It doesn’t mean he saw ‘planes, trains, and automobiles’  zipping around! It’s much like us knowing the world will be more evil at the end than it is today.

We can’t imagine what evil lies ahead, but we know it’ll be there.

We’re praying Mormons understand and accept God does indeed take note of every idle word we’ve said, and that goes for what Mr. Smith falsely taught these dear people.

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