The Changing World of Mormonism 2 The Changing World of Mormonism “A condensation and revision of Mormonism: Shadow or Reality?” Jerald and Sandra Tanner This work is restricted for non-commercial use only by the copyright holder. It may be wholly copied and shared for personal use providing the text remains unaltered. All rights are reserved by the copyright holder. “A condensation and revision of Mormonism: Shadow or Reality?” The Changing World of Mormonism 3 This PDF version of The Changing World of Mormonism is a 2009 revision of its 1981 printed edition, which is no longer in print but can also be read online at www.utlm.org/onlinebooks/changecontents.htm. This newly revised edition contains updated notes in green, color images, LDS Scripture (Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price) page numbers that conform to the Church’s 1981 version, and online hyperlinks inserted throughout the text for further investigation. These hyperlinks can be viewed by clicking on the blue underlined text and are organized in the following manner: Images of referenced sources Of the 1,262 reference hyperlinks embedded throughout the text of this book, 934 of them (74%) are linked through the official websites of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Brigham Young University, and The University of Utah. These websites verify the truthfulness of the claims stated in this book. Any historical documents not available through the above listed websites can be obtained by contacting the LDS Church History Librarian at [email protected]. Online video clips Some chapter titles and topic headings are linked to free online videos related to that portion of this book. These hyperlinks are also inserted into the Table of Contents. These videos are made available from Good News for LDS, Living Hope Ministries, Mormonism Research Ministry, Institute for Religious Research, and Mormon Missions Midwest Outreach. These clips were selected for their well researched material but are not in association with the creation of this book. Sites to purchase referenced material The Bibliography contains hyperlinks to purchase some of the material quoted in this book. They are linked to the LDS Church owned Deseret Bookstore, Utah Lighthouse Ministry Bookstore, and Christianbook.com. Online essays on specific topics The heading of the Index is linked to Utah Lighthouse Ministry’ online topical index. There the investigator can read further information related to Mormonism. Most of these essays were written by Jerald and Sandra Tanner. This PDF version of The Changing World of Mormonism was created by Darren Brown. Comments and questions may be sent to him at [email protected]. “A condensation and revision of Mormonism: Shadow or Reality?” The Changing World of Mormonism 4 Contents Foreword..............................................................................................10 Preface..................................................................................................12 Acknowledgments...............................................................................15 Introduction.........................................................................................16 1. A Marvelous Work?...................................................................19 Miraculous Claims........................................................................21 The Only True Church?................................................................26 2. Change, Censorship and Suppression.......................................29 Censorship....................................................................................29 Suppression and Book Burning....................................................34 3. Changes in the Revelations........................................................38 Book of Commandments..............................................................39 Study of Changes..........................................................................43 Important Changes........................................................................45 Important Change in Newly-Accepted Revelation.......................62 Unthinkable?.................................................................................63 4. Joseph Smith and Money-Digging.............................................67 Book of Mormon From the Stone.................................................80 Money-Digging and the Book of Mormon...................................84 Working with the Rod...................................................................86 Joseph Smith's Magic Talisman....................................................88 5. The Book of Mormon.................................................................92 The Witnesses...............................................................................94 Ancient or Modern?....................................................................111 Origin of the Indians...................................................................125 “A condensation and revision of Mormonism: Shadow or Reality?” The Changing World of Mormonism 5 Changes in the Book of Mormon................................................128 Archaeology and the Book of Mormon......................................133 The Anthon Transcript................................................................141 Compared with Bible Archaeology............................................145 Beyond the Book of Mormon.....................................................147 6. The First Vision.........................................................................148 "Strange" Accounts.....................................................................150 Not Unique..................................................................................159 First History................................................................................160 A Doctrinal Change....................................................................161 No Revival in 1820.....................................................................166 7. The Godhead.............................................................................172 From One to Many......................................................................173 The Heavenly Mother.................................................................177 The Virgin Birth..........................................................................179 Serious Changes..........................................................................183 Removing the Lectures...............................................................183 A Changeable God......................................................................187 The Holy Ghost...........................................................................188 No Real Answers…....................................................................191 8. The Adam-God Doctrine..........................................................192 Not Created of the Dust of This Earth........................................198 The Only God with Whom We Have to Do...............................198 The Father of Our Spirits............................................................199 The Father of Jesus Christ..........................................................199 9. Plural Marriage.........................................................................204 Suppressed 1831 Revelation.......................................................207 The 1843 Revelation Examined..................................................218 Sorrows of Polygamy..................................................................226 “A condensation and revision of Mormonism: Shadow or Reality?” The Changing World of Mormonism 6 Number of Wives........................................................................231 Taking Other Men's Wives.........................................................236 Strange Marriages.......................................................................245 God and Christ Polygamists?......................................................247 Essential to Salvation..................................................................255 Lying About Polygamy...............................................................258 The Manifesto.............................................................................262 Mormon Leaders Yield...............................................................268 After the Manifesto.....................................................................270 Manifesto a Deception................................................................281 The Dilemma..............................................................................286 10. Changing the Anti-Black Doctrine..........................................291 Black Skin and the Pre-Existence...............................................291 Descendants of Cain Through the Flood....................................294 One Drop Disqualifies................................................................296 Objections to Doctrine................................................................299 Blacks and the Gospel.................................................................300 Rooted in Prejudice.....................................................................301 Slavery in Utah...........................................................................303 Civil Rights.................................................................................305