Book Description
Over the past thirty years, an enormous amount of research has been conducted into Mormon origins--Joseph Smith's early life, the Book of Mormon, the prophet's visions, and the restoration of priesthood authority. Longtime LDS educator Grant H. Palmer suggests that most Latter-day Saints remain unaware of the significance of these discoveries. He therefore gives a brief survey of the literature for all who have ever wanted to know more about the New Mormon History. He finds that what we take for granted as literal history has been tailored over the years for missionary purposes--slightly modified, added to, one aspect emphasized over another--to the point that the original narratives have been nearly lost. What was experienced as a spiritual event, something from an entirely different dimension, has been often refashioned as if it had been a physical, objective occurrence. This is not how the first Saints interpreted these events. Historians have reevaluated basic concepts surrounding these foundational stories and restored elements, including a nineteenth-century world view, that have been misunderstood, if not forgotten.
Reviewer:James I. Huston
...This book was carried on the bookshelves of Deseret Book, the Mormon owned book chain for more than two years. Any time an author writes something contrary to the Mormon apologist view, they are inundated with criticism. There are a number of points which the apologists have tried to refute, such as the Greek Psalter which Joseph Smith tried to translate. In doing further research, many of the apologist's refutations are unfounded. The author has tried to give some explanation for events, such as the similarity to the "Golden Pot" story, which is frankly much more plausible than an angel coming down from heaven and handing Joseph Smith golden plates. It is easy to read and has a wealth of information.The Mormon Church disfellowshipped Grant Palmer two years after the book release, telling him that he needed to repent. Palmer said simply; "I don't know how to repent for telling the truth."
Another reviewer's opinion:
Reviewer: M. West
This book is a must for those who want to see how one sided facts give one sided opinions. Obviously Grant H. Palmer was short a Testimony when he claimed membership to the Church of Jesus Christ. He obviously lost himself to the fact that "Things aren't always as they appear." After reading his book and conclusions based on the material he presented, no wonder he was disfellowshipped. A thorough unbiased study of most issues presented in his book would lead you to see how fascinating church history is, and show how God accomplishes his work using imperfect human beings to perform his miracles.
...Palmer's testimony is based on knowledge alone, lacking the power that is given by the spirit of truth, who bears witness of all things. Obviously Palmer lacks all facts. I know that the older I get, the more facts are presented to me and those things which were born by the spirit of testimony, in fact remain true, of which I bear testimony.
A testimony is what Mormons use to demonstrate how well they can maintain their beliefs in the face of all the facts and evidence opposing them. Getting up on the pulpit every Fast Sunday to proclaim the things you know to be true, even though they have been proven without merit or foundation, is like insisting that the world is flat and you have no interest in what science and history have proven.
History does not bow to "the Holy Spirit of Testimony". It is not bendable and moldable to the beliefs of man. Beliefs are changed when history and science prove the theories are false.
But go ahead and blame Palmer's "lack of testimony" for bringing out the true facts. That doesn't mean that they aren't true. It just means they are not useful to the church or its members for maintaining a set of beliefs that are long overdue for an overhaul....What are they afraid of?
Changing your beliefs in the wake of new evidence is not a sin!! Did it ever occur to anyone that God might be trying to expose the LDS church as a fraud by using "imperfect human beings" and a mountain of documented evidence?
P.S. I have this book, and I have read it. I have also purchased a copy of each of the books cited in it, so I could do my own comparison. Another excellent book that I am reading is called, Joseph Smith, Rough Stone Rolling. Written by a Mormon author: Richard Lyman Bushman (who by the way has not been ex'd or disfellowshipped). It's almost as if the LDS church is waiting for the member response before deciding what to do with Bushman. They waited over two years to sanction Palmer, just to see what his work would do within the ranks of the faithful.
I suspect that the same will be happening to Bushman in due time. Although he claims to be a historian, he is also a defender of the faith, and his bias shines through on almost every page. The end story is: what will the common members think about Joseph Smith after reading it? Will they still buy into the notion that he was 'called of God' or will they come to see him as a man surrounded by a world of magical thinking and raised in a culture of peepstones and visionaries?
I hope that this marks the beginning of change within the LDS church and a move towards a more Christ-centered faith, instead of the edification of all the LDS prophets and the unlikelihood of gold plates of reformed Egyptian characters translated into an unsupported and unfounded doctrine.
One question for any LDS member:
Do you REALLY believe that an angel came to Joseph, showed him where the plates were hidden in a stone box (for 1400 years), along with the sword of Laban, the breastplate of Aaron, Urim and Thummim (two stones set in a bow, like spectacles) AND the Liahona, and then took them all away from the Earth by a magical heavenly power so they wouldn't be available to back up Joseph's claim, and then to top it off, even dissolve any trace of the stone box that they had been deposited in (and kept safe through 1400 years of wind, weather, and earthquake) so that not even the LOCATION could be determined?
Do you REALLY BELIEVE THAT? Wow...
Why then, did we find the Dead Sea Scrolls or the Nag Hammadi Texts? Why do places like the Red Sea, and Jerusalem exist? How is it that we can determine the archaelogy and the history of the Biblical teachings, but there is NO EVIDENCE to back up the Book of Mormon?
Lack of evidence means that the belief is unfounded. It is NOT up to non-believers to prove that it isn't true, it is up to the LDS church to back up what they teach, or they cannot claim to have the truth. We don't need to be chastised for our "lack of faith", it is the LDS church that should be scrutinized for proclaiming a false doctrine based on the appearance of an "angel of light" and the word of Joseph Smith. The mountains of evidence brought forth to discredit such an outrageous claim is not the result of any 'adversary' leading members astray.
The members of the LDS church who actively avoid information they know will damage their testimony are inherently acknowledging that their testimony is based on biased information. They cannot claim to "know" something is true while refusing to explore the possibility that it might not be true. Knowing means having the benefit of pro and con, not just a 'warm feeling'. How many folks do you suppose would be set free from the nation's prisons based on witnesses 'knowing' they were innocent of the charges, without having any demonstrable proof besides their feelings?
It is to their own detriment that they refuse to hear any opposing views especially since the early prophets actually encouraged self-discovery in the early days of the church:
[Text is from this site:]
President Joseph F. Smith said, "We talk of obedience, but do we require any man or woman to ignorantly obey the counsels that are given? Do the First Presidency require it? No, never." (Journal of Discources (JD) 16:248)
Apostle Charles W. Penrose, who would later serve as counselor to President Smith, declared: "President Wilford Woodruff is a man of wisdom and experience, and we respect him, but we do not believe his personal views or utterances are revelations from God; and when 'Thus saith the Lord', comes from him, the saints investigate it: they do not shut their eyes and take it down like a pill." (Millennial Star 54:191)
"And none are required to tamely and blindly submit to a man because he has a portion of the priesthood. We have heard men who hold the priesthood remark, that they would do anything they were told to do by those who presided over them, if they knew it was wrong; but such obedience as this is worse than folly to us; it is slavery in the extreme; and the man who would thus willingly degrade himself should not claim a rank among intelligent beings, until he turns from his folly. A man of God... would despise the idea. Others, in the extreme exercise of their almighty authority have taught that such obedience was necessary, and that no matter what the saints were told to do by their presidents, they should do it without asking any questions. When Elders of Israel will so far indulge in these extreme notions of obedience as to teach them to the people, it is generally because they have it in their minds to do wrong themselves." (Millennial Star, vol.14 #38, pp. 593-95)
Brigham Young said:
"What a pity it would be, if we were led by one man to utter destruction! Are you afraid of this? I am more afraid that this people have so much confidence in their leaders that they will not inquire for themselves of God whether they are led by him. I am fearful they settle down in a state of blind self-security, trusting their eternal destiny in the hands of their leaders with a reckless confidence that in itself would thwart the purposes of God in their salvation, and weaken the influence they could give to their leaders, did they know for themselves, by the revelations of Jesus, that they are led in the right way. Let every man and woman know, themselves, whether their leaders are walking in the path the Lord dictates, or not. This has been my exhortation continually." (JD 9:150)
"How easy it would be for your leaders to lead you to destruction, unless you actually know the mind and will of the spirit yourselves." (JD 4:368)
"I do not wish any Latter-day Saint in this world, nor in heaven, to be satisfied with anything I do, unless the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ, the spirit of revelation, makes them satisfied...Suppose that the people were heedless, that they manifested no concern with regard to the things of the kingdom of God, but threw the whole burden upon the leaders of the people, saying, 'If the brethren who take charge of matters are satisfied, we are,' this is not pleasing in the sight of the Lord." (JD 3:45)
"...Now those men, or those women, who know no more about the power of God, and the influences of the Holy Spirit, than to be led entirely by another person, suspending their own understanding, and pinning their faith upon another's sleeve, will never be capable of entering into the celestial glory, to be crowned as they anticipate; they will never be capable of becoming Gods. They cannot rule themselves, to say nothing of ruling others, but they must be dictated to in every trifle, like a child. They cannot control themselves in the least, but James, Peter, or somebody else must control them. They never can become Gods, nor be crowned as rulers with glory, immortality, and eternal lives. They never can hold sceptres of glory, majesty, and power in the celestial kingdom. Who will? Those who are valiant and inspired with the true independence of heaven, who will go forth boldly in the service of their God, leaving others to do as they please, determined to do right, though all mankind besides should take the opposite course. Will this apply to any of you? Your own hearts can answer." (JD 1:312)
"President Joseph Smith read the 14th chapter of Ezekiel [see, for example, verses 9-10: 'If the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing...the punishment of the prophet shall be even as the punishment of him that seeketh unto him.']...said the Lord had declared by the Prophet [Ezekiel], that the people should each one stand for himself, and depend on no man or men in that state of corruption of the Jewish church -- that righteous persons could only deliver their own souls -- applied it to the present state [1842] of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- said if the people departed from the Lord, they must fall -- that they were depending on the Prophet, hence were darkened in their minds, in consequence of neglecting the duties devolving upon themselves..." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith pp. 237-38)
George Q. Cannon, Counselor to three Church Presidents, expressed it thus: "Do not, brethren, put your trust in man though he be a bishop, an apostle, or a president. If you do, they will fail you at some time or place; they will do wrong or seem to, and your support be gone;" (Millennial Star 53:658-59, quoted in Gospel Truth, 1:319)
"Methodists have creeds which a man must believe or be asked out of their Church. I want the liberty of thinking and believing as I please. It feels so good not to be trammelled."
-- (Joseph Smith in History of the Church 5:340)
What do YOU want to do? Save your testimony at any cost, or determine to follow the path of truth no matter WHERE it leads?
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