Mormon doctrine on the American Revolution is offensive

[_Albion]

Of course, since America was free from British rule it is fair to say that the colonists won. The reality is closer to the fact that Britain withdrew because of more serious concerns, war with bigger fish in Europe. Yorktown was only one battle involving only one British army and only became a defeat for Cornwallis because his intended retreat by sea was cut off by a French fleet. Had the French not arrived first it is likely Cornwallis's troops would have been carried to safety. Most of the larger, more strategic locations were still held by the British when hostilities ended. Of far greater importance to Britain was the war being waged in Europe against France....a very important factor in ultimate success for the colonists.

[Anonymous]

In his letter to the Green Mountain Boys, Joseph Smith made the claim:

My Father, who stood several times in the battles of the American Revolution, till his companions in arms, had been shot dead, at his feet, was forced from his home in Far West, Missouri, by those civilized, or satanized savages, in the dreary season of winter, to seek a shelter in another State; and the vicissitudes and sufferings consequent to his flight brought his honored grey head to the grave, a few months after.

I never knew that Joseph Smith Sr. fought in the American Revolution. Is this narrative another example of historical revision? Is there any evidence that Joseph was actually telling the truth?

cacheman

For reference: Joseph Smith Sr. was born in 1771.

[_DarkHelmet]

Of course, since America was free from British rule it is fair to say that the colonists won. The reality is closer to the fact that Britain withdrew because of more serious concerns, war with bigger fish in Europe. Yorktown was only one battle involving only one British army and only became a defeat for Cornwallis because his intended retreat by sea was cut off by a French fleet. Had the French not arrived first it is likely Cornwallis's troops would have been carried to safety. Most of the larger, more strategic locations were still held by the British when hostilities ended. Of far greater importance to Britain was the war being waged in Europe against France....a very important factor in ultimate success for the colonists.

This is true, but it's hard to say what would have happened if the British hadn't withdrawn. If the British could have focused only on America, no other major comficts to worry about, they probably would have eventually worn us down without the aid we received from France and other countries. But it is difficult to occupy a foreign country that doesn't want you there, no matter how powerful you are. Also, France didn't offer aid until we proved we could potentially win the war with our victories at Ticonderoga and Saratoga. But you are right, by the final years of the revolution, it was a sideshow for the British. They had bigger things going on and needed their forces elsewhere.

[_DarkHelmet]

In his letter to the Green Mountain Boys, Joseph Smith made the claim:

My Father, who stood several times in the battles of the American Revolution, till his companions in arms, had been shot dead, at his feet, was forced from his home in Far West, Missouri, by those civilized, or satanized savages, in the dreary season of winter, to seek a shelter in another State; and the vicissitudes and sufferings consequent to his flight brought his honored grey head to the grave, a few months after.

I never knew that Joseph Smith Sr. fought in the American Revolution. Is this narrative another example of historical revision? Is there any evidence that Joseph was actually telling the truth?

cacheman

For reference: Joseph Smith Sr. was born in 1771.

I've never heard his dad was a solider. I know that kids fought in the war, but you would think it would be talked about more if Joseph Smith Sr. was a revolutionary soldier as a child. Maybe Joseph Smith Jr. confused it with the war of 1812. But I can't find anything online that suggests Joseph Smith Sr. was ever a soldier, other than that quote. It's weird because it would be totally out of character for Joseph Smith to make things up.

[_cacheman]

....It's weird because it would be totally out of character for Joseph Smith to make things up.

That's what had me perplexed as well....

[_Albion]

DarkHelmet, I think it is interesting to conjecture on how history might have been different based on a few changes here and there. What, I wonder, would America be like had there been no Revolutionary War or if the British had totally won. Would Canada and what is now the US be one vast country, independent like Canada but with the Crown as the constitutional head, Would the very character of Americans be different had that character developed under a different system? Interest conjecture to me.

[_DarkHelmet]

Why couldn't God start the church if the Colonies were still under British rule?

Good point. It seems the colonies had a diversity of religious thought. THe churches themselves could be oppressive, but I don't think the British government oppressed the religions in the New World. Maybe I'm wrong. Would the British government have crushed the Mormon church if it was started during colonial times? If so, why didn't the British crush all the other religions in the colonies?

[_Bob Loblaw]

The church teaches that the US Constitution is inspired. Does that apply to the part that says black slaves are worth 3/5ths of a white man?

[Guest]

Don't forget the Mormon doctrine of how the ghosts of all the founding fathers appeared to one of the prophets (BY or Taylor?) and demanded to be baptized for the dead. Can anyone link to that? I swear I was taught that in church.

Wilford Woodruff. It appears in his journals, I believe.

Woodruff's journal entry for August 21, 1877, records that baptism for most of the signers of the Declaration of Independence (among many others) was performed at the St. George temple. Woodruff's journal contains entries for each day leading up to this event, but it does not mention being visited by spirits of the dead.

Nearly four weeks later, in a sermon delivered at SLC, Woodruff claimed "two weeks before I left St. George, the spirits of the dead gathered around me ... [t]hese were the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and they waited on me for two days and two nights." (Journal of Discourses Vol. 19, p.229) http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Journal_of_Discourses/Volume_19/Not_Ashamed_of_the_Gospel,_etc.

On the very days Woodruff later claimed the spirits of the dead "waited on him", his journal records the writing of several letters, sending and receiving telegrams, attending a funeral, and an accounting of temple work performed. Apparently hanging out with the ghosts of prominent historical figures "for two days and two nights" did not seem noteworthy at the time.

[_zeezrom]

The Founding Fathers of this nation, those great men, appeared within those sacred walls of the St. George Temple and had their vicarious work done for them. President Wilford Woodruff spoke of it in these words: "Before I left St. George, the spirits of the dead gathered around me, wanting to know why we did not redeem them. Said they, `You have had the use of the Endowment House for a number of years, and yet nothing has ever been done for us. We laid the foundation of the government you now enjoy, and we never apostatized from it, but we remained true to it and were faithful to God.'"

After he became President of the Church, President Wilford Woodruff declared that "those men who laid the foundation of this American government were the best spirits the God of heaven could find on the face of the earth. They were choice spirits [and] were inspired of the Lord."

The temple work for the fifty-six signers of the Declaration of Independence and other Founding Fathers has been done. All these appeared to Wilford Woodruff when he was president of the St. George Temple. President George Washington was ordained a high priest at that time. You will also be interested to know that, according to Wilford Woodruff's journal, John Wesley, Benjamin Franklin, and Christopher Columbus were also ordained high priests at that time. When one casts doubt about the character of these noble sons of God, I believe he or she will have to answer to the God of heaven for it. Yes, with Lincoln I say: "To add brightness to the sun or glory to the name of Washington is . . . impossible. Let none attempt it. In solemn awe pronounce the name and in its deathless splendor, leave it shining on."

Source: Benson, Ezra Taft, Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson. Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1988. 602 - 604.