To those of faith who, looking through the colored glasses of the 21st century, honestly question events or statements of the Prophet Joseph from nearly 200 years ago, may I share some friendly advice: For now, give Brother Joseph a break!
To those of faith who, looking through the colored glasses of the 21st century, honestly question events or statements of the Prophet Joseph from nearly 200 years ago, may I share some friendly advice: For now, give Brother Joseph a break!
The Renlunds ridicule those who struggle with the numerous difficult issues in church history. They share a story saying that those who have doubts because of church history are insisting to play "church history whack-a-mole"! church history whack-a-mole... Another term for "putting it on your shelf".
The conferring of priesthood upon Joseph Smith is another complicated church history issue which gives people pause because it was not mentioned until years after it was supposed to have happened. There was no mention of the priesthood in the church until the Kirtland Bank fiasco and many members were leaving. There is evidence to suggest that the priesthood was thought up at the time to reinforce the authority of the church leaders after they had just lost so much of the members money.