What about the Mormons?

Question

I watched an episode of Southpark and they told a story about the Mormons and how the religion was founded. I understand that they joked about the religion and it was not a clear insight into their beliefs.
The episode showed how the founder looked into his hat and told the other guy to write down what the things inside his hat said (words of god I think). When was asked to look into his hat again for the words of god they were different from the first time. Is that true? Is that what happend.
Can anyone tell me the Mormon story or where to find it?

Just letting you all know I'm not actually looking at joining the cult or religion or what ever you want to call it. I'm just interested in knowing their story.

Answer 1

I saw that episode to. I would like to know how off the mark it really is. I guess all we could really do is read their book of mormon and find some history books on it.

Answer 2

The actual story is that Joseph Smith couldn't find a religion he felt was true, so he prayed, and then an angel came to him and told him he would be given the answers to his prayers. Eventually he was led to a hill where he found these things called the "golden plates" which he was given the job to translate. Once translated the plates were taken back up into heaven and he supposedly had the truth he was after, and founded a religion upon it.
Thats the -basic- story anyway, condensed.

There's a lot of people on here who have no idea who or what the mormons are and so will say a lot of bad things because it's what they have been told. They -do- read and believe in the bible, they just also follow the book of Mormon which is supposed to be the story of Jesus coming to teach his gospel in the america's after his rising. They have a lot of odd beliefs here and there but none of them are actually evil in any way and most mormons are very family oriented and some of the nicest people. They also believe that -all- religions hold some portion of the truth, which is more than most other christian faiths can say. As for them killing hundreds... they actually worked closely with the indians for a long time, and the christians did far worse than anything the mormons could possibly have ever done in the inquisition.
I'm not even mormon, but I'v studied their faith, and history along with several others including the western religions as well as several of the eastern religions. all have their good points. Don't let other peoples biases turn a simple faith into something evil when it's nothing of the sort.

Answer 3

I am LDS (Mormon). I have seen parts of the Southpark episode on the internet and I would have to say that while it does follow the general storyline of Joseph Smith's experiences, it distorts it because they are trying to make fun of it. For some basic information about the Church, check out www.mormon.org or www.lds.org.
Joseph Smith was a 14 year old boy that was born in the early 1800s. There was a lot of confusion then (as always) about religion and Joseph wanted to know which of all the churches he should join. He was very divided and worried about it because he sincerely desired to find salvation.
It reached the point that he decided to just go and pray to God and ask God himself what church he should join.
He went into the woods and prayed sincerely to God. In response to his prayer, God the Father and Jesus Christ visited him. Jesus told him not to join any of the existent churches. Joseph was called to be a prophet and restore to the earth Jesus' true church--the same as he had established when he was on the earth.
As a prophet, Joseph Smith was called to bring people the word of God. A few years after this first vision, an angel appeared to Joseph and showed him where a sacred record was buried. The angel told him that it was a record of the ancient peoples of the American continent. They had kept a record of their dealings with God and their belief in Jesus Christ. Joseph was called to translate this ancient record, which was written on gold plates, into English.
This is probably the part you were talking about. Joseph was given some instruments (including the seer stone) to help him translate the record. At some points, he would put the seer stone into a hat so that he could see clearly as the English translation of the words would appear. Then he would have a scribe write down his words. I'm not exactly sure what Southpark was trying to portray, but there is a story that Joseph's scribe removed the stone and replaced it with a stone that looked similar. When Joseph then looked at the stone for the translation, he saw nothing. Then his scribe knew that he wasn't just faking it.
Anyways, Joseph was able to translate the record and then published it as The Book of Mormon. Today, millions of copies are printed every year by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The book is a true account and is another testament of Jesus Christ, supporting the Bible.
If you have any more questions about it, please feel free to contact me.

Answer 4

The mormons believe that Joseph Smith was given golden plates, kind of like the ten commandments that was given to Moses. The mormons are a cult, that has killed innocent people and blamed the indians so that the government would give them credibility. (Brigham Young had 100's killed, when they moved to Utah) They are child abusers, polygamists (not much anymore) and a stain on the religious community. They run your lives, tell you what books to read, what movies to watch and what music to listen to. They believe that hurting (emotionally) someone is ok as long as they are not "of the faith". It's their reasoning for almost everything. Brainwashed at birth, most don't escape. Many don't even read the bible ~ just the book of mormon.

Answer 5

The first 116 pages of the compiled book of Mormon was the book of “Book of Lehi”. Joseph Smith had entrusted the Book of Lehi to Martin Harris and as a result Martin's wife had stolen them. Because of Joseph Smith's mistake in misplacing the first book he was commanded not to translate the Book of Lehi a second time because the original was likely to have been altered in a way that could later be used in a manner to discredit Joseph Smith to becoming a liar that authored of the Book of Mormon rather than the translator.

While it would be simple just to instantly label Joseph Smith as a liar, a fraud, etc if one actually digs deeper into the history of Joseph Smith it starts to become quite clear that the translation of the Book of Mormon in itself is remarkable and to date not one person has been able to reproduce such a book within the time frame that Joseph Smith did. Add the above to the fact that Joseph Smith was just a farm boy as well as several evidences that ancient technologies not known at the time were in fact used it becomes quite compelling to believe it is real.

In the end every religion requires a leap of faith, none can claim their religion requires less faith than the other. If one were to apply the same skepticism to any religion they are likely to find a wealth of information to discredit it. As a former agnostic I came across the BoM with an open mind and investigated both anti-Mormon literature to Church literature and came to the conclusion that the Church is true. Freewill (Or what we call free agency) will likely lead you to the goal you had set out to attain in the first place and if one is set upon finding only bad in any religion they are likely to dismiss the good as can be displayed by other answers in this question.

I am sorry for the long winded answer, it is not my intention to convert you but rather explain why I am willing to bypass something I myself would see as a hoax if it were not for my continued research regarding the matter.

Answer 6

Funny thing is, besides the episode itself, is that the outrageous references have some historical authenticity to it. Emma Smith wrote in her diary how her husband looked into his hat and dictated to her or his scribe.

Mormons don't like to hear the controversial aspects of their history, and while it doesn't reflect on them as moral and good people, it makes discussing these things difficult, if not impossible.

But, I would not refer to a cartoon show to understand a very complex and controversial sect that's still a little touchy when their doctrine is examined closely.

The core book is, of course, the Book of Mormon, plus the Doctrine of Covenants, Pearl of Great Price and sometimes the Bible. Other publications are the Journal of Discourses, a set of transcribed notes of early church leader's talks and speeches, and anything published by Deseret.

You won't read any references to the South Park episode in these books; you'll have to investigate those sources separately. Mormonism is fiercely defended by it's adherents, but easily dismantled by it's true history.

Answer 7

Inside every copy of a Book of Mormon is a short synopsis of Joseph Smith and his part in bringing to the world this new scripture and another testament of Jesus Christ. The complete record is in the History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, volume 1, chapters 1 through 6.

Part of the translations were conducted by reading through a seer stone that was in a hat to exclude light from entering. Other translations from the Reformed Egyptian writings into English was accomplished by the use of the ancient Urim and Thummin, a set of translators that is mentioned in many places in the Bible.

Local missionaries may tell you more if you're interested.

Answer 8

I know many Mormons, and much of my family is Mormon. It is just like most Christian religions, exept there are more and more strict rules. There are a lot of misconceptions about Mormons, and you should just do your own research and come up with your own ideas. Visit their website, find credible sources. I believe in the church for the most part, but I don't believe that Joseph Smith actually talked to God, that is just my opinion. But do research on your own, and pray about it as well.

Answer 9

From what I remember about the episode, it was correct. I don't watch South Park, but I watched this one. I didn't even know about Joseph Smith looking into his hat to write the Book of Mormon until I was out. I always saw pictures of him seriously looking over the "golden plates" while Oliver Cowdery (I assume) waited behind a curtain to write down what Joseph said. Something I have discovered in talking to people in different parts of the U.S. is that the further you get from Utah the more watered down the doctrines and history of the church become. When people say that it's not true,it's because they didn't get the real story of what happened.

Answer 10

South Park episode is correct.
According to Martin Harris one of witness to the Book of Mormon stated that Joseph Smith took a seer stone place it in the hat to translated the book of Mormon. But Joseph Smith said he had gold plates which wasn't true. Joesph Smith is fraud. He pull the biggest con in history! Using the name of Jesus Christ.
Look at websites like hismin.com exmormon.org lhvm.org. bornagainmormon.com good insight from former member of the church