If Joseph Smith was a Deceiver He Should be Exposed

Joseph Fielding Smith reasons that if it’s not true, the claims of the church should be exposed!

"Mormonism, as it is called, must stand or fall on the story of Joseph Smith. He was either a prophet of God, divinely called, properly appointed and commissioned, or he was one of the biggest frauds this world has ever seen. There is no middle ground." - LDS Church President, Elder Joseph Fielding Smith - Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. I | wasmormon.org — “Mormonism, as it is called, must stand or fall on the story of Joseph Smith. He was either a prophet of God, divinely called, properly appointed and commissioned, or he was one of the biggest frauds this world has ever seen. There is no middle ground.” – LDS Church President, Elder Joseph Fielding Smith – Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. I

Church Stands or Falls with Joseph Smith
Mormonism, as it is called, must stand or fall on the story of Joseph Smith. He was either a prophet of God, divinely called, properly appointed and commissioned, or he was one of the biggest frauds this world has ever seen. There is no middle ground.
If Joseph Smith was a deceiver, who wilfully attempted to mislead the people, then he should be exposed; his claims should be refuted, and his doctrines shown to be false, for the doctrines of an impostor cannot be made to harmonize in all particulars with divine truth. If his claims and declarations were built upon fraud and deceit, there would appear many errors and contradictions, which would be easy to detect.
Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. I, Joseph Fielding Smith p. 188

"If Joseph Smith was a deceiver, who wilfully attempted to mislead the people, then he should be exposed; his claims should be refuted, and his doctrines shown to be false, for the doctrines of an impostor cannot be made to harmonize in all particulars with divine truth." - LDS Church President, Elder Joseph Fielding Smith - Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. I | wasmormon.org — “If Joseph Smith was a deceiver, who wilfully attempted to mislead the people, then he should be exposed; his claims should be refuted, and his doctrines shown to be false, for the doctrines of an impostor cannot be made to harmonize in all particulars with divine truth.” – LDS Church President, Elder Joseph Fielding Smith – Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. I

In other words, if it can be destroyed by the truth, it deserves to be destroyed by the truth.

Joseph Fielding Smith was under the impression that either the truth was genuinely in the church, or at least that it was hidden enough that no one would be bold and persistent enough to decipher the complexities and cover-ups.

It’s no surprise that Mormons who leave, can’t leave it alone. We’ve been “programmed” to share the truth! We’re also very close to our families and friends as a result of our shared faith, so when it all crashes down, what can anyone expect? The church hopes doubters just quietly fade away and stop rehearsing their doubts. That would certainly benefit the church organization – it would contain and perpetuate the deceit even longer.

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1 Comment

Grant says:
October 23, 2024 at 7:13 pm
Yes, just as Paul was willing to say that if there was no resurrection, then Christians were to be the most pitied of all men, but he was so confident and knew that there was a resurrection. Joseph Fielding Smith was just as willing to say this because he knew the truth. Reminds me of Matthew 16:17. In the same was flesh and blood cannot reveal that Jesus is the Christ, but only our Father in Heaven, the same happened to Joseph F. Smith.