Mormonism's most important leaders (founder Joseph Smith and president Brigham young as well as Oliver B Huntington) claimed that the sun and moon were inhabited. Details of the physical description of the moon men were described; they allegedly look like quakers and live to be around 1000 years old, for example.
Science now feels this is impossible. If this was merely a mistake made by the "prophets" then how do we know what other things they said could be mistakes?
2007-06-30 17:45:35 · 14 answers · asked by furshluginer 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
From www.challengemin.org
Oliver B. Huntington "Young Womens' Journaaaal" pg 263
Brigham Young "Journal of Disclosures" Vol 13 pg 271
2007-06-30 17:48:34 · update #1
With science, some things are impossible. In mormonism, plausibility doesn't matter.
The fact that early leaders commented upon life on other planets shows their interest on things scientific. Smith's record of remarking about the inhabitants of the moon and sun were recorded by Oliver Huntington. Even Joseph Smith Sr's patriarchal blessing states, "I was told I would preach to the gospel to the inhabitants upon the islands of the sea..of the moon, even the planet you can now behold with your eyes." "Even" used in this context means "Namely", and was referring to the actual moon, not figuratively. Hyrum is also credited to referring to the sun and moon as inhabited.
In the 1800's, the moon and stars were not totally understood as well as today, no one ever considered the lack of atmosphere on the moon, or the incredible temperatures of the sun. To Smith, they were worlds in 'progression' and the sun was more along in it's progression because it was 'celestialized and crystalline' - and of course they were inhabited.
Whether the current church leaders believe this or not is not an issue,as it is not taught as part of any sunday school plan. It's more of an incomplete dogma once uttered by Smith along with the many other unusual (even by today's standards) ideas floating around at the time. At the time, Smith's opinions were new-age and progressive, but by today's yardstick, seem totally and profoundly nonsensical.
2007-07-01 07:26:16 · answer #1 · answered by Dances with Poultry 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Joseph smith also claimed the Garden of Eden was in Missouri. Only missed that one by about 7000 miles. Genesis puts it between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in Mesopotamia (Iraq).
2007-07-01 09:17:27 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
My great-great grandfather was as Apostle under the Prophet Brigham Young. We have journals kept by him and other such people in my family. There was absolutely NOTHING mentioned about this in any of the writings I have ever read.
The ONLY reference to the Sun and Moon are the different degrees of glory in Heaven. The Celestial Kingdom will be as the sun, The Telestial Kingdom is as the moon and the Terresterial is of the stars. This is in referenced ONLY as a reference to the degree of light as a form of symbolism. Do you understand what symbolism is?
2007-07-01 00:58:46 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
First, we don't know that Joseph SMith ever made that comment. It's a case of someone said someone said something.
But, even if he did, it's not someting that God revealed to him, i's not someting that we are to believe at the cost of our immortal soul.
I can't believe you think that our current propeht and apostles actually believe this!
As for mistakes, people make mistakes. Prophets are people, they aren't perfect. But, there's nothing in our scriptures about men on the moon or whatever, so, we don't worry about it.
2007-07-01 06:51:29 · answer #4 · answered by mormon_4_jesus 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Hare Krishna's also believe their are spirit beings living on the sun.
It could be possible for the bible says their are demons imprisoned in the center of the earth
2007-07-01 03:34:10 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I haven't heard from any of the current church leaders about moon habitants.
2007-07-01 00:50:12 · answer #6 · answered by Love Yahoo!!! wannabe a princess 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Boring , boring, is that the best you could do to cast falsehood about LDS.
2007-07-01 04:23:07 · answer #7 · answered by Wahnote 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They don't believe that and they go so far as deny that this was ever said.
2007-07-02 10:39:19 · answer #8 · answered by Buzz s 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think we need a reference for that one. No one said that.
2007-07-01 00:48:48 · answer #9 · answered by rndyh77 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Ha! Those wacky Mormons...I'm going to miss their shenanigans when they're extinct.
2007-07-01 00:51:32 · answer #10 · answered by Desiree 4 · 1⤊ 5⤋