Mormon perspective on the old-world Christian church pre-Joseph Smith

Great Debates
21

Nice Rico–smug enough with the term “post-mormon”? Ex-mormon wasn’t good enough for you, eh? :dubious: Accusations that the BoM is simply a plagiarism of the KJV plus some made up content are ludicrous. It’s an old canard which has been rebuked several times.

22

Sorry for the mispost, too many windows open.

23

Unfortunately, they didn’t know what they were talking about. Joseph Smith returned the plates to Moroni when the translation was finished. I’ll be happy to post a reference as soon as I locate a good one (and hopefully a URL).

24

Here’s a cite on the return of the Golden Plates to Moroni.

Interesting that there is no mention of that on the official LDS church site. But all LDS are taught what is claimed here, that the plates were returned to Moroni after they were translated, to be brought forth again at a later date.

Back to the OP here, the LDS church claims that the church fell into disarray following the death of Jesus and the apostles - that they fell into a “darkness” away from the light of God.

In Smith’s “First Vision,” he is told not to join any other church, because none are correct and they are not of God.

So all other religions on earth were false. And they still are. This is still church policy .The only true religion is the church that Smith founded. And his “vision” told him that he was to restore the only true church to the earth, the same church that was on earth in Jesus’ day. And church leaders have taught that salvation is not possible without the consent of Joseph Smith!

So here is a religion that claims not only that other religions are wrong, but that their beliefs are an “abomination” in God’s sight, that their clergy and learned men are corrupt, that any follower of that religion is not close to God in their hearts, that they are taught the commandments of men and not God, and all other religions deny God’s power.

And you call me smug, for labeling myself a former follower of that religion, who has enjoyed a life after the religion? That is what I meant by post-mormon. The word ex- can have a negative connotation. Post- is, IMHO, much more descriptive.