Category Archives: Joseph Smith

Joseph Smith and Romans 4:5

Joseph Smith revised the Bible. Some say he “corrected” it. The resulting volume is known as the Joseph Smith Translation (JST) or the Inspired Version. My Mormon edition of the King James Version of the Bible (1989) includes seventeen pages … Continue reading

Posted in Bible, Christianity, God the Father, Joseph Smith, Mormon Scripture, Nature of God, Salvation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 44 Comments

New church essay distances LDS Church from Joseph Smith

Breaking news as reported by Peggy Fletcher Stuck: Over the past few months, there have been essays published on LDS.org concerning the First Vision, Race and the Priesthood, plural marriage, the Book of Mormon translation, and Becoming Like God. Now, … Continue reading

Posted in Early Mormonism, Joseph Smith, LDS Church, Mormon History | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

Going After Historical Issues

In an article found in an LDS Church manual (The Pearl of Great Price Teacher Manual Religion 327, pp. 54-55) that gives instructions to the LDS instructors comes this amazing statement: Joseph Smith—History. Overview Have students read the five italicized … Continue reading

Posted in Authority and Doctrine, Joseph Smith, Mormon History | Tagged , , , , , , | 30 Comments

If the Foundation is Rotten, All that Joseph Smith Built Tumbles

[In honor of Black History Month 2014, each Monday in February Mormon Coffee’s blog post will address a topic related to racism in Mormon history. Today guest blogger Lynn Wilder presents Part 3, the final installment of the series she … Continue reading

Posted in Early Mormonism, Joseph Smith, Mormon History, Mormon Leaders | Tagged , , , , | 182 Comments

Joseph Smith Founder of LDS Racist Scriptures and Teachings: Part 2

[In honor of Black History Month 2014, each Monday in February Mormon Coffee’s blog post will address a topic related to racism in Mormon history. Today guest blogger Lynn Wilder presents Part 2 of the series she began last week.] … Continue reading

Posted in Early Mormonism, Joseph Smith, Mormon History, Mormon Leaders, Mormon Scripture | Tagged , , , , , | 49 Comments

Joseph Smith Founder of LDS Racist Scriptures and Teachings: Part 1

[In honor of Black History Month 2014, each Monday in February Mormon Coffee’s blog post will address a topic related to racism in Mormon history. Today guest blogger Lynn Wilder kicks off the series.] In January of 1964, LDS apostle … Continue reading

Posted in Early Mormonism, Joseph Smith, Mormon Leaders, Mormon Scripture | Tagged , , , , , , | 55 Comments

Mormon Historian Responds to Tough Questions

On December 16, 2013 the reddit exmormon forum held an AMA (Ask Me Anything) Q&A with highly respected Mormon historian Richard Bushman. Following are a few forum-member questions, along with Dr. Bushman’s answers (in no particular order). You will also … Continue reading

Posted in Book of Abraham, Book of Mormon, Early Mormonism, Joseph Smith, Mormon History, Mormon Scripture, Pearl of Great Price | Tagged , , , , , , , | 37 Comments

Troubled by Joseph Smith’s Polygamy

In this video, a returned Mormon missionary explains how personal revelation helped him on his mission. It seems an investigator was struggling with accepting the LDS Church due to troubling historical information she had learned about Joseph Smith and polygamy. … Continue reading

Posted in Joseph Smith, Mormon Missionaries, Nauvoo, Polygamy | Tagged , , , , | 25 Comments

The Teachings of Joseph Smith and His Apostles

The following illustration is found in the Instructor’s Guide for the current Mormon Institute manual, “The Life and Teachings of Jesus and His Apostles, (Rel 211-12)” [The posted scan is from the print edition, page 110]. Found in a section … Continue reading

Posted in God the Father, Jesus Christ, Joseph Smith, King Follett Discourse, LDS Church, Nature of God, Nature of Man | Tagged , , , , , , , | 33 Comments

Is the “church” established on any man?

I have just finished reading through the entire gospel doctrine series called “Teachings of the Presidents of the Church” series, including the newest volume dedicated to Joseph Fielding Smith. Smith was known for being a church theologian, penning the massive … Continue reading

Posted in Joseph Smith, LDS Church, Mormon Leaders | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 75 Comments