I visited the site called JosephLied.com about Joseph Smith and I felt moved to write the owner...After getting half way through the email, I realized I may as well have been writing to myself...See if you can tell why....
First off, I don't doubt Joseph's vision, I doubt whether or not Joseph had it.
I think most of the Work is of Christ Himself...
You're onto something, I just don't think even you know what. I'm still investigating your site and I'll contact you again with any questions and/or concerns I might have...For now, I just want to say a few things concerning Faith.
I don't think you are being very fair nor kind to your former faith. Because whether or not Joseph lied, people who belong to your former Church, belong to Christ and they believe with the same Faith as many who belong to Christ. Lots of apostles, saints, prophets, servants, believers have lied and not done irreparable harm to the Faith...If Joseph were alive and could speak to your concerns, maybe he might defend himself and explain why he seemed to "lie" or why you might think he "lied." I do happen to believe there are many liars within the Church and that they do a great deal of harm to Faithful believers...But what I'm trying to point out is that it is important not to become guilty of sin in trying to bring out a Truth about Joseph Smith that you may or may not have uncovered...And it's important not to harm the Faith of any in doing what you are doing....I believe with all my heart that the Book of Mormon is true and valid and its Prophet's testimonies verifiable in the Spirit, however, I also believe that Joseph Smith did some harm with his personal testimony and witness...I believe he supplanted and betrayed the True Witness of Christ and that he and others with him changed alot of the Book of Mormon in order to take glory away from Christ and have a piece of the "Rock" for themselves...And I believe they had a lot of impish fun in doing so...But his words will make that obviuous....So, I think it's important for you to affirm a solid Faith in the Book of Mormon, but also that you think or know that Joseph was untrue...Paul's gospel is a witness against Joseph's handiwork....I think what Joseph and his cohorts did was create a new work out of an honest witness so as to mock God and Christ in the Latter-days...I believe what they were driven to do was impish and a work of betrayal and hatred. I think the Church has nevertheless been successful because its adherents are obedient to the teachings and try to live a Christlike life...They have not erred because the Head of their Church is Joseph and not Jesus, the Head of their Church is Jesus but they haven't yet realized that yes, Joseph lied...Don't condemn the entire Faith and Church because of that. They are faithful, healthy believers and blessed for being so...the Fire of God will mold them into exactly what Christ intended for them to become in the Latter-days...
And so the "little book" (See Revelation chaoter 10) and the prophecy of Ezekiel 37:15-28 will come about because of Joseph Smith translating a Work of God...
"And now, if there are faults they are the mistakes of men; wherefore, condemn not the things of God, that ye may be found spotless at the judgment-seat of Christ."
(Title Page , Book of Mormon.)
This was something you overlook and it explains a lot. It explains that the LORD Himself had plans for the Book of Mormon that no one knew about and is only beginning to realize. It's a lot like what He did at the Tower of Babel I think...For He knew the Church would have great success and become too big for His Glory or Its own good.
1Cr 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
What the Church needs to do is take a step back and consider the Book anew and afresh with a Christlike Eye upon the Work. For the Book of Mormon does indeed contain the Fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
So that it is like Jesus said of the Scribes and Pharisees, that the adherents of the Church ought to do what the Church teaches, but not because of the Leaders, Rabbis, Apostles, and what have you, sitting in the seat of Moses say so, because they don't do what they tell others to do, and do not practice what they preach...but it doesn't make the Work that the Faith is based on any less valid, the simplicity to be found in Christ is still there, and the Faith is as sure of a Foundation as ever...Will the Church reject the stone that God has provided in favor of following Joseph and a Latter-day Pharoah?
Has the Church ever really been founded upon that Stone? Will it now?
Time will tell, I'm betting on Joseph to admit somehow, to his error...Pride is the hardest thing to overcome especially when you are part of an organization that has overcome the other six deadly sins...
You've done a lot of work, I'm wondering if you would feel badly if it were all gone overnight, or if no one accepted it, or if God Himself condemned you for it? You've felt the sting of being betrayed by the Church, is your work of tale bearing an equal and just repayment? Are you really hurting the Church or are you more likely to hurt a single, or many believers who will have nowhere to turn without the Church?
It's not a very kind world out there in the Latter-days, and a group of believers, who turn to the Law are a lot more safe in error, than a loose cannon, out shooting randomly and also in error at the Faith of many...
From where does your Authority come? It had better not be based on your opinion alone. The Church will stand firm when it receives correction and you will fall without them.
There is a lot of new evidence being discovered about the claims in the Book of Mormon as far as geographical, anthropological, and acheolgogical, but in the end it is by Faith that we are Saved and not by works or evidence, but by the Righteousness that comes of Faith.
Lastly, I don't think you give Joseph the benefit of clearing his own name, by condemning his witness as false. He was obviously very worthy of praise, maybe too worthy, maybe he strove so hard that it became his downfall.
Maybe he wanted glory for himself, but he can't grant it to himself, only the Father can give or take Glory, True Everlasting Glory...And He bestowed such upon His Only Begotten. Maybe when weighed, Joseph's spirit was found lacking but I have no doubt that when Joseph realized it, he was cut to the heart...Nevertheless, that is precisely the moment we must bow at the foot of the Cross and admit our sins, and maybe Joseph didn't. We'll all find out at the Judgment, let's not condemn any before the time, and be found condemned ourselves.
Pro 16:2 All the ways of a man [are] clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.
Zec 4:6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This [is] the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.
Interesting work you are doing. May the LORD find us all out, forgive us and make us worthy of Him.
Have a good day all, I needto get to mah chores....
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