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Mormonism and history/Censorship and revision
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Censorship and revision of Church history
Summary: Some claim that the church has "whitewashed" some of the information about its origins to appear more palatable to members and investigators. Some feel that this is done intentionally to hide negative aspects of church history. Others feel that it is done to focus on the good, but that it causes problems for believing members when they encounter these issues outside of church curriculum.
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- Has the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) "whitewashed" its history?
- Artistic depictions of the Book of Mormon translation
- Does the Church excommunicate scholars who publish historical information?
- Brigham Young and plural marriage
- Hiding the facts of Church history in plain sight using Church publications
- Brigham Young's attempt to destroy all copies of Lucy Mack Smith's biography of Joseph Smith
Has the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) "whitewashed" its history?
Jump to Subtopic:
- Question: Has The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints deceived its members regarding controversial issues about its origins, history, and/or scripture?
- Question: What are the different levels of knowledge that members may have about Church history?
- Question: Do Mormon histories have a long history of omitting mention of plural marriage as a cause for the Saints' troubles in Illinois?
- Question: Why does the account of Sidney Rigdon's 'trial' recorded in the Times and Seasons differs markedly from the version available in the History of the Church?
- Question: Does Oliver Cowdery's blessing and promise to Orson Hyde contain a false prophecy, which was then altered before being printed in History of the Church?
- Question: Did Wilford Woodruff criticize assistant Church Historian Andrew Jenson's decision to publish the names of those who were married to Joseph Smith because he wanted to hide the fact that Joseph was married to other women?
- Question: Did the Church order Ronald L. Poelman's 1984 conference talk to be re-recorded with a "cough track" in order to hide the fact that changes had been made?
- Question: Why is History of the Church written in first-person, as if Joseph Smith himself wrote it?
- Question: How has the Church responded to issues related to Church history?
- Question: Does Church manual, The Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young, attempt to "hide history" by portraying Brigham Young (a well-known polygamist) as having only one wife?
- Question: What does The Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young say about Brigham's wives?
Artistic depictions of the Book of Mormon translation
Summary: People are sometimes troubled when they see artists' depictions of the Prophet and Oliver sitting at a table while Joseph views the plates as they sit in plain sight. Obviously, the plates often didn't sit in plain view, and these artistic interpretations originate purely in the mind of the artist. Some accounts indicate that the plates sat on a table covered with a cloth "in plain view," with Emma indicating that she actually moved them around in order to perform her household chores.[1]
Jump to Subtopic:
- Question: Does Church art always reflect reality?
- Question: Why are people concerned about Church artwork?
- Question: Is the Church trying to hide something through its use of artwork?
- Question: Why doesn't the art match details which have been repeatedly spelled out in Church publications?
- Question: How do non-Mormon artists treat the Nativity?
- Question: What message does the Book of Mormon translation painting convey?
Does the Church excommunicate scholars who publish historical information?
Jump to Subtopic:
- Question: Who are the "September Six"?
- Question: Are the reasons for discipline ever made public?
- Statement by The Council of the First Presidency and The Quorum of the Twelve on Church Discipline
Brigham Young and plural marriage
Summary: It is claimed that the Church's manual, The Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young, attempts to "hide history" by portraying Brigham Young (a well-known polygamist) as having only one wife.
Jump to Subtopic:
- Question: Does Church manual, The Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young, attempt to "hide history" by portraying Brigham Young (a well-known polygamist) as having only one wife?
- Question: What does The Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young say about Brigham's wives?
Hiding the facts of Church history in plain sight using Church publications
Summary: The Church is routinely accused of suppressing and hiding uncomfortable facts from its own history. Yet, the very same people quote Church sources in order to provide proof of their claims. This concern often rests on a misunderstanding. It is true that the Church's teachings are primarily doctrinal and devotional—Church lessons are neither apologetic nor historical in scope or intent. It is remarkable, however, how many of the issues which some charge the Church with "suppressing" are discussed in Church publications.
Jump to Subtopic:
- Question: What Church sources discuss Joseph Smith and "folk magic"?
- Question: What Church sources discuss Joseph Smith's involvement with seer stones, treasure seeking or "money digging"?
- Changes to the Book of Mormon
- The seer stone and/or the stone with the hat
- Book of Mormon authorship theories
- B.H. Roberts and the Book of Mormon
- Book of Mormon and DNA
- Book of Mormon geography
- Polygamy
- Changes to the Doctrine and Covenants
- First Vision Accounts
- Kinderhook plates
- Kirtland Safety Society
- Martyrdom and Joseph's use of a gun
- Changes to the Word of Wisdom
- Joseph Smith and politics
- Origin of the Book of Abraham and Joseph Smith papyri
- Violence and conflict
- Isaiah in the Book of Mormon
- Anachronisms in the Book of Mormon
- Blacks
Brigham Young's attempt to destroy all copies of Lucy Mack Smith's biography of Joseph Smith
Summary: Did Brigham Young attempt to suppress and destroy all copies of Lucy Mack Smith's Biographical Sketches of Joseph Smith because it contained information which would embarrass the Church? It is claimed that Brigham Young inserted the reference to Joseph Smith's First Vision into Lucy's book. Critics also try to prove that the silence of Joseph's mother and siblings in her history prove that the First Vision did not take place, and is a later fabrication by Joseph, and not well known to the early members of the church.
Jump to Subtopic:
- Question: Did Brigham Young attempt to suppress and destroy all copies of Lucy Mack Smith's Biographical Sketches of Joseph Smith?
- Question: Did Brigham Young insert the reference to Joseph's First Vision into Lucy Mack Smith's history?
- Question: Was the Prophet's mother Lucy Mack Smith silent about Joseph's history?
Notes
- ↑ Interview of Emma Smith by her son Joseph Smith III, "Interview with Joseph Smith III, 1879," Dan Vogel (editor), Early Mormon Documents (Salt Lake City, Signature Books, 1996–2003), 5 vols, 1:541–542.