False Prophecies of Joseph Smith
Secrets, none
Alma 37:25; “I will bring forth out of darkness unto light all their secret works and their abominations; and except they repent I will destroy them from off the face of the earth; and I will bring to light all their secrets and abominations, unto every nation that shall hereafter possess the land.”
John 18:19-20; “The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine. 20 Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing.”
If the Mormons don’t believe you should have secrets then why are their temple oaths not shared with the public and why was Joseph Smith taking the secret oaths of the Masonic Lodge?
First, this is, once again, not a prophecy. Just need to point that out.
Second, Alma is speaking of those who do evil secretly, those who seek to hide their abominations from the world.
Third, it has never been said not to keep secrets, but has been actively taught that the sacred truths of the gospel are to reserved only for those worthy to receive them. As Christ himself has said “Cast not thy pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet and then turn again and rend you.” The LDS church has always been careful to keep that which is sacred from those who seek to profane it, which requires some things to be done in secret.
Fourth, Christ in the given verse is talking about preaching and doctrine, not covenants and ceremonies. His doctrine was well known to any who wished to listen and learn, but even he reserved some things for his apostles and did not teach them openly. In the same way LDS doctrine is well known to any who wish to listen and learn, but we reserve some things for those who are worthy.
Fifth, Joseph was a master mason within the organization, and thus he would have taken these oaths.
To summarize, secrets have never been shunned in any way by the church, but have been upheld as a necessary part to keeping those things that are sacred from being profaned. Secrets in themselves are not wrong. It is when we try to hide the evil of our lives, to deceive others as to who we really are, that secrets become things of evil, and it is these secrets that will one day be proclaimed from the house tops to all nations.