By Steve A. Hamilton

1 Thes. 5:21-22

 Introduction: God’s word instructs us to prove or test all things.  In other words, we must verify the validity of anything put before us.  If the thing be true, we are further instructed to hold fast to it but if the thing be false, we must abstain from all its forms.

          Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism, made many claims and taught many doctrines that he claims came from God.  If his claims can be verified to be true, then we must hold to it.  But if anything he teaches can be proven false, then everything he teaches must be rejected.

          In our lesson today, we will put Joseph Smith, Jr. to the test.

I. God’s word is true (John 17:17).

          A. We make this one assertion that the world may not accept.  By faith we know it to be true (Rom. 10:17).  God’s word is the standard by which all things are to be judged (Rom. 3:4).

          B. God can not lie (Num. 23:19; Titus 1:2; Heb. 6:18). 

II. However, Joseph Smith Jr. said, “I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth…” (Introduction to the Book of Mormon)

          A.  Obviously, that would mean the Book of Mormon is more accurate than the Bible. 

          B.  However, over 3913 changes to the original Book of Mormon have been documented (3913 Changes in the Book of Mormon, by Sandra Tanner).  The Bible has not been changed for millenniums! 

          C. Archeology has proven many of the cities and people found in the Bible.  Archeology hasn’t proven a single person or place out of the Book of Mormon.

          D. Archeologists have been able to verify the Biblical accounts by the help of geography as described in the Bible.  Geography as depicted in the Book of Mormon has not helped in finding any archeologically significant sights.

          E. Of course, the Bible is the most accurate book ever written because it was inspired by God (2 Tim. 3:16-17)!

 III. Joseph Smith, Jr. claims to be a prophet.

          A. The test for a prophet is found in Deut. 18:18-22.

          B. Joseph Smith, Jr. taught there were people on the moon.

                   1. ‘“The Inhabitants of the moon are more of a uniform size than the inhabitants of the earth, being about 6 feet in height.  They dress very much like the Quaker style and are quite general in style, or fashion of dress.  They live to be very old; coming generally, near a thousand years.”’

          “This is the description of them as given by Joseph the Seer, and he could ‘See’ whatever he asked the Father in the name of Jesus to see.” (Journal of Oliver B. Huntington,” Vol. 3, page 166 of typed copy at Utah State Historical Society)

                   2. Mormons quit teaching this in the late 1800’s when high power telescopes were developed that disproved Smith’s statements.  Today Mormons deny Smith ever taught there were inhabitants on the moon.

          C. Joseph Smith claimed dark skinned people would turn white upon conversion.

                   1. “And he had caused the cursing to come upon them, yea, even a sore cursing, because of their iniquity… wherefore, as they were white, and exceeding fair and delightsome, that they might not be enticing unto my people the Lord God did cause a skin of blackness to come upon them” (2 Nephi 5:21).

                   2. “And it came to pass that I beheld, after they had dwindled in unbelief they became a dark, and loathsome, and a filthy people, full of idleness and all manner of abominations” (1 Nephi 12:23).

                   3. The book of Mormon teaches that if they repent of their sins “their curse was taken from them, and their skin became white like unto the Nephites” (3 Nephi 2:15).  “...They shall be a white and delightsome people” (2 Nephi 30:6).

                   4.  The problem with this prophecy is the fact that not one dark colored convert to Mormonism ever turned white.  Therefore, their “Apostles” changed Joseph Smith’s references from “white” to “pure” in their present day Book of Mormon.    

          D. As it seems to be with all self made prophets, Joseph Smith Jr. also predicted the end of time with the returning of the Lord. 

                   1. In 1835, he said, “… the coming of the Lord, which was nigh - even fifty six years should wind up the scene.”  (History of the Church, Vol. 2, p. 182)

                   2. Despite the many Mormon explanations in 1891 when nothing occurred, the Lord still hasn’t returned. 

          E. In Old Testament times, such a prophet would be executed even if some of his prophecies came true because Joseph Smith Jr. is leading people away from God (Deut. 13:1-5). 

IV. Joseph Smith Jr. claims to have received many revelations via angels.

          A. Smith claims to have received gold plates that contained commands from God via the angel Nephi (or was it Moroni?).  In the original manuscript for their book Pearl of Great Price, written by Joseph Smith Jr. in his own handwriting, Smith wrote, “He called me by name, and said… that his name was Nephi.”                            

                   1. However, the present day version has substituted the name Moroni for Nephi.  This change was made after Smith’s death to correct obvious differences in their teachings since Smith later said the angels name was Moroni.

                   2. When was Smith lying?  Would God allow a prophet to lie for Him?

          B. In the original version of their book Doctrine and Covenants published in 1835, polygamy was denounced.  However, by 1843 Smith claimed to receive a revelation from an angel “with a drawn sword” commanding polygamy else they would suffer condemnation.  

          C. Even if Joseph Smith Jr. received a revelation via an angel, he should not have believed it (Gal. 1:8-9)!  

V. Joseph Smith claims he translated a new revelation from words found on gold plates.

          A. The Book of Mormon is plagiarized from many sources that were available to Smith in his community in the 1820’s.

                   1. Documented plagiarized sources: King James Version of the Bible, The Apocrpha, The Constitution of the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, The Christian Baptist (published by Alexander Campbell),  The Wayne Sentinel, The Palmyra Herald, and The Palmyra Freeman (local newspapers near Joseph Smith), View of the Hebrews by Ethan Smith, The Wonders of Nature and Providence Displayed by Josiah Priest, Wonders of Nature by Josiah Priest and likely Lost Manuscript Found by Solomon Spaulding just to name a few.

                   2. “Nephi” found in 2 Maccabees 1:36.

          B. Nephites supposedly spoke Hebrew and wrote in “Reformed Egyptian.”  They didn’t know Greek when they supposedly wrote their history as far back as 600 B.C. 

                   1. “Alpha and Omega” Greek words found in Rev. 21:6 and plagiarized verbatim (nearly the entire verse) in 3 Nephi 9:18. [Show comparison]

                   2. “Baptism:” Even if the Nephites knew Greek (which no one claims to be the case), they would not know the word “baptism.”  Baptism was a word created in 1611 by those who translated the KJV Bible.  The Greek word “baptisma” means immersion (“to dip”) and would have been translated “immersion” if it wasn’t for the fact that the Catholic Church practiced sprinkling.  To hide its true meaning without compromising their commission to translate the Bible into English, the translators transliterated the word into “baptism.”  The English word “baptism” did not exist before 1611 in any language! Yet the Nephites supposedly used the word as far back as 600 B.C.    

          C. The scriptures have warned us that such divisive people will lead people into error (Rom. 16:17-18).  Obviously, Mormons are “simple” people who have been deceived.  

Conclusion: What all Mormons needs to understand is the fact that they are unwitting participants in the fraud of God’s will.  Joseph Smith Jr. fails the test!  He is not a prophet.  He never received a revelation.  He never spoke to an angel.  He never illegitimately wrote a book.  Joseph Smith Jr. is a fraud and so is Mormonism! 

Last modified: 05/02/08