Proselyting Techniques of Mormon Missionaries

[The Learner]

“But the Savior’s grace can do much more for us. As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we aspire to something unimaginably greater. It is exaltation in the celestial kingdom. It is life eternal in the presence of our Father in Heaven. It is the greatest gift of God. In the celestial kingdom, we receive ‘of his fulness, and of his glory.’ Indeed, all that the Father hath shall be given unto us. Exaltation is our goal; discipleship is our journey” (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “It Works Wonderfully,” Ensign (Conference Edition), November 2015, p. 23). Apostles “I tell you that men and women are led up to exaltation by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel” (Charles A. Callis, Conference Reports, October 1917, p. 126). “The Celestial inheritance is for those who have accepted the Gospel of Christ and have rendered valiant service in the cause of righteousness; those who have yielded obedience to all the laws and ordinances of the Gospel” (James E. Talmage, The Vitality of Mormonism, p. 287). “I recognize the fact that no man will get all the way to the end of the road and gain a fullness of salvation in the Celestial Kingdom of God unless he complies with all the terms and all the conditions of salvation in that Kingdom” (Melvin J. Ballard, Three Degrees of Glory, p. 5. From a discourse given in the Ogden Tabernacle, September 22, 1922). “To enter the highest of these degrees in the celestial kingdom is to be exalted in the kingdom of God. Such exaltation comes to those who receive the higher ordinances of the Church, such as the temple endowment, and afterwards are sealed in marriage for time and eternity, whether on earth or in the hereafter. Those who are so sealed continue the family relationship eternally. Spiritual children are begotten by them. They carry on the work of salvation for the hosts of waiting spirits. They who are so exalted become even as the gods” (John A. Widtsoe, Evidences and Reconciliations, p. 201). “The number sharing these great and choice blessings will be limited. It is unfortunate that so few will worthily prepare themselves and enter the strait gate and faithfully follow the narrow way to the end to earn the promising reward of eternal life and its jointheirship with Christ of all that God the Father possesses” (Delbert L. Stapley, Conference Reports, April 1961, p. 67). “Some degree of salvation will come to all who have not forfeited their right to it; exaltation is given to those only who by righteous effort have won a claim to God’s merciful liberality by which it is bestowed” (James E. Talmage, Articles of Faith, 1984, p. 82). “The Celestial Glory — There are some who have striven to obey all the divine commandments, who have accepted the testimony of Christ, obeyed ‘the laws and ordinances of the Gospel,’ and received the Holy Spirit; these are they who have overcome evil by godly works and who are therefore entitled to the highest glory; these belong to the Church of the Firstborn, unto whom the Father has given all things; they are made kings and priests of the Most High, after the order of Melchizedek; they possess celestial bodies, ‘whose glory is that of the sun, even the glory of God, the highest of all, whose glory the sun of the firmament is written of as being typical’; they are admitted to the glorified company, crowned with exaltation in the celestial kingdom” (James E. Talmage, Articles of Faith, 1984, p. 83). “But an eternal relationship of families does not come about automatically, as some suppose. It must not only be planned for; it must be earned. We must realize that only when we have lived in complete harmony with all the laws and ordinances of the priesthood, including those received in holy temples, should we expect to find ourselves prepared to dwell in what I sometimes refer to as the ‘kingdom of families’—the celestial world” (ElRay L. Christiansen, “Three Important Questions,” Ensign (Conference Edition), May 1974, p. 25). “Salvation comes by obedience to the whole law of the whole gospel. Joseph Smith said: ‘Any person who is exalted to the highest mansion has to abide a celestial law, and the whole law too.’ (Teachings, p. 331.) Thus, a man may be damned for a single sin” (Bruce R. McConkie, Doctrinal New Testament Commentary 3:256). “That exaltation which the saints of all ages have so devoutly sought is godhood itself. Godhood is to have the character, possess the attributes, and enjoy the perfections which the Father has. It is to do what he does, have the powers resident in him, and live as he lives, having eternal increase” (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 1966, p. 321). “Conditional or individual salvation, that which comes by grace coupled with gospel obedience, consists in receiving an inheritance in the celestial kingdom of God. This kind of salvation follows faith, repentance, baptism, receipt of the Holy Ghost, and continued righteousness to the end of one’s mortal probation” (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 1966, pp. 669-670). “Ordinances and covenants become our credentials for admission into His presence. To worthily receive them is the quest of a lifetime; to keep them thereafter is the challenge of mortality” (Boyd K. Packer, “Covenants,” Ensign (Conference Edition), May 1987, p. 24). “Immortality comes to us all as a free gift by the grace of God alone, without works of righteousness. Eternal life, however, is the reward for obedience to the laws and ordinances of His gospel” (David B. Haight, “The Sacrament—and the Sacrifice,” Ensign (Conference Edition), November 1989, p. 61). “Thus, brothers and sisters, along with the great and free gift of the universal and personal resurrection there is also the personal possibility of meriting eternal life... Again, our experiences surely do not approach those of Jesus, yet the same principles and processes apply. His perfected attributes exemplify what can be much further developed by each of us” (Neal A. Maxwell, “Apply the Atoning Blood of Christ,” Ensign (Conference Edition), November 1997, p. 23. Italics mine). “Christ gave us freely an enormous and unconditional gift, the universal resurrection. However, Christ’s proffer of the further gift of eternal life is conditional” (Neal A. Maxwell, “Sharing testimony about the Atonement,” Church News, September 4, 1999, p. 5). “Time and time again at funerals, statements are made that the deceased will inherit all blessings of celestial glory when that individual has in no way qualified by obtaining the necessary ordinances and by keeping the required covenants. That won’t happen. Such blessings can only be earned by meeting the Lord’s requirements. His mercy does not overcome the requirements of His law. They must be met” (Richard G. Scott, “First Things First,” Ensign (Conference Edition), May 2001, p. 9).

 

[The Learner]

“Thanks to the Atonement, the gift of immortality is unconditional. The greater gift of eternal life, however, is conditional. In order to qualify, one must deny oneself of ungodliness and honor the ordinances and covenants of the temple” (Russell M. Nelson, “Divine Love,” Ensign, February 2003, p. 24. Italics in original). “Jesus could have called upon legions of angels to bring Him down from the cross, but He did not. He endured to the end that we would have the benefits of the atoning sacrifice; that mercy could be brought into the world; that justice would be satisfied; that we might be resurrected; and that we might be able to earn, through our obedience, eternal life in the presence of God the Father and Jesus Christ” (Robert D. Hales, “Lessons from the Atonement That Help Us to Endure to the End,” Ensign (Conference Edition), November 1985, p. 20). “Each of us has been sent to earth by our Heavenly Father to merit eternal life” (Robert D. Hales, “Personal Revelation: The Teachings and Examples of the Prophets,” Ensign (Conference Edition), November 2007, p. 87). “Eternal life, or celestial glory or exaltation, is a conditional gift. Conditions of this gift have been established by the Lord, who said, ‘If you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God.’ Those qualifying conditions include faith in the Lord, repentance, baptism, receiving the Holy Ghost, and remaining faithful to the ordinances and covenants of the temple” (Russell M. Nelson, “Salvation and Exaltation,” Ensign (Conference Edition), May 2008, p. 9). “Eternal life is to gain exaltation in the highest heaven and live in the family unit” (Russell M. Nelson, “Prepare for the Blessings of the Temple,” Ensign Special Issue Temples, October 2010, p. 49). Seventies “To the Latter-day Saints our interests lie in the celestial glory. In fact, we don’t have much interest in the other two degrees because we are assured through revelation that those who go to the celestial degree of glory and receive exaltation are members of the Church of the Firstborn who have lived by every word that has come from the mouth of God, being humble, and faithful in all of their activities here in life. We are heirs, therefore, of celestial glory. The gateway into celestial glory is faith, repentance, baptism, and confirmation; and then, of course, as the Saints enter the kingdom of God by compliance with the foregoing requirements, they make their calling and election sure by rendering obedience to all the ordinances and doctrines of the gospel of Jesus Christ from day to day throughout the entire course of this mortal life. These are they who shall dwell in the presence of God” (Milton R. Hunter, Conference Reports, April 1949, pp. 70-71). “Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are heirs not only to the celestial glory but also to exaltation or eternal life in that glory; and that heirship shall be obtained if they keep all the commandments given by Jesus Christ to members of his kingdom” (Milton R. Hunter, Conference Reports, October 1953, p. 46). “To summarize, immortality means to live forever and the immortality given to every man and woman by the Savior is resurrection. Each of us will resurrect our body which will be united with the spirit, never to be separated again nor to disintegrate. Eternal life, on the other hand, is the condition of life that those who live righteous lives will enjoy throughout the ages in the Kingdom of God. In fact, it means exaltation. He who receives the greatest portion of eternal life becomes a God” (Milton R. Hunter, The Gospel Through the Ages, p. 11). “No mere record alone will assure me my exaltation in the celestial kingdom. That exaltation must be earned by a righteous life on earth, by virtue, love, obedience, and conformance to every law given by God. In fact, the scripture states: ‘And I give unto you a commandment, that ye shall forsake all evil and cleave unto all good, that ye shall live by every word which proceedeth forth out of the mouth of God.’ (D&C 98:11.)” (Theodore M. Burton, Conference Reports, October 1968, p. 77). “The true value of the sacrifice of Christ means much more than this general salvation which comes to all mankind. There is an additional salvation that God has planned for his children. This additional salvation is an individual salvation and is conditioned not only upon grace, but also upon obedience to gospel law. One of the prophets in the Book of Mormon explained why he and his associates were so concerned about teaching more about Jesus Christ, as he wrote: ‘For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do’” (Theodore M. Burton, “Salvation and Exaltation,” Ensign, July 1972, p. 78). “Exaltation comes as a gift from God, dependent upon my obedience to God’s law. No works I do solely of my own power can bring this to pass. Only by the grace of God has this course been opened to me, but only through obedience to the laws of God can I claim my inheritance in the celestial kingdom of my Heavenly Father as a son within his family. I cannot be exalted in my sins, but must work until I overcome them” (Theodore M. Burton, “Salvation and Exaltation,” Ensign (Conference Edition), July 1972, pp. 78- 79). “To the Latter-day Saint salvation is exaltation in the celestial kingdom of God” (Royden G. Derrick, Temples in the Last Days, p.x). “The scriptures teach us that there is promise beyond—that there is a reward for service rendered and for attainment. The reward is exaltation in the celestial kingdom of God. Exaltation is the highest of three degrees of glory in the celestial kingdom. The celestial kingdom is the highest of three kingdoms in the realm of immortality. Exaltation is earned by accepting Jesus Christ and His divine sonship and following His precepts” (Royden G. Derrick, “The Way to Perfection,” Ensign (Conference Edition), May 1989, p. 76). “If we want to live a celestial life in the hereafter, we had better live a celestial life here on earth. Our futures are truly connected to our past” (Richard J. Maynes, “A Celestial Connection to Your Teenage Years,” Ensign (Conference Edition), November 1997, p. 30). “The second typical explanation tries to divide the effects of the Atonement between physical death and spiritual death. According to this theory, the resurrection saves all from physical death-it is salvation by grace and is not dependent on anything we do. However, if we wish to overcome spiritual death and enter back into God’s presence, we must be obedient to laws and principles. This is exaltation by works. Thus, according to this explanation, we are saved by grace and exalted by works” (Gerald N. Lund, Jesus Christ, Key to the Plan of Salvation, p. 154. Italics in original).

 

[The Learner]

“Inasmuch as we obey His commandments and are faithful to our covenants, we are blessed to expect a joyful family reunited and crowned with eternal life” (Walter F. Gonzalez, “Death and Resurrection,” Ensign, April 2003, p. 24). “This is the exchange the Savior is asking of us: we are to give up all our sins, big or small, for the Father’s reward of eternal life. We are to forget self-justifying stories, excuses, rationalizations, defense mechanisms, procrastinations, appearances, personal pride, judgmental thoughts, and doing things our way. We are to separate ourselves from all worldliness and take upon us the image of God in our countenances” (Robert C. Gay, “What Shall a Man Give in Exchange for His Soul?,” Ensign (Conference Edition), November 2012, p. 35). “Qualifying for exaltation is like entering another country. We must each obtain our spiritual passport. We do not set the requirements, but, individually, we must meet all of them. The plan of salvation contains all of the doctrines, laws, commandments, and ordinances needed for all to qualify for exaltation. Then, ‘through the Atonement of [Jesus] Christ, all mankind may be saved.’ The Church helps but cannot do it for us. Qualifying for exaltation becomes a quest of a lifetime” (Allan F. Packer, “The Book,” Ensign (Conference Edition), November 2014, p. 99. Italics and brackets in original). “Enduring to the end is a hallmark of true discipleship and is essential to eternal life. But when trials and challenges come our way, we are often told to simply ‘hang in there.’ Let me be clear: to ‘hang in there’ is not a principle of the gospel. Enduring to the end means constantly coming unto Christ and being perfected in Him. If enduring to the end is essential to eternal life, why do we struggle to be faithful? We struggle when we are caught between competing priorities. Casual obedience and lukewarm commitment weaken faith. Enduring to the end requires total commitment to the Savior and to our covenants” (Kevin W. Pearson, “Stay by the Tree,” Ensign (Conference Edition), May 2015, p. 114). Church Manuals “As we are obedient to the commandments of God, we earn the right to live with him forever in the celestial kingdom” (Uniform System for Teaching Families, 1973, p. D-1). “Exaltation is eternal life, the kind of life God lives. He lives in great glory. He is perfect. He possesses all knowledge and all wisdom. He is the Father of spirit children. He is a creator. We can become like our Heavenly Father. This is exaltation. If we prove faithful to the Lord, we will live in the highest degree of the celestial kingdom of heaven. We will become exalted, to live with our Heavenly Father in eternal families. Exaltation is the greatest gift that Heavenly Father can give His children (see D&C 14:7)” (Gospel Principles, 2009, pp. 275, 277). “The time to fulfill the requirements for exaltation is now (see Alma 34:32–34)” (Gospel Principles, 2009, p. 277). “Eternal life is living with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in the celestial kingdom. This blessing—which is also called exaltation— comes only to those who keep the commandments and make the necessary covenants” (Preparing for Exaltation Teacher’s Manual, 1998, p. 4). “Earth life (or mortality) is not just a stepping stone into eternity, but the proving ground where we learn, progress, and ultimately earn our award. The greatest award is exaltation in the celestial kingdom. This award belongs to those who choose dedication, discipline, training, sacrifice, and obedience to the gospel plan” (Preparing for Exaltation, 1993, p. 13). “We must do more than just say we believe in Jesus Christ; we must follow him. All people, regardless of their level of righteousness, will be saved from death because of the Resurrection of Christ. However, in order to attain the highest degree of glory in the resurrection, we need to ‘come unto Christ, and be perfected in him’ (Moroni 10:32). We come unto Christ by having faith in him, repenting of our sins, being baptized, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, receiving other saving priesthood ordinances, obeying the commandments, and keeping the covenants we make with our Heavenly Father. How we live does make a difference” (Preparing for Exaltation Teacher’s Manual, p. 39). “By definition, exaltation includes the ability to procreate the family unit throughout eternity. This or Father in heaven has power to do. His marriage partner is our mother in heaven. We are their spirit children, born to them in the bonds of celestial marriage” (Achieving a Celestial Marriage, 1976, p. 129). “Ask students to define the terms immortality and eternal life. Discuss the scriptural definition of “immortality” (see 1 Corinthians 15:51–54; Mormon 6:21) and of “eternal life” (see 1 John 5:11; Mosiah 15:22–25). President Spencer W. Kimball said, ‘Immortality is to live forever in an assigned kingdom. Eternal life is to gain exaltation in the highest heaven and live in the family unit’ (in Conference Report, Sept.–Oct. 1978, 109; or Ensign, Nov. 1978, 72)” (The Pearl of Great Price Teacher Manual Religion 327, 2000, p. 13. Italics in original). “Becoming like our Father in Heaven is like climbing a ladder. We must start at the bottom and climb each step until we reach the top. The Prophet Joseph Smith said that if we want to become like our Father in Heaven we must learn how He feels, thinks, and acts. When we understand these things about Him, we can then learn all other things about Him, until we know how to become as He is” (Gospel Fundamentals, 2002, p. 204). “Now that you have been baptized and confirmed, much of your progress toward eternal life depends on your receiving other ordinances of salvation: for men, ordination to the Melchizedek Priesthood; for men and women, the temple endowment and marriage sealing. When you receive these ordinances and keep the covenants that accompany them, you prepare yourself to inherit the highest degree of celestial glory” (True to the Faith: A Gospel Reference, 2004, p. 53). “To be exalted in the highest degree and continue eternally in family relationships, we must enter into ‘the new and everlasting covenant of marriage’ and be true to that covenant. In other words, temple marriage is a requirement for obtaining the highest degree of celestial glory” (True to the Faith: A Gospel Reference, 2004, p. 93). “If we use the word salvation to mean eternal life, none of us can say that we have been saved in mortality. That glorious gift can come only after the Final Judgment” (True to the Faith: A Gospel Reference, 2004, p. 153). “These are some of the blessings given to exalted people: 1. They will live eternally in the presence of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ (see D&C 76:62). 2. They will become gods (see D&C 132:20–23). 3. They will be united eternally with their righteous

 

[The Learner]

family members and will be able to have eternal increase. 4. They will receive a fulness of joy. 5. They will have everything that our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have—all power, glory, dominion, and knowledge (see D&C 132:19–20)” (Gospel Principles, 2009, p. 277). “Exaltation in the highest degree of the celestial kingdom can be obtained only by those who have faithfully lived the gospel of Jesus Christ and are sealed as eternal companions” (Handbook 2: Administering the Church, 2010, p. 3). “Because of His Atonement, everyone will be resurrected (see 1 Corinthians 15:20–22). Those who repent, obey the commandments, receive the saving ordinances, and keep their covenants will receive the gift of eternal life (see Articles of Faith 1:3)” (Teaching the Gospel in the Savior’s Way, 2012, p. 14). Other Sources “To be exalted in the kingdom of God, one must keep all of the laws of the gospel and keep all the commandments of God. It is great to keep the Word of Wisdom and to pay your tithes and offerings and attend Sacrament meetings and fulfill all the other activities in the Church. But if you omit your family research and temple work, you fall short and at the peril of your own salvation” (Patriarch Eldred G. Smith, Conference Reports, April 1962, p. 66). “Exaltation is a synonym for eternal life. Exaltation comes only to those who inherit the highest degree within the celestial kingdom. It is the power to have eternal increase after the resurrection; it consists in the continuation of the family unit throughout eternity; it is the type of life that is lived by our Heavenly Father” (BYU Professor Daniel H. Ludlow, A Companion to Your Study of the Doctrines and Covenants 2:85). “We have emphasized that we must strive to become like our Heavenly Father. We must strive to become worthy of living with him. The privilege of dwelling with our Father is the greatest gift to us. We call this gift exaltation, eternal life, or salvation. It is given to those who are worthy and prepared themselves for it during this life… Exaltation is greater than the gift of immortality” (“Exaltation Through Christ and His Church: Discussion 2,” Instructions for Stake Missionaries: Discussions for New Members, 2001, pp. 2-4. Ellipsis mine). “Without the resurrection, men would not be able to return to live with their Father in heaven. God will judge each person to see which degree of glory he or she will attain, dependent on their life on the earth, their works, their behavior, and their beliefs. The resurrection is the beginning of the immortal soul. Not all men will be resurrected at the same time, ‘but every man in his own order’ (1 Corinthians 15:23), and each will be judged and will attain that glory which he has earned. The resurrection will be the gift from Christ for those who kept their first estate, and exaltation will come to those who obey God’s laws and commandments here on the earth” (Ed J. Pinegar, You, Your Family and the Scriptures, p. 89. Italics in original). “Not everyone lives to the same degree of righteousness on earth. Some live better or worse lives than others. Each person will inherit the degree of glory he earned while on the earth, according to his works, actions, behavior, and deeds. (See Revelation 22:11- 22.)” (Ed J. Pinegar, You, Your Family and the Scriptures, pp. 93-94). “Exaltation is the greatest of all the gifts and attainments possible. It is available only in the highest degree of the Celestial Kingdom and is reserved for members of the Church of the Firstborn. This exalted status, called eternal life, is available to be received by a man and wife. It means not only living in God’s presence, but receiving power to do as God does, including the power to bear children after the resurrection. Blessings and privileges of exaltation require unwavering faith, repentance, and complete obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ” (Encyclopedia of Mormonism 2:479). “LDS beliefs also emphasize the egalitarian nature of men-women relationships. LDS doctrine teaches that there is a Mother in Heaven as well as a Father, that Eve’s eating of the forbidden fruit furthered God’s Plan of Salvation (see Fall of Adam), that women must perform certain essential priesthood ordinances in the temple, and that the highest order of the priesthood and the complete blessings of exaltation are available only to the married couple; neither can enter exaltation without the other” (Encyclopedia of Mormonism 2:490). “‘Eternal life’ is a higher state than immortality alone and means to live forever in a resurrected condition in the presence of God, and to become like God. It likewise is available only through the grace of Jesus Christ and is the greatest of all gifts that God bestows upon his children (D&C 14:7). Eternal life is exaltation into the type and quality of life that God lives. Receiving eternal life is conditional, predicated upon obedience to the fulness of gospel law and ordinances (D&C 29:43-44; 130:20-21). It requires voluntary obedience to all of the ordinances and principles of the gospel, beginning with faith in Jesus Christ and continuing through baptism, the laying-on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, and the covenants of the Endowment and marriage in the temple, and of enduring to the end” (Encyclopedia of Mormonism 2:677-678). “Individual salvation is another matter. Though all salvation is available through the goodness and grace of Christ, Latter-day Saints believe there are certain things that must be done in order for divine grace and mercy to be activated in the lives of individual followers of Christ. We must come unto him-accept him as Lord and Savior, have faith on his name, repent of sin, be baptized, receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, and strive to keep God’s commandments to the end of our days. Eternal life, known also as salvation or exaltation, comes to those who believe and seek to remain true to the gospel covenant. Christ is ‘the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him’” (BYU Professor Emeritus Robert L. Millet, The Mormon Faith: Understanding Restored Christianity, p. 52). “Eternal Life is a term which always means ‘exaltation,’ when used in the scriptures (John 3:15; Romans 6:23; 1 John 1:2; 2 Nephi 2:28; D&C 5:22; 18:8; 131:5; 138:51; Moses 1:39)” (David R. Ridges, Mormon Beliefs and Doctrines Made Easier, p. 88).

 

[The Learner]

GOD Standard Works “For I know that God is not a partial God, neither a changeable being; but he is unchangeable from all eternity to all eternity” (The Book of Mormon, Moroni 8:18). “And the king said: Is God that Great Spirit that brought our fathers out of the land of Jerusalem? And Aaron said unto him: Yea, he is that Great Spirit, and he created all things both in heaven and in earth. Believest thou this? And he said: Yea, I believe that the Great Spirit created all things, and I desire that ye should tell me concerning all these things, and I will believe thy words” (The Book of Mormon, Alma 22:9-11). “Now, the decrees of God are unalterable” (The Book of Mormon, Alma 41:8). “For God doth not walk in crooked paths, neither doth he turn to the right hand nor to the left, neither doth he vary from that which he hath said, therefore his paths are straight, and his course is one eternal round” (Doctrine and Covenants 3:2). “By these things we know that there is a God in heaven, who is infinite and eternal, from everlasting to everlasting the same unchangeable God, the framer of heaven and earth, and all things which are in them; And that he created man, male and female, after his own image and in his own likeness, created he them; And gave unto them commandments that they should love and serve him, the only living and true God, and that he should be the only being whom they should worship” (Doctrine and Covenants 20:17- 19). “From eternity to eternity he is the same, and his years never fail” (Doctrine and Covenants 76:4). “The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s” (Doctrine and Covenants 130:22). Joseph Smith “I will go back to the beginning before the world was, to show what kind of being God is. What sort of a being was God in the beginning? Open your ears and hear, all ye ends of the earth, for I am going to prove it to you by the Bible, and to tell you the designs of God in relation to the human race, and why He interferes with the affairs of man. God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens! That is the great secret, if the veil were rent today, and the great God who holds this world in its orbit, and who upholds all worlds and all things by his power, was to make himself visible,—I say, if you were to see him today, you would see him like a man in form—like yourselves in all the person, image, and very form as a man; for Adam was created in the very fashion, image and likeness of God, and received instruction from, and walked, talked and conversed with him, as one man talks and communes with another” (Joseph Smith,Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 345. Italics in original. See also Achieving a Celestial Marriage, p. 129).

 

[The Learner]

“We have imagined and supposed that God was God from all eternity. I will refute that idea, and take away the veil, so that you may see. These are incomprehensible ideas to some, but they are simple. It is the first principle of the Gospel to know for a certainty the Character of God, and to know that we may converse with him as one man converses with another, and that he was once a man like us; yea, that God the Father of us all, dwelt on an earth, the same as Jesus Christ himself did, and I will show it from the Bible” (Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pp. 345-346. Italics in original. See also Gospel Principles, 1997, p. 305). “If Jesus Christ was the Son of God, and John discovered that God the Father of Jesus Christ had a Father, you may suppose that He had a Father also. Where was there ever a son without a father? And where was there ever a father without first being a son? Whenever did a tree or anything spring into existence without a progenitor? And everything comes in this way. Paul says that which is earthly is in the likeness of that which is heavenly, Hence if Jesus had a Father, can we not believe that He had a Father also?” (Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 373.) “That which is without body or parts is nothing. There is no God in heaven but that God who has flesh and bones” (Joseph Smith, Teachings of Presidents of the Church – Joseph Smith, p. 42). “In knowledge there is power. God has more power than all other beings, because He has greater knowledge, and hence He knows how to subject all other beings to Him. He has power over all” (Joseph Smith, Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, p. 265). 2nd President Brigham Young “Our God and Father in Heaven, is a being of tabernacle, or, in other words, he has a body, with parts the same as you and I have; and is capable of showing forth his works to organized beings, as for instance, in the world in which we live, it is the result of the knowledge and infinite wisdom that dwell in his organized body. His Son Jesus Christ has become a personage of tabernacle, and has a body like his Father. The Holy Ghost is the Spirit of the Lord, and issues forth from himself, and may properly be called God’s minister to execute his will in immensity; being called to govern by his influence and power; but he is not a person of flesh as we are, and as our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ are” (Brigham Young, Discourses of Brigham Young, p. 24. See also Journal of Discourses 1:50). “When you can thus feel, then you may begin to think that you can find out something about God, and begin to learn who he is. He is our Father—the Father of our spirits, and was once a man in mortal flesh as we are, and is now an exalted Being. How many Gods there are, I do not know. But there never was a time when there were not Gods and worlds, and when men were not passing through the same ordeals that we are now passing through. That course has been from all eternity, and it is and will be to all eternity. You cannot comprehend this; but when you can, it will be to you a matter of great consolation” (Brigham Young, October 8, 1859, Journal of Discourses 7:333). “It appears ridiculous to the world, under their darkened and erroneous traditions, that God has been once a finite being; and yet we are not in such close communion with him as many have supposed” (Brigham Young, October 8, 1859, Journal of Discourses 7:333). “The idea that the Lord our God is not a personage of tabernacle is entirely a mistaken notion. He was once a man. Brother Kimball quoted a saying of Joseph the Prophet, that he would not worship a God who had not a Father; and I do not know that he would if be had not a mother; the one would be as absurd as the other. If he had a Father, he was made in his likeness. And if he is our Father we are made after his image and likeness. He once possessed a body, as we now do; and our bodies are as much to us, as his body to him. Every iota of this organization is necessary to secure for us an exaltation with the Gods” (Brigham Young, February 23, 1862, Journal of Discourses 9:286). “Some men seem as if they could learn so much and no more. They appear to be bounded in their capacity for acquiring knowledge, as Brother Orson Pratt, has in theory, bounded the capacity of God. According to his theory, God can progress no further in knowledge and power; but the God that I serve is progressing eternally, and so are his children: they will increase to all eternity, if they are faithful” (Brigham Young, January 13, 1867, Journal of Discourses 11:286). “Now I would ask the Christian world a question, and in doing so I do not mean to reflect upon, or cast an insinuation in the least derogatory to, all Christians, or to any who believe in God; but I would ask them, what do you know of God? Take all the divines on the face of the earth and place them in this stand, and beyond the attributes of God they know nothing of Him; they are entirely ignorant of His person. There is the difference between the various religious sects of the Christian world and the Latter-day Saints” (Brigham Young, July 11, 1869, Journal of Discourses 13:144). “Some would have us believe that God is present everywhere. It is not so. He is no more every where present in person than the Father and Son are one in person” (Brigham Young, Discourses of Brigham Young, pp. 23-24. See also Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young, p. 29). “Now do not lariat the God that I serve and say that he can not learn any more; I do not believe in such a character” (Brigham Young, Deseret News, June 18, 1873, p. 309. See also Eugene England, “Perfection and Progression: Two Complimentary ways to talk about God,” BYU Studies, Summer 1989, p. 37). “I tell you, when you see your Father in the Heavens, you will see
Adam; when you see your Mother that bear your spirit, you will see Mother Eve. And when you see yourselves there you have gained your Exaltation; you have honored your calling here on the Earth; your body has returned to its mother Earth; and somebody has broken the chains of death that bound you, and given you a resurrection” (Brigham Young, The Essential Brigham Young, p. 99). “What, is it possible that the Father of Heights, the Father of our spirits, could reduce himself and come forth like a man? Yes, he was once a man like you and I are and was once on an earth like this, passed through the ordeal you and I pass through. He had his father and his mother and he has been exalted through his faithfulness, and he is become Lord of all. He is the God pertaining to this earth. He is our Father. He begot our spirits in the spirit world. They have come forth and our earthly parents have organized tabernacles for our spirits and here we are today. That is the way we came” (Brigham Young, The ... Adam; when you see your Mother that bear your spirit, you will see Mother Eve. And when you see yourselves there you have gained your Exaltation; you have honored your calling here on the Earth; your body has returned to its mother Earth; and somebody has broken the chains of death that bound you, and given you a resurrection” (Brigham Young, The Essential Brigham Young, p. 99). “What, is it possible that the Father of Heights, the Father of our spirits, could reduce himself and come forth like a man? Yes, he was once a man like you and I are and was once on an earth like this, passed through the ordeal you and I pass through. He had his father and his mother and he has been exalted through his faithfulness, and he is become Lord of all. He is the God pertaining to this earth. He is our Father. He begot our spirits in the spirit world. They have come forth and our earthly parents have organized tabernacles for our spirits and here we are today. That is the way we came” (Brigham Young )

 

[The Learner]

4th President Wilford Woodruff “GOD IS INCREASING IN KNOWLEDGE. If there was a point where man in his progression could not proceed any further, the very idea would throw a gloom over every intelligent and reflecting mind. God Himself is increasing and progressing in knowledge, power, and dominion, and will do so, worlds without end” (Wilford Woodruff, The Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, p. 3). “Meeting Adjourned till evening when the House was filled again. Was Addressed...by Brigham Young...I will now preach you another Sermon. There is one great Master and Head in all kingdoms & g[overnment?]. So with our Father in Heaven. He is a Tabernacle. He Created us in the likeness of his own image. The Son has also a Tabernacle like the Father & the Holy Ghost is a minister to the people but not a tabernacle” (Wilford Woodruff, Waiting for World’s End: The Diaries of Wilford Woodruff, Susan Staker, ed., p. 150. Recounting Brigham Young’s conference sermon from April 9, 1852. Ellipsis, brackets, spelling, and punctuation in original). 5th President Lorenzo Snow “As man is now, God once was; as God is now, man may be” (Lorenzo Snow, The Teachings of Lorenzo Snow, p. 2. Italics in original. See also The Life and Teachings of Jesus and His Apostles manual, 1979, p. 59). 6th President Joseph F. Smith “It is said that God is a spirit, and they who worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. But he is a spirit possessing the tabernacle of flesh and bones, as tangible as a man’s and therefore to be like God and Jesus all men must have a body” (Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, 1986, pp. 453-454). “I do not believe in the doctrines held by some that God is only a spirit and that He is of such a nature that He fills the immensity of space, and is everywhere present in person or without person, for I can not conceive it possible that God could be a person if He filled the immensity of space and was everywhere present at the same time. It is a physical, a theological, an unreasonable, inconsistency to imagine that even God the Eternal Father would be in two places, as an individual, at the same moment. It is impossible. But His power extends throughout the immensity of space, His power extends to all His creations, and His knowledge comprehends them all, and He governs them all and He knows all. It is a scriptural truth, that this is life eternal to know the only true and living God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent. I believe that the Latter-day Saints, through the teachings of the scriptures and through the revelations that have come to them by the voice of the Prophet Joseph Smith, are able to learn the true and living God and know Him and also His Son whom He has sent into the world, whom to know is life eternal” (Joseph F. Smith, Conference Reports, April 1916, p. 4). “Mary was married to Joseph for time. No man could take her for eternity because she belonged to the Father of her divine Son. In the revelation that has come thru Joseph Smith, we learn that it is the eternal purpose of God that man and woman should be joined together by the power of God here on earth for time and eternity” (Joseph F. Smith, Messages of the First Presidency 4:330). “God has a tabernacle of flesh and bone. He is an organized being just as we are, who are now in the flesh. ...We are the children of God. He is an eternal being, without beginning of days or end of years. He always was, He is, He always will be. We are precisely in the same condition and under the same circumstances that God our Heavenly Father was when He was passing through this or a similar ordeal” (Joseph F. Smith, February 17th, 1884, Journal of Discourses 25:58. Ellipsis mine). “President Joseph F. Smith (1838-1918) taught: ‘God the Eternal Father…is the literal parent of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and of the spirits of the human race….We are God’s children’” (Joseph F. Smith, “The Nature of the Godhead,” Ensign, January 2006, p. 51. Ellipses in original). 8th President George Albert Smith “The Lord has blessed us with a knowledge that he lives, and has a body, and that we are created in his image. We do not believe that he is some kind of essence or that he is incomprehensible” (George Albert Smith, Conference Reports, October 1921, p. 39). 10th President Joseph Fielding Smith “Where has the Lord ever revealed to us that he is lacking in knowledge? That he is still learning new truth; discovering new laws that are unknown to him? I think this kind of doctrine is very dangerous. I don’t know where the Lord has ever declared such a thing. It is not contained in any revelation that I have read” (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation 1:8). “The Prophet taught that our Father had a Father and so on. Is not this a reasonable thought, especially when we remember that the promises are made to us that we may become like him?” (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation 1:12). “Our Father in heaven, according to the Prophet, had a Father, and since there has been a condition of this kind through all eternity, each Father had a Father, until we come to a stop where we cannot go further, because of our limited capacity to understand” (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation 2:47. Italics in original). 12th President Spencer W. Kimball “Men with keen intelligence got together… [at] Nicea and created a God. They did not pray for wisdom or revelation. They claimed no revelation from the Lord. They made it just about like a political party would do, and out of their own mortal minds created a God which is still worshiped by the great majority of Christians” (Spencer W. Kimball, The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p. 426. Ellipsis and brackets in original). 15th President Gordon B. Hinckley Don Lattin: There are some significant differences in your beliefs. For instance, don’t Mormons believe that God was once a man? Gordon B. Hinckley: I wouldn’t say that. There was a little couplet coined, “As man is, God once was. As God is, man may become.’’ Now that’s more of a couplet than anything else. That gets into some pretty deep theology that we don’t know very much about. Don Lattin: So you’re saying the church is still struggling to understand this? Gordon B. Hinckley: Well, as God is, man may become. We believe in eternal progression. Very strongly. We believe that the glory of God is intelligence and whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the Resurrection. Knowledge, learning, is an eternal thing. And for that reason, we stress education. We’re trying to do all we can to make of our people the ablest, best, brightest people that we can. (“Musings of the Main Mormon Gordon B. Hinckley, ‘president, prophet, seer and revelator’ of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sits at the top of one of the world’s fastest-growing religions,” an interview by San Francisco Chronicle Religion writer Don Lattin, Sunday, April 13, 1997,

 

[amigo de christo]

dear lady it has to do with how well you know Jesus.

Lets include that to say this . dear lady and all , it has to do with how well you know JESUS .
For many follow another jesus . Any guesses on to why that other jesus was not captilized . A hint , cause IT AINT JESUS CHRIST
they follow but rather another image of him , say perhaps like the mormom image or the ...........
or the prosperity give me that money jesus . or the ultimate other jesus which is now unifying all who followed another jesus
the all inclusive jesus , which they have made into a minstir of sin as well as the minstir that accepts all religoins .
PLEASE do understand why i aboslutely wont captilize that jesus .
NOW as far as the JESUS , HIS words in the scriptures , those holy inspired words that later also the aspotels would teach,
THAT JESUS CHRIST ought be the ONE we LOVE , and HONOR . Just a friendly reminder to us all.

 

[The Learner]

Lets include that to say this . dear lady and all , it has to do with how well you know JESUS .
For many follow another jesus . Any guesses on to why that other jesus was not captilized . A hint , cause IT AINT JESUS CHRIST
they follow but rather another image of him , say perhaps like the mormom image or the ...........
or the prosperity give me that money jesus . or the ultimate other jesus which is now unifying all who followed another jesus
the all inclusive jesus , which they have made into a minstir of sin as well as the minstir that accepts all religoins .
PLEASE do understand why i aboslutely wont captilize that jesus .
NOW as far as the JESUS , HIS words in the scriptures , those holy inspired words that later also the aspotels would teach,
THAT JESUS CHRIST ought be the ONE we LOVE , and HONOR . Just a friendly reminder to us all.

we need to add more icons.

 

[The Learner]

One only needs the real Jesus of the Bible and bases on the Bible Historical Theology.

no sound on my computer, if not the gospel, please delete the video, thanks daniel

John 14:6
Easy-to-Read Version
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. The only way to the Father is through me. Me: Clearly not thru JS or any other person.

 

[The Learner]

This is just plain wrong:

“no salvation without Joseph Smith.” (Doctrines of Salvation 1:189).

“How are you going to get your resurrection? You will get it by the President of the resurrection pertaining to this generation, and that is Joseph Smith Jun. Hear it all ye ends of the earth; if ever you enter into the kingdom of God it is because Joseph Smith let you go there. This will apply to Jews and Gentiles, to the bond, and the free; to friends and foes; no man or woman in this generation will get a resurrection and be crowned, without Joseph Smith saying so. The man who was martyred in Carthage Jail, State of Illinois, holds the keys of life and death to this generation. He is the President of the resurrection in this dispensation, …” (An unpublished discourse given October 8, 1854. Also found on page 99 of Eugene E. Campbell’s book titled The Essential Brigham Young“).

Millet compared Joseph Smith’s death to that of Jesus Christ when he wrote,

“…the life of Joseph Smith was in some degree patterned after that of his Master, Jesus Christ. That pattern holds true even when extended to its tragic conclusion. Like his Master, Joseph Smith shed his blood in order that the final testament, the reestablishment of the new covenant, might be in full effect” (pg. 22).

Millet went on to quote LDS President Harold B. Lee who said,

“Many have belittled Joseph Smith, but those who have will be forgotten in the remains of mother earth, and the odor of their infamy will ever be with them, but honor, majesty, and fidelity to God, exemplified by Joseph Smith and attached to his name, will never die” (ibid., pg. 23).

“…he that confesseth not that Jesus has come in the flesh and sent Joseph Smith with the fulness of the Gospel to this generation, is not of God, but is anti-christ” (JOD 9:312).

Universalism and the Revelations of Joseph Smith | Religious Studies Center

The revelations of Joseph Smith cast a startling ray of light into the theological world. Foreordained in the eternities, raised in a spiritual environment, and schooled by divine messengers, the Prophet set the religious world on fire. Yet no fire begins in a vacuum. The intellectual climate of...

rsc.byu.edu

Chapter 17: The Great Plan of Salvation

Chapter 17: The Great Plan of Salvation

www.churchofjesuschrist.org

 

[amigo de christo]

This is just plain wrong:

“no salvation without Joseph Smith.” (Doctrines of Salvation 1:189).

“How are you going to get your resurrection? You will get it by the President of the resurrection pertaining to this generation, and that is Joseph Smith Jun. Hear it all ye ends of the earth; if ever you enter into the kingdom of God it is because Joseph Smith let you go there. This will apply to Jews and Gentiles, to the bond, and the free; to friends and foes; no man or woman in this generation will get a resurrection and be crowned, without Joseph Smith saying so. The man who was martyred in Carthage Jail, State of Illinois, holds the keys of life and death to this generation. He is the President of the resurrection in this dispensation, …” (An unpublished discourse given October 8, 1854. Also found on page 99 of Eugene E. Campbell’s book titled The Essential Brigham Young“).

Millet compared Joseph Smith’s death to that of Jesus Christ when he wrote,

“…the life of Joseph Smith was in some degree patterned after that of his Master, Jesus Christ. That pattern holds true even when extended to its tragic conclusion. Like his Master, Joseph Smith shed his blood in order that the final testament, the reestablishment of the new covenant, might be in full effect” (pg. 22).

Millet went on to quote LDS President Harold B. Lee who said,

“Many have belittled Joseph Smith, but those who have will be forgotten in the remains of mother earth, and the odor of their infamy will ever be with them, but honor, majesty, and fidelity to God, exemplified by Joseph Smith and attached to his name, will never die” (ibid., pg. 23).

“…he that confesseth not that Jesus has come in the flesh and sent Joseph Smith with the fulness of the Gospel to this generation, is not of God, but is anti-christ” (JOD 9:312).

Universalism and the Revelations of Joseph Smith | Religious Studies Center

The revelations of Joseph Smith cast a startling ray of light into the theological world. Foreordained in the eternities, raised in a spiritual environment, and schooled by divine messengers, the Prophet set the religious world on fire. Yet no fire begins in a vacuum. The intellectual climate of...

rsc.byu.edu

Chapter 17: The Great Plan of Salvation

Chapter 17: The Great Plan of Salvation

www.churchofjesuschrist.org

I shun the doctrine of the mormon church to hades where it do belong .
The peoples , however , we must warn to come out of that dark deadly hole before it is forever too late .

 

[The Learner]

Delusions an analysis of the Book of Mormon; with an examination of its internal and external evidences, and a refutation of its pretences to divine authority by Alexander Campbell ; with prefatory remarks by Joshua V. Himes : Campbell, Alexander 178

16 p. 22 cm.

archive.org

The Mormon delusion : its history, doctrines, and the outlook in Utah : Montgomery, M. W : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

354 p. ; 20 cm

archive.org

https://icotb.org/resources/Campbell,Alexander-Delusions(BookofMormon).pdf

 

[The Learner]

bump

 

[The Learner]

Challenge of listing unique doctrines of LDS.
Locating them at newadvent.org in the Early Church Fathers with links to your quotes, please.

Challenge to our LDS guests.

Challenge of listing unique doctrines of LDS. Locating them at newadvent.org in the Early Church Fathers with links to your quotes, please.

www.christianityboard.com

 

[The Learner]

Luke 20:27-38

Easy-to-Read Version

​

Some Sadducees Try to Trick Jesus​

27 Some Sadducees came to Jesus. (Sadducees believe that people will not rise from death.) They asked him, 28 “Teacher, Moses wrote that if a married man dies and had no children, his brother must marry his widow. Then they will have children for the dead brother.[a] 29 One time there were seven brothers. The first brother married a woman but died. He had no children. 30 Then the second brother married the woman, and he died. 31 And the third brother married the woman, and he died. The same thing happened with all the other brothers. They all died and had no children. 32 The woman was the last to die. 33 But all seven brothers married her. So when people rise from death, whose wife will this woman be?”
34 Jesus said to the Sadducees, “On earth, people marry each other. 35 Some people will be worthy to be raised from death and live again after this life. In that life they will not marry. 36 In that life people are like angels and cannot die. They are children of God, because they have been raised from death. 37 Moses clearly showed that people are raised from death. When Moses wrote about the burning bush, he said that the Lord is ‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’[c] 38 So they were not still dead, because he is the God only of living people. Yes, to God they are all still living.”

Mark 12:25

King James Version

​

25 For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.

 

[The Learner]

Has anyone seen Jane?

 

[The Learner]

All the witnesses were family, close friends, or financial backers of Joseph Smith. Cowdery, Page, and the five Whitmers were related by marriage. (Fawn Brodie, No Man Knows My History: The Life of Joseph Smith (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1986), second ed., 79.)


B. Overview of the three witnesses:

1. Most of the witnesses are related by blood.
2. The three witnesses were all of questionable character
3. Joseph Smith said Dec 16, 1838, "Such characters as McLellin, John Witmer, David Witmer, Oliver Cowdry, and Martin Harris are too mean to mention; and we had liked to have forgotten them." History of the Church, Vol 3, p232
4. Brigham Young said, "Some of the Witnesses of the Book of Mormon, who handled the plates and conversed with the angels of God, were afterwards left to doubt and to disbelieve that they had ever seen an angel." (Journal of Discourses, Vol 7, page 164, 1859, Brigham Young.)
5. All three witnesses were eventually excommunicated from the Mormon church.
6. Two of the three witnesses who were excommunicated from the Mormon church later returned to the church after denying their testimony. Imagine if any one of the apostles denied their witness that Jesus rose from the dead, were kicked out of the early church, then returned again. Their testimony would be of no value. Remember that all three denied the Mormon faith at one point, and one never came back to the Mormon church going to his grave denying his testimony, yet Mormons still use his testimony for the book of Mormon. In fact, David Whitmer never returned to the LDS church that he was a witness for, but joined splinter groups that denied the original LDS church he was first a member of.

C. Specific details of the three witnesses:
False Witness #1: Martin Harris:

1. Was known for being very unstable religiously. Over his whole life he changed his affiliation over 13 times.
2. Martin Harris was first a Quaker, then a Universalist, next a Restorationist, then a Baptist, next a Presbyterian, and then a Mormon.(Mormonism Unveiled, E. D. Howe, 1834, pp. 260-261)
3. After Martin Harris' excommunication in 1837, he changed his religion eight more times, going from the Shakers to one Mormon splinter group to the next, and back to the main group in 1842.(Improvement Era, March 1969, p. 63 and Journal of Discourses, vol. 7, p. 164, Brigham Young)
4. In 1846, (after his excommunication in 1837) Martin Harris was preaching among the Saints in England for the Apostate James J. Strang. (Church Chronology, Andrew Jensen, 1899, p. 31; Millennial Star, vol. 8, Nov. 15, 1846, pp. 124-128.)
5. He signed his name to a statement: "Testimony of three witnesses: We Cheerfully certify...The Lord has made it known to me that David Witmer is the man. David was then called forward, and Joseph and his counselors laid hands upon him, and ordained him to his station, to succeed him...He will be prophet, seer, Revelator and Translator before God." Signed Martin Harris, Leonard Rich, Calvin Beebe. Of course this never came to pass as Brigham young became Joseph Smith's successor.
6. The Mormons stated of Martin Harris and a few other men within the pages of the church's official newspaper at the time, "a lying deceptive spirit attend them...they are of their father, the devil...The very countenance of Harris will show to every spiritual-minded person who sees him, that the wrath of God is upon him." Latter-Day Saint's, Millennial Star, Vol 8 pp124-128.
7. Phineas Young wrote to his older brother Brigham Young on December 31, 1841, from Kirtland, Ohio: "There are in this place all kinds of teaching; Martin Harris is a firm believer in Shakerism, says his testimony is greater than it was for the Book of Mormon" (Martin Harris - Witness and Benefactor of the Book of Mormon, 1955, p. 52)
8. Martin Harris testified that his testimony for Shakerism was greater than it was for Mormonism. The Shaker's "Sacred Roll and Book" was also delivered by an angel. (Case Against Mormonism, Tanner, Vol. 2, pp. 50-58; Martin Harris-Witness & Benefactor, BYU 1955 Thesis, Wayne C. Gunnell, p.52.)
9. In the Elder's Journal for August, 1838, Joseph Smith denounces Martin Harris as "so far beneath contempt that to notice him would be too great a sacrifice for a gentleman to make. The Church exerted some restraint on him, but now he has given loose to all kinds of abominations, lying, cheating, swindling, and all kinds of debauchery."(Gleanings by the Way, J. A. Clark, pp. 256-257)
10. Like David Whitmer, Martin Harris later testified that he did not see the plates literally with his fleshly eyes: He said he saw the plates with "the eyes of faith and not with the natural eyes". This we believe is the truth but it should eliminate him automatically as a witness none the less. This of course proves Mormonism is a fraud and that the Nephi Plates never existed and no one actually saw them. (The Braden & Kelly Debate, p. 173)

False Witness #2: David Whitmer:

 

[The Learner]

1. David Whitmer said in 1887: "If you believe my testimony to the Book of Mormon; if you believe that God spake to us three witnesses by his own voice, then I tell you that in June, 1838, God spake to me again by his own voice from the heavens, and told me to 'separate myself from among the Latter-day Saints...'" Address to all believers in Christ, p27, 1887
2. David Whitmer belonged to at least three Mormon splinter groups at different times, but he died still rejecting the LDS Church and its priesthood.
3. Like Martin Harris, David Whitmer later testified that he did not see the plates literally with his fleshly eyes: He said he saw the plates "by the eye of faith" handled by an angel.(Palmyra Reflector, March 19, 1831)
4. David Whitmer changed his story about seeing the plates and later told of finding them lying in a field and later still, told Orson Pratt that they were on a table with all sorts of brass plates, gold plates, the Sword of Laban, the 'Director' and the Urim and Thumim. (Millennial Star, vol. XL, pp. 771-772)
5. During the summer of 1837, while in Kirtland, David Whitmer pledged his new loyalty to a prophetess (as did Martin and Oliver) who used a black seer stone and danced herself into 'trances.'(Biographical Sketches, Lucy Smith, pp. 211-213)
6. It was the start of the finish for him. It ended in 1847 in his declaration to Oliver that he (Whitmer) was to be the Prophet of the New Church of Christ and Oliver a counsellor.(Letter to Oliver Cowdery, by David Whitmer, Sept. 8, 1847, printed in the "Ensign of Liberty," 5/1848, p. 93; also see 'Ensign of Liberty,' 8/1849, pp. 101-104)
7. In the meantime, he was excommunicated and roughly put out. His and Oliver's families were, in fact, driven into the streets and robbed by the Mormons while Whitmer and Cowdery were away trying to arrange a place to flee.(John Whitmer's History of the Church, Modern Microfilm, SLC, p. 22)
8. Cursed by leaders such as Sidney Rigdon, David Whitmer was denounced by the Prophet Joseph Smith as a "dumb beast to ride" and "an ass to bray out cursings instead of blessings." (History of the Church, vol. 3, p 228)

False Witness #3: Oliver Cowdery:

1. Oliver Cowdery was excommunicated from the Mormon church and joined the Methodist church.
2. In 1841 the Mormons published a poem which stated "Or Book of Mormon not his word, because denied by Oliver". Seasons and Times, Vol 2, p482
3. The Mormon church accused Oliver Cowdery of Adultery and claimed he had joined "a gang of counterfeiters, thieves, liars, and blacklegs".
4. Oliver Cowdery was the Church's second Elder, often called the "Second President." The early day companion of Joseph Smith, he was scribe for the Book of Mormon, present at the "Restoration of the Priesthood,' and as close to the real truth as any man.(Pearl of Great Price, JS 2:72-76)
5. However, in 1838 in Kirtland, Oliver confronted Joseph Smith with the charge of adultery with Fanny Alger, and with lying and teaching false doctrines.(Private Letter to Brother, Warren Cowdery, by Oliver Cowdery, Jan. 21, 1838)
6. Joseph Smith denied this and charged Cowdery with being a liar.(History of the Church, vol. 3 pp. 16-18 and Elder's Journal, Joseph Smith, July 1838.)
7. Church records now show Miss Alger was Smith's first "spiritual wife." Oliver was telling the truth!(Historical Record, 1886, vol. 5, p. 233)
8. Cowdery was excommunicated for this and other "crimes."(History of the Church, vol. 3, pp. 16-18) Later, as a Methodist, he denied the Book of Mormon (Times and Seasons, vol. 2, p. 482 and Improvement Era, Jan. 1969, p 56 and "Oliver Cowdery-The Man Outstanding," Joseph Greehalgh, 1965, p. 28)
9. Cowdery publicly confessed his sorrow and shame for his connection with Mormonism.(The True Origin of The Book of Mormon, Charles Shook, 1914, pp. 58-59)
10. While the Mormon church claims he rejoined them in the fall of 1848, (Historical Record, 1886, vol. 5, p. 201) they also accused him later that year, with trying to "raise up the Kingdom again" with the Apostate, William E. McLellin.(The Mormon frontier, Diary of Hosea Stout, vol. 2, p. 336)
11. Oliver Cowdery was publicly charged by Joseph Smith and leading Mormons with stealing, lying, perjury, counterfeiting, adultery, and being the leader of a gang of "scoundrels of the deepest degree!"(Senate Document 189, Feb. 15, 1841, pp. 6-9 and Comprehensive History of the Church, B. H. Roberts, vol. 1, pp. 438-439)
12. Joseph Smith listed Oliver Cowdery as among those, "too mean to mention; and we had liked to have forgotten them." (History of the Church, vol. 3:232)
13. Oliver Cowdery died claiming that the book of Doctrines & Covenants must be discarded.

Conclusion:

1. All the Mormon witnesses are as worthless as they are unreliable who recanted their testimony.
2. Modern Mormon "spin doctors" write all kinds of articles claiming that the witnesses may have denied the Mormon church but they never the book of Mormon. Now you know that is a lie.
3. Some Mormons will agree that all three witnesses denied the book of Mormon but came back to deny their denial. Imagine the twelve apostles suddenly denying Jesus rose from the dead in public, only to ask people to ignore their denials and accept their testimony once again. This the apostles of Christ never did.
4. Only the deluded could possibly believe the outrageous fairytale called Mormonism.

Book of Mormon Witnesses all later DENIED its truthfulness!

 

[The Learner]

Question: Are the Book of Mormon witnesses unreliable because many of them were related?​

To imply that someone is unreliable simply because of who they are related to is a ad hominem attack​

It is claimed that because many of the witnesses are related, this means they are not to be trusted.

Mark Twain made fun of this very issue:

And when I am far on the road to conviction, and eight men, be they grammatical or otherwise, come forward and tell me that they have seen the plates too; and not only seen those plates but "hefted" them, I am convinced. I could not feel more satisfied and at rest if the entire Whitmer family had testified. [1]

This is what is known as a "ad hominem" attack on the witnesses' character. The term "ad hominem" is defined, according to Merriam-Webster, as:

1. appealing to feelings or prejudices rather than intellect.
2. marked by or being an attack on an opponent's character rather than by an answer to the contentions made.

How, exactly, does being related to someone else who is viewing the same thing that you are make one less honest or reliable? This is simply an irrelevant distraction. When you are going to show something sacred to someone, you certainly don't show it to strangers but to those with whom you are familiar and who you can trust. As such, one would not expect anyone but close acquaintances and family to be so trusted. The witnesses, incidentally, had reputations for honesty.

Some have claimed that this rebuttal is a misapplication of the ad-hominem fallacy. It's easy to claim that an ad-hominem fallacy is misapplied by invoking the fallacy fallacy, which means that an argument can still be true even if it contains a logical fallacy. Thus, even if it's an ad hominem attack, it may still be true! But that is not the point of the original argument being made here. The original argument states that the witnesses are unreliable because they are related to each other and their love and bias for Joseph somehow weakens their efficacy. It is ad hominem to claim this and does not address the consistency of the witnesses, even when their feelings for Joseph turned sour at different points of their lives. It does not address the multiplicity of occasions when they went on record to testify, the occasions when they went our of their way to correct their testimony when misrepresented by the public press, the both tangible and revelatory nature of their experience, the witnesses other than the 11 that saw the plates and handled them, and so forth. The argument is bunk.

The witnesses would, of necessity, be those who were close to Joseph. Recall the fact that the witnesses eventually had disaffected members among them because of disagreements with Joseph Smith, yet they never denied their witness. This gives credence to their testimony over time.

Relationships among the Three and Eight Witnesses​

Three of the witnesses were related to Joseph Smith:

• Joseph Smith, Sr. [father]
• Hyrum Smith [brother]
• Samuel H. Smith [brother]

Five of the eleven witnesses were sons of Peter Whitmer, Sr., who had provided Joseph and Oliver a place to translate:

• David Whitmer
• Christian Whitmer
• Jacob Whitmer
• Peter Whitmer, Jr.
• John Whitmer

Two of the witnesses married into the Whitmer family:

• Oliver Cowdery would marry Elizabeth Ann Whitmer in 1832.[2]
• Hiram Page married the oldest Whitmer daughter, Catherine, on 10 November 1825.[3]

The following video introduces all witnesses, both formal and informal, to the Book of Mormon, examines several of the hardest-hitting claims against them, and demonstrates the emergent strength of their composite testimonials.