Book of Mormon Stories before Translation
History of Joseph Smith, by His Mother, pg. 83; “During our evening conversations, Joseph would occasionally give us some of the most amusing recitals that could be imagined. He would describe the ancient inhabitants of this continent, their dress, mode of traveling, and the animals upon which they rode; their cities, their buildings, with every particular; their mode of warfare; and also their religious worship. This he would do with as much ease, seemingly, as if he had spent his whole life among them.
On the twenty-second of September, 1824, Joseph again visited the place where he found the plates the year previous; and supposing at this time that the only thing required, in order to possess them until the time for their translation, was to be able to keep the commandments of God—and he firmly believed he could keep every commandment which had been given him—he fully expected to carry them home with him.”
2 Peter 2:1; “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.”
Again, why is Joseph giving descriptions of these people if he hasn’t translated the plates yet? At this point (1824), Joseph doesn’t even have possession of the plates!
When I was born, no TV was around and my grandmother listened to large radio. I used to sit with her and listen when I visited. Mom told me that in 1939, before I was born, their was a great scare on the radio. (War of the Worlds, H.G.Well’s book; narrated by OrsonWelles- see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_War_of_the_Worlds_(radio)
Now this was fictional, like Joseph Smith’s stories, but millions of people where frightened and believed that we were in fact being invaded. They were terrified, Mom said, and many died from fear. Theybhad heart attacks and some commited suicide. It was the way the story was presented and the format of the program at that time thatbresulted in the fear. They could not check TV or the Internet!
People will believe stories and accept them as REAL if they are presented as REAL and formatted as REAL. They are deceived but don’t realize it. Their hearts fall for these stories. Later, some people may start to question things and their minds want to investigate the history, foundations, details, and the intricacies. They analyze and compare with the Bible. As a result, they become confused and vulnerable to more lies.
The problem is that once a person “falls” for the stories, things change. Joseph Smith told stories. He frightened people, like H.G. Wells did, by using real places and words. Smith took Christian words, the Bible, Christian sacraments and symbols and mixed them up. he added some other things, like the Occult and Freemasonry, and …VOILA!
H. G. Wells did the same thing. He used Darwinism, real places, and names. Some people still follow him today and believe in his science fiction. Nothing was or is historically proven about Smith’s stories having a foundation. Like Wells, it is fiction. The Bible has been and still is proven to be the truth.
It ends doubt, seaching and confusion. A person reads the Word and knows that these events took place in history. They have been proven to be true in archeology and the Dead Sea Scrolls, and much more.
The answers are there in the Bible. Where are the answers to Josesph Smith’s stories? There are none. So what remains is the fear that they generated even when the Mormon people see the lies. That then is the hardest to overcome.
(Again, why is Joseph giving descriptions of these people if he hasn’t translated the plates yet? At this point (1824), Joseph doesn’t even have possession of the plates!)
Did you read this book, or did you get this information from someone else?
Having read it myself, along with what is around it, I can see how Mother Smith was talking about the ongoing evening conversations that started before Joseph received the plates and were on going after he received them and started the work of translation.
fred
Amazingly enough Fred I actually read it! Shocking I’m sure. Why did he come up with such wonderful stories of these people and grand detail if he hadn’t even received the plates yet? Odd…
I see you did not address the important part of my post.
fred
what you don’t see is that I’m not the one on trial here for false prophecies. The issue at hand is why Smith had such detailed info on people when he hadn’t even received the plates at the time of his statements.
My heart is sad for those he tricked Fred. People like my mom, you, the kids I grew up with…the list is virtually endless. You take everything collectively and analyze to determine his credibility and the truth is that his statements are questionable. Remember the church said his story about his visions should be looked at to determine whether or not he was being truthful. All of Mormonism stand or falls upon Smith’s testimony…
http://www.irr.org/mit/inventing-mormonism-br.html
Maybe this can help
Your statements are on trial.