Answers to 50 Mormon answers

by

50 Answers to 50 Mormon Answers to 50 Anti-Mormon Questions (answer 2)

Question from Tower To Truth:

2. Since the time when Brigham Young taught that both the moon and the sun were inhabited by people, has the Mormon church ever found scientific evidence of that to be true? (Journal of Discourses, 13:271)

——————————–

Answer from FAIR:

In Brigham (and Joseph’s) day, there had been newspaper articles reporting that a famous astronomer had reported that there were men on the moon and elsewhere. This was published in LDS areas; the retraction of this famous hoax never was publicized, and so they may not have even heard about it.

Brigham and others were most likely repeating what had been told them by the science of the day. (Lots of Biblical prophets talked about the earth being flat, the sky being a dome, etc.—it is inconsistent for conservative Protestants to complain that a false belief about the physical world shared by others in their culture condemns Brigham and Joseph, but does not condemn Bible prophets.)

In any case, Brigham made it clear that he was expressing his opinion: “Do you think it is inhabited? I rather think it is.” Prophets are entitled to their opinions; in fact, the point of Brigham’s discourse is that the only fanatic is one who insists upon clinging to a false idea.

Learn more here: Brigham Young and moonmen
Learn more here: Joseph Smith and moonmen

———————————————————-

My Response:

Well, considering the fact that Brigham was supposed to be a “prophet” of God, don’t ya think God would have given him just a little more insight than your garden-variety, back yard astronomer? Does this mean that the Mormon “prophets” don’t ask God, “I’m about to say this. Is this true? Because if it is, we’re both going to look foolish!” They can say all they want to about this only being Brigham’s “opinion.” This was not stated as opinion, but rather as fact. Here is the whole quote:

Who can tell us of the inhabitants of this little planet that shines of an evening, called the moon? When we view its face we may see what is termed “the man in the moon,” and what some philosophers declare are the shadows of mountains. But these sayings are very vague, and amount to nothing; and when you inquire about the inhabitants of that sphere you find that the most learned are as ignorant in regard to them as the most ignorant of their fellows. So it is with regard to the inhabitants of the sun. Do you think it is inhabited? I rather think it is. Do you think there is any life there? No question of it; it was not made in vain. It was made to give light to those who dwell upon it, and to other planets; and so will this earth when it is celestialized. (Journal of Discourses, 13:271)

In this statement, he purports to know more about the moon and sun than “the most learned” whom he calls “as ignorant in regard to them as the most ignorant of their fellows.” And, as he said, he believed there was “no question” that the sun was inhabited. Young took his information from a hoax perpetrated by a reporter for the New York Sun. What a sad commentary about God if His “prophet” can be conned by a work of satire by a two-bit newspaper writer.

Besides, if Brigham Young is to be believed, this sermon is, indeed, Mormon Scripture.

“I know just as well what to teach this people and just what to say to them and what to do in order to bring them into the celestial kingdom, as I know the road to my office. It is just as plain and easy. The Lord is in our midst. He teaches the people continually. I have never yet preached a sermon and sent it out to the children of men, that they may not call Scripture. Let me have the privilege of correcting a sermon, and it is as good Scripture as they deserve. The people have the oracles of God continually.” (Young, Journal of Discourses 13:95)

Also,

“The Journal of Discourses deservedly ranks as one of the standard works of the Church, and every right-minded Saint will certainly welcome with joy every number (issue) as it comes forth.” (President George Q. Cannon, Journal of Discourses, Preface, Vol.8.)

Taking these quotes together—along with other, similar quotes from Mormon authorities—and one can come to no other conclusion than the words contained in the Journal of Discourses are Scripture to the Latter-Day Saint.

This whole “man in the moon” situation seems to be just one more hoax that has been played on the early LDS church that their leaders fell for hook, line, and sinker (The Kinderhook Plates being another).

So, what about biblical prophets believing in a “flat earth?” FAIR quotes the Anchor Bible Dictionary and its references to different ways various parts of the universe, Hell, Heaven, etc. were portrayed through symbolism (pillars of the earth, foundation of the earth, belly of Sheol, etc.) Time and space (and moonmen) do not permit me to go into detail about the symbolism used in the Bible to illustrate things which the writers could not put into words.

by

50 Answers to 50 Mormon answers to 50 Anti-Mormon questions (answer #1)

FAIR (The Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research, not affiliated with the LDS church), has issued their “Answers to 50 Anti-Mormon Questions,” their answers to 50 questions about Mormonism, questions posted by Tower to Truth Ministries. Here is the first installment of how to answer these 50 Mormon answers to 50 “Anti-Mormon” questions.

—————————————–

Question from Tower To Truth:

1. Why does the Mormon church still teach that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God after he made a false prophecy about a temple built in Missouri in his generation (D&C 84:1-5)

——————————————–

Answer from FAIR:

This was not a prophecy, but a command from God to build the temple. There’s a difference. Jesus said people should repent; just because many didn’t doesn’t make Him a false messenger, simply a messenger that fallible people didn’t heed.

Learn more here: Independence temple to be built “in this generation”

———————————–

My Response:

Actually, yes, this WAS a prophecy. Doctrine and Covenants 84:1-5—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. 4 Verily this is the word of the Lord, that the city New Jerusalem shall be built by the gathering of the saints, beginning at this place, even the place of the temple, which temple shall be reared in this generation. 5 For verily this generation shall not all pass away until an house shall be built unto the Lord, and a cloud shall rest upon it, which cloud shall be even the glory of the Lord, which shall fill the house.

Notice all the times that “Jesus Christ” says “shall.” The city “shall be built beginning at the temple lot…” In verse 4, “New Jerusalem shall be built by the gathering of saints…” And this temple “shall be reared in this generation…” Verse 5, “…this generation shall not pass away until an house shall be built, and a cloud shall rest upon it…the glory of the Lord shall fill the house.” These are not commands, these are things Jesus Christ Himself is (supposedly) saying shall happen. The one giving the revelation does not say, “build my city…build New Jerusalem…build My temple…” as if he is commanding that it be done. The voice is saying, “It shall come to pass…”

In their response, FAIR says, “This was not a prophecy, but a command from God to build the temple.” Yet if you follow the link Independence temple to be built “in this generation”, you find this little tidbit:

Meaning of “shall”

It is unclear from the wording of the 1832 revelation whether Joseph Smith meant it to be a prophecy or a commandment. When he declared the “temple shall be reared in this generation,” it’s possible that he meant this as a directive. If this is the case, D&C 84 is not actually a prophecy.

Well, which is it? Was this a command, or can we not be sure? Then there’s this:

Meaning of “generation”

If the revelation is meant as a prophecy, the timeline for its fulfillment depends on what Joseph meant by “generation.” Typically we consider this to mean the lifespan of those living at the time of the revelation.

Also notice in D&C 84:1, it is termed a “revelation,” not a “command.” In Doctrine and Covenants 1:37, it says, Search these commandments, for they are true and faithful, and the prophecies and promises which are in them shall all be fulfilled. This (the building of the temple) was a prophecy, one which went unfulfilled, thus one of many reasons to conclude that Joseph Smith was indeed a false prophet.