– The “Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young” manual (circa 1997) only mentions his first two monogamous legal wives (he remarried after being widowed), never mentions his illegal plural wives (fifty-three that we know of), and never uses the word “polygamy”, “plural wives”, or any derivation thereof anywhere therein. Further, the biggest scandal of his presidency, the Mountain Meadows Massacre, is never mentioned despite it’s profound historical and social significance. (see https://www.lds.org/manual/teachings-brigham-young?lang=eng )

– In a similar manner the “Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith” manual (circa 2011) limits the subject of plural marriage in the introductory notes to the teacher. Throughout the rest of the manual only his marriage to Emma Hale Smith is mentioned and polygamy is conveniently (and as explained in the introduction, deliberately) avoided. Consider for example, this: “Although their marriage would be tested by the deaths of children, financial difficulties, and Joseph’s frequent absences from home in fulfillment of his duties, Joseph and Emma always loved one another deeply.”[1] The biggest test of their marriage was, no doubt, was Joseph Smith’s polygamy yet it isn’t mentioned at all.[2]

– Finally, the manual, “Church History in the Fulness of Times” (circa 2014) is a cornucopia of skewed, white washed, historical revisionism. For example, the section entitled, “Missouri Persecutions and Expulsion”[3] goes into great detail about the atrocities and horrors inflicted on Mormons by their Missouri neighbors but fails to mentions the atrocities and horrors inflicted on the Missourians by Mormons during the 1838 Mormon War in Missouri.[4] And the section on the the Kirtland Safety Society[5] absolves Joseph Smith of all culpability concluding with this “masterpiece” of spin doctored white washing:

Joseph Smith’s losses from the failure of the company were greater than anyone else’s. While seeking to achieve success with the bank and, at the same time, to purchase land in Kirtland and goods for his store, he accumulated debts amounting to approximately one hundred thousand dollars. Although he had assets in land and goods that were of greater value in some respects than his debts, he was unable to immediately transform these assets into a form that could be used to pay his creditors. The Prophet endured seventeen lawsuits during 1837 in Geauga County for debts involving claims of more than thirty thousand dollars. Unfortunately, few people correctly understood the causes of their economic difficulties. Many Saints spoke against the Prophet and accused him of being responsible for all of their problems.[6]

To compare and contrast, consider this account from the neutral source, Wikipedia:

Regardless of the reasons for the Kirtland Safety Society Anti-Banking Company’s (KSSABC) failure, much of the blame was laid upon Smith. Half of The Quorum of Twelve Apostles accused Smith of improprieties in the banking scandal, and LDS Apostle Heber C. Kimball later said that the bank’s failure was so shattering that afterwards “there were not twenty persons on earth that would declare that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God.” Woodruff records that Smith had an alleged revelation on the topic, but declined to share it, saying only that “if we would give heed to the commandments the Lord had given this morning all would be well.” Then Woodruff expresses his own hopes that the KSSABC will “become the greatest of all institutions on EARTH.”

On January 12, 1838, faced with a warrant for his arrest on a charge of illegal banking, Smith fled with Rigdon to Clay County, Missouri just ahead of an armed group out to capture and hold Smith for trial. Smith and Rigdon were both acquainted with not only conflict and violent mobbing they experienced together in Pennsylvania and New York, but with fleeing from the law. According to Smith, they left “to escape mob violence, which was about to burst upon us under the color of legal process to cover the hellish designs of our enemies.” Brigham Young left Kirtland for Missouri weeks earlier on December 22 to avoid the dissidents who were angry with Young and threatened him because of his persistent public defense of Smith’s innocence. Most of those who remained committed to the church moved to join the main body of the LDS in Missouri.[7]

NOTES:
[1] LdS Church, “Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith” (Kindle Locations 480-482). Kindle Edition. The statement about why polygamy was deliberately avoided in this manual can be found at Kindle Location 204 in the Kindle Edition where it says:

“This book deals with teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith that have application to our day. For example, this book does not discuss such topics as the Prophet’s teachings regarding the law of consecration as applied to stewardship of property. The Lord withdrew this law from the Church because the Saints were not prepared to live it (see D& C 119, section heading ). This book also does not discuss plural marriage. The doctrines and principles relating to plural marriage were revealed to Joseph Smith as early as 1831. The Prophet taught the doctrine of plural marriage, and a number of such marriages were performed during his lifetime. Over the next several decades, under the direction of the Church Presidents who succeeded Joseph Smith, a significant number of Church members entered into plural marriages. In 1890, President Wilford Woodruff issued the Manifesto, which discontinued plural marriage in the Church (see Official Declaration 1 ). The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints no longer practices plural marriage.” (bolding added for emphasis)

The above statement can also be found on the LdS Church website by clicking on this link: https://www.lds.org/manual/teachings-joseph-smith/introduction?lang=eng

[2] There’s ample evidence of the conflict and turmoil that polygamy created in Joseph and Emma Smith’s marriage but probably none more dramatic than this famous incident:

“A door opposite opened and dainty, little, dark-haired Eliza R. Snow (she was “heavy with child”) came out . . . Joseph then walked on to the stairway, where he tenderly kissed Eliza, and then came on down stairs toward Brother Rich. Just as he reached the bottom step, there was a commotion on the stairway, and both Joseph and Brother Rich turned quickly to see Eliza come tumbling down the stairs. Emma had pushed her, in a fit of rage and jealousy; she stood at the top of the stairs, glowering, her countenance a picture of hell. Joseph quickly picked up the little lady, and with her in his arms, he turned and looked up at Emma, who then burst into tears and ran to her room. Joseph carried the hurt and bruised Eliza up the stairs and to her room. ‘Her hip was injured and that is why she always afterward favored that leg,’ said Charles C. Rich. ‘She lost the unborn babe.’”
(Maureen U. Beecher, Linda K. Newell, and Valeen T. Avery, “Emma, Eliza, and the Stairs: An Investigation”, BYU Studies 22 (Winter 1982), pp.86-94; https://byustudies.byu.edu/showtitle.aspx?title=5510 )

[3] LdS Church, “Church History in the Fulness of Times” (Kindle Location 6012). Kindle Edition. You can also click on this link to see the referenced content on the LdS Church website: https://www.lds.org/manual/church-history-in-the-fulness-of-times-student-manual/chapter-sixteen-missouri-persecutions-and-expulsion?lang=eng

[4] Consider, for example, this incident:

“The [non-Mormon] Gentiles, who numbered but 36 men, were completely routed and driven from the field in a few minutes. They fought bravely and effectively, but could not withstand the sudden and impetuous attack which was made upon them, and Capt. Bogart led them off in the direction of Elkhorn, but finally fell back to the southern part of the county. The Mormons did not pursue, owing chiefly to the fall of their leader, whose death had a demoralizing effect upon them, chiefly because they had deemed him invincible, as he had repeatedly declared that he could not be killed.

In this engagement the Mormons lost Capt. Patton and two men named Patrick O’Banion and Gideon Carter killed, and James Holbrook and another man wounded. In the dark the latter fought by mistake, and cut up one another with their corn knives, or ” swords,” as they called them, very severely. Capt. Bogart’s Gentiles lost Moses Rowland killed and Thos. H. Loyd, Edwin Odell, James Lockard, Martin Dunnaway, Samuel Tarwater, and Wyatt Craven wounded.

Two Mormons attacked Tarwater with corn knives and nearly cut him to pieces. He received a terrible gash in the skull, through which his brain was plainly visible, one terrible blow across the face severed the jaw bone and destroyed all the upper teeth, and there was an ugly gash made in his neck. He kept his bed six months and his wounds considerably affected his speech and his memory, Mr. Tarwater is yet alive, and resides near Orrick, Ray county. Since 1840 he has drawn a pension from the State of Missouri of $100 per year, for the wounds and disability he received in the Crooked river fight. Wyatt Craven lives near Crab Orchard, Ray county. He was taken prisoner early in the fight, and the Mormons started with him to Far West, but after traveling some distance they released him and told him to go home. He started off and was walking away pretty briskly, when Parley P. Pratt, a very prominent and noted Mormon and one of the ” Twelve Apostles,” laid his gun against a tree, took deliberate aim, fired and shot him down. Then, believing he was dead, the Mormons went off and left him.”
(Ora Merle Hawk Pease, “History of Caldwell and Livingston Counties, Missouri”, pp.130-131; http://www.archive.org/details/historyofcaldwel00peas%20 )

And as Mormon researcher Bill McKeever notes regarding the Mormon white washing of the 1838 Mormon War in Missouri:

“When speaking of Mormon persecution, the tragedy at Haun’s Mill is rarely overlooked. The film spoke of a Mormon who was “hacked to death by a corn-cutter.” The brevity of this episode in the film fails to mention that the atrocities at Haun’s Mill stemmed in part from an incident a week earlier at what has come to be called “the Battle of Crooked River.” Former Mormon historian D. Michael Quinn explained on page 100 of his book, A Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power:

“A generally unacknowledged dimension of both the extermination order and the Haun’s Mill massacre, however, is that they resulted from Mormon actions in the Battle of Crooked River. Knowingly or not, Mormons had attacked state troops, and this had a cascade effect… upon receiving news of the injuries and death of state troops at Crooked River, Governor Boggs immediately drafted his extermination order on 27 October 1838 because the Mormons ‘have made war upon the people of this state.’ Worse, the killing of one Missourian and mutilation of another while he was defenseless at Crooked River led to the mad-dog revenge by Missourians in the slaughter at Haun’s Mill” (Origins of Power, p.100)

The mutilated Missourian was Samuel Tarwater who was left for dead by the fleeing state militia. Quinn noted how enraged Mormons mutilated the unconscious Tarwater “with their swords, striking him lengthwise in the mouth, cutting off his under teeth, and breaking his lower jaw; cutting off his cheeks…and leaving him [for] dead” (p.99). Tarwater survived to press charges.”
(“Part One of ‘The Mormons’ on PBS” reviewed by Bill McKeever. Mormonism Research Ministry website; http://www.mrm.org/mormons-on-pbs )

[5] Op cit, “Church History in the Fulness of Times” (Kindle Location 5402). You can also click on this link to see the referenced content on the LdS Church website: https://www.lds.org/manual/church-history-in-the-fulness-of-times-student-manual/chapter-fourteen-the-apostasy-in-kirtland-1836-38?lang=eng

[6] Ibid, (Kindle Locations 5436-5443). You can also click on this link to see the referenced content on the LdS Church website: https://www.lds.org/manual/church-history-in-the-fulness-of-times-student-manual/chapter-fourteen-the-apostasy-in-kirtland-1836-38?lang=eng

[7] Wikipedia, “Kirtland Safety Society”, “Response in the LDS community”; Also see “Kirtland Safety Society Anti-Banking Company” on the MormonThink.com website for a good collection of citations from non-neutral sources. There’s just no denying that the example citation from the church manual is spin doctored, white washed, revisionism. Joseph Smith, along with his First Counselor Sidney Rigdon, legitimately bore a heavy fiduciary burden for the failure of the bank.

MY RESPONSE:
I’ve both pleased and impressed Brenkmanr654. Thank you.

This one just popped up over the weekend (literally) it’s a bit overwhelming but is an interesting read. It outlines the problems that the LdS Church would do well to address if it’s going to become a true church well: http://latterdayperspective.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Latter-Day-Perspective-Text-Only-Version.pdf

I’m only part of the way through it but it’s a superb addition to the growing body of work regarding how and where the LdS Church needs to reform itself. I don’t agree entirely with everything I’ve read but it’s sure thought provoking stuff!

MY RESPONSE:
Do Mormons also stone their rebellious children because it’s a commandment of God? Do they refuse to wear clothes made from mixed fibers? Do they observe the Holy Days and festivals commanded in Torah? If not, why not?

As GotQuestions.org put it well:

Tithing is an Old Testament concept. The tithe was a requirement of the Law in which the Israelites were to give 10 percent of the crops they grew and the livestock they raised to the tabernacle/temple (Leviticus 27:30; Numbers 18:26; Deuteronomy 14:24; 2 Chronicles 31:5). In fact, the Old Testament Law required multiple tithes—one for the Levites, one for the use of the temple and the feasts, and one for the poor of the land—which would have pushed the total to around 23.3 percent. Some understand the Old Testament tithe as a method of taxation to provide for the needs of the priests and Levites in the sacrificial system.

The New Testament nowhere commands, or even recommends, that Christians submit to a legalistic tithe system. The New Testament nowhere designates a percentage of income a person should set aside, but only says gifts should be “in keeping with income” (1 Corinthians 16:2). Some in the Christian church have taken the 10 percent figure from the Old Testament tithe and applied it as a “recommended minimum” for Christians in their giving.

The New Testament talks about the importance and benefits of giving. We are to give as we are able. Sometimes that means giving more than 10 percent; sometimes that may mean giving less. It all depends on the ability of the Christian and the needs of the church. Every Christian should diligently pray and seek God’s wisdom in the matter of participating in tithing and/or how much to give (James 1:5). Above all, all tithes and offerings should be given with pure motives and an attitude of worship to God and service to the body of Christ. “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).

Read more: http://www.gotquestions.org/tithing-Christian.html#ixzz3LLilbucd

MY RESPONSE:
You’re missing the forest for the trees. There’s a principle Mormon 8:32 that in order to achieve FULL salvation one has to pay up in full or be left behind thus parceling out salvation for money.

So here’s the direct question: If one doesn’t pay the full tithe in the Mormon Church will they achieve FULL salvation?

Of course the answer is, “No!” isn’t it Brenkmanr654?

I know that you’re trying to dodge and deflect so that Mormon 8:32 doesn’t apply to the modern LdS Church but it clearly does.

Sorry.

MY RESPONSE:
Problem: The overwhelming vast majority of the historical sources that comprise the historical record are from faithful members of the Mormon Church – up to and including Joseph Smith himself.

So with that statement you have just indicted past faithful members of the Mormon Church as, “Evil and conspiring men will twist truths in order to get what they want.”

That tells me that you have never actually considered the historical record directly. May I encourage you to do so. Here’s a good starting point: http://mormonthink.com/

Thank you.

MY RESPONSE:
And as stated previously, while there is no church on earth that “teaches only the true doctrine of Christ” on EVERYTHING there are plenty of churches that teach truly on the ESSENTIALS.

Further, brenkmanr654 based your criteria then the LdS Church isn’t even a true church from two different perspectives:

First, the Biblical perspective which I’ve already covered;
Second, from the perspective of the Mormon Standard Works, which I will now cover in some detail.

Here is a list of “the true doctrine of Christ” found in the Book of Mormon WHICH THE MODERN LdS CHURCH NO LONGER TEACHES:

– The Book of Mormon teaches that Jesus is Eternal God. And as such, Christ was neither created or procreated.

– The Book of Mormon says that God is eternal and unchanging.

– The Book of Mormon states that God is a Spirit.

– The Book of Mormon states plainly that there is only one God.

– The Book of Mormon states plainly that the One God consists of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit – that is, the Book of Mormon teaches the doctrine of the – Trinity (albeit with a strong modalistic skew).

– The Book of Mormon states that God created via nothing but His word – that is, “ex-nihilo” (out of nothing).

– The Book of Mormon condemns Polygamy.

– The Book of Mormon states that there is only heaven and hell.

– The Book of Mormon denounces universalism as a “false doctrine”.

– The Book of Mormon denies that there is a second chance to repent and receive the gospel in the next life.

– The Book of Mormon states that baptism isn’t an absolute requirement for salvation.

– The Book of Mormon states that man was created by the power of God’s word not procreated by spirit parents.

– The Book of Mormon makes a clear distinction between men and angels.

– The Book of Mormon states clearly that Jesus Christ atoned for the sins of the world on the cross.

(This list of orthodox Protestant doctrine in the Book of Mormon was originally extrapolated from the article, “The Book of Mormon v. Mormon Doctine”. A fuller explanation of each of these points – including scripture references – can be found there: http://beggarsbread.org/2014/07/26/the-book-of-mormon-v-mormon-doctrine )

Further, the modern LdS Church DOES teach the following HERESIES which CONTRADICT “the true doctrine of Christ”:

– God the Father was once a man, on another world (Kolob), and progressed to godhood by following perfectly the commands and precepts of his Father God.
God the Father is a person with a body of flesh and bones.

– The Father, Son and Holy Ghost are separate gods, “one in purpose” only but not one in being.

– There are a plurality of gods but we only worship the God of this world, God the Father (aka “Heavenly Father”)

– God the Father, Jesus Christ, Joseph Smith and other sons of the Father did not create the universe and earth out of nothing, but “organized” them from eternally existing matter that pre-existed God the Father.

– The Most faithful and worthy Mormons can progress to godhood in the highest degree of the Celestial Kingdom, where they can obtain their own world and with their wife (or wives) procreate spirit children for eternity.

– The “new and everlasting covenant” of polygamy is necessary for exaltation to godhood.

– Mormons who are unmarried in this life and do not marry in the next life, cannot be exalted, but will become servant ministering angels to exalted Mormons in the next life.

– Every human being will find a place in one of the three degrees of glory (or “heaven” in plain English).

– Temples and temple ordinances pertaining to endowments are necessary in order to pass through the veil and enter the presence of God the Father, and consist of temple marriage, new names, secret key words and handshakes that will be used as an identification of the person in the next life.

– Baptisms for the dead must be performed by proxy in this life for those who did not accept the gospel in this life, so that their sins can be forgiven and they can enter the Celestial Kingdom after they accept the Mormon gospel message in the next life.

– Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother procreated the spirits of every human being that has lived, is now living or will ever live on this earth.

– The spirits procreated by Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother lived with their father on his world as angels in the “pre-existence” before being sent to earth to inhabit human bodies.

– Jesus Christ is the brother of Lucifer (Satan), every human being past and present, and the angels.

– Jesus Christ made atonement for sins in the Garden of Gethsemane.

(This list was compiled from the article entitled “Mormon Doctrine Not Found in the Book of Mormon”. You will find full documentation for each and all of these non-Book of Mormon heresies there: http://beggarsbread.org/2014/07/06/mormon-doctrine-not-found-in-the-book-of-mormon/ )

So by the virtue of your criteria that, “if a Church teaches only the true doctrine of Christ, then it is true” the LdS Church isn’t a true church by ANY scriptural criteria.

Thank you.

YOU WROTE:
And so again, I ask my question, which is the true church? For the Bible clearly states that there is only one.

MY RESPONSE:
Really? Where?

The passage you cited earlier in your post isn’t about that at all – I’ll get to that next. And as I’ve pointed out in previous posts the New Testament is filled with true churches that stayed true to the Essentials of the Christian faith but still fell into error.

YOU WROTE:
your statement suggests that Christ and/or any other person in the bible does not teach that there is a true church. However, that is false. In the King James Bible, John 10:16 clearly states, “16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” Or in other words, “16 And other sheep (people) I have, which are not of this fold (church): them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold (church), and one shepherd (Christ).”

MY RESPONSE:
To suggest that “fold” = “church” is eisegesis (inserting meaning into the text that’s not there and that the author never intended). The correct translation given the context is “sheepfold” or “sheep pen” nothing more.

The Greek word in question is “aule” (see http://scripture4all.org/OnlineInterlinear/NTpdf/joh10.pdf ) and is Strong’s #G833. The KJV translates Strongs G833 in the following manner: palace (7x), hall (2x), sheepfold (with G4163) (1x), fold (1x), court (1x).

If you have any further doubt please refer to this Greek Lexicon:
https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G833

And here’s how the passage reads in it’s full context and in a good modern translation:

John 10 (NIV)
7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.

However, I will give you credit for this “other sheep (people)”. Christ was, of course, referring to the Gentile people as we see fulfilled starting in the Book of Acts and in the rest of the New Testament thereafter.

Response:
Fred W. Anson, your statement suggests that Christ and/or any other person in the bible does not teach that there is a true church. However, that is false. In the King James Bible, John 10:16 clearly states, “16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” Or in other words, “16 And other sheep (people) I have, which are not of this fold (church): them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold (church), and one shepherd (Christ).”
You wrote:
“Rather, the Bible instructs the church to TEACH truth not BE true.”
Response:
In other words, Churches that teach both truth and error, teach truth, but are not true. And yes, I would agree with you there. However, if a Church teaches only the true doctrine of Christ, then it is true. And so again, I ask my question, which is the true church? For the Bible clearly states that there is only one.

As LDS Thesis #43 states:

“Gospel Principles explains, “Whenever we lead people in any way to believe something that is not true, we are not being honest.” (see Chapter 31) yet LDS Church leaders mandate that Mormon History must always be presented to members (even privately) in a manner that’s uplifting and only presents the LDS Church in a favorable light – even if the resulting narrative is not true.”
http://mormonreformationday2013.wordpress.com/2013/09/30/the-95-lds-theses/

And supporting evidence for LDS Thesis #43 can be found here:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.168646613341523.1073741848.165130067026511&type=3

So, again, why brenkmanr654 is there such a disparity between the two?