[soc.religion.christian] LDS and J. Smith

st0o+@andrew.cmu.edu (Steven Timm) (09/04/90)

There's been a great amount of debate with regards to LDS beliefs
here.  It seems that a lot of the issues are peripheral, although
interesting.  The central issue, it seems to me, is, "Was Joseph
Smith a prophet of God or not."  If he was, then Mormons are right.
If he wasn't, then he was a liar and a charlatan.

As many have pointed out, the Book of Mormon gives a simple test
to determine whether or not it is true.  Pray about it, and if you
get a "burning in the bosom" you'll know.

Since many have given testimony in favor, I think it's only fair \
to say that I studied with LDS missionaries, read the book of Mormon
through from cover to cover (which they admitted they themselves had
not done) even read "A Marvelous Work and a Wonder" and prayed about it.
My result--I concluded J. Smith was *not* a prophet and the Book of Mormon
was a forgery.

Questions about why J. Smith didn't live up to what's in the Book of Mormon
are interesting, but not consequential since there were certainly
Bible prophets who made mistakes as well.

Steve