The Origin, 
Rise and Progress of Mormonism, p 18; “Protracted revival meetings were customary in some of the churches, and Smith frequented those of different denominations, sometimes professing to participate in their devotional exercises. At one time he joined the probationary class of the Methodist church in Palmyra, and made some active demonstrations of engagedness, though his assumed convictions were insufficiently grounded or abiding to carry him along to the saving point of conversion, and he soon withdrew from the class.” – Pomeroy Tucker, 1867
Also see:
Mormon Enigma, p 25; “Emma’s uncle, Nathaniel Lewis, preached as a lay minister of the local Methodist Episcopal Church. His congregation met in the homes of the members from Sunday services. On Wednesday a regular circuit preacher visited Harmony. In the spring or summer of 1828 Joseph asked the circuit rider if his name could be included on the class roll of the church. Joseph ‘presented himself in a very serious and humble manner,’ and the minister obliged him.” – Linda K. Newell and Valeen T. Avery
Joseph Smith-History 1:28; “During the space of time which intervened between the time I had the vision and the year eighteen hundred and twenty-three—having been forbidden to join any of the religious sects of the day…I frequently fell into many foolish errors, and displayed the weakness of youth, and the foibles of human nature; which, I am sorry to say, led me into divers temptations, offensive in the sight of God…”
There are a few things to look at today.
Obviously the first thing that sticks out is Joe’s decision to join the Methodist church after God had told him not to join any church. It makes one wonder why he’d do such a thing if the churches were so wrong!
The second item of interest is about timing.
Smith lied.
He didn’t try joining the Methodist church between 1820 and 1823. He did this in the spring or summer of 1828.
Lastly, why was Smith trying to join the Methodist church when he was ‘translating’ the Book of Mormon?
Martin Harris was acting as scribe for Smith between April 12th and June 14th in 1828 when he lost the infamous 116 pages they had translated. See The True Origins of the Book of Mormon, p 5
This guy was all over the place and changed his mind more often than a kid in a candy store.
Titus 2:2; “But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine”.
[…] If God does work in the world, why did we need a restoration, and why did Smith try to join the Methodists after God supposedly visited […]
[…] God does work in the world, why did we need a restoration, and why did Smith try to join the Methodists after God supposedly visited […]
[…] God does work in the world, why did we need a restoration, and why did Smith try to join the Methodists after God supposedly visited […]