[TruthoverTradition]

Through study of the scriptures and early church history, much prayer and inspired personal revelation which I will never deny this is my take on Joseph Smith which makes sense:

He did see “the Lord” in his own handwritten version of the First Vision. This corresponds to Alma 11:23-40, Ether 3:14, and Mosiah 15:1-5. I had a profound experience where I was told audibly to “read Alma as there is something for you to find”. Many of my spiritual experiences have been witnessed by others. Therefore, despite being a “lowly” woman (yes, I was told that women could not have spiritual experiences by three men after sharing something in Sunday School) I did have spiritual direction given to me.

JS did have revelation given to him by Moroni due to his pure heart much like King David. He had to repent for four years until he brought the correct person (Emma~ a Woman) and until his thoughts were pure enough (greed factor and the gold) to obtain the plates. This shows how he was human. I know that he did translate the plates through inspiration ~line upon line~ with a few minor hiccups (had to prove himself aka ego to Martin Harris) you know the story. Then D&C 3:1-11 tells us again that JS was human and how “how oft you (JS) have transgressed” despite having had “many revelations” and he was warned against following “his own will and carnal desires, he must fall and incur the vengeance of a just God”… :angel:

Unfortunately, JS got into ego (like King David) and although ordained by God to be an apostle (D&C 20:2) decided to have a King position rather than to be one of the 12 apostles which would have followed the example Jesus Christ set as the body to reign until Jesus Christ Comes. He forgot the commandment to “not covet thy neighbor’s wife” (D&C 19:25) and the words of Jacob 2 & 3: “they understand not the scriptures for they seek to excuse themselves in committing whoredoms…Behold David and Solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before me saith the Lord” and that the Nephites were destroyed due to polygamy.

Abraham’s consequence (lied to the Prince about Sarah fearing man more than God) for his polygamy (lack of faith in God’s promise) was the enmity between Hagar & Sarah and the Muslims today who hate Christians. Raising up a seed unto the Lord simply means to teach your children about God, it does not justify polygamy.

Yes, I prayed about polygamy (and Masonry which requires a blood oath) and God allows Free Agency and polygamy has never been of God! I will never deny the Spirit which confirmed this truth that polygamy (suppression and abuse of women) has never been of God!

Award-winning LDS historian and voted most popular BYU professor, D. Michael Quinn researched confirmation that JS repented of polygamy (and Masonry) prior to his Masonic murder (Origins of Power, pg. 645=646). Had JS followed God’s will, he would have fled to the Rocky Mountains to complete his repentance and thus commenced the prophesied “Cleansing of the Lord’s House” at that time. Instead he feared man more than God and “went like a lamb to slaughter”…

Joseph Smith was human! When he repented he was blessed. When he followed his own will he was cursed. The early pure years of the church were marked with many Heavenly manifestations and happy people. The cursed years were marked with much “justified whoremongering” and the secret combinations of “Masonry” which stems from Satan telling Cain to take an oath of secrecy prior to the murder of Abel (Moses 5:29). We are warned by Christ to never take an oath “as it comes of evil” or to “trust in the arm of flesh” since the rock of Christ’s church is revelation. D&C 132 was not added to the scriptures until 1880.

Richard G. Scott said it best that “everyone needs to repent no matter their age or position” in Gen Conf. We are all human. Joseph Smith reminds me of King David (lusted after Bathsheba had Uriah murdered), both men had pure hearts and both were human with carnal desires. We do a grave injustice to anyone when we put them on a pedestal of perfection. Jesus Christ is the ONLY Example and way to God. So I also look at his simple and pure teachings regarding the sanctity of marriage between one man and one woman, equality of everyone, calling of the 12 to serve as a body, baptism, repentance, and the remembrance of Him through the Sacrament of only ONE God, etc.

Is the Restored Gospel true? YES! Is there “much restoration” needed at this time? (2 Ne 3:24) Yes. Is the millennium to be a time of “no more secrets” Yes. Does the internet fulfill Isaiah’s prophecy that all secrets will be “shouted from the rooftops” Yes.

I don’t throw the BABY (Gospel) out with the bathwater (polygamy, Masonry, inequality, elitism, misunderstanding of scriptures and dictates of men).

This is how I make sense of Joseph Smith and his “follies, and…abominations which you practise before me, saith the Lord” (D&C 124:47-48). President Ezra Taft Benson reminded us that we are a condemned church due to Pride and not understanding (reading) the Book of Mormon (famous Pride talk).

A simple guide that I use for truth is how does it “fit” in with the teachings of the Book of Mormon because men are human, but the Book of Mormon is the “Book of the Lamb” (1 Ne 13). We know the Gospel will never be taken from the earth and that the Church just needs some tweaking (Brother Pohlman’s inspired General Conference talk on the separation of the Gospel and Church). :clap:

[Author]

Posts