~~The Prophets Have Spoken~~

JOSEPH SMITH	"God made Aaron to be the mouth piece for the children of Isreal.* and He will make me to god to you in His stead, and the Elders to be mouth for me; and if you don’t like it, you must lump it." (Documentary History of the Church,--same as History of Church, vol. 6, pp. 319,320). (Emphasis in these quotes is often added.)
BRIGHAM YOUNG	" I know just as well what to teach this people and just what to say to them and what to do in order to bring them into the celestial kingdom, as I know the road to my office. . . . I have never yet preached a sermon and sent it out to the children of men, that they may not call Scripture. Let me have the privilege of correcting a sermon, and it is as good Scriptures as they deserve." (Journal of Discourses, vol. 13, p.95. Also see vol.13, p.264).
JOSEPH SMITH	"I have more to boast of than ever any man had. I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam. A large majority of the whole have stood by me. Neither Paul, John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did it. I boast that no man ever did such a work as I." (D.H.C., vol. 6, pp. 408,409). Joseph was murdered June 27, 1844, almost one month to the day after this boast was made. Proverbs 16:18 tells us "Pride goeth before destruction. . . ."
BRIGHAM YOUNG	"Who can tell us of the inabitants of this little planet that shines of an evening, called the moon? . . .So it is with regard to the inhabitants of the sun. Do you think it is inhabited? I rather think it is. Do you think there is any life there? No question of it; it was not made in vain." (J.O.D., vol. 13, p. 271).
JOSEPH SMITH	"The whole earth shall bear me witness that I, like the towering rock in the midst of the ocean, which has withstood the mighty surges of the warring waves of centuries, am impregnabele. . .I combat the errors of ages; I meet the violence of mobs; I cope with illegal proceedings from executive authority; I cut the gordian knot of powers, and I solve mathematical problems of the universities, with truth—diamond truth; and God is my "right hand man." (D.H.C., vol.6, p. 78). Where was his "right hand man" the day he was shot in Carthage, less than one year later?
BRIGHAM YOUNG	"Gold and silver grow, and so does every other kind of metal, the same as the hair upon my head, or the wheat in the field; . . ." (J.O.D., vol. 1, p. 219).
	"I am a lawyer; I am a big lawyer and comprehend heaven, earth and hell, to bring forth knowledge that shall cover up all lawyers, doctors and other big bodies." (D.H.C., vol. 5, p. 289.)
	"Again, if a pure Gentile firmly believes in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and yields obedience to it, in such a case I will give you the words of the Prophet Joseph –"When the Lord pour out the Holy Ghost upon that individual he will have spasms, and you would think that he was going into fits." (J.O.D., vol. 2, p. 269). Perhaps Joseph and Brigham weren’t aware that when the Holy Ghost was poured out upon the gentile Cornelius and other Gentiles, they spoke with tongues and magnified God (Acts 10:45, 46). There isn’t even a hint that they went into spasms! (How would a spasm manify God anyway?)
	"Don’t employ lawyers, or pay them money for their knowledge, for I have learned that they don’t know anything. I know more than they all." (D.H.C., vol. 5, p.467).
	"I say, rather than that apostates should flourish here. I will unsheath my bowie knife, and conquer or die. (Great commotion in the congregation, and a simultaneous burst of feeling, assenting to the declaration.) Now, you nasty apostates, clear out, or judgement will be put to the line. . . .If you say it is right, raise your hands. (All hands up.) Let us call upon the Lord to assist us in this, and every good work. (J.O.D., vol. 1, p. 83). So much for freedom of religion in Brigham's say. Notice that killing apostates is called a good work.
	"If I reprove a man, and he hates me, he is a fool; for I love all men, espically these my brethren and sister." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 361, Journal of Discourses, vol. 6, p. 11). Although Joseph obviously loved himself, one must wonder about his love for "all men" in view of what he had to say about David Whitmer (one of the Book of Mormon witnesses) in the following quote.
	" I could refer you to plenty of instances where men have been righteously slain, in order to stone for their sins. . . .This is loving our neighbor as ourselves; if he needs help, help him; and if he wants salvation and it is necessary to spill his blood on the earth in order that he may be saved, spill it." (J.O.D., vol. 4, p. 220).
	"This poor man who professes to be much of a prophet has no other dumb ass to ride But David Whitmer,* to forbid his madness when he goes up to curse Isreal; and this ass not being of the same kind as Balaam's....Poor ass! " (D.H.C., vol. 3, p. 228). On page 232 he said, "Such characters as MeLellin, John Whitmer, David Whitmer, Oliver Cowdery, and Martin Harris, are too mean to mention; and we had; liked to have forgotten them." (Here we have all three witnesses to the Book of Mormon being put down.)
	"I intend to meet them on their own grounds....and if any miserable scoundrels come here, cut their throats. (All the people said, Amen.) (J.O.D., vol. 2, p. 311.)
	". . . .and I prophesy in the name of the Lord God of Isreal, unless the United States redress the wrongs committed upon the Saints in the state of Missouri and punish the crimes committed by her officers that in a few years the government will be utterly overthrown and wasted, and there will not be so much as a potsherd left, . . . . " (D.H.C., vol. 5, p. 394). This prophecy was made in May of 1843. About 140 years have come and gone, but where is the evidence that the U.S. ever redressed the wrongs committed upon the Saints in Missouri? Why wasn't the government "utterly overthrown and wasted?" This is a false prophecy!
	"Now hear it, O inhabitants of the earth, Jew and Gentile, Saint and sinner! When our father Adam came into the garden of Eden, he came into it with a celestial body and brought Eve, one of his wives, with him. He helped to make and organize this world. He is MICHAEL, The Archangel, the ANCIENT OF DAYS! about whom holy men have written and spoken--He is our Father and our GOD, and the only God with whom WE have to do. . . .And who is the Father? He is the first of the human family; . . . .Now, let all who may hear these doctrines, pause before they make light of them, or treat them with indifference, for they will prove their salvation or damnation." (Journal of Discourses, vol. 1, pp. 50, 51). Brigham claimed that "Our Father in Heaven begat all the spirits that ever were, or ever will be upon this earth;...." (ibid., p.50). In a letter to Eugene England, L.D.S. Apostle Bruce R. McConkie admitted, "Yes, President Young did teach that Adam was the father of our spirits...." (Our Heavenly Father is the father of our spirits, according to current Mormon Church definition.)
	"Blessed of the Lord is my son Joseph, who is called the third, for the Lord knows the integrity of his heart. . . .For he shall be my successor to the President of the High Priesthood; a Seer; and a Revelator, and a Prophet, unto the Church; which appointment belongeth to him by blessing, and also by right. Verily, thus saith the Lord; if he abides in me, his days shall be lengthened upon the earth, but if he abides not in me, I, the Lord, will receive him, in an instant, unto myself." (Blessings of Joseph Smith, III, January 17, 1844). J.S. I I I lived to be 82, but he became prophet of the R.L.D.S. Church! If the prophecy is true, then the R.L.D.S. church would be the true church. If it isn't true, then Joseph was a false prophet.
	"Some have grumbled because I believe our God to be so near to us as Father Adam. There are many who know that doctrine to be true." (J.O.D., vol. 5, p.331).
	"And now I am prepared to say by the authority of Jesus Christ, that not many years shall pass away before the United States shall present such a scene of bloodshed as has not a parallel in the history of our nation; pestilence, hail, famine, and earthquake will sweep the wicked of this generation from off the face of the land, to open and prepare the way for the return of the lost tribes of Israel from the north country. The people of the Lord. . . . have already commenced gathering together to Zion, before the overflowing scourge overtake you, for there are those now living upon the earth whose eyes shall not be closed in death until they see all these things, which I have spoken, fulfilled." (D.H.C., vol. 1, pp. 315-316). This 1833 prediction is a classic false prophecy. "This generation" was not wiped off the face of the land. How many of that generation of some 150 years ago are still alive today?
	"How much unbelief exists in the minds of the Latter-day Saints in regard to one particular doctrine which I revealed to them, and which God revealed to me--namely that Adam is our father and God--I do not know, I do not inquire, I care nothing about it . . . ."Well," says one, "Why was Adam called Adam?" He was the first man on earth, and its farmer and maker. He, with the help of  his brethren, brought it into existence. Then he said, "I want my children who are in the spirit world to come and live here. I once dwelt upon an earth something like this, in a mortal state, I was faithful, I received my crown and exaltation . . . I want my children that were born to me in the spirit world to come here and take tabernacles of flesh, that their spirits may have a house, a tabernacle or a dwelling place as mine has, and where is the mystery?" (Deseret News, June 18, 1873). There is no mystery Brigham had the wrong God, therefore he was a false prophet.
	"Verily, thus saith the Lord concerning the wars that will shortly come to pass, beginning at the rebellion of South Carolina....And the time will come that war will be pured out upuon all nations, beginning at this place . . . . For behold, the Southern States shall be divided against the Northern States. . . .and the war shall be poured out upon all nations." (Doctrine and Covenants, 87: 1-3). This prophecy is dated December 25, 1832. On October 29, 1832, President Andrew Jackson ordered Charleston, S.C. harbor forts placed on alert by the Secretary of War. On December 10th he issued a proclamation to the people of South Carolina, indicating that no state had the right to leave the Union or refuse to obey federal law. Fifteen days later, Joseph had his "revelation." On top of that, the fighting never grew to the point where war was poured out upon all nations then!
	"In the days of Joseph, it was considered a great privilege to be permitted to speak to a member of Congress, but twenty-six years will not pass away before the Elders of this Church will be as much thought of as the Kings on their thrones." (J.O.D., vol. 4, p. 40). The 26 years was up on August 31, 1882, but the Edmunds Act was passed against polygamy in the territories on March 22, 1882. This doesn't speak well for the popularity of L.D.S. elders at that time. One more false prophecy.
	"Again, let my servant John C. Bennett help you in your labor. . . .And for his love he shall be great, for he shall be mine if he do this, saith the Lord. I have seen the work which he hath done, which I accept if he continue, and will crown him blessings and great glory." (Doctrine and Covenants, 124: 16, 17). Given on January 19, 1841, we can see from this "revelation" that John C. Bennett's work is acceptable before God. At the very time the "revelation" was given however, something was going on in Bennett's live that paints quite a different picture, according to Documentary History of the Church,. vol.5, p. 42; "It becomes my duty to lay before you some facts relative to the conduct of our major geneal, John Bennett, which have been proven beyond the possibility of a dispute, and which he himself has admitted to be true in my presence. It is evident that his general character is that of an adulterer of the worst kind, . . .More than twenty months ago Bennett went to a lady in the city and began to teach her that promiscuous intercourse between the sexes was lawful and no harm in it. . . . he accomplished his designs; . . ." (June 24, 1842). If you go back 20 months from this date you are in the fall of 1840, or about 3 months before the D.&C. "revelation." Therefore the D.&C. "revelation" is false and so is the "prophet" who gave it.
	"Do you think that we shall ever be admitted as a State into the Union without denying the principle of polygamy?" If we are not admitted until then, we shall never be admitted." (J.O.D., vol, 11, p. 269). But the L.D.S. Church did officially give up polygamy and then the State of Utah became a reality.
	"We have imagined and supposed that God was God from all eternity. I will refute that idea and take away the veil, so that you may see." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 345). He just refuted Moroni 8:18! Psalm 90:2 says,". . .even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God," Joseph claimed that God is an exalted man (but read Hosea 11:9 and Numbers 23:19).
	"Ham will continue to be the servant of servants, as the Lord has decreed, until the curst is removed. Will the present struggle free the slave? No; but they are now wasting away the black race by thousands." (J.O.D., vol. 10,j p250). This prophecy, made during the Civil War in 1863 in simply one more proof that Brigham was a false prophet.)
	"Here, then is eternal life--to know the only wise and true God; and you have got to learn how to be Gods yourselves, and to be kings and priests to God, the same as all Gods have done before you. . . ." (Ibid., p.346). But God has a radically different view of our chances of becoming Gods because He said, ". . . before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me." ( Isaiah 43:10). All vacancies are filled by God! We'll never become Gods because He said so.
	"You see some classes of the human family that are black, uncouth, uncomely, disagreeable and low in their habits, wild, and seemingly deprived of nearly all the blessings of the intelligence that is generally bestowed upon mankind. . . .and the Lord put a mark upon him, which is the flat nose and black skin. . . . How long is that race to endure the dreadful curse that is upon them? That curse will remain upon them, and they never can hold the Priesthood or share in it until all the other descendants of Adam have received the promises and enjoyed the blessings of the Priesthood and the keys thereof." (J.O.D., vol. 7, pp. 290-291).
	"In the beginning, the head of the Gods called a council of the Gods; and they came together and concocted a plan to create the world and people in it." (Ibid., p.349). But God doesn't even know of any other Gods out there (see Isaiah 44:8)!
	"Can you make a Christian of a Jew? I tell you, nay. If a Jew comes into this Church, and honestly professes to be a Saint, a follower of Christ, and if the blood of Judah is in his veins, he will apostatize." (J.O.D., vol. 2, p. 142).
	"There never was a time when there were not spirits; for they are co-equal with our Father in heaven." (Journal of Discourses, vol. 6, p.6). They are not co-equal with our Father in heaven! You don't worship someone you are equal with. Only God is eternal (cf. Psalms 90:2). By Christ ". . .were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible. . . . he is before all things, . . ." (Colossians 1: 16, 17).
	". . .Heber C. Kimball was beset by a number of Baptist priests who had been attending a conference. He read them all down out of the New Testament. . . . He sat for two hours and advanced much Scripture that never was in the Bible. . . With regard to true theology, a more ignorant people never lived than the so called Christian world." (J.O.D., vol. 8, p.199). Heber was apparently adept at inventing scripture as were others such as Joseph Smith. Brigham, on the other hand, had his own problems with Biblical ignorance as you can see from the following quote: "I think these preliminaries will satisfy me, and I feel prepared to take my text. It is the words of Jesus Christ, but where they are in the Bible I cannot tell you now, for I have not taken pains to look at them. I have had so much to do, that I have not read the Bible for many years, I used to read and study it, but did not understand the spirit and meaning of it . . ." (from the unpublished October 8, 1854 Conference discourse as published by the Stakes West Publishing Co., Scottsdale, Arizona) The text that Brigham couldn't locate was John 17:3. Had Brigham known the God that John 17:3 talks about, he would never have claimed that He was Adam (this Conference sermon identifies Adam as being the father of our spirits).
	"I might with boldness proclaim from the housetops that God never had the power to create the spirit of man at all." (Journal of Discourses, vol. 6, p.7). But God is almighty (Revelation 1:8) and He does have the power to create spirits("...saith the Lord, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him." -Zechariah 12:1).
	"Well now, examine the character of the Savior, and examine the characters of those who have written the Old and New Testaments; and then compare them with the character of Joseph Smith, the founder of this work--the man whom God called and to whom he gave the keys of Priesthood, and through whom he has established his Church and kingdom for the last time, and you will find that his character stands as fair as that of any man's mentioned in the Bible." (J.O.D., vol.14, p.203). Was Joseph's character really as fair as that of the Savior, the sinless son of God?
	"The greatest responsibility in this world that God has laid upon us is to seek after our dead." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p.356). A scribe asked Jesus, "Which is the first commandment of all?" Jesus answered, "The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; the Lord our God is one Lord: and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these." (See Mark 12: 28-31). There's not even a hint here about seeking after our dead!
	. . . no man or woman in this dispensation will ever enter into the celestial kingdom of God without the consent of Joseph Smith. . . . ever 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 . . . ." ( J.O.D., vol. 7, p.289). True faith in Jesus Christ is all that is needed for entrance into God's celestial presence. Jesus paid the price for that passport in His own blood. No certification from Joseph Smith will been seen anywhere up there, and neither will Joseph Smith, little doubt.
	Nearly all the great discoveries of men in the last half century have, in one way or another, either directly or indirectly, contributed to prove Joseph Smith to be a Prophet. As far back as 1837, I know that he said the moon was inhabited by men and women the same as this earth, and that they lived to a greater age than we do--that they live generally to near the age of a 1000 years. He described the men as averaging near six feet in height, and dressing quite uniformely in something near the Quaker style. (Young Woman's Journal, Oliver B. Huntington, vol. 3, p.263, 1892).
	"There is not a man or woman, who violates the covenants made with their God, that will not be required to pay the debt. The blood of Christ will never wipe that out, your own blood must atone for it; . . .(J.O.D., vol. 3, p. 247). The Bible says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighterounness." ( I John 1:9).
	"Some of our old traditions teach us that a man guilty of atrocious and murderous acts may savingly repent when on the scaffold; and upon the execution you will hear the expression--"Bless God! he has gone to heaven, to be crowned in glory, through the all-redeeming merits of Christ the Lord." This is all non-sense. Such a character never will see heaven." (J.O.D., vol. 4, p. 219). One man guilty of the atrocious act of thievery asked Jesus, "Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.:  (Luke 23:42).  Jesus said, "Today shalt thou be with me in paradise." (vs. 43). Although paradise used to be in the earth, the third heaven is now called paradise ( 2 Corinthians 12: 2, 4).

     Bragging and threatening, making false prophecies and promoting un-Biblical and strange views of God and nature, these self-proclaimed prophets can guarantee nothing but a terrible and for those who follow them. Sincerity and "burning-in-the-bosom-testimonies" are not enough. You must be sincerely right. Jesus put it well when He said:
    
". . .And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch."               (Matthew 15:14)

      The record speaks for itself. Please don't just throw this paper away and try to excuse these men by saying, "Well, a prophet is only a prophet when he is speaking as a prophet." How many false prophecies does it take to make a false prophet? Only one (see Deuteronomy 18:20-21). Prophets aren't given the luxury of speculating on the nature of God. If Brigham had tried to promote "Adam-God" in the days of Joshua in the Old Testament, he likely would have ended up under a pile of rocks (see Deuteronomy 13:1-5).

      Can you trust your eternal destiny to men like these? Not if you have the love of the truth. Speaking of the coming son of perdition. Paul wrote:
     "Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders...because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe as a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12).

   Well, who should you follow then? There is only One Who is worthy. Follow Jesus. "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." (Matthew 16:24). He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (See John 14:6). By Him, not by a church or some system of good works fo we really come the the Father, Heaven or hell is decided right here. Do you really know Him or just know about Him? Those that really know Him have eternal lif (see John 17:3). Are you trusting in His shed blood for the sins that you've committed (Romans 3:25) or is your faith in an organization, good works, and "living prophets" who sustain false prophets such as Joseph and Brigham as being true prophets. You probably wouldn't gamble your life savings on a single roll of the dice in Las Vegas. Have you been gambling your eternal future on men who are a worse risk than the odds in a casino? Don't. You'll surely lose. Place your life in the hands of Jesus Christ.

     Receive the real Jesus today as your personal Savior. . . ."But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name." (John 1:12).

Wally Tope
P.O. Box 1100, La Canada Flintridge, CA 91011