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APOLOGETICS |
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Prophets in Mormonism - Part 9
By
Marvin W.
Cowan |
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Mormon Apostle, Bruce R. McConkie said,
The mere
claim on the part of professing religionists that they
have the testimony of Jesus does not of itself
guarantee or prove that they do in fact have the
spirit of prophecy so as to be true prophets. Rather,
truth seekers are commanded: "Believe not every
spirit, but try (test) the spirits whether they
are of God; because many false prophets are gone out
into the world" (1 John 4:1)… A person claiming to
be a true spiritual leader might present such a good
imitation of a true prophet as to deceive those who do
not themselves have the guidance and inspiration of
the Spirit….In this day and age true prophets will be
members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints. (Mormon Doctrine, pages 607-608)
It is certainly true that many false
prophets have been and still are in the world. It is
also true that false prophets can "present such a good
imitation of a true prophet" that they can deceive many
as Jesus warned in Matthew 24:11. That includes Mormons
as well as others. LDS leaders claim true prophets will
be members of the Mormon Church, but that cannot be
supported by the Bible. So, how can one "test the
spirits" to determine if someone is a true prophet? The
Bible does not say that we will see a halo or
something around a true prophet. Nor does it say if we
get a good feeling about him that he is a true
prophet. But it says that a prophet’s prophecy must
come to pass or he is a false prophet (Deut. 18:22).
Mormonism’s founder, Joseph Smith,
claimed to be a prophet and many of his prophecies have
been "canonized" as LDS scripture in the Doctrine &
Covenants. But a careful look at Smith’s prophecies
in the Doctrine & Covenants shows that many of
them didn’t happen as he predicted. For example, Smith
said Doctrine & Covenants 84:112-115 was revealed
to him on September 22-23, 1832. It says,
And the
bishop, Newel K. Whitney, also should travel round
about and among the churches, searching after the poor
to administer to their wants by humbling the rich and
the proud. He should also employ an agent to take
charge and do his secular business as he shall direct.
Nevertheless, let the bishop go unto the city of
New York, also to the city of Albany, and
also to the city of Boston, and warn the
people of those cities with the sound of the
gospel, with a loud voice, of the desolation and
utter abolishment which await them if they do
reject these things, for if they do reject these
things the hour of their judgment is nigh, and their
house shall be left unto them desolate.
In the fall
of 1832 Joseph Smith said, "I continued the translation
of the Bible and ministering to the Church, through the
fall, except for a hurried journey to Albany, New
York and Boston, in company with Bishop Whitney,
from which I returned on the 6th
of November" (History of the Church vol. I, p.
295). That is the only time that LDS records show Bishop
Whitney visited those cities, so it must have been to
preach to them in fulfillment of Doctrine & Covenants
84:112-115. No other reason is given for going to those
cities at that time.
If Whitney didn’t preach to those cities
he was disobedient. But if he preached to them, even at
some other time, "The people of those cities" all
died well over 100 years ago without embracing
Mormonism, but they did not see their cities "abolished"
or "left desolate" as this revelation stated. Those
cities still exist and still have not embraced
Mormonism, so was Smith’s revelation from God? Smith was
killed less than 12 years after he gave this prophecy
and Whitney died 18 years after Smith’s prophecy.
Joseph Smith claimed that Doctrine &
Covenants 111 was revealed to him on August 6, 1836
while he, Sidney Rigdon, Hyrum Smith and Oliver Cowdery
were in Salem, MA. The first four verses declare,
I, the Lord
your God, am not displeased with your coming this
journey, not-withstanding your follies. I have much
treasure in this city for you, for the
benefit of Zion, and many people in this city, whom
I will gather out in due time for the benefit of
Zion, through your instrumentality.
Therefore, it is expedient that you should form
acquaintance with men in this city, as you shall be
led, and as it shall be given you. And it shall come
to pass in due time that I will give this city into
your hands, that you shall have power
over it, insomuch that they shall not discover
your secret parts; and its wealth pertaining to
gold and silver shall be yours.
Notice that this "revelation" is
addressed to Smith and the three men who went to Salem
with him. "The Lord" told them that He had "much
treasure" in Salem for them and for Zion
(in Missouri) and also many people whom He would
gather out through them. "The Lord" also told
them that He would give Salem to them so that
they would have power over it and its wealth
of gold and silver would be theirs.
The LDS History of the Church, vol. II, pp.
464-466 shows that Smith and his associates were in
Salem for about a month in August and September of 1836,
but didn’t get anything promised in this
revelation. The heading of Doctrine & Covenants
111 even says, "When it became apparent that no money
was to be forthcoming, they (Smith and his
associates) returned to Kirtland" (OH).
This "revelation" raises some questions
to think about: If the Lord really revealed this to
Smith then He lied or He isn’t all knowing. But if Smith
didn’t get this "revelation" from the Lord, he is a
false prophet. Either way the Mormons have a serious
problem. The God of the Bible is One Who knows all
things (1 John 3:20) and doesn’t lie (Titus 1:2). The
Bible also declares that if a prophet prophesies and it
doesn’t happen, he is a false prophet (Deut. 18:22).
More false prophecies can be seen in
Major Problems of Mormonism by Jerald and Sandra
Tanner, published by Utah Lighthouse Ministry, Box 1884,
Salt Lake City, UT in 1989. Next time we will continue
our discussion of Prophets in Mormonism. |
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