LDS/Mormons: Is it wrong for you (or anyone, member or nonmember) to disbelieve Joseph Smith's story?

Question

“I don’t blame any one for not believing my history. If I had not experienced what I have, I would not have believed it myself.”
-Joseph Smith, Jr; History of the Church, 6:317

If you DO believe Joseph Smith's story, though, aren't you basically just claiming to be smarter or more spiritually in tune than him?

Basically, if you woke up tomorrow and said to yourself, "You know what, Self? I really don't believe Joseph's story anymore", would you feel like you have sinned? Why or why not?

Joseph is one of the people that will allegedly judge us (see below quotes), so if he doesn't blame us

"No man or woman in this dispensation will ever enter into the celestial kingdom of God without the consent of Joseph Smith. ...every man and woman must have the certificate of Joseph Smith, junior, as a passport to their entrance into the mansion where God and Christ are."
-B Young, JoD 7:14:289

"Now, if it should happen that we have to pay tribute to Father Adam, what a humiliating circumstance it would be! Just wait till you pass Joseph Smith; and after Joseph lets you pass him, you will find Peter; and after you pass the Apostles and many of the Prophets, you will find Abraham, and he will say, "I have the keys, and except you do thus and so, you cannot pass;" and after a while you come to Jesus; and when you at length meet Father Adam, how strange it will appear to your present notions. If we can pass Joseph and have him say, "Here; you have been faithful, good boys; I hold the keys of this dispensation; I will let you pass;" then we shall be very glad to see the white locks of Father Adam."
-B Young, JoD 5:332

(cont'd from above)... so if he doesn't blame us, then Peter, Jesus and Father Adam won't blame us either. Doesn't that mean that you can still get into the Celestial Kingdom without believing Joseph Smith's story?

Beta: Thank you for your perspective. My family (and most of my friends, as well as many co-workers) know exactly where I stand on belief. Keep in mind, the purpose of this question is not to attack, but to add perspective. Disbelief is not evil, nor is criticism. By the way, I have a personal email that I'd like to send you (if you'd be willing) that's more than 1500 characters and better explains my stance and my situation. It is not an attack, it is very neutral, and is addressed to you personally. If you would be interested in the two of us understanding each other better, please email me (or chat): [e-mail] so that I can send you my email. No disrespect intended.

Answer 1

If I didn't believe the Joseph Smith Story...why would I be LDS? That is on the same level as saying that I don't believe that the Book of Mormon is true. Again...why would I be a member any longer. If I honestly felt it was wrong or that it didn't happen or that it wasn't true...why would I feel like I was sinning?

Either The Joseph Smith First Vision happened or it didn't. Period. Either the Book of Mormon is exactly what it claims to be or it isn't. Period. Either the Church is true or it isn't. Again...Period. IF any of these are false...then all of them are false...Period.

Because it is an incredible story...one must go to the source and be willing to accept the truth once God has given it to them

Answer 2

I don't know- You are entitled to your beliefs.

I simply don't understand though how you can accept the teachings of the church and not believe in Joseph Smith. I know a lot of what you believe about Joseph because I have read what you say here.

If Joseph Smith was in fact a con artist as many claim (I don't believe that), and his account of the first vision and Golden plates are all made up, then there are several principles that may also not be correct either. 1. God the Father and Jesus Christ - having human bodies and being two separate beings- Most of the Christian world does not believe that. 2. The Book of Mormon is Not the word of God 3. The LDS church is not the same Primitive Church that Jesus set up when he was on the earth. Those are just a few of the principles that may not be correct if Joseph lied about what he saw. There are many more points, but this is not the time or place to get into them.

What I am trying to understand is how can you disbelieve Joseph Smith and still believe the church. I have said many times- If I had lived then, I am not sure if I would have accepted him as a prophet. If I had not been born and raised in the church, I am not sure whether I would have accepted the gospel. I believe it is true with every fiber of my being. I believe that Joseph Smith was a prophet. I have walked in Hallowed places where he was, I have visited his home in Nauvoo and the Jails in Liberty and Carthage where he was held. Carthage is truly a hallowed place, the spirit was so very strong there. I visited the temple site in Nauvoo before teh temple was rebuilt. Though I was a child I felt the presence of the spirit in these places and in the homes of those who stood with him during these trying times. The spirit has borne witness to me that it is true, and that he was a Prophet. So I have a very strong testimony, but I can understand why others would not believe his story. What I don't understand is, how you can not accept him, but still accept the church.

Edit*
I am not trying to change your mind really- just to let you know where I stand and understand your perspective a little more I guess.

Answer 3

For me, it would be wrong. I agree with what Beta-fishy said. I don't think I'm more spiritually in tune than anyone. There are people out there who are probably more in tune then I am. I think this quote shows that Joseph had a sense of humor.

The whole thing about what Brigham said about Joseph Smith, and the Adam-God thing isn't doctrine. None of it is. It was put into a book of things that were said, not official doctrine. Do I think Joseph will be there when we are judged? Yes. Just like every other prophet will be. Do I think that salvation rests with him? To a degree. He is the one who facilitated the return of the fullness of the gospel. If it would have been someone else who was chosen, then that would fall on them instead of Joseph. Because he is the one who brought about the return of the gospel, part of my salvation rests with what he brought about. Since all the keys of the gospel and priesthood were restored by him, without him, that wouldn't be part of it.

Of course, Christ is the main means of salvation. Joseph Smith just a small part of that. Christ is the one who ultimately saves us. It is through His grace and the atonement. My belief is that the gospel just takes that grace and atonement and makes it easier for me to gain salvation.

I would feel like I have sinned if I woke up and didn't believe anymore. Course, there would have to be something really wrong for that to happen, but hey, I've heard of weirder things. ;)

Answer 4

To my knowledge, faith is the first principle, baptism the first ordinance of the gospel... there are further principles and ordinances one must adhere to, practice and fulfill in order to be heirs unto all the Father hath. Jesus Christ is our Savior, not Joseph Smith.
As betafish mentioned, yes, I would be accountable for denying that Joseph had a vision and was a true prophet of God - because I have received that witness. Conversely, my grandmother cannot accept the Mormon church because she cannot accept that a 14yo boy saw a vision, etc. The rest of the church, she considers true [although she won't give up her daily glass of red wine]. In a blessing my father gave her several years ago, it was stated that the Lord understood her heart. I don't remember word for word what was stated, but I do remember that basically, the Lord understood her inability to accept the story of Joseph and still loved her. We, her family here who have been blessed with a testimony of the gospel and Joseph's role in it's restoration, felt comfort and peace that our beloved grandmother would not be denied eternal blessings.
The one thing I have learned as I grow older, and hopefully, wiser -- is that I have much to learn. I fully believe that the traditions of our fathers and the experiences we have on earth will be taken into account at the judgment seat. I do not know all that will be considered and weighed. This is why we are counselled not to judge others.

Answer 5

If one does not believe in the Prophet Joseph Smith then one does not believe in the Book of Mormon, or the restoration of the Priesthood, etc...
Can they still attend Church? Yes. Even if one is not a member of our Church one would benefit much from the lessons and teachings which focus on the one who is important, Jesus Christ.
As for the quote from Brigham Young; could it be that his quote was taken out of context? Over and over again we are taught that it is Christ who will judge us not Brother Joseph. However, with out the blessings of the Priesthood , restored to Joseph (ie. Baptisms, Gift of the Holy Ghost, Temple ordinances), then we cannot enter into the presence of God. I believe these things to be true. If others don't that's fine with me, it doesn't effect my decision either way. I have a testimony of this Gospel, of the Resurrected Savior, the Book of Mormon, and the Temple.

Answer 6

When I was a missionary, when we would tell people the Joseph Smith story, we would tell them that we didn't want them to just accept our word for it, but to go study it, ponder it, pray about it, read the Book of Mormon and find out for themselves if they will feel the Spirit of the Lord witness the truth of it unto them.

When Brother Joseph said he didn't blame anyone for not believing his history- for one thing, he wasn't talking just about his first vision story- he was talking about his whole history. For another thing, the life of Joseph Smith was filled with some fantastic and incredible things, hard to believe at first encounter. Some things that are indeed true, will still sound a little weird sometimes... but life is full of things like this. There are many things, religious or not, that I couldn't believe when I first heard them, but as I gained more learning and experience, I am understanding more and more how God works in mysterious ways, but that He loves us and wants to reveal to us what is true and important for us to know.

Answer 7

No, it's not wrong to disbelieve any story. Some people don't believe in lots of stuff. It doesn't make them wrong - it may mean that they are in disagreement with others that's all.

No, I don't think that by believing in JS story you are claiming to be smarter or more in tune - I think JS was just pointing out that the story is one that can be hard to take on just his word...
and I have to say no, if I woke up and decided JS story was 'wrong' or 'untrue' I would be way past the point where I thought it would be a 'sin' to feel that way. I agree with Beta that if one has a testimony of this story, based on the fact that they asked for and received confirmation of such, then I think a major re-evaluation of what voices I was listening to would be in course. I don't think that's the kind of thing you believe in for years, and then just wake up one day and go - "well, that was fun, but not anymore...." it's a gradual process of pulling in a different direction. Nobody in this life is spiritually still - you are moving in a direction always: the direction may change, and the speed of movement may change, but one is always moving towards/away from something.

Answer 8

It is free agency for anyone, memeber of non memeber to believe or not belive in Joseph Smith, once they have heard his story, and once they have prayed on it.

For a member of the church though.. in order for them to be LDS, they really need to believe in Joseph Smith, since he played the roll of bringing the restored gospel back.

For someone to not believe in Joseph Smith.. then it would be really hard for them to believe in the other founding LDS beliefs. Like that we have a prophet, or that the Book of Mormon is true, etc etc etc. The bottom line, all LDS members, have some sort of testimony of Joseph Smith.

As for denying Joseph Smith's story.. yes I would feel as if I've sinned, because I'd be denying what I KNOW to be true.
It is something I prayed on, and received testimony on, before I even joined the LDS faith.

Answer 9

members or non-members of the church sometimes find it hard to believe in the story that is about how joseph smith found what he had found. I sometimes found it hard in the beginning but being a member of the church for nearly 25 years it has become alot easier to accept and to explain to people who are not of my faith and who have questions about the religion. What I find disturbing is that people will saw things about the church {which are not true} and have no clue to what they talking about and they just say it because they sometimes want to see my reaction. I hope that the information I have given you will help you understand some of it. If you have some more questions about the church dont be hesitate to ask the missionaries of the church. Who knows you might be surprised in what they have to say.

Answer 10

Yes, I would feel like I was sinning, because I have received a witness of the Holy Ghost that it is true. So if I decided not to believe Joseph's story any longer, it would be in direct contradiction to what I have been told by God.

I would feel especially bad if I didn't believe any longer but I remained a member of the church anyway, and went about deceiving my family and friends about my beliefs, and even went out and anonymously attacked the church. That would make me feel pretty hypocritical and dishonest.

EDIT: No thanks, I've read far more than 1500 words of your anti-mormon feelings on R&S already. I don't think reading another anti-mormon tract from you would add value. However, if you want to share those feelings with your bishop, I'm sure he could help clear up some of your questions.