My testimony of the Book of Mormon and other things LDS

[_Jersey Girl]

Someone recently asked me what my thoughts/opinions are about the LDS Church, it's teachings, doctrines, etc, after several years of investigation. I thought I might like to address what I think about the Book of Mormon and perhaps related issues in a thread. No preparation here, folks, just going at this "cold".

My testimony of the LDS Church and other related issues is as follows:

I do not believe the Book of Mormon is scripture nor do I think that the Book of Mormon was translated in any sort of way by Joseph Smith. In my view, the Book of Mormon was authored by at least two men, if not more.

Speculation regarding the origin of Native American's was a popular literary theme in those days, add to that the prevelance of religious revival and at least an underlying belief or practice in magic and the sociological/cultural timing was right for the Book of Mormon to be produced and presented publicly to early America.

I think that in the beginning, Joseph was motivated by a number of factors and desires.

1. A desire to answer the religious questions that repeated themselves in his family life.
2. A desire to raise up the status of his own father whom I believe he loved dearly.
3. A desire for "roots" and by that I mean the possibility of a permanent secure home.

I think that Joseph's first and primary reason might be found in #3, else why try to sell the copyright to the Book of Mormon unless it was to prove his divine authority in light of the rejection it received and his quotation of scripture that placed him in a prophetic way in the landscape of scripture?

Joseph was very definitely a visionary and a city planner. I think that when he saw that the religion might "fly" he saw a way to make his dreams of having a permanent and secure home, a reality. Joseph already knew he had the ability to influence people. I think that when he and others came up with the developing religion, he felt he had a chance for the home he so sorely lacked in his childhood and early adulthood.

I think the Book of Mormon is part Biblical scripture (and yes, it says so) and partly taken from the writings of other authors of that period. I think that more than one person had a literal hand in writing it.

I think the religion itself was borrowed from Christianity, Masonry, and Swedenborgianism. (?)

The Kinderhook Plates were a huge error in judgement on Joseph's part. Perhaps he believed what he claimed or thought he was backed into a corner and had to come through with something. In the end, I think that the Kinderhook Plates only served to reinforce that the Book of Abraham was an invention of Joseph Smith.

I do think that Joseph made personal sacrifices for the church and I think that some of his revelations were so obviously intended to manipulate others. For example, Emma wanting a house of her own and then the Prophet has a revelation that the church should build him a home.

What was admirable about Joseph Smith? I do think he loved his parents, siblings, his wife and children but at the same time, I think he either let his ego get away from him or actually came to believe he was divinely appointed because the latter part of his life was filled with huge errors in judgement...celestial marriage, polygamy, wanting to become involved in the political arena destroying the printing press, the Kirtland Bank are examples of where I think he started either to believe he could do no wrong or allowed his zeal for power to get away from him as so many in public life do.

Okay, I think I'm done for now.

Jersey Girl
;-)