How do Apologists explain Moroni's bad influence on Joseph?

[_degaston]

First of all let's talk about Moroni's background. He's born of a goodly father named Mormon who became a Nephite army general in his early teenager years. His father is a great historian who has all the records, knowledge and understanding of Nephite/Lamanite cultures. All of this knowledge he passes on to his son Moroni. In addition they both have the gifts of the Holy Ghost and all the gifts given to prophets. Mormon makes a very brief synopsis of all these records for the Book of Mormon with over 2/3rds of it sealed. Even then its less than a hundredth of all the important knowledge about this great civilization. Then the great final battle comes and Moroni is left to wander for decades. Finally he seals up the records, somewhere along the way he dies, he's resurrected, and he spends all his time watching over these records for centuries until Joseph Smith is born and his family moves near that sacred hill where all the records are kept. Then this great resurrected prophet-historian visits Joseph Smith 4 times one night and at least once every year for 4 years. "I went at the end of each year, and at each time I found the same messenger there, and received instruction and intelligence from him at each of our interviews" (JSH 1:54)

Here's what Joseph's mother reported in follow up to all those visits by the great resurrected angel-prophet-historian Moroni.
"During our evening conversations, Joseph would occasionally give us some of the most amusing recitals that could be imagined. He would describe the ancient inhabitants of this continent, their dress, mode of traveling, and the animals upon which they rode; their cities, their buildings, with every particular; their mode of warfare; and also their religious worship. This he would do with as much ease, seemingly, as if he had spent his whole life among them." ( http://mormonhistoricsitesfoundation.or ... i4_pfv.htm )

And thus the folklore was born in Mormonism about a great civilization in the Americas. In fact its akin to being true doctrine and intertwined with many covenants as the Doctrine & Covenants clearly demonstrates. Remember the Mission to the Lamanites? Or how the New Jerusalem is near the line of Jew (Lamanites/Indians) and Gentiles (Americans).

Fast forward to the 21st century. Many apologists have come up with their mixing theories (i.e. that Lehi/Nephi got it wrong about the knowledge of their people being kept hidden until Columbus) or the tiny civilization theories (i.e. that the Nephites/Lamanites were a very obscure civilization that frankly is next to impossible to find). With these theories comes the denunciation of early Mormonism folklore and their sayings that Joseph and other early church leaders weren't historians but prophets and thus we shouldn't just accept their folklore. How do they explain that Joseph's primary source for all this folklore was Moroni and that this Angel-Prophet-Historian got it all so wrong?

[_Nightlion]

Did you notice that Joseph describes the strange animals that they rode. Obviously not horses.
You should not think that modern historians have any kind of lock on Ancient America. Mormon historians just want to help sell tours to the Mayan Temples and Meldrum tried hard to make a go of All American tours to the Book of Mormon now that Americans are shy of Mexico. These are the things (gain) that the Gentiles seek after. That is why the LDS is a fallen religion. Their time is up.

Of course they are not going anywhere. They will continue to do their thing and grow worse and worse in the hardness of their hearts.

[_bcspace]

Many apologists have come up with their mixing theories (i.e. that Lehi/Nephi got it wrong about the knowledge of their people being kept hidden until Columbus) or the tiny civilization theories (i.e. that the Nephites/Lamanites were a very obscure civilization that frankly is next to impossible to find)

The highlighted part assumes more than the text of the Book of Mormon says or implies. I've never postulated anything like this. Don't know of any others who have.