Without Disclosing My True Identity
“America the beautiful. God bless America the land of the free and the home of th[e] brave.
Still the greatest and most blessed country in the world.” (“AquaRacer8,” “America, The Dream Goes
On-Mormon Tabernacle Choir,” YouTube, 25 Aug 2010, YouTube, LLC, 22 May 2011
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvNVzYB2ohg);
Uploaded by “PATRIOTWRITR,” “America the Beautiful (performed by the Mormon
Tabernacle Choir),” YouTube, 3 Dec. 2008, YouTube, LLC, 22 May 2011
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rzs52OzgWOs.
Compare BOM, 1 Nephi 17:13–14; 18:23; Ether 6:12; D&C, 84:2; 103:13; PGP, Articles of Faith 1:10.
(^18) Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 2 (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1956) 199; See
also DHC, 1:VI: “[N]o historical or doctrinal statement has been changed”;
John A. Widtsoe, Joseph Smith: Seeker after Truth, Prophet of God (Salt Lake City: Deseret News,
1951) 250, 256–7, 297. “There was no undercover planning in [Joseph’s] work—there was nothing to
hide. ...the use of the modern printing press ensured the continued existence of the correct history of
the Church. The History of the Church and the utterances therein contain, if read properly, a
continued evidence that Joseph Smith told the truth. ...Throughout all of his writings runs the simple
spirit of truth. ...There is in them no attempt to ‘cover up’ any act of his life. ...Mormon history and
doctrine have been carefully preserved in the published records of the Church—and all has been
published. Such was the counsel of Joseph Smith. The Church need not go astray. The preservation of
Church records forms ample protection. The History of Joseph Smith, published by the Church, as
to events and dates, may be accepted as an unusually accurate historical document. It will increase in
importance with the years and become more and more a proof of the honest sincerity of the founders
of the Church in this dispensation. The history is trustworthy. No flaws have been found in it.”
(^19) For example, see chapter 6 “Changing Revelations,” by Jerald and Sandra Tanner, The Case
Against Mormonism, Volume 1 (Salt Lake City: Utah Lighthouse™ Ministry, 1967) 131–91, including
this quote: “Revelations have been revised whenever necessary. That is the nice thing about
revelation—it is strictly open-ended.” (Letter from Dr. Hugh Nibley to Morris L. Reynolds, dated
May 12, 1966.)
See also chapter 13, “Changes in Joseph Smith’s History,” in Jerald and Sandra Tanner, The
Changing World of Mormonism, 398–416.
Also compare Elijah Abel’s priesthood ordination in 1836 by Joseph Smith, Jr. to D&C,
“Official Declaration—2,” as given by the LDS church in 1978.
(^20) DHC, 7:243. “[S]ince the death of the Prophet Joseph, the history [of Joseph Smith] has been
carefully revised under the strict inspection of President Brigham Young, and approved by him.”
(^21) The First Presidency of the church ordered that Lucy’s book published by Orson Pratt
“should be gathered up and destroyed, so that no copies should be left. ...It is utterly unreliable as a
history, as it contains many falsehoods...we, therefore, expect...every one [sic] in the Church, male
and female, if they have such a book, to dispose of it so that it will never be read by any person
again.” (“Hearken, O Ye Latter-day Saints, and All Ye Inhabitants of the Earth Who Wish to Be Saints,
To Whom This Writing Shall Come,” Millennial Star 27 [Oct. 21, 1865]: 657.)
(^22) For more information see Christopher, The Light of the Moon, forthcoming.
(^23) BOM, Jacob 4:14.
(^24) DHC, 1:71.
(^25) “Copyright, 11 June 1829,” The Joseph Smith Papers, 2010, Intellectual Reserve, Inc., 22 May
2011 http://beta.josephsmithpapers.org/paperSummary/copyright-11-june-1829.
(^26) “First and Second Plates of the Gold Plates,” Marvelous Work and a Wonder®, 2011,
Marvelous Work and a Wonder Purpose Trust, 22 May 2011
http://marvelousworkandawonder.org/q_a/contents/3lds/q06/6lds005.htm?#RodsDilemma.
(^27) DHC, 1:71–2.
(^28) See D&C, section 19.
(^29) See n. 26 above.