Mormon Dilemmas 6

02 June

Moroni or Nephi, Who Visited Joseph that Night?

Introductory page of D&C 1976, 3rd paragraph; This took place in the early spring of 1820.  In September, 1823, and at later times, Joseph Smith received visitations from Moroni, an angel of light, who revealed the resting place of the ancient record from which The Book of Mormon was afterward translated.

Joseph Smith History 1:32-33; The room was exceedingly light, but not so very bright as immediately around his person. When I first looked upon him, I was afraid; but the fear soon left me.  33 He called me by name, and said unto me that he was a messenger sent from the presence of God to me, and that his name was Moroni; that God had a work for me to do; and that my name should be had for good and evil…”

Times and Seasons, vol. 3 (November 1841 – October 1842): pg. 753; “The room was exceedingly light, but not so very bright as immediately around his person. When I first looked upon him I was afraid, but the fear soon left me. He called me by name, and said unto me that he was a messenger sent from the presence of God to me, and that his name was Nephi. That God had a work for me to do, and that my name should be had for good and evil…”

2 Cor. 11:13-15; For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.  14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.  15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

The warning from Paul to the Corinthians is scary and should make you want to run the other way as fast as you can!

Why would you be proud of people knowing your name for evil?

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3 Responses to “Mormon Dilemmas 6”

  1. shematwater June 2, 2011 at 5:21 pm #

    A small typo in a periodical is not a dilemma for anyone unless they are desperately seeking for dilemmas.

    As to your question, did not Jesus have his name known for evil by the pharisees? What of the early saints who were known for evil by the Romans after Nero blamed them for the great fire?
    To be known for evil is not the same as being evil. It simply means that people think you are evil, as many thought Christ was evil for committing blasphemy.

    This pronouncement on Joseph Smith is one of the greatest praises an angel could give, for only the greatest men can claim such.

  2. lifeafterministry June 3, 2011 at 2:01 am #

    Typo? A typo is when you’ve accidentally typed a word or a letter incorrectly and left
    A lie is when you say something other than truth.

    Evidence shows us that Smith actually proofread all his transcripts and gave his okay on both versions.

    The 1851 Pearl of Great Price, pg. 41 says Nephi but then someone wrote the name Moroni above it. A good book for you to read by the Church is Textual Changes to the Pearl of Great Price. It’s a thesis written for BYU by a guy named Whipple.
    All other witnesses tell us that Joseph was emphatic about it being Nephi and then others say he told them Moroni, so who or better yet, what was it that appeared to Smith? Smith’s own mother says it was Nephi, the Millennial Star says Nephi, Times and Seasons says Nephi…could those all be typos?
    Brigham Young wrote in History of the Church 7:387 that Smith had verified and ok’d the text.

  3. shematwater June 3, 2011 at 2:39 pm #

    “All other witnesses?”

    Joseph Smith did not approve all issues of the Times and Seasons. Also, even if he did approve this it does not rule out simple error; unless you are going to require that he makes no mistakes throughout his life.

    Now, the 1851 edition of the PofGP means little, as Joseph was no longer around to proof read it. As to all your other witnesses, I would love actual references.

    I know several accounts regarding the Gold Plates and who handled them, and without exception it is Moroni who had charge of them on all occassions. So, if you want to assert there is some other account, please provide it rather than just saying that it exists somewhere.

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