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- Introduction, Evaluation, and Disappointments:
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- To biblically explore the differences between a Prophet and a False Prophet.
- To review a couple of explicit Prophecies by the 19th-Century
American author Joseph Smith.
- To examine the accuracy &
prophetic reliability of the 19th-Century LDS founder: Joseph Smith
- To review: a) Exceptional
warnings from our Lord and b)
Excerpts from the historically ancient New Testament Church
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- Appointed by God to deliver His
message to His people in His Name.
(Deuteronomy 18:15-20.)
- 2. Pass down, preserved, & modify
religion as ordered by God.
(cf. 1 Samuel 12:6-25,
Leviticus 25.)
- Defend orthodoxy by: Denouncing
idolatry (1 Kings 14:1-13), defending moral law (2 Samuel 12:1-15),
giving counsel in political matters (Isaiah 31), and personal life (1
Samuel 9:6-9).
- 4. Some prophets have performed miracles
(Exodus 7-14; 1 Kings 18; 2 Kings 4f) for the glory of God (cf. 1 Kings
17:24). (see also Psalm 33:4,
119:160)
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- 1 John 4:1, “Beloved, do not trust every spirit but test the spirits to
see whether they belong to God, because many false prophets have gone
out into the world.”
- Deuteronomy 18:21-2, “If you say
to yourselves, ‘How can we
recognize an oracle which the LORD has spoken?’, know that, even though
a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if his oracle is not fulfilled
or verified, it is an oracle which the LORD did not speak. The prophet
has spoken it presumptuously, and you shall have no fear of him.”
- For example: Jeremiah 28:9, “But the prophet who prophesies peace is
recognized as truly sent by the LORD only when his prophetic prediction
is fulfilled.”
- (confer also: Galatians 1:6-9; 1 Timothy 3:15, 4:7; Matthew 18:17)
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- Matthew 7:15 “Beware of false
prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but underneath are
ravenous wolves. By their fruits you will know them.”
- Mark 13:21-22 “If anyone says to
you then, 'Look, here is the Messiah! Look, there he is!' do not believe
it. False messiahs and false prophets will arise and will perform signs
and wonders in order to mislead, if that were possible, the elect.”
- 2 Peter 2:1-2 “There were also
false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers
among you, who will introduce destructive heresies and even deny the
Master who ransomed them, bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their licentious
ways, and because of them the way of truth will be reviled.”
- 1 John 2:19 “They went out from
us, but they were not of us, for if they had been of us, they would have
continued with us; but they went out, that it might be plain that they
all are not of us.”
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- Self-appointed to deliver their own personal message to the people: But using
the Name of the Lord.
- 2. Invents, deforms, & twists already-revealed divine teachings: But
claiming God as a source.
- Distorts public revelation, repels
legitimate authority, &/or opposes moral law: But citing God’s Name.
- 4. and may Perform False Miracles
so to support their self-centered agenda contrary to God’s law. Some have even foretold specific,
future events that will come to pass “in the Name of the Lord God of
Israel”. For example, let’s
review some material provided from:
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- Claimed to have divine visions,
Taught a myriad of very different gospels, and Led his own religious
movement
- Founder of the Mormon “Church of
Christ” in April 1830 (Manchester or Fayette, New York). { Later called
the “Church of Jesus Christ, Latter-day Saints” (LDS). }
- “Author and Proprietor” of the
fictitious the “Book of Mormon” in 1830.
The LDS are known to recognize their founder’s novel as scripture
“comparable to the Bible.”
- Through various promotions, Mormons are known to still regard Joseph
Smith as an inspired prophet from God.
A couple of prophecies from Joseph Smith are:
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- “President Smith then stated that the meeting had been called, because
God had commanded it; and it was made known to him by vision and by the
Holy Spirit. . . . it was the will of God that they should be ordained
to the ministry and go forth to prune the vineyard for the last time,
for the coming of the Lord, which was nigh — even fifty six years should
wind up the scene.”
- See their Latter-Day Saints (LDS) History of the Church, Vol. 2, page
182.
- Note: This prophecy was spoken by
Joseph Smith in the year 1835, and recorded by Oliver Cowdery. The
fifty-six years were passed by 1891.
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- Their Latter-Day Saints (LDS) scriptures, Doctrine & Covenants
(D&C) 114:1, record Joseph Smith prophesying:
- “Verily, thus saith the Lord: It is wisdom in my servant David W. Patten,
that he settle up all his business as soon as he possibly can, and make
a disposition of his merchandise, that he may perform a mission unto me
next spring, in company with others, even twelve including himself, to
testify of my name and bear glad tidings unto the world.”
- Note: Joseph Smith’s prophecy was made on 17 April 1838. David W. Patten
died in October of 1838 and thus never went on a mission the following
spring.
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- “I prophecy in the name of the Lord God of Israel, unless the United
States redress the wrongs committed upon the Saints in the state of
Missouri and punish the crimes committed by her officers that in a few
years the government will be utterly overthrown and wasted, and there
will not be so much as a potsherd left for their wickedness in
permitting the murder of men, women and children, and the wholesale
plunder and extermination of thousands of her citizens to go
unpunished.” (LDS History of the Church (HC), Vol. 5, page 394)
- Note: Joseph Smith made this prophecy in 06 May 1843. However, the United States Government
did not redress any of the wrongs committed against the Mormons in
Missouri, and now over 150 years later, the U.S. Government still
stands.
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- “While discussing the petition to Congress, I prophesied, by virtue of
the holy Priesthood vested in me, and in the name of the Lord Jesus
Christ, that, if Congress will not hear our petition and grant us
protection, they shall be broken up as a government, and God shall damn
them, and there shall be nothing left of them — not even a grease spot.” See their LDS Millennial Star, Vol.
22, p. 455. See also their
LDS History of the Church (HC),
vol. 6, p. 116; unfortunately, though when this prediction was
incorporated into their official history, Mormon Church leaders decided
to leave out the "grease spot" part.)
- Note: The petition was not heard
nor was protection granted (Deseret News, Vol. 1, p. 59).
- Yet, Congress was never broken up and continues to function to this day.
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- This prophecy is recorded in Doctrine & Covenants Section 111. The
introduction to this prophecy, found at the beginning of Section 111
states:
- “Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Salem,
Massachusetts, August 6, 1836. HC 2:465-466. At this time the leaders of
the [LDS] Church were heavily in debt due to their labors in the
ministry.
- 1. I, the Lord your God, am not displeased with your coming this
journey, notwithstanding your follies.
- 2. I have much treasure in this city for you, for the benefit of Zion,
and many people in this city, whom I will gather out in due time for the
benefit of Zion, through your instrumentality.
- 3. Therefore, it is expedient that you should form acquaintance with men
in this city, as you shall be led, and as it shall be given you.
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- And now I am prepared to say by the authority of Jesus Christ, that not
many years shall pass away before the United States shall present such a
scene of bloodshed as has not a parallel in the history of our nation; pestilence,
hail, famine, and earthquake will sweep the wicked of this generation
from off the face of the land, to open and prepare the way for the
return of the lost tribes of Israel from the north country. The people
of the Lord, those who have complied with the requirements of the new
covenant, have already commenced gathering together to Zion, which is in
the state of Missouri; therefore I declare unto you the warning which the
Lord has commanded to declare unto this generation, remembering that the
eyes of my Maker are upon me, and that to him I am accountable for every
word I say, wishing nothing worse to my fellow-men than their eternal
salvation; therefore, "Fear God, and give glory to Him, for the
hour of His judgment is come." Repent ye, repent ye, and embrace
the everlasting covenant and flee to Zion, before the overflowing
scourge overtake you, for there are those now living upon the earth
whose eyes shall not be closed in death until they see all these things,
which I have spoken, fulfilled. (See their LDS History of the Church,
Vol. 1, pp. 315-316. )
- Note: Such a widespread destruction of the wicked of that generation never
occurred.
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- This prophecy comes directly from Doctrine & Covenants Section 84,
the introduction of which states:
- “ Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Kirtland, Ohio,
September 22 and 23, 1832. HC 1:286-295.
- 1. A revelation of Jesus Christ unto his servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and
six elders, as they united their hearts and lifted their voices on high.
- 2. Yea, the word of the Lord concerning his church, established in the
last days for the restoration of his people, as he has spoken by the
mouth of his prophets, and for the gathering of his saints to stand upon
Mount Zion, which shall be the city of New Jerusalem.
- 3. Which city shall be built, beginning at the temple lot, which is
appointed by the finger of the Lord, in the western boundaries of the
State of Missouri, and dedicated by the hand of Joseph Smith, Jun., and
others with whom the Lord was well pleased.
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- David Whitmer recounts Joseph Smith's failed prophesy regarding selling
the copyright to the Book of Mormon in Canada.
- Note: When Joseph Smith was confronted with the failed prophecy, Joseph
got a revelation through his seer stone that said, "Some
revelations are of God; some revelations are of man; and some
revelations are of the devil."
- An Address to All Believers in Christ, p. 31 (Richmond, Missouri: 1887)
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- Note their Commentary: “What did Oliver Granger do that his
name should be held in sacred remembrance? Nothing much, really.”
- -President Boyd K. Packer, acting [LDS] President of the Quorum of the
Twelve Apostle , confer the LDS article “The Least of These,” Ensign
(Nov 2006) p.86.
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- “And the time will come that war will be poured out upon all nations . .
.” verse 2
- “. . . and then war shall be poured out upon all nations.” verse 3
- “And thus, with the sword and by bloodshed the inhabitants of the earth
shall mourn; and with famine, and plague, and earthquake, and the thunder
of heaven, and the fierce and vivid lightning also, shall the inhabitants
of the earth be made to feel the wrath, and indignation, and chastening
hand of an Almighty God, until the consumption decreed hath made a full
end of all nations” verse 6
- Note: The American Civil War did not
spread worldwide.
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- The Coming of the Lord in around the year 1891
- David W. Patten to go on a mission
- The U.S. Government overthrown in a few years
- Congress to be broken up as a government
- Finding Treasure in Salem, Massachusetts
- Pestilence, Hail, Famine & Earthquake to Destroy the Wicked Soon
- Temple to be Built in Zion, Missouri
- Selling the copyright to the Book of Mormon in Canada
- Oliver Granger will be remembered “from generation to generation,
forever & ever.”
- The American Civil War to spread worldwide.
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- Joseph Smith, Jr. (1805-1844) was a false prophet. Because:
- Smith: 1) proclaimed specific future events, 2) in the name of the Lord,
which 3) Did Not Come To Pass. (
cf. Deuteronomy 18:21f)
- Biblically speaking, to describe LDS-founder Joseph Smith as “not an inspired Prophet” would be an Understatement. (confer
Mark 13:21; 1 Timothy 4:1; Matthew 7:15;2 Peter 2:1-2,Acts 20:29ff )
- It would also be wise to reject the various different heresies of Joseph
Smith and his successors -which
is contrary to the teachings which we have received (cf. Gal 1:7ff,
2Thes 3:6, Jude3 ).
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- Holy Bible. Douay-Rheims Version.
New York, New York: P. J. Kenedy and Sons, 1914.
- The Holy Bible: A Translation From the Latin Vulgate in the Light of the
Hebrew and Greek. Ronald Knox
(trans). Kansas City, Missouri:
Sheed & Ward, 1954.
- The New Testament. James A. Kleist and Joseph L. Lilly (trans). Milwaukee, Wisconsin: The Bruce
Publishing Company, 1954.
- Holy Bible. Saint Joseph edition.
Confraternity Version. New York, New York: Catholic Book Publishing
Company, 1963.
- The Jerusalem Bible. Garden City, New York: Doubleday and Company, 1966.
- The Way. The Catholic Living
Bible. Wheaton, Illinois: Tyndale
House Publishers, Incorporated, 1974.
- Good News Bible. Today’s English
Version With Deuterocanonicals / Apocrypha. New York, New York: American Bible
Society, 2001.
- New American Bible. Catholic
Study Bible. New York, New York: Oxford University Press, 2002.
- New Jerusalem Bible. New York, New York: Doubleday & Company, 1985.
- Revised Standard Version. The Ignatius Bible. Catholic Edition. Fort
Collins, Colorado: Ignatius Press, 1994.
- Christian Community Bible.
Catholic Pastoral Edition.
Fifth edition. Manila, Philippines: Divine Word Publications,
1990.
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- “Problems with the Book of Mormon.” <
http://www.catholic.com/library/Problems_with_the_Book_of_Mormon.asp
> El Cajon, California:
Catholic Answers. Copyright © 1979-2005.
- “The Gods of the Mormon Church.” <
http://www.catholic.com/library/Gods_of_the_Mormon_Church.asp > El
Cajon, California: Catholic Answers. Copyright © 1979-2005.
- “Mormonism's Baptism for the Dead.”
<
http://www.catholic.com/library/Mormonism_Baptism_for_the_Dead.asp
> El Cajon, California:
Catholic Answers. Copyright © 1979-2005.
- Isaiah Bennett. “The Mormon Christ.” < http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/1999/9909fea4.asp
> This Rock. September 1999 (Vol. 10, No.9).
- Terry L. Frazier. “The Call of
the Minaret.” <http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/1992/9204fea1.asp>
This Rock. April 1992 (Vol. 3, No. 4).
- “Unfulfilled Prophecies.” Mormon
Quotes. http://www.ils.unc.edu/~unsworth/mormon/unfulfilledprophecies.html
- “False Prophet.” From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. See: <
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_prophet >.
- “Re: Historical reliability of the 4 gospels.” Jun 4, '05, 5:02 pm; Post
Numbers: 138,140,145,149. See the
web-log (or “blog”) at: <http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=52091&page=3>.
- Steve Clifford. “From Utah with Love.”
Envoy. May/June 1998.
<http://www.envoymagazine.com/backissues/2.3/story3.html>
- - . “Mormon Finds Home in Catholic Church.” <
http://www.ewtn.com/library/answers/mormhome.htm > Irondale, Alabama:
Eternal Word Television Network, n.d.
- - . “Catholic Respones to the LDS Missionaries.” <
http://www.transporter.com/apologia/Missionary/LDSMissionaryDiscussion4.pdf
>
- “Failed Prophecies of Joseph Smith.” Mormons in Transition. Sponsored by
the Institute for Religious Research.
<http://www.irr.org/MIT/jsfalpro.html> (Copyright © 1997
Institute for Religious Research. All rights reserved.)
- “False Prophecies.” <http://www.irr.org/MIT/WDIST/wdist-false-prophecies.html> (Copyright © 2000 Institute for
Religious Research. All rights reserved.)
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- Note: “The Mormon Church's own
official history set is the 7-volume History Of The Church Of Jesus
Christ Of Latter Day Saints History Of Joseph Smith The Prophet Part One
distilled from Joseph Smith's own writings/dictations, later edited by
General Authority, B.H. Roberts. Get the earliest editions, published
1902-1912, because in later editions beginning with 1932, the church
altered or eliminated many embarrassing passages.” < http://www.amazon.com/gp/richpub/syltguides/fullview/35TJAZ00NMVTS
> 30 January 2007.
- Claudia Louise Bushman and Richard Lyman Bushman. Building the Kingdom: A History of
Mormons in America. New York, New
York: Oxford University Press, 2001.
- Richard S. Van Wagoner. Mormon
Polygamy: A History. Salt Lake
City, Utah: Signature Books,1989.
(Though few Mormons practiced it, Joseph Smith’s sanction on
polygamy brought the disfavor of 19th-Century America. Later the LDS stopped this practice. )
- Robert Gottlieb & Peter Wiley.
America’s Saints: The Rise of Mormon Power. New York, New York: G. P. Putnam’s
Sons, 1984.
- Jan Shipps. Mormonism: The Story
of a New Religious Tradition.
Urbana and Chicago, Illinois: University of Illinois Press, 1985.
- Gordon B. Hinckley. Truth Restored: A Short History of the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Salt Lake City: Deseret News Press,
1969.
- Bruce R. McConkie. Mormon
Doctrine. Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Books, 1958. (In some of their publications, the
LDS church expresses disgust
towards the historically ancient New Testament Church. For example, in “General Authority Bruce R.
McConkie’s 1958 edition of Mormon
Doctrine, he had stated his unofficial opinion that the Catholic Church
was part of "the church of the devil" and "the great and
abominable church" because it was among organizations that misled
people away from following God's laws.”
Later editions omit this. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints> Also: [Under the heading, "Church of
the Devil," Apostle Bruce R. McConkie lists:] "The Roman
Catholic Church specifically—singled out, set apart, described, and
designated as being ‘most abominable above all other churches’ ([Book of
Mormon,] 1Nephi 13:5)" (Mormon Doctrine, 1958, p. 129).
<http://www.catholic.com/library/Mormon_Stumpers.asp>. Moreover: "It is also to the Book of Mormon
to which we turn for the plainest description of the Catholic Church as
the great and abominable church. Nephi saw this 'church which is the
most abominable above all other churches' in vision. He 'saw the devil
that he was the foundation of it' and also the murders, wealth,
harlotry, persecutions, and evil desires that historically have been a
part of this satanic organization. ([Book of Mormon,]1Nephi
13:1-10)" Mormon Doctrine, p. 130 (1958))<http://www.irr.org/mit/WDIST/wdist-authority-claims-of-LDS-leaders.html>.
For more recorded animosity against the Catholic Church, see <http://www.exmormon.org/mormon/mormon327.htm>
.
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- 1 John 4:1, “Beloved, do not trust every spirit but test the spirits to
see whether they belong to God, because many false prophets have gone
out into the world.”
- Deuteronomy 18:21-2, “If you say
to yourselves, ‘How can we
recognize an oracle which the LORD has spoken?’, know that, even though
a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if his oracle is not fulfilled
or verified, it is an oracle which the LORD did not speak. The prophet
has spoken it presumptuously, and you shall have no fear of him.”
- For example: Jeremiah 28:9, “But the prophet who prophesies peace is
recognized as truly sent by the LORD only when his prophetic prediction
is fulfilled.”
- (confer also: Galatians 1:6-9; 1 Timothy 3:15, 4:7; Matthew 18:17)
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- Matthew 7:15 “Beware of false
prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but underneath are
ravenous wolves. By their fruits you will know them.”
- Mark 13:21-22 “If anyone says to
you then, 'Look, here is the Messiah! Look, there he is!' do not believe
it. False messiahs and false prophets will arise and will perform signs
and wonders in order to mislead, if that were possible, the elect.”
- 2 Peter 2:1-2 “There were also
false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers
among you, who will introduce destructive heresies and even deny the
Master who ransomed them, bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their licentious
ways, and because of them the way of truth will be reviled.”
- 1 John 2:19 “They went out from
us, but they were not of us, for if they had been of us, they would have
continued with us; but they went out, that it might be plain that they
all are not of us.”
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- Matthew 7:15 “Beware of false
prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but underneath are
ravenous wolves. By their fruits you will know them.
- Mark 13:21-22 “If anyone says to
you then, 'Look, here is the Messiah! Look, there he is!' do not believe
it. False messiahs and false prophets will arise and will perform signs
and wonders in order to mislead, if that were possible, the elect.”
- 2 Peter 2:1-2 “There were also
false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers
among you, who will introduce destructive heresies and even deny the
Master who ransomed them, bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their licentious
ways, and because of them the way of truth will be reviled.”
- 1 John 2:19 “They went out from
us, but they were not of us, for if they had been of us, they would have
continued with us; but they went out, that it might be plain that they
all are not of us.”
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Notes
