The Mormon Delusion. Volume 3.
Discarded Doctrines and Nonsense Revelations.
First Published - July 2009
Second Edition - September 2010
Visit TMD BOOK STORE
What other authors have had to say about Volume 3
In the third volume of The Mormon Delusion, Jim Whitefield delves into the most controversial beliefs and events in Mormonism’s colourful past. With his familiar candour he sheds light on things Mormon leaders would prefer were long forgotten.
Simon G. Southerton Ph.D.
Author of Losing a Lost Tribe; Native Americans,
DNA, and the Mormon Church.
____________________
Jim Whitefield’s third volume of The Mormon Delusion explores dark and disturbing aspects of the past which the Church today completely ignores. With his now familiar analytical skills and style, Whitefield exposes the truth behind Brigham Young’s ‘Adam-God’ and ‘Blood Atonement’ doctrines which were accepted for decades in the Mormon Church through several successive prophets; and yet later leaders denied they ever existed. Whitefield skillfully explores and explains step by step, word by word, sign by sign and grip by grip, how Masonic ritual was used to create the original Mormon endowment; proving that Joseph Smith used late eighteenth-century Masonic wording, symbolism, signs and tokens to formulate the Mormon ceremony. Conclusive evidence leaves the reader in no doubt that God could and would not have been involved in such nonsense. The Mormon Delusion Volume 3 is essential reading for those who want the facts about the past rather than the fiction the Mormon Church now teaches.
Arza Evans
Author of The Keystone of Mormonism.
____________________
Summary of TMD Volume 3.
Section 1. In the beginning - The Origin and Some Beliefs of the Mormon Church
This section is essentially a review of false positions taken by the Mormon Church and aspects that are not readily made public. Contains a series of short statements, some of which have been more fully explored in Volumes One and Two, but some of the following aspects are not covered in earlier work. Details of the reviews included are:
1. The First Vision
2. The 1820 Reality
3. No Evidence of a First Vision
4. The First Vision was Published Twenty-Two Years Late
5. Pick a Vision - Any Version - They Are All Different
6. The Angel Moroni - Formerly Known as Nephi
7. Toads, Spirits, Angels and Deity
8. Folk Magic and Smith the Con Artist
9. Gold Plates, Vivid Imagination and Gullibility
10. Joseph Smith Elopes with Emma Hale
11. The Book of Mormon
12. The Witnesses
13. Occult Translation Technique - Modern Members Deceived
14. From Monotheism to Polytheism
15. DNA and the Book of Mormon
16. Why the Book of Mormon is Accepted as Fact by Members
17. Archaeology and the Book of Mormon
18. Impossible Book of Mormon Claims
19. The Bible Takes Second Place
20. The Doctrine & Covenants
21. D&C 84: Required Priesthood Made Smith’s First Vision Impossible
22. The Articles of Faith
23. The Pearl of Great Price
24. Church Growth & Schisms
25. Succession Confusion
26. RLDS, Polygamy & Fundamentalists
27. The Word of Wisdom
28. The Mormon Endowment and Masonry
29. Heaven and Hell
30. Smith Admits Revelations could be Wishful Thinking or of the Devil
31. Evolving Ideas and Theology
32. Polygamy Required in Salt Lake City
33. The Plan of Salvation
34. Pay, Pray and Obey
35. The Church of Christ and the Role of Women
36. Fear as a Prime Motivator
37. A Man Can Become a God
38. The Restoration of All Things
39. Honesty and Integrity
40. The 2008 Priesthood Manual
41. Teachings of the Presidents of the Church
Section 2. Adam was God - Myth, Theory or Doctrine?
The Church always had rumours when I was a member, that Brigham Young had taught Adam was in fact God. Whenever this was raised, the answer invariably was that this was just a myth and that Young taught no such thing, or that it was possibly a personal theory which he discarded. On that basis, I was not going to write about it, until I accidentally came across a specific reference from Young in an argument he had with an apostle who Young threatened to excommunicate unless he accepted Adam-God as doctrine. My research journey began, and three devastating months later, I had uncovered the fact that it was an enforced doctrine for several decades, woven into the temple ceremony and accepted by four successive prophets until Joseph F. Smith (who had been an Apostle throughout the time it was accepted as doctrine) decided he didn’t like it and arbitrarily dropped it. The Church then took the stance that it was never canonised doctrine and simply forgot it. Some fundamentalist groups that were breaking away at the time, due to the polygamy problem, still hold to the Adam-God doctrine today. This evolved into a lengthy section of well over 28,000 words. The story is compelling; the evidence conclusive; the Church ignores it; defiantly claiming that it is not there at all. Yet it was Young’s doctrine. There is no question about it.
Section 3. Mormonism & Masonry - The Evolvement of Temple Ceremonies
Smith joined a Masonic Lodge, almost immediately attained one of the highest orders, and had several other male Church authorities join. Within weeks, he formulated the Mormon temple ceremonies and incorporated much from the Masonic rituals, oaths, signs, tokens and penalties, into the new ‘Endowment’ ceremony. The early temple ceremonies evolved and changed over time but when I was a young member, all the blood oaths, signs, tokens and penalties were still intact. This included some word for word details in some cases. The Church explains this phenomenon by claiming that these ceremonies stem for the time of Solomon and Smith ‘restored’ them exactly as they had been then. They must remain the same for all eternity. The Masonic versions, also dating from Solomon’s time, although similar, have become corrupted. Members, such as I was, faithfully accept the explanation without question. It is only when you discover that the Masonic order only invented these aspects a few centuries ago that the truth begins to emerge. The version Smith actually copied almost identically, came from a Masonic revision made in the late 1700s. Joseph Smith’s endowment incorporated those same aspects. As ever, he simply plagiarised, adding his own special touches. Unfortunately, as modern members are not so keen on symbolising having their throat cut and their tongue pulled through it, their heart being ripped out, disembowelment and such like, these once eternal principles have gradually been removed. Likewise, part of the end ceremony at the veil of the temple called ‘The Five Points of Fellowship’, which was word for word and act for act the same as Masonic ritual, and again of eternal necessity to Mormons, has been withdrawn from the ceremony. It entailed, in addition to the words, a stance that included - inside of right foot by the side of right foot, knee to knee, breast to breast, hand to back and mouth to ear, whilst holding the right hands in a specific grip. Women complained about the proximity of men unknown to them when being ‘taken through the veil’. Thus another eternal requirement has gone. Details and changes over the years are explored and explained.
Section 4. Blood Atonement & Mormon Murders
This is another aspect I had not intended to write about, as I had always accepted the Church explanation that ‘Blood Atonement’ referred exclusively to the atonement of Christ and was never a principle practiced by humans for whom Christ’s sacrifice would not be enough. This chapter explores Brigham Young’s extreme doctrine, which he preached over and over, regarding people who should have their blood shed to atone for certain sins. Evidence of instances of blood atonement being accepted by members who believed they deserved it and other examples where it was arbitrarily meted out on people who did not actually wish to ‘atone’ at all. Divulging temple rites merited blood atonement by carrying out the throat cutting enacted in the temple as a ritual - and it was carried out - in real life - and real death. Includes the ‘blood for blood’ attitude resulting in many Mormon murders and a court case where it was excused according to ‘mountain law’. The authorised murder, again by throat slitting, of Native Americans captured during Mormon wars. This section culminates in the psychology behind the Mountain Meadows massacre, which would never have happened, had it not been for the culture and indoctrination by Young which had already led to wide spread enactment of such horrific principles in practice.
Section 5. The Social Psychology of a Testimony
A section detailing how people are captured by the delusion of Mormonism, the conversion process and the psychology behind the treatment of members of different ages and marriage status. The constant programmed brainwashing of infants, almost from birth. The concept that members ‘know’ the Church is true, rather than just believe so. Doubt is a weakness. Members are held in a veritable ‘Matrix’. Many actually want to be there and do not wish to question, in case they may be wrong. Too much rests on remaining faithful. Claims and beliefs compared with reality in Utah which actually has exceptionally high bankruptcy, divorce, suicide and 'poor' mental health rates. Psychological comparisons with Mormon ideas. The psychology of prayer and reliability of answers. A vivid imagination is all that is really needed in order to believe something ethereal. Smith’s ‘get out of jail free’ cards when things went wrong. The psychology of Smith winning, whatever the outcome. Patriarchal Blessings — fortune telling based on being good. Through conditioning, by constant mind control and voluntary self induced brainwashing, the ‘testimony’ that was originally ‘obtained’, is maintained and even enhanced. Taught that Satan will try to deceive them, members must never look outside of published approved materials for information concerning the Church.
Section 6. Nonsense Revelations from the Doctrine & Covenants
A random selection of ten sections from the D&C are analysed and shown to be complete nonsense when considered as actual revelation from God. We go from the impossibilities and unfulfilled prophecies, to God’s words shown to be wrong. From Smith’s translation of the supposed actual written words of Apostle John, we ask why John would bother to write such nonsense. Revelation to deal with Smith’s problem of other members ‘seer stone’ revelations being believed. Smith has to retain control, so they are of the devil and only Smith’s are valid. God calls a man to serve but then he doesn’t join the Church as expected, so God gives another revelation to say he is not called after all. God is therefore not infallible — He had no idea that Satan would get to the heart of Smith’s latest protégé. Revelations to an individual — transferred to someone else when they failed to perform. God gets it wrong — again. God leads Smith to promised money which isn’t there when he arrives. God gets that wrong too. Smith prophesied a war that everyone else also anticipated, except that it never happened, until decades later than expected. Members hold to this as one of the best of Smith’s prophecies, with no idea about the surrounding American history.
_______________________
Since the publication of Volume 3, I have added a little information to Appendix A regarding the Articles of Faith. This is the Second Edition updated material.
Appendix A
The Articles of Faith
The Articles of Faith are thirteen statements of belief that Mormons generally perceive to have been coined by Joseph Smith. They were derived from some earlier statements, which were actually penned and published by Orson Pratt in 1840, in his pamphlet; An Interesting Account of Several Remarkable Visions. Smith, as usual in his writings, simply plagiarised them, adjusting them to suit his own requirements. He first published them as his in Times and Seasons, Vol. 3, 15 Mar 1842:709-710. See: The Changing Articles of Faith by Sandra Tanner, online resource available at www.utlm.org; also: Tanner 1991:27-28.
Oliver Cowdery wrote a version in the Latter Day Saints Messenger and Advocate in October 1834 and later, Joseph Young, brother of Brigham Young, had a go at writing some articles while proselyting in Boston in 1836. Orson Hyde later wrote some that were similar to Orson Pratt’s version, when he was in Frankfurt, Germany in 1842, in his German language pamphlet ‘A Cry From the Wilderness’. It was in the same year that Smith wrote the Wentworth letter.
Mormons will be familiar with the thirteen articles being in the Wentworth Letter sent to ‘Long’ John Wentworth, editor of the Chicago Democrat. A review of the articles will provide some perspective on the religious beliefs and standards of moral behaviour that Church leaders and members were, and are, supposedly obliged to live by, compared with the actual behaviour of Church leaders in the early church as well as today.
The first eleven articles concern aspects of Mormon belief. The last two are important, as they deal with expected behavior. The Church believes in being subject to civic leaders and not just obeying but also sustaining the law. They also believe in being honest and chaste among other things.
The Articles Of Faith have had minor changes over the years. They can be located in History of the Church, Vol. 4:535-41 and the Pearl of Great Price.
THE ARTICLES OF FAITH
1. We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus
Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
2. We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not
for Adam's transgression.
3. We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind
may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the
Gospel.
4. We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel
are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance;
third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth,
Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
5. We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and
by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach
the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
6. We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive
Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists,
and so forth.
7. We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions,
healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
8. We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is
translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be
the word of God.
9. We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal,
and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important
things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
10. We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration
of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built
upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally
upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its
paradisiacal glory.
11. We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to
the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same
privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
12. We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and
magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
13. We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous,
and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we
follow the admonition of Paul - We believe all things, we hope
all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able
to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of
good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.
____________________
Post publication note:
Appendix G (Page 370): Reference to Item 130 should read Item 136 – as correctly referenced at the bottom of the page. The internet link for Adam-God quotes in Appendix G has changed to:
http://www.xmission.com/~plporter/lds/ag3.htm
Out of interest, there are several pages of Adam-God quotes starting at:
http://www.xmission.com/~plporter/lds/ag.htm
____________________
Review or Purchase TMD Volume 3: TMD BOOK STORE
___________________________
The Mormon Delusion Volume 4.
The Mormon Missionary Lessons - A Conspiracy to Deceive.
The Mormon Delusion was originally to be a trilogy, exposing the truth behind the Mormon Church. Volume four came about in response to the fact that Mormon missionaries today are trained to teach investigators the same lies that are still perpetuated within the Church. Evidence, derived from Church history, Smith’s own writings and Mormon so-called scripture, conflicts dramatically with what the Church now portrays as true to unsuspecting investigators. Volume four provides evidence that every aspect of claimed restored truth has been falsely constructed into a fairy tale of warm and fuzzy fiction. It is this fiction that potential converts take to the Lord in prayer in order to gain a testimony. The resulting supposed answer that people receive is based on an entirely false premise and could therefore not possibly come from any God. It can only be a self-induced delusion based on false evidence and wishful thinking. This fourth volume follows the Mormon missionary lesson manual step by step, explaining and exposing the truth behind the fraudulent claims of Mormonism.
What other authors have had to say about Volume 4.
Whitefield’s four volumes are a rich compendium of little-known facts about Mormonism and the Mormons. Even with my own 25 years as a Mormon and my 50 years of subsequent study, I learned many new things from this author. He has done a monumental job of researching and studying. An ultimate reference tool!
Richard Packham.
Founder, The Exmormon Foundation.
**********
Notwithstanding Whitefield’s extensive exposure of the truth behind all things Mormon in his first three books, in Volume 4, as he journeys through the Mormon missionary lessons, he somehow manages to include a whole raft of further devastating information presented in ways not previously seen. This remarkable work is essential for anyone seeking the truth behind everything the Mormon Church has its unsuspecting missionaries teach investigators. No stone remains unturned and no question unanswered. The lies and deceptions of Mormonism are laid bare, page after page and stage by stage, in line with the missionary lessons, from beginning to end, until there is nothing left for the impartial investigator to consider. The hoax is systematically analysed, the fraudulent claims fully revealed, and the entire Mormon conspiracy to deceive is completely exposed – once and for all.
Arza Evans
Author of ‘The Keystone of Mormonism’.
**********
If you are investigating the LDS church you owe it to yourself to learn the full story of Mormonism. Any church claiming to be the only true church on the earth deserves, and should withstand, the closest of scrutiny. In his characteristically detailed, comprehensive and upfront style, Jim Whitefield tells the side of the Mormon story the missionaries cannot tell because they have never heard it themselves.
Simon G. Southerton Ph.D.
Author of ‘Losing a Lost Tribe; Native Americans, DNA, and the Mormon Church.’
**********
In this raw and real exposé of the Mormon Delusion, Whitefield thoroughly dismantles the key claims of Mormonism, in the order they are presented to an investigator. His logic is irresistible, the facts indisputable, and the research impeccable. Jim will have life-long members thinking about things that never occurred to them – a big one for me it was the ludicrous Nephite system of currency and coinage. Having served a two-year mission overseas myself, I was struck by the extent of the contradictions and falsehoods I unwittingly spread. With a flair for detail and a knowledge of relevant little-known facts associated with church history, Whitefield illustrates how the LDS church fails miserably to uphold the very standards of ethics and honesty it expects of its membership. In the bright light of day, when all the evidence is brought to bear on the so-called pillars of LDS doctrines taught in the missionary lessons, each pillar falters and collapses in turn. Truly Whitefield illustrates how truth does indeed ‘cut its own way’.
Lyndon Lamborn.
Author of ‘Standing for Something More’.
**********
In The Mormon Delusion series, Jim Whitefield takes on the multi-billion dollar public relations machine that is the Mormon Church. In this, his fourth volume, he exposes the church’s missionary program for what it is: a cadre of well-trained, brain-washed salespeople. With meticulous research, irrefutable evidence, and microscopic attention to detail, Whitefield tackles the programming of impressionable young men and women to illustrate the half-truths and lies they are taught to regurgitate to the unsuspecting masses that are impressed by their clean-cut appearance and air of confidence.
Whitefield dissects the lessons, precepts and scriptural teachings of the missionaries and empirically proves the falsehoods of the gospel they so earnestly preach. In the end, his passion for truth and desire to live a principled life wins the day. With humor, intelligence and impeccable scholarship, Whitefield refutes and rejects the teachings of what he proves to be nothing more than one of the world’s largest corporations intent on recruiting tithe-paying stockholders. A must read.
Pamela McCreary.
Author of ‘Dancing on the Head of a Pin’.
**********
__________________________________
|
