LDS Church President B. Hinkley is Dead

The plates still fascinate me and I am suprised the Richard Abanes did not give them more attention.

He points out the many failed prophecies of Smith, many other failings in Mormon doctrine.

He avoids something that as an ex-Mormon is still puzzling to me.

None of the 12 guys who testified that they saw, heard, or hefted the 12 plates denied their testimony of the 12 plates, even though some of them came to the conclusion that Smith was not a prophet.

Why if they reject the founder of Mormonism who they were there with, when he started the religion, why did they not reject the Book of Mormon. Many of them had no problem throwing Smith's revelations and the Doctrine and Covenants out of the window, but held on to their beliefs about the Book of Mormon.

Many of the offshoot sects of Mormonism were started by these people. David Whitmer, one of the men who signed his name as being a witness of the plates formed another sect based on a belief in the Book of Mormon. I found a pamplet written by him as I was leaving Mormonism, called An Address to believers in Christ, where he continued like the other 12 witnesses to the plates to uphold his testimony of them, and the Book of Mormon after he left Mormonism and rejected Smith as a prophet.

In this same book, a General Doniphan gave Whitmer a character reference, even though Doniphan was not a believer in the Book of Mormon or the plates, but he was knew Whitmer well enough to stake his reputation on giving him a character reference.

Doniphan was actually once responsible for arresting Smith.

[link to en.wikipedia.org]

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Any thoughts? Don't get me wrong I am not trying to sing Mormonism, or Joseph Smith's praises anymore than David Whitmer, another ex-Mormon, but his continued support of the Book of Mormon and not backing down on his testimony of the plates are puzzling to given his complete rejection of Mormonism, and the Doctrine and Covenants.

That is pretty informative KN. Normally, when we see things like that happen, it can usually be attributed to 3 things:

money
fame
personal safety


Perhaps all 3, you just never know someones motivations. I have serious doubts as to the sincerity of his actions though.

The man was honest enough to admit that he thought that Smith was wrong. Honest enough to admit that Mormonism was wrong, and you doubt the sincerity of his actions?

Hell, life had he kept his mouth shut, and continued being a "yes" man, and affirming Smith and Mormonism would have been easy for him. All of his social contacts were tied up in his former life as a Mormon, and he was willing to sacrifice them all for what he felt was the truth, and you doubt his sincerity?

General Alexander Doniphan did not doubt the sincerity of Whitmer's actions, and that is why I think you are wrong.

What the answer is I don't know, what is does or doesn't say about the Book of Mormon or Morminism in general I don't know, but Whitmer was given a character reference by someone who was just as opposed to Smith and Mormonism as he was.

To me your answer is way too simplistic, given the character reference by Doniphan.

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Personally I don't think you have thought the matter through and tried to put yourself in Whitmer's position. I think he was a man that was sincere enough he was willing to put his reputation with Mormons that he once called friends on the line.

None so much as the Vatican and they are preparing for the grand finale and their biggest ever production.

The historical tragic Irony of it all is that the Protestants/Christians are lumped in for the blame of the Inquisitions and the crusades put forth by the Unholy Vatican when it was protestants/Christians that were being slaughtered during those times and those in between by those responsible.

The blood of the inquisitions and crusades lies at the feet of the Vatican, not true believers.

Regarding these clowns that claim to be Christian, like GW. They defy the teachings of Christ with their pre-emptive strike Vatican driven mentality. There is not one single mention by Christ to attack your enemies before they MIGHT attack you. He said to return their wickedness and hatred with kindness and in doing so you will heap coals upon the heads of your enemies. This new stance serves as proof of the great falling away.

Blue, I do not agree with your church's doctrines by any means, but that does not mean I hate you nor hold any contempt toward you. To what purpose would it serve. Sorry for your loss...

~A true Believer in Yeshua and a Son of Isaac

Response

He is considered the Prophet overruling the 12 Apostles.

Watch the movie called "THE GODMAKERS 1 and 2. In it it proclaims that the mormon cult owns lots of tv stations. They even own the politicians. It was said that Hinkley had parties and molested boys at them with his cronies. People outside protested but since they own the media, nothing was done. Too many political ties.
Also, a young woman decided to leave the cult and get married to one man that she loved. They killed her husband and she said that if anything happened to her, it would definitely be the cult. A week later she was found dead on her kitchen floor.
Also a christian man said that he use to be a satanist and when he quit and joined the mormon cult, he said he got to make his way to the temple and when he was in there, he saw rituals that were exactly the same as satanic rituals, symbolically motioning to slit their throat if they told secrets, etc. Nothing christian about it. Also, the wearing of superstitious underwear day in and day out, even in the bathtub. Nothing in the bible about this ritual.