Without Disclosing My True Identity
gospel given by the Savior to the ancient inhabitants of the world. The LDS/Mormon people
convinced themselves that they were the “covenant people” spoken of in the Book of
Mormon.^54 Joseph always knew better. The people wanted their church. They wanted it
organized as they believed Christ organized it when he was among the Jews and the
Nephites. They wanted to believe that they were a chosen people.
More Truth Concerning “Priesthood Authority”
If “restoring” the Church of Christ to its original state, when Jesus supposedly
organized it, was of such importance, and “restoring” “priesthood authority” and
calling Twelve Apostles a part of that, then why did it take so long for the church to be
organized? In 1830 there were no Twelve Apostles; not in 1831; not in 1832; not in 1833;
not in 1834. Yet the people still believed they belonged to God’s true church?! It wasn’t
until 1835 that the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles was officially formed.^55 Why didn’t
Joseph himself choose the Twelve? Why wasn’t there any mention of how the Church
received the priesthood until many years later?
Many critics question the LDS/Mormon priesthood with good cause and, in some
cases, with honest reflection. Sincere research throws a spurious light on this authority and
its evolution among the LDS people. LDS Priesthood organization was a mixture of Catholic
New Testament interpolations (made hundreds of years after Christ) and 19th Century
American politics. There were three bodies—the First Presidency (the Executive Branch), the
Quorum of the Twelve (Legislative Branch/Congress), and the Quorum of the Seventies
(Judicial Branch)—all elected by the voice of the people.
As is so often the case, what starts with the politicking of assurances ends in tyranny;
and Brigham Young’s church eventually did away with the peoples’ vote and nominations
and turned “priesthood authority” into “whatever the prophet says, goes.” There are many
books claiming to reveal the truth about where the Church got its authority. But Joseph
authorized only one book to convey, officially, the real truth about its institution,
development, and utter lack of true authority—this biography. Official comments to this end
are included in this biography as Appendix 1.
A Powerful Conversion Tool
The early converts to the Church were not converted by “priesthood authority.”
They were converted by the Book of Mormon, a book that they read (or in most cases, had
read to them), but did not understand. The Book of Mormon was a powerful mental
transformation tool for Bible believers. It had the conversion power intended by the
advanced beings who created it. It was the first part of the final lesson intended for the
mortal inhabitants of the earth.
Of course, it was penned by Joseph Smith’s scribes, but it came directly through the
Urim and Thummim as intended by the advanced monitors who authored it. Its conversion
power comes from a person taking the time, having a sincere heart and real intent,^56 to read
it; none who do, and who accept the Bible, can ever honestly admit that there is not some
divine purpose intended in its existence. However, few who read the book understand it for
what it is. They miss the clues. They miss the hidden truths that, if they had noticed, they
would have recognized as the book’s true intent.