Mike Bennion's Reply to: "Romney’s Religion: The Most Scrutinized Doctrines of Mormonism"
by Kelly OConnell Monday, February 20, 2012
Regarding the 2012 presidential election, it is extremely important for Conservatives to prepare pro-actively for attacks. For instance, if Mitt Romney truly is the presumptive GOP nominee, well then we must familiarize ourselves with the most frequently criticized elements of Mormonism. Even if this enquiry into an honorable man’s religion is against our instincts. This is so because most Americans simply don’t know LDS theology, and the element of surprise can be used against the GOP.
While Kelly correctly claims that Conservatives should prepare pre-actively for attacks on the Republican front-runner concerning his religion, his article provides little in the way of Mormon defense of the specific items he addresses as the most scrutinized documents of Mormonism. A wise eminent Lutheran Bishop, Krister Stendahl, suggested that if we want to know about someone else’s religion, we should ask a member of the religion in question rather than their critics. (See Lutheran Bishop Krister Stendahl’s three rules for discussing religion.) http://summatheologica.wordpress.com/2008/01/23/the-mormon-worldview-part-1/
For if history has taught Conservatives anything, it is that the perceived weaknesses of our candidates, fairly portrayed or not, will become fodder for the mainstream media. An example being the late Christopher Hitchen’s dyspeptic article, Romney’s Mormon Problem; Mitt Romney and the weird and sinister beliefs of Mormonism.
Since Kelly states the modus operandi of the mainstream media with fair accuracy, we would do well to have the best defense ready and this should involve accurate answers about Mormonism from those who live Mormonism, rather than from their critics. Certainly there is nothing wrong with knowing the accusations, but we should also be acquainted with the defense.
Undoubtedly the good works of the Mormon faith are remarkable, but Mitt will be at the mercy of the reaction of the ignorant to the more controversial parts of his beliefs. This is not to suggest that Romney could never become a great president because of his beliefs, but simply that his religion might cost him the opportunity. For this reason, this brief outline of LDS belief, especially of the more controversial elements is presented.
The singular phenomenon about even those who attack the Mormons as a non-Christian cult revolves around the fact that the Mormons are almost universally held to be an honest, upright, people characterized by good works. Attackers then proceed to talk about how twisted and wrong they perceive Mormon teachings to be. Does this strike anyone else as curious? Does not Christ himself, in the New Testament Sermon on the Mount proclaim that we will know goodness by its fruit? “By their fruits ye shall know them. Dr. David Campbell, Notre Dame Professor and author of American Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us , notes that surveys show that the more people are acquainted with Latter-day Saints (Mormons) the more positive is their perception of Mormons. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765554089/Mormons-Methodists-meet-to-consider-similarities-compare-cultures-theology-music.html
I. Brief Introduction to Mormon History
In 1820, Joseph Smith, a young man of 14 years old living in Manchester, New York, was visited by God and Jesus. who informed him every Christian denomination was an abomination in their eyes. Here writes Smith in his autobiographical Pearl of Great Price, a portion of the Book of Mormon.
The reference for the narrative of Joseph Smith’s First Vision may be found in Joseph Smith—History verses 1-20, Here: http://www.lds.org/scriptures/pgp/js-h/1?lang=eng
I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong)—and which I should join. I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in His sight; that those professors were all corrupt…
This is from verse 19 of the above citation, it continues “ … that: “they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.”
Note that according to Smith’s account, it was not the Bible that was “wrong” or “corrupt” but the “creeds.” These creeds constituted the extra-Biblical statements about the nature of God, the Trinity and man’s relationships to God that were formulated in the third century or later after Christ. Note that the word “Trinity” is found nowhere in the Bible, nor is the term “of one substance.” Those who profess (or speak) these creeds are proclaimed wrong in claiming them as binding as Biblical truth.
In 1823, an angel named Moroni revealed to Joseph the existence of certain golden plates of ancient language, and where they were buried in a hill. The angel came in a vision, explaining many things about the true nature of God. In 1827, the plates were translated from Reformed Egyptian, becoming the basis for the Book of Mormon, a history of the North American continent. This included the exploits of a lost tribe of Jews, sent here by God to create a remnant for the Second Coming of Christ, becoming known as the “Latter Day Saints” as a continuation of earlier biblical saints.
Note that a total of twelve men saw the plates from which Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon, including Smith himself. Three men saw the angel who delivered the plates and heard the voice of God testify from Heaven that the record was true. Eight Men held the plates in their hands, turned the leaves one by one, hefted the record and felt of its weight and touched the engraved language upon the plates. Their witness of these two events follow are found here: http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/introduction.p49?lang=eng&query=joseph+smith+history
The texts of their testimony are listed below:
The Testimony of Three Witnesses
Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come: That we, through the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, have seen the plates which contain this record, which is a record of the people of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites, their brethren, and also of the people of Jared, who came from the tower of which hath been spoken. And we also know that they have been translated by the gift and power of God, for his voice hath declared it unto us; wherefore we know of a surety that the work is true. And we also testify that we have seen the engravings which are upon the plates; and they have been shown unto us by the power of God, and not of man. And we declare with words of soberness, that an angel of God came down from heaven, and he brought and laid before our eyes, that we beheld and saw the plates, and the engravings thereon; and we know that it is by the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, that we beheld and bear record that these things are true. And it is marvelous in our eyes. Nevertheless, the voice of the Lord commanded us that we should bear record of it; wherefore, to be obedient unto the commandments of God, we bear testimony of these things. And we know that if we are faithful in Christ, we shall rid our garments of the blood of all men, and be found spotless before the judgment-seat of Christ, and shall dwell with him eternally in the heavens. And the honor be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, which is one God. Amen.
Oliver Cowdery
David Whitmer
Martin Harris
The Testimony of Eight Witnesses
Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come: That Joseph Smith, Jun., the translator of this work, has shown unto us the plates of which hath been spoken, which have the appearance of gold; and as many of the leaves as the said Smith has translated we did handle with our hands; and we also saw the engravings thereon, all of which has the appearance of ancient work, and of curious workmanship. And this we bear record with words of soberness, that the said Smith has shown unto us, for we have seen and hefted, and know of a surety that the said Smith has got the plates of which we have spoken. And we give our names unto the world, to witness unto the world that which we have seen. And we lie not, God bearing witness of it.
Christian Whitmer
Jacob Whitmer
Peter Whitmer, Jun.
John Whitmer
Hiram Page
Joseph Smith, Sen.
Hyrum Smith
Samuel H. Smith
Smith attracted a group of followers who mimicked his polygamous lifestyle, and were driven from town to town, deeper and deeper West as their practices made them anathema to everyday Americans. Finally, Joseph Smith was arrested for destroying printing press used to defame the Mormons in Carthage, IL. Here Smith was jailed, yet when an angry mob stormed the jail Smith used a smuggled gun to fight back, but was shot dead. He died a religious martyr, according to his followers. Brigham Young then brought the group to Utah where they established world headquarters of the LDS empire.
The link referenced here by Kelly is a good Mormon account of the death of Joseph Smith and his brother, Hyrum. A few comments are in order about those who “mimicked” Joseph’s polygamy. A good link to an overview of why some members practiced polygamy is found here: http://mormon-polygamy.org/origins_mormon_polygamy The persecutions of the Church were not a result of polygamy until the mid 1840’s as the practice was not well enough known until that time. The Saints (members of the Church) were driven from New York, to Ohio, to Missouri, then back east to Illinois before leaving for the West and Utah. An account of some of those killed in the drivings from Missouri are found here: http://eom.byu.edu/index.php/Haun%27s_Mill_Massacre Events leading to the deaths of the Smiths including the destruction of the press are found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Joseph_Smith#Incidents_leading_to_the_event
II. Most Common Criticisms Leveled at the Latter Day Saints Church
A. Continuing Revelation
The most persistent criticism of the Mormon church is their belief that the works of Joseph Smith represent a continuation of the canon of scripture. Christians point to the work of the early church in establishing this position by way of the condemnation of Montanus, whose ideas were officially censured in the 2nd century AD. The Heresy of Montanism is described by Schaff’s History of the Christian Church, in part, as being “It asserted, above all, the continuance of prophecy, and hence it went generally under the name of the nova prophetia.”
Smith’s output of scripture included the Book of Mormon and Pearl of Great Price. His followers claim the power of the works, as well as the LDS Church’s remarkable vitality and growth prove the accuracy of Smith’s vision.
Smith’s output of scripture included the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine & Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price, which may all be found online here: http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm?lang=eng http://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament?lang=eng http://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament?lang=eng Remember that when Joseph Smith brought forth these hundreds of pages of scripture he was a young man who had the equivalent of three or four years of schooling. For a recent scholarly work about American religions and the canon of scripture see: David F. Holland, Sacred Borders, (NY: Oxford University Press, 2011). For a defense of the open canon of LDS scripture, see http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=dfc3558fcc599110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&hideNav=1
B. Joseph’s Smith’s Character
Joseph Smith’s critics complain that he was a dishonest character. Is this correct? His naysayers say he was prosecuted and convicted of running a confidence game, according to NY state court records. Claims one source,
NORWICH—County historians have rediscovered historical records proving the founder of the Mormon Church was arrested on several occasions while living in Chenango County. These include legal bills from separate charges filed against Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon Church, now the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). The religious founder, the bills show, was arrested three times in the county between 1826 and 1830 for cases involved Smith’s involvement in “glass looking,” or searching for treasure, and “being a disorderly person.”
Mormons respond that such criticism is based upon biased history motivated by prejudice or jealousy.
As a graduate student of history, I have learned to follow the evidence and how it was obtained, what it claimed, and the context we find in the events denoted by the evidence. An article that goes into much greater detail than Kelly’s links is found here: http://www.fairlds.org/fair-conferences/2002-fair-conference/2002-the-1826-trial-of-joseph-smith This will take more time to read because it is more involved, but will offer a much clearer picture of what actually happened.
C. Jesus of Mormonism
The Christ of Mormonism is superficially at odds with the Biblical personality, admits the head of the church:
“In bearing testimony of Jesus Christ, President Hinckley spoke of those outside the Church who say Latter-day Saints ‘do not believe in the traditional Christ.’ ‘No, I don’t. The traditional Christ of whom they speak is not the Christ of whom I speak’” (LDS Church News, week ending June 20, 1998, p.7).
Here is the full quote for context: In bearing testimony of Jesus Christ, President Hinckley spoke of those outside the Church who say Latter-day Saints "do not believe in the traditional Christ. No, I don't. The traditional Christ of whom they speak is not the Christ of whom I speak. For the Christ of whom I speak has been revealed in this the Dispensation of the Fulness of Times. He, together with His Father, appeared to the boy Joseph Smith in the year 1820, and when Joseph left the grove that day, he knew more of the nature of God than all the learned ministers of the gospel of the ages.
"Am I Christian? Of course I am. I believe in Christ. I talk of Christ. I pray through Christ. I'm trying to follow Him and live His gospel in my life."
Obviously, Mormons believe in Christ, In his life, sacrifice, redemption and grace and his power to save. Though Traditional Christians claim that the Bible alone is scripture, their doctrines of the Trinity and Christ’s relationship to God is based upon those same extra-Biblical creeds that were devised in the third and fourth centuries after Christ. If you ask me, are Mormon’s creedal or Trinitarian Christians my answer would be “no.” I f you ask whether the Restored Christianity of the Mormons more closely resembles First-century Christianity, I would answer, “yes.”
The Jesus of Mormonism is the brother of Satan. Ensign, the official magazine of the LDS church says:
On first hearing, the doctrine that Lucifer and our Lord, Jesus Christ, are brothers may seem surprising to some—especially to those unacquainted with latter-day revelations. But both the scriptures and the prophets affirm that Jesus Christ and Lucifer are indeed offspring of our Heavenly Father and, therefore, spirit brothers… But as the Firstborn of the Father, Jesus was Lucifer’s older brother.
Further, the Mormon God is neither a Trinity, nor monotheistic, as the next section explains. But Mormons respond that one cannot expect a previous revelation to agree exactly with subsequent ones, or there would be no point to further revelations.
LDS beliefs also detail a pre-existence in which we were all spirit children of our Father in Heaven. Jesus, as the only-begotten Son of the Father, was the only one of all Father’s spirit children who also had The Father as his physical father. Note the scripture in Matthew:
Luke 1: 34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
Mormons believe that the Holy Ghost came upon Mary to sancify and prepare her to abide the presence of the Father (The Highest) who caused Jesus to be placed into her by an unspecified but real process that made Christ literally the Son of God the Father.
D. Polytheism & Human Godhood Evolution
Critics say Mormonism is technically a polytheistic religion, as Smith reveals in his Book of Abraham translation, part of LDS scripture, in chapter 4:3-4:
And they (the Gods) said: Let there be light; and there was light. And they (the Gods) comprehended the light, for it was bright; and they divided the light, or caused it to be divided, from the darkness.
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints understand the Bible to describe three members of a Godhead in a complete unity of thought, harmony, love, power and will, but not of one body. John 17 is instructive as Jesus prays that his disciples may be one as he and the Father are one. Mormons do not believe that Jesus here was praying that the disciples should rush together and inhabit one physical body, but that they should be untied in love, will and purpose, to achieve mighty faith.
Another source describes LDS beliefs on the gods:
The Mormon Church teaches a plurality of Gods. They believe God the Father (Elohim) was once a man on a separate world who attained godhood. He then had many spirit children with his wives, the oldest one being Jesus. According to LDS beliefs, we were all Elohim’s spirit children before our carnal existence. Therefore, Jesus is our eldest brother. As former LDS Prophet Brigham Young taught: “How many Gods there are, I do not know. But there never was a time when there were not Gods and worlds, and when men were not passing through the same ordeals that we are passing through. That course has been from all eternity, and it is and will be to all eternity.” Therefore, the number of gods is practically limitless.
Latter-day Saints teach that the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost are one in purpose, power, love and will. But as the Bible makes plain the Son does the will of the Father and the Holy Ghost bears witness of the Father and the Son. To use a metaphor, I have an earthly father, my Dad, here on earth. He was once a baby, who became a child and then grew to be a man. He is happy as the head of a family and wants his children to share the same joy. If I follow his example I may grow to become like him. But I will never take his place as my father. I may have children of my own and teach them the same things and I will always be their father. So becoming like my Dad, does not replace my Dad in my love, or loyalty to him. So likewise, Mormons believe that become like God, (the first-century Biblical doctrine of Theosis) does not replace the God we worship as our Father. Rather by becoming like God we honor him and increase his power and glory. (Just as a happy grandfather delights in his worthy children and grandchildren.)
Deeper teachings in Mormonism also promote the idea that obedient Mormons can evolve into gods as McKeever describes:
“Although it is not found in any of Mormonism’s Standard Works, an expression which precisely defines the LDS teaching that men can become Gods was coined by fifth LDS President Lorenzo Snow. In June of 1840, Snow declared, “As man is, God once was; as God is, man may become.” Besides correctly illustrating the Latter-day Saint teaching that God was once a mere mortal man, this couplet also declares that man has the potential to become God! According to LDS theology, eternal life is synonymous with godhood. In the words of LDS Apostle Bruce McConkie, “Thus those who gain eternal life receive exaltation ... They are gods.” (Mormon Doctrine, pg. 237).”
Mormons dislike discussing this issue, and refuse the term “polytheist” for their religion. Instead they point out that there is only one God in this world, which is all we need to acknowledge. But we can be sure the topic will be raised repeatedly during a Romney election.
On the contrary, Mormons delight in the concept that we will inherit all that God has, for as the Bible teaches:
Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
See also:
· let them have dominion, Gen. 1:26 (Moses 2:26).
· man is become as one of us, Gen. 3:22 (Moses 4:28).
· be holy: for I … am holy, Lev. 19:2 (1 Pet. 1:16).
· thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, Ps. 8:5
· madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands, Ps. 8:6
· Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High, Ps. 82:6
· Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father, Matt. 5:48 (3 Ne. 12:48).
· spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have, Luke 24:39
· Is it not written in your law … Ye are gods, John 10:34 (Ps. 82:1–8; D&C 76:58).
· we are the offspring of God, Acts 17:29
· changed into the same image from glory to glory, 2 Cor. 3:18
· if a son, then an heir of God through Christ, Gal. 4:7
· Till we all come … unto a perfect man, Eph. 4:13
· be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live, Heb. 12:9
· when he shall appear, we shall be like him, 1 Jn. 3:2
· him that overcometh will … sit with me in my throne, Rev. 3:21
E. Polygamy
Famously, Mormons historically practiced polygamy, a notion championed by founder Joseph Smith, despite his first wife deserting him for the activity, according to Todd Compton’s In Sacred Loneliness, The Plural Wives of Joseph Smith. The practice made Mormons notorious to their “gentile” neighbors, one reason the sect repeatedly relocated in its early years. In fact, Abraham Lincoln ran with a “Defense of Marriage” plank in his platform for president, and later encouraged the Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act, meant to shut down LDS plural marriage in the Utah Territory.
The LDS Church teaches that obedient Mormons will evolve into godhood in the afterlife where they may take multiple wives for heavenly marriages. Says the introduction to LDS scripture Doctrine & Covenants Section 132:
“Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Nauvoo, Illinois, recorded 12 July 1843, relating to the new and everlasting covenant, including the eternity of the marriage covenant, and also the plurality of wives “
While the LDS no longer officially practice plural marriage, many offshoot sects still engage in this lifestyle, as notoriously reported in places like Colorado City, Utah. More importantly, Mormons teach that polygamy will again be allowed for Mormons in the afterlife. But defenders claim that all the prophets of the Old Testament were polygamists. Further, that since the LDS have changed their official stance on polygamy, the criticism no longer applies.
Already covered.
F. Pre-existence & Spirit Babies
Mormon doctrine teaches that humans lived in a pre-existant state, being produced in celestial marital relations as “spirit babies.” The official Mormon scholarly publication Journal of Discourse, stated in Vol. 4, p. 218: ”We were first begotten as spirit babies in heaven and then born naturally on earth.” This teaching also indicates that Mormons believe intercourse will continue in the next life.
Mormon apologists claim teachings such as these nowhere directly contradict any Scripture.
Already covered. Except that it has not been revealed how Spirit Children are created and if it is by an analogous process to physical birth.
I. Racism & Children of Cain
Mormonism historically taught dark skin is the “Mark of Cain,” being a curse put upon Blacks for the rebellion of their forefathers in the pre-existence. Joseph Smith did not have a high view of Blacks, stating “Had I anything to do with the negro , I would confine them by strict law to their own species and put them on a national equalization.’” Brigham Young especially had an extreme bias against Blacks. He stated ““But let them apostatize, and they will become gray-haired, wrinkled, and black, just like the Devil.” (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, vol. 5, p. 332)” Young also claimed,
This people that are commonly called negroes are the children of old Cain. I know they are…You see some classes of the human family that are black, uncouth, uncomely, disagreeable, sad, low in their habits, wild, and seemingly without the blessings of the intelligence that is generally bestowed upon mankind…Shall I tell you the law of God in regard to the African race? If the white man who belongs to the chosen seed mixes his blood with the seed of Cain, the penalty, under the law of God, is death on the spot. This will always be so.
The LDS Church stood to lose their IRS tax exempt status in the 1970s for discrimination, but before this could happen, the Mormon Prophet had a revelation in 1978 that Blacks could attain the highest heaven, and not just as servants but ordained priests. Yet, the teaching has deep roots, as LDS Apostle Bruce R. McConkie further explains:
Those who were less valiant in pre-existence and who thereby had certain spiritual restrictions impose(d) on them during mortality are known to us as the negroes. Such spirits are sent to earth through the lineage of Cain, the mark put upon him for his rebellion against God, and his murder of Able being a black skin…Noah’s son married Egyptus, a descendant of Cain, thus preserving the negro lineage through the flood…the negro are not equal with other races where the receipt of certain spiritual blessings are concern(ed)...” (Mormon Doctrine, 527-28; 1966 orig. ed).
The LDS Church can fight back and claim that all of America used to be racist slave-holders and obnoxious bigots, so why pile on the Mormons? Especially, since they have come so far so quickly on race relations. But does this open the door for Obama’s very race-oriented supporters to claim Romney’s church has a despicably racist history?
An article about Black members of the Church
An account of President Kimball and the Revelation of the Priesthood: Lengthy but definitely worth the read.
J. Book of Abraham
The Book of Abraham, along with DNA studies of American Natives, have become the bête noire of the modern LDS church. This is because the language code of the famed Rosetta Stone was cracked, allowing ancient Egyptian to be properly translated. This then made possible Joseph Smith’s own translation to be tested.
And what did Joseph Smith claim his Egyptian papyrus named the Book of Abraham said? He stated the Egyptian words and figures depicted Abraham and Joseph of the Bible. Yet when trained Egyptologists studied the documents, this was not verified. Instead, it turned out the papyri were very ordinary Egyptian funerary documents, fragments of the Book of the Dead. This flew in the face of the LDS teaching that the Mormon Prophet can translate accurately any language, living or dead.
According to one Egyptologist, a typical comparison between Young’s work and theirs went something like this:
Joseph Smith said that Facsimile No. 1 was of a bird as the “Angel of the Lord” with “Abraham fastened upon an altar,” “being offered up as a sacrifice by a false priest. The pots under the altar were various gods “Elkenah, Libnah, Mahmackrah, Korash, Pharaoh,” etc.
In reality, this is “an embalming scene showing the deceased lying on a lion-couch.”
These facts are passed off as the debate between philologists over the definitions of obscure foreign word definitions. It is hard to know how the public at large, many of them hearing details on this for the first time, will react.
1. The records that Joseph used to translate the Book of Abraham are not the same as those that remain after the great Chicago fire presumably destroyed many of the records, because the papyri were described as a) in perfect preservation, b) containing red ink rubrics, and c) being over 10 feet long. The current fragments match none of this description.
2. Many portions of the Book of the Dead, which the remaining fragments represent, contain references to practices that resemble some LDS rites and practices.
For a great deal of specific information on this topic, see: http://www.boap.org/LDS/BOAP/ and Hugh W. Nibley, The Message of the Joseph Smith Papyri: An Egyptian Endowment, Second Edition, (Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 2005).
K. Lost Tribe & DNA
The Book of Mormon describes voyages to the Americas by ancient Israelites in 2 Nephi 1:9:
Wherefore, I, Lehi, have obtained a promise, that inasmuch as those whom the Lord God shall bring out of the land of Jerusalem shall keep his commandments, they shall prosper upon the face of this land; ; [The Americas] and they shall be kept from all other nations, that they may possess this land unto themselves.
In other words, Joseph Smith taught native Americans are descended from the Twelve Tribes of Israel. But does science back up this claim? Unfortunately not, according to geneticist Simon G. Southerton in his Losing a Lost Tribe: Native Americans, DNA, and the Mormon Church. Southerton states studies of mitochondrial DNA of Native Americans conclusively prove the Mormon claim of descent from Israeli immigrants is unsupported by DNA evidence. The LDS lost many adherents as a result.
This debate can be claimed just an argument between scientists. But what will an increasingly sceptical public think after hearing these points pounded over and over?
Two comments here: 1. Kelley’s link which claims that the Church lost many adherents as a result of the DNA controversy, does not say any such thing. Kelly needs to drop this assertion or back it up with a better source.
2. The DNA claims rest on a false concept of what the Book of Mormon claims for the people of the Book. Both Mormons and non-Mormons alike have postulated that the Book of Mormon peoples were the primary ancestors of all the Native Americans in North and Central America. A careful reading of the Book reveals no such claim.
3. The types of Mitochondrial DNA tests used could not determine the necessary results because they measure the Mother’s DNA rather than the Father’s and the Book of Mormon is silent about the race of the women who came with Lehi and the Mulekites to the America’s in the Book of Mormon account.
For more on these topics see: http://en.fairmormon.org/Topical_Guide/Book_of_Mormon/Archaeology_and_the_Book_of_Mormon/DNA_and_the_Book_of_Mormon
Conclusion
Mitt Romney could be the best candidate in the entire 2012 race. And yet, if his backers do not understand Mormon doctrines, or are not prepared to defend these to a skeptical mainstream media and American electorate, the race might be lost before it’s even begun.
So if Mitt Romney is the eventual Republican nominee, his backers should understand both the accuser’s assertions and the Mormon defense against those accusations.
Other Topics not mentioned in Kelly’s article
Women and the Church
Women and Men differ but are equally valued.
Mountain Meadows Massacre
Ensign Article about the Massacre by Ronald Turley, Assistant Church Historian http://www.lds.org/ensign/2007/09/the-mountain-meadows-massacre?lang=eng&query=mountain+meadows+massacre
The best book that I have read concerning the full extent of what happened at Mountain Meadows and why
Walker, Ronald W., Turley, Richard E. and Leonard, Glen M. Massacre at Mountain Meadows: An American Tragedy, New York, N.Y.: Oxford University Press, 2008.
The Garment of the Holy Priesthood
A 1997 Ensign article about the Garment, by Carlos E. Asay, Emeritus Member of the Quorums of 70
Baptism for the Dead and the Jewish Baptism Controversy
A recent, fair-minded non-Mormon article about the controversy
http://www.kansascity.com/2012/02/17/3435262/mormon-church-defends-ritual-of.html
A recent, fair-minded article by a Jew about the controversy
Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve gives the Church’s explanation
Polygamy
The lds.org site to explain the Church’s perspective on this topic including links to other articles and stories
http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/topic/polygamy
The Family and Same-Gender Issues
The lds.org site to explain the Church’s perspective on this topic including links to other articles and stories
http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/official-statement/same-gender-attraction
A Reading List of Mormon Historical and Doctrinal Sources
The lds.org LDS Newsroom topical website. Here you may find articles that treat most of the current issues you will read or hear about in the Media.
http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/topics-and-background/
A webpage the gives links to most of the important Mormon apologetics websites.
http://www.jefflindsay.com/ldslinks.shtml
Terryl Givens, a serious scholar of LDS thought and history, makes an important argument about where questions about the church should be addressed. http://divinity.uchicago.edu/martycenter/publications/sightings/archive_2012/0216.shtml
“I Don’t have a Testimony of the History of the Church,” by Davis Bitton
(This article explains the difference between a testimony of the gospel and the mistaken belief that everything every Mormon does is somehow, good, true and faith promoting.) http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/review/?vol=16&num=2&id=560
A Non-Mormon pastor asserts that Mormons are not Christians. I include this article because it includes most of the objections to the Church by those who brand it non-Christian. The comments to the article are also instructive as they run the gamut from well, thought out, courteous response to rather ignorant attack mode sorts of reply.
http://www.times-herald.com/religion/Are-Mormons-Christians---2083515
A fair-minded non-Mormon response:
http://onfaith.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/guestvoices/2007/12/are_mormons_christians.html
Jeffry R. Holland, of the Quorum of the Twelve gave this great talk in Conference
A Bibliography of Books on Mormon History
PUBLISHED PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SOURCES
Austin, Emily, Mormonism; or, Life Among the Mormons (Madison, WI: M.J. Cantwell, 1882).
Allen, James B. and Leonard, Glen M. The Story of the Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book Co., 1976.
Arrington, Leonard. & Bitton, Davis. The Mormon Experience: a History of the Latter-day Saints, Second Edition, New York City, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1992.
Beecher, Maureen U. and Anderson, Lavinia F. eds. Sisters in Spirit: Mormon Women in Historical and Cultural Perspective, (Urbana, IL: University of Illinois Press, 1987).
Bennett, John C. The History of the Saints; or, an Exposé of Joe Smith and Mormonism, (Boston. 1842).
Book of Mormon, Salt Lake City, Utah: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1981.
Bradford, M. Gerald. and Coutts, Alison V.P. "Uncovering the Original Text of the Book of Mormon,” Journal of Book of Mormon Studies, 11/0 (2002): 1–57.
Brooks, Juanita. “Memories of a Mormon Girlhood”, The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 77, No. 305 (Jul-Sep., 1964): 195-219
Brooks, Juanita. Mountain Meadows Massacre, Norman, Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press, 1962.
Brown, James S. Life of a Pioneer: Being the Autobiography of James S. Brown, Salt Lake City, UT: George Q. Cannon and Sons, 1900).
Bushman, Claudia L. ed. Mormon Sisters: Women in Early Utah, (Cambridge, MA: Emmeline, 1976).
Campbell, Eugene E. Establishing Zion: The Mormon Church in the American West, 1847-1869, by Eugene E. Campbell. Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 1988.
Campbell, Mary, “Mr. Peay's Horses: The Federal Response to Mormon Polygamy, 1854-1887,” K. 13 Yale Journal of Law & Feminism 29 (2001).
Cowley, Mathias F. Wilford Woodruff: Fourth President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: History of His Life and Labors as Recorded in His Daily Journals, Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret News Press, 1909.
Cresswell, Stephen. Mormons and Cowboys, Moonshiners and Klansmen: Federal Law Enforcement in the South & West, 1870-1893, (Tuscaloosa, AL: The University of Alabama Press, 1991).
Doctrine & Covenants, Salt Lake City, Utah: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1981.
Gordon, Sarah B. The Mormon Question: Polygamy and Constitutional Conflict in Nineteenth-Century America, (Chapel Hill, NC: The University of North Carolina Press, 2002).
Jensen, Andrew. Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia, 4 vols. (Salt Lake City, UT: Andrew Jenson History Co., 1901-36).
Jenson, Robin S. Woodford, Robert J. and Harper, Steven C. Eds. The Joseph Smith Papers: Revelations and Translations, Manuscript Revelation Books, (Salt Lake City, UT: The Church Historian’s Press, Facsimile Edition, 2009).
Johnson, Clark V. Ed. Mormon Redress Petitions: Documents of the 1833-1838 Missouri Conflict, (Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University, 1992).
Journal History of the Church, May 12, 1851, Archives Division, Historical Department, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Keller, (artist). Editorial Cartoon, “The Three Troublesome Children,” The Wasp, (San Francisco, CA: V. 7 No. 281, December, 16, 1881).
Kenney, Scott G. ed., Wilford Woodruff’s Journal, 1833-1898, 9 vols. Midvale, Utah: Signature Books, 1983-84.
Kitchen, Richard D. Mormon-Indian Relations in Deseret: Intermarriage and Indenture, 1847-1877, Mesa, Arizona: Arizona State University Ph.D. diss., 2002.
Knecht, William L. and Crawley, Peter L. eds., History of Brigham Young: 1847-1867, Berkeley, CA: MassCal Associates, 1964.
Larson, Gustive O. The“Americanization” of Utah for Statehood, San Marino, CA: The Huntington Library, Publisher’s Press, 1971).
Linn, William A. The Story of the Mormons: From the Date of their Origin to the Year 1901, online version, part 15, http://www.fullbooks.com/The-Story-of-the-Mormons-From-the-Date-of15.html
Madsen, Carol C. “Mormon Women and the Struggle for Definition: the Nineteenth Century Church,” Sunstone 6 (November/December 1981: 7-11.
Moore, R. Laurence. Religious Outsiders and the Making of Americans, (New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 1986).
Nielsen, Christian. “En Emigrant Fortaeller Lost og Fast”, in Oh Du Zion I Vest, Jorgen W. Schmidt, comp. Copenhagen, Denmark: Rosenkilde og Bagger, 1965. Nineteenth-century primary accounts of Danish Mormon pioneer immigrants, as well as newspaper Articles, and maps, in Danish. Translations in this essay are by the author.
Oman, Nathan B. “Natural Law and the Rhetoric of Empire: Reynolds v. United States, Polygamy, and Imperialism”, William & Mary Law School Research Paper No. 09-43. February 26, 2010, http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1560015
Pearl of Great Price, Salt Lake City, Utah: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1981.
Roberts, B.H. The Life of John Taylor, Third President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, (Salt Lake City: George Q. Cannon and Sons, 1892).
Rogers, Ruth W. Bennion Family History: Vol. IV: John Bennion Family, Salt Lake City, Utah: Bennion Family Association, 1994.
Seward, William H. The Works of William H. Seward, Volume 1, George E. Baker, Ed. (New York, NY: Redfield, 1853).
Spencer, Clarissa Y. & Harmer, Mabel. Brigham Young at Home, Salt Lake City, Utah: Kessinger Publishing LLC. 2004.
Stenhouse, Fanny, Exposé of Polygamy in Utah: a Lady’s Life among the Mormons, (New York: American News, 1872).
Turley, Richard E. ed. “The Mountain Meadows Massacre,” The Ensign, (Salt Lake City, UT: September, 2007), pp. 14-21.
Walker, Ronald W. “The Stenhouses and the Making of a Mormon Image,” Journal of Mormon History 1 (1974).
Walker, Ronald W., Turley, Richard E. and Leonard, Glen M. Massacre at Mountain Meadows: An American Tragedy, New York, N.Y.: Oxford University Press, 2008.
White, Jean Bickmore “Women’s Place Is in the Constitution: The Struggle for Equal Rights in Utah in 1895″ in Carol Cornwall Madsen, ed. Battle for the Ballot: Essays on Women’s Suffrage in Utah, 1870-1896 (Logan, Utah State University Press, 1997).
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