Doctrine of Devils Session 17

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Doctrine of DevilsSession 17
Mormonism Part 2
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MORMONISM

• ANOTHER TESTAMENT OF
• JESUS CHRIST?

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Overview of the three witnesses

• Most of the witnesses are related by blood.
• The three witnesses were all of questionable
  character
• 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
• 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.)
• All three witnesses were eventually
  excommunicated from the Mormon church.
• 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.

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• Was known for being very unstable religiously.
  Over his whole life he changed his affiliation
  over 13 times.
• 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)
• 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)
• 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.

Martin Harris
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• 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.)
• More than sixty people testified concerning the
  Sacred Roll and Book of Shakerism, which taught
  "Christ has made His second appearance on earth,
  in a chosen female known by the name of Ann Lee."
  Martin Harris could not believe both that and the
  D. C. 4922, which says, "the Son of Man cometh
  not in the form of a woman."
• 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 aBook of Mormon
  inations, lying, cheating, swindling, and all
  kinds of debauchery."(Gleanings by the Way, J. A.
  Clark, pp. 256-257)
• 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)

Martin Harris
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• 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
• David Whitmer belonged to at least three Mormon
  splinter groups at different times, but he died
  still rejecting the LDS Church and its
  priesthood.
• 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)
• 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)

David Whitmer
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• 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)
• 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)
• 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)
• 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)
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David Whitmer
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• Oliver Cowdery was excommunicated from the Mormon
  church and joined the Methodist church.
• The Mormon church accused Oliver Cowdery of
  Adultery and claimed he had joined "a gang of
  counterfeiters, thieves, liars, and blacklegs".
• 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
  272-76)
• 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)
• 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.)
• Church records now show Miss Alger was Smith's
  first "spiritual wife." Oliver was telling the
  truth!(Historical Record, 1886, vol. 5, p. 233)

Oliver Cowdery
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• 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)
• 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)
• 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)
• 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)
• 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. 3232)
• Oliver Cowdery died claiming that the book of
  Doctrines Covenants must be discarded.

Oliver Cowdery
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Eight additional witnesses

• Unlike the Three Witnesses, the Eight testified
  that they both saw and handled the plates.
  Another difference is the Eight testified that
  they were shown the plates by Joseph Smith, Jr.
  rather than by an angel as had the Three
  Witnesses.
• The call of the Eight probably also illustrates
  the significant Mormon doctrine of continuous
  revelation because in Doctrine and Covenants 5
  11-14 (revealed to Joseph Smith in March 1829)
  the Three Witnesses are told that they will be
  given power to see the golden plates, "and to
  none else will I grant this power, to receive
  this same testimony among this generation."
  Nevertheless, in 2 Nephi 2713, the Three are
  told that "none other...shall view it, save it be
  a few according to the will of God.
• The Eight Witnesses were all members of the
  Whitmer or Smith families Christian Whitmer,
  Jacob Whitmer, Peter Whitmer, Jr., John Whitmer,
  Hiram Page, Joseph Smith, Sr., Hyrum Smith, and
  Samuel Harrison Smith.
• Joseph Smith Sr. was Joseph's father, and Hyrum
  and Samuel H. Smith were his brothers.
• Christian, Jacob, Peter Jr. and John were David
  Whitmer's brothers, and Hiram Page was his
  brother-in-law.

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Eight additional witnesses

• In 1838, the Whitmer family became estranged from
  Joseph Smith Jr. during a leadership struggle in
  Far West, Missouri and all were excommunicated,
  along with other dissenters, and fled Caldwell
  County after receiving an ultimatum from the
  Danites.
• None of the Whitmers ever rejoined the Church of
  Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Although none
  of the Eight Witnesses is known to have denied
  his testimony to the authenticity of Book of
  Mormon or the golden plates, in 1838 a former
  Mormon leader, Stephen Burnett, said Martin
  Harris had told him that "the eight witnesses
  never saw the plates hesitated to sign that
  instrument for that reason, but were persuaded to
  do it.
• In addition to the Three Witnesses and the Eight
  Witnesses, Mary Whitmer, who took care of the
  house where much of the translation took place,
  said that the Angel Moroni showed her the plates
  as well.

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WANDERING IN THE WILDERNESS

• Palmyra, New York
• Kirtland, Ohio
• Independence, Missouri
• Nauvoo, Illinois
• Salt Lake Valley, Utah

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BRIGHAM YOUNG
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Branches of Mormonism

• The Latter Day Saints who followed Sidney Rigdon
• (Church of Christ - Rigdonites )
• separated themselves from the followers of
  Brigham Young.
• While the group led by Brigham Young remained in
  Nauvoo, Illinois and eventually settled in Utah,
  Sidney Rigdon and his followers settled in
  Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

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Branches of Mormonism

• The Church of Jesus Christ seperated from Sidney
  Rigdon
• William Bickerton led the The Church of Jesus
  Christ at Green Oak, Pennsylvania in July 1862

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Branches of Mormonism

• Granville Hedrick led the The Church of Christ
  (Temple Lot)
• Within one month of his ordination in mid-July,
  1863, Hedrick began to produce revelations
  stating that the pride of Joseph Smith led him to
  produce false revelations. As a result, Smith was
  said to have introduced doctrines to the church
  that were inconsistent with the word of God as
  found in the Bible and the Book of Mormon.
  Hedrick declared Smith to be a "fallen prophet".
• On April 24, 1864, Hedrick produced a revelation
  directing his followers to return to Independence
  in Jackson County, Missouri in 1867 to initiate a
  re-gathering of Latter Day Saints to the region.

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Branches of Mormonism

• Joseph Smith III led the Community of Christ
• The Community of Christ, known from 1872 to 2001
  as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of
  Latter Day Saints (RLDS)
• The Community of Christ generally accepts the
  doctrine of the Trinity and other commonly held
  Christian beliefs.
• The president of Community of Christ is sometimes
  referred to by the title of Prophet or
  Prophet-President. Community of Christ points
  to Jesus Christ as the living Word of God and
  affirms the Bible, along with the Book of Mormon
  and the Doctrine and Covenants as scripture for
  the church

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Branches of Mormonism
James Strang led the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter Day Saints 1844 (Strangite) Strang
taught that Smith's prophetic office embodied an
overtly royal attribute, by which its occupant
was to be not only the spiritual leader of his
people, but their temporal king as well.

• Strang published translations of two allegedly
  long-lost works the Voree Record, deciphered
  from three metal plates reportedly unearthed in
  response to a vision and the Book of the Law of
  the Lord, supposedly transcribed from the Plates
  of Laban mentioned in The Book of Mormon. These
  are accepted as scripture by his followers, but
  not by any other Latter Day Saint church.
• Strang believed strongly in the seventh-day
  Sabbath, baptism for the dead, introduced animal
  sacrificenot for sin, but as a part of Strangite
  celebration rituals.
• Animal sacrifices and baptisms for the dead are
  not currently practiced
• by the Strangite organization, though belief in
  each is still affirmed.
• Eternal marriage formed a part of Strang's
  teaching.
• Polygamy is no longer practiced by Strang's
  followers, though belief
• in its correctness is still affirmed.
• Strang allowed women to hold the Priesthood
  offices of Priest and Teacher.

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Branches of Mormonism
The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter Day Saints (FLDS Church) is one of the
largest Mormon fundamentalist denominationsand
one of United States' largest practitioners of
plural marriage. The FLDS Church emerged in the
early twentieth century when its founding members
left The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints (LDS Church). The split occurred largely
because of the LDS Church's renunciation of
polygamy and its decision to excommunicate
practitioners of plural marriage.

• The FLDS Church teaches the doctrine of plural
  marriage, which states that a man having multiple
  wives is ordained by God the doctrine requires
  it in order for a man to receive the highest form
  of salvation. It is generally believed in the
  church that a man should have a minimum of three
  wives to fulfill this requirement. Connected with
  this doctrine is patriarchal doctrine, the belief
  that wives are required to be subordinate to
  their husbands.
• In general, women do not cut their hair short or
  wear makeup, pants, or any skirt above the knees.
  Men wear plain clothing, usually a long-sleeved
  collared shirt and full-length pants. Men and
  women are forbidden to have any tattoos or body
  piercings. Women and girls usually wear
  monochromatic homemade long-sleeved "prairie
  dresses," with hems between ankle and mid-calf,
  along with long stockings or trousers underneath,
  usually keeping their hair coiffed.
• Warren Jeffs (November 20, 2007) has said, "the
  black race is the people through which the devil
  has always been able to bring evil unto the
  earth.

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Approx. 70 sects of Mormonism

• The Reformed Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
  Saints is a recent split off group from the
  Community of Christ Church (Formerly the
  'Reorganized').
• The "Reformation Church of Jesus Christ of
  Latter-day Saints" is a "break off" of the
  Reorganized Church of Jesus Chriist of Latter day
  Saints. After the Reorganized Church starting
  giving the women the priesthood, and after they
  had passed the office of President to a person
  who was not of the lineage of Joseph Smith, there
  were several groups who decided they needed to
  "reform" the Reorganization, mainly the Seventies
  of the Reorganzied Church. They mostly are found
  in the Independence, Missouri area. They believe
  they are the "true" church of the Smith heritage,
  not the Reorganized Church.
• There are now essentially at least 4 churches in
  Independence that hold sacred the original plot
  dedicated for a temple in Independence. They are
  
• (1.) The Church of Christ (Hedrickites) that
  actually own the 2.5 acres where the corner stone
  of the temple was placed. Their total membership
  is estimated between 3500 - 7500
• (2.) The Community of Christ Church (formerly the
  Reorganized Church) They have a Nautilus shaped
  temple in Independence and sued the Church of
  Christ Church in the 1890's to try to get legal
  claim to the temple plot owned by the Church of
  Christ but they lost the suit.
• (3.) The Reformed Church of Jesus Christ of
  Latter-day Saints. They are a recent split off
  group from the Community of Christ Church.
• (4.) The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
  Saints. This is the group who left Missouri then
  Nauvoo, Ill. and traveled by handcart, wagon,
  foot to Utah beginning in 1846. Their
  headquarters are now in Salt Lake City. They have
  a membership of over 12 million members which by
  far surpasses the membership of any of the other
  splinter groups.

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Other interesting doctrines

• Baptism for the dead
• Baptism in the name of Jesus preached to the
  Nephites several hundred years BC.
• A very confused idea of covenants.

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The Salt Lake City Temple
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Mormon Temple Covenants

• Receive their endowment 
• Along their journey, God and angels give Adam and
  Eve "tokens",  each with a special accompanying
  "name", and "sign".  A token is nothing other
  than a special handshake.  A name is a keyword
  associated with the token, and a sign is a
  gesture you make with your arms and hands.  As
  you try to understand the symbolism of all of
  this, it may (or may not) be helpful to notice
  that you feel tokens, hear names, and see
  signs.   When you are given the tokens, names,
  and signs, you make promises that you will never
  reveal them (according to a literal
  interpretation of these promises, you will notice
  that the officiators of the temple are breaking
  the covenants they made when they took out their
  endowments by revealing the tokens to you).

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Mormon Temple Covenants

• Garments  (Garments are the underwear that
  Mormons receive in the Temple.  When you are
  placed in the garments, you are given the
  following commandment and promise, and are
  subsequently asked in interviews by your bishop
  if you wear your church-authorized garments both
  day and night) I place this Garment upon you,
  which you must wear throughout your life. It
  represents the Garment given to Adam when he was
  found naked in the Garden of Eden, and is called
  the Garment of the Holy Priesthood. Inasmuch as
  you do not defile it, but are true and faithful
  to your covenants, it will be a shield and a
  protection to you against the power of the
  destroyer until you have finished your work here
  on earth.