Could the LDS/Mormon Church still be true if Joseph Smith wasn't a prophet?

Question

I just found out that Joseph Smith wasn't really a prophet and I want to know if I'm overreacting.

If you found out that Joseph Smith wasn't really a prophet of God, would you leave the Church? Why or why not?

Answer 1

Looks like you took the first steps in critical thinking - I think.
Review the claims of the Book of Mormon - do they seem plausible? Review the Book of Abraham - is this an accurate astronomical account?

It's up to you to research both sides of all the claims of the church, from the official history and unofficial to the statements interpreted as doctrine by later and contemporary apostles. Read from the FARMS site and see if their convoluted claims violate Occam's Razor: The simplest explanation is usually the most correct (they violate it at every level).

The church holds a take it or leave it approach: Either you buy into everything, or you don't. If you harbor doubts, yet hold a temple recommend, you've lied and the power of discernment failed somewhere.

One other thing to consider is the reaction of your TBM family and friends. They won't welcome your new found 'revelation' and will initially try to get you back into the fold; failing that, shun you completely. It's a tough decision to make and to make public.

Truth hurts. That's why some people ignore it.

Answer 2

Would it still be true? IMO, probably not. The very foundations of the Latter Day Saint church go back to Joseph Smith.

In the case that I were a Mormon I would very thoroughly research the church's origins and doctrines so yes I'd probably leave it (I'm not Mormon though).

The information exists, much of which is on the Internet as well as libraries so it's pretty easy to discover the why's on how Joseph Smith founded the LDS church.

Answer 3

For me, it is sort of a domino effect... I was raised LDS, but had to find out for myself, if it were really true. And I have lived on both sides of the fence - good and bad. My life iS WAAAAAAY better when I am living the gospel than when I am not, its such an obvious difference. I have sort of always "known" the gospel was true, but it was really confirmed to me several years ago while watching a movie at the Joseph Smith Memorial Bldg in SLC, UT. It was about the Prophet Joseph. A very great movie, I might add. While watching it, almost at the end, I suddenly got this itense feeling that I could not WAIT to meet this man after this life and thank him, for he truly was a prophet of God, he truly did what he claimed, and he truly DID see God our Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. The feeling was so overwhelming, I cried, and knew then there was no way I could ever deny what I felt and what had been testified to me personally, by the power of the Holy Ghost. So, from there, since I believe Joseph Smith to be a prophet, then the BOM must be true, If the BOM is true, then this really is Christ's church. That's a very simple way of putting it, but the gospel IS very simple. It's either true or it's not. There are no gray areas. We are either members of the only true church on this earth or we aren't. I KNOW we are, and I know this is Christ's church. I know these things for myself, through personal revelation, from asking God. Not from any other way. (To the person who said we tell people to "ask" God - who better than God to tell you the truth?? I don't know why some people get different answers. That's between them and God, but I know that the answers I have received have been of the Lord, for this is His only true church on the face of the earth, and He will come to lead it again someday.)

Answer 4

There is a quote by James E. Faust where in the end of it, he says that Joseph Smith's vision either happened or didn't happen but he knows and many people in the world know that it did happen, that he really did see God the Father and Jesus Christ and has brought in the last dispensation. No man that wasn't a prophet could have translated scripture and received revelation for the world. Where and why would you believe that Joseph Smith wasn't really a prophet? I am wondering if you don't really believe that and just posted this question to get people's goats, but I'm not sure why you would do that. If you really do believe that he wasn't a prophet, then you need to get a new avatar and name.

Answer 5

Let me preface this answer with a quote from Dallin H. Oaks.

"How do we prevent our strengths from becoming our downfall? The quality we must cultivate is humility. Humility is the great protector. Humility is the antidote against pride. Humility is the catalyst for all learning, especially spiritual things. Through the prophet Moroni, the Lord gave us this great insight into the role of humility: “I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them”

Now a quote from Gordon B. B. Hinckley

"Our whole strength rests on the validity of that vision (God the Father and Jesus Christ appearing to Joseph Smith) . It either occurred or it did not occur. If it did not, then this work is a fraud. If it did, then it is the most important and wonderful work under the heavens."

So the direct answer is that the church is a fraud if Joseph Smith was not a prophhet. Of course that should not be your real question. You need to question why you believe that Joseph Smith was not a prophet. I assume that you did at one point. What has changed? How do you feel about the Quote from Elder Oaks?

Answer 6

How do you FEEL about that, brother? You know the church is true, because of how it makes you feel (ie the Spirit).

My sister had this same dilemma as you. You doubt that JS was a prophet because you have learned some more things about his life. The thing is, faith in the prophethood of JS isn't supposed to be founded on your supposition of his goodness, but upon the Spirit. What man thinks of JS is not important - only what God thinks of him and tells him to do is important.

Most Mormons are very closed-minded (I am a Mormon, too, BTW). JS was NOT closed-minded... that is why he was able to receive revelations about such unheard of things. He was FULL of faith. He used supposedly arcane things.... but he understood how they worked (and it wasn't by magic - it was by a natural and spiritual force).

As for the church being true, the words of other prophets, and the scriptures, and the lesson manuals... you can read them all and know that they are true, just by how they make you feel. They bring enlightenment. Especially, when you read the Book of Mormon (before you started having doubts) you knew it was from God, and true.

Yes, the Mormon church can still be true, even if JS was a fallen prophet.... however, I don't beleive he is (and I know many of the controversial things he did.) Just take the advice of others and pray pray pray. This is the trial of your faith.

Answer 7

You can believe that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, and STILL not believe that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God?

Are you one of those that expects absolute perfection from God's prophets?

Why are you looking for excuses to not believe? I saw your first question. You were asking for the anti's to show you why the church was not true.

What is it, the Word of Wisdom? The law of Chastity? Tithing? What is it?

Answer 8

First of all, why told you that or where did you find?
Even if Joseph Smith told me himself that he was never a Prophet, I would still believe in the LDS Church. Why? Because it is still the LDS Church and it is about Jesus Christ and NOT Joseph Smith.

Answer 9

I'd be interested to hear how you "Found Out".

Have a chat with God and let him direct your life. He'll let you know if Joseph Smith was one of his prophets or not. However, you need to be sincere and ready to change your life based on the answer that he gives you....otherwise, you and god will both be wasting your time.

Answer 10

No I wouldn't leave the Church. Because it could be that I don't understand the mind of God and what if I was throwing away my eternal salvation based on a faulty premise.

Also living the laws of the gospel makes me happy.

From an anthropological point of view (I'm studying anthropology) it is common for people to project their cultural values upon past generations when the past generations had different cultural values. The fact that cultural values change means that man is never qualified to judge "acceptable behaviour".