Why would a poor farm boy make it up and never deny it even in death?

Question

Yeah I am talking about Joseph Smith.

At age 14 he claimed he saw both the God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ and they spoke to him.

For over 20 years this dude gets the crap kicked out of him, tarred and feathered and beaten within an inch of his life. All he has to do to make it stop is say "I Lied"

But he never did.

He maintained his story and never denied it and he was killed for it at age 39.

Why would someone do that if it were not true?

Think about it. would you or anyone you know go through that kind of abuse and be willing to catch a bullet for something that you didn't know to be true?

Revolving Door Slammer.

Dude you need to get a grip. You're nothing more than a MOLE for the Born Again Chrisitans. out here falsifying your identity and then trashing on us.

As for my comment during bowmans roam game... WHATEVER

You asked me last week why I thought your wife is still posting herself on the adult friend finder pages? Well I think there is your answer. You are just impotent... Tounge and otherwise...

Answer 1

Because he knew it was true. Just like I do. I know God lives. I know that He still talks with His prophet today. I would never deny it, not even at death.

"Tyrants and traitors now fight him in vain!"

Answer 2

the strength of Joseph amazes me. Through all the persecution, the hatred, the torture, he remained true to what he knew to be true and I love the reason he gave: "For I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it, neither dared I do it; at least I knew that by so doing I would offend God, and come under condemnation."
He is reviled by many -- and revered by many. I stand with the latter. Say what you will, but I will stand up for this man Joseph and tell you that I know, having received a testimony from God, that he was a prophet and that Joseph fulfilled and honored the calling of prophet while he was here on earth.
Payback, thanks for the question - I like having the opportunity to declare which team I'm on.

Answer 3

It must have been a humble experience, to get a direct revelation from God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ 6 Apr 1820 New York.

At that time all churches said, that God had not talked to any one since Peters dead in Wells England abut 86 AD

Answer 4

If you're such a religious person, WHY ARE YOU STALKING TEENAGE GIRLS? Disgusting, perverted, douchebag.

But, back to your question:

"Why would someone do that if it were not true?"

Why would *anyone* believe in a magic sky wizard that knows all and hates homosexuals yet allows it's followers to diddle little boys? Because people are generally stupid.

Smith was either a LIAR or CRAZY. There is not ONE piece of scientifically provable evidence that God exists. The word of superstitious tools and morons like you is NOT proof. If anything, your existence proves there is no God as an all-knowing and loving being would not burden with World with morons such as yourself.

Answer 5

Why would a carpenter's son claim to be the son of god???

Why would he choose to suffer as he allegedly did?

"(Religion) is the opium of the people." - Karl Marx

"If a man really wants to make a million dollars, the best way would be to start his own religion." - L. Ron Hubbard

For thousands of years, millions have believed and/or live by what is written in the greatest work of fiction ever!

Many more millions have died because of their, or others, beliefs/views on this matter!

Why???

Human nature!

"Thank God I'm an Athiest!" - Dave Allen

Answer 6

That's a very interesting question and you make very good points. I am not LDS, but I have never challenged LDS' beliefs. In fact, I'm quite impressed by the faith and its followers.

Having that been said, though, to answer the question fairly, I actually can think of a reason why a person would carry a lie with them for all that time despite negative consequences.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not suggesting that he lied. Your question, however, was "why would a poor farm boy lie?", and I do, in fact, have an answer as to why he may have lied . . .
hypothetically---
True there were many negative consequences to telling that "lie". But there were also many positive consequences. He naturally had very strong leadership qualities and his leadeship was materialized and manifested when he told this "story". What power is that to be able to influence scores of people to change faiths, follow you across states, and give you complete undivided attention!?. There would be quite a rewarding feeling knowing that you're able to captivate the masses. So much so that he himself may have ended up believing his own "lie".

And, he may have craved attention. He may be thrived off of attention and being in the spotlight, thus coming up with the "story" to begin with. He craved it so much so that even when it was negative attention (like being called names, and getting beat up) it was still attention. And think about how much more positive attention he'd get after getting beaten up, when the believers would help mend him?

His holding steadfast to the "lie" convinced his followers all the more that he was telling was the truth, thus creating even more followers, and more attention.

But, you, I or even your elders don't truly know for sure whether he told a lie or not, do we? (Unless they have a time machine or are omniscient!) So, just like with any religion, its followers must rely on FAITH. Faith is believing in something even if you don't have hard evidence to support that belief. True, blind faith is not good--and it's smart to investigate and ask good questions--but at the end of the day--you have to ask yourself what bad can this particular faith bring? The LDS faith by and large yields many successful, happy, healthy families. You believe in the good of people and serving the Lord. So when it comes down to it...what difference does it make if he lied or not, as long as you have the faith that he told the truth?

Answer 7

As a Christian, I believe Joseph Smith was, no doubt, a very devout believer. I think his faith in Christ and in God was steadfast and sure. I also believe Joseph Smith truly believed that he did see and experience what he claimed to.

However, there are things that just don't make sense to me personally about what his church teaches and that clashes with what I believe to be true to biblical teachings.

I have some friends who are with LDS and I mean no disrespect in my answer so I hope it's not taken that way.

Answer 8

It is a truism that the testament is not sealed until the death of the testator. In this case as well as in other cases of notable people, the testament was sealed with his blood, sacrificially spilled. He was martyred for his testimony. Joseph himself said that "he knew it, he knew that God knew it and he could not deny it, nor dared he do it." This is similar to the apostle Paul that saw a vision and could not deny it though he be persecuted unto death for saying so.
The testimony is true and it is in force and can never be denied. His witnesses remained true to their testimonies as well, none of them ever denying the truthfulness of their witness.

Answer 9

via definition a company "dying panel" ought to easily deny existence-saving well being-care to consumers, no longer the un-insured. And insurance is predetermined at purchase, so the determination replaced into made in coordination with the insured fairly than being imposed upon them via some chilly, distant government paperwork.

Answer 10

Joseph Smith was a guy with a great idea, real inspiration, who got seduced by the power his convictions created for him. Once it became about the power the cause was lost and the whole crap-shoot came tumbling down.

Kind of like Jim Jones and a bunch of others thoughout history.

Answer 11

You forgot to mention that one of the times he got tarred and feathered, the door to his house was left open- he had a sick child who died from the cold air.

And All but that last few years of his life, him and his family lived with other people. Even when they had their own home in Nauvoo- they frequently had people staying with them.