Mormons: Is Joseph Smith a prophet of God (only give your opinion/answer if u read the passage below)?

Question

In Deuteronomy 18:20-22 says,"But any prophet who claims to give a message from another god or who falsely claims to speak for me must die. You may wonder, 'How will we know whether the prophecy is from the LORD or not? If the prophet predicts something in the LORD's name and it does not happen, the LORD did not give the message. That prophet has spoken on his own and need not be feared." ONLY 1 FALSE PROPHECY WILL PROVE THAT HE IS A FALSE PROPHET. "False Prophecies of Joseph Smith" lists 54 false prophecies given by Joseph Smith that never came true. Many of these were dated so the Mormon can't say, "it just hasn't happened yet." For example, Doctrine & Covenants 84:1-5 says that Smith received a revelation in 1832 from Jesus Christ telling him that before that current generation passed away, a temple would be built in the western boundaries of Missouri. Christians would say that a generation is 40 years, but let's use the Mormon definition of 100 years. So a hundred years from 1832 would be 1932. That was 70 years ago and there still is no temple in that location, and there couldn't be anyone still alive from that time because they would have to be over 170 years old. So that's one false prophesy that couldn't be true. In a book written by Smith called "History of the Church", Volume 2, page 182, Smith says in 1835 he received a revelation from God that Smith was commanded to tell the people, that the Lord was going to return in 56 years. That would mean that Christ should have returned in 1891. We know that didn't happen. So again, Joseph Smith gave a false prophesy. These two false prophesies, plus the other 52 that are documented in the new book, is ample evidence that Smith was a false prophet and God says we are not to have anything to do with a man like this. As for the need for prophets today and the need to receive continuing revelation, the Bible is very clear. Hebrews 1:1-2 says that God used to speak to the fathers through the prophets, but today He speaks through His son, Jesus Christ. In Luke 16:16 it says that John the Baptist was the last prophet because Jesus came after him. So not only was Joseph Smith a false prophet, the Bible says that the prophets of the Old Testament ended with John. The language in the Old Testament was Hebrew and the Hebrew definition of the word 'prophet' meant one who brings us God's word. In the New Testament, the Greek language was the predominate one used. The Greek word for prophet is defined as one who preaches from God's word.

I PUT THIS TO SHOW MORMONS THAT JOSPEH SMITH ISNT WHAT HE CLAIMED TO BE "A PROPHET OF THE TRUE AND LIVING GOD"

Answer 1

I believe he is a false prophet. But even if I hadn't before, you have a very convincing argument! Good work!

Answer 2

Dear “Chained”

Thank you for such an excellent evidence for this statement:

The position of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is so strong its enemies must distort, deceive and dissemble to have much to say against it.

Your long, long cut and paste could be answered point-by-point (and has been, repeatedly), but to avoid boring everyone here, let’s just look at one of your statements:

“Smith says in 1835 he received a revelation from God that Smith was commanded to tell the people, that the Lord was going to return in 56 years. That would mean that Christ should have returned in 1891. We know that didn't happen. So again, Joseph Smith gave a false prophesy.”

Now, look at the actual words of Joseph Smith. We’ll NOT use the history of the church for several reasons. It is NOT scripture, and no responsible person would consider the church bound by statements written there. That’s because it is sometimes inaccurate, because it was written by others not Joseph Smith, and much of it was written long after the events.

Like any responsible historian, one should never rely on a secondary source when the primary source is available. In this case, the actual revelation itself has been carefully preserved, and consists of verses 14 through 17 of Doctrine and Covenants 130. It reads:

“I was once praying very earnestly to know the time of the coming of the Son of Man, when I heard a voice repeat the following:
“Joseph, my son, if thou livest until thou art eighty-five years old, thou shalt see the face of the Son of Man; therefore let this suffice, and trouble me no more on this matter.
“I was left thus, without being able to decide whether this coming referred to the beginning of the millennium or to some previous appearing, or whether I should die and thus see his face.
“I believe the coming of the Son of Man will not be any sooner than that time.”

When we read the words of the prophet, the only “prophesy” is a rather vague statement, saying the Lord will not come for at least 56 years. That “prophesy” has come true, of course.

Answer 3

With the 56 years to the coming of Christ, it has already been answered. It said IF you live to be 85 you shall see him. Joseph Smith was Murdered, and thus didn't live to that age, it is in the context of "don't worry about it, just move on with God's work."
There are 2 types of Prophecies, conditional and definite. The Temple in MO is a conditional one. Their enemies drove them out of the state, and would not allow the building of the temple, it's kind of like when Johnah told Nineveh to repent or be destroyed. It is up to the people to bring about the ultimate end, as is the case in the MO prophecy. They more than likely would have completed it had they been permitted to stay there.
As far as not needing prophets, we could both show reasons for or against all day and not get anywhere, but to answer that bit; It is through Christ that we receive our knowledge and revelation. If John was the last Prophet, what was Paul, and what was Christ doing when he foretold the fall of Jerusalem (he knew all, and knows all, but still that is a prophecy, thus making Christ a prophet.
Just a question, why do you think God has not spoken to man since ancient times? Is that fair? Who and what said that all that God had or has to say is in one book? I love the bible (finished reading the gospel of Luke the other day) but I don't think that is all there is.

Answer 4

I'm so sorry that you are so close minded. I have been a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints my entire life. Were you excommunicated for a serious sin that you had committed and are now on the vengeful path? We teach mainly from the Bible, but we do also have The Book of Mormon, which is another testament of God and Jesus Christ. It also quotes in the Bible that there would be other books in the future. You say that John was the last prophet, how very wrong you are. Not only was Joseph Smith a prophet but so is Gordon B. Hinkley. Now pay attention, here is where it gets real good. You in your own words say that the Greek description of prophet is one who preaches from God's word, right, well I myself preach from God's word, so does my 7 year old grandson, as well as millions if not hundreds of millions do, so does this not make us all prophets? Indeed it does. Do your self a favor and research a bit more, anyone can pick apart any religion if they so desired. I and all of the prophets that I know will keep you in our prayers, not to become a member of our Church only but that you will come to the understanding that our God is a loving God that will always have his arms open with his scared palms ready to receive you. God Bless and Good Luck.

Answer 5

I grew up mormon and according to the church a temple is a place of worship and there was a mormon chuch there before joseph smith died there is also I believe a temmple there. You probably don't know that there is a temple in washington dc did you or atlanta ga of course utah is obvious. You have to be mormon to get into the temple and most mormons are married in them. Besides Joseph smith is dead and they are on prophet 5 something I don't know who the current prophet is so why attack a dead man when there is a living one open for debate? If you really want the answer to these questions ask a mormon missionary and be prepared to be kicked out of the "kingdom" of heaven cause that is what they are all about.

Answer 6

Although of considerable length your comments are of dubious scholarship. Joseph Smith was told that if he lived to be 85 he would learn when Christ would return. He didn't give a date for his return. A temple site was dedicated in Far West. The corner stone was laid. The Saints were driven from Missouri by your philosophical predecessors, and couldn't complete it. Since it took 40 years to complete the Salt Lake Temple the other temples will be finished in due time.

It's convenient to say that the other prophets in Acts don't count because they weren't prophets in Hebrew.

Answer 7

Why are you worried about it? If you are feeling altruistic and dont want all those misguided mormons to go to hell I guess I can understand that you are only trying to help.

But If I were to judge (and I do. I am NOT christian and therefore do not claim to be non-judgemental) I would think that you were bashing another religion in an effort to make yourself feel better.

If you really want to be a good christian. lead by example. love thy neighbor and show all your mormon aquaintances that you are a good honest worthwhile person. dont go around bible thumping. There is no faster way to turn people off to religion than by quoting scripture to prove that your point is correct.

Sorry If I seem intolorent. I doubt you will give my answer any credibility but as far as I understand it the christian ethic does not involve bashing other religions even if they are screwed up.

Answer 8

The Bible verse you quoted answered your question for you. Joseph Smith did not claim to be a messanger from "another god", but from the same god that all Christians claim to worship.

Answer 9

False

Answer 10

You be writin' way too much for my attention span honey.