You know, you remind me a little of a friend of mine who was catholic. He switched to the LDS church a few years ago. He was also really good at deliberately taking words and twisting them.
I am reposting the information to make it easier on you to point out where I have twisted anything. I use the Doctrines and Covenants from the LDS website, an excerpt from Joseph Smith’s speech (easily found online) and Old Testament scriptures for documentation.
According to the Mormon Doctrine and
Covenants 84:1-5, Joseph Smith prophesied a temple, to be known as the city of the New Jerusalem, would be built in the Western boundaries of the state of Missouri. I have bolded parts of this passage, below, for emphasis.
1
A revelation of Jesus Christ unto his servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and six elders, as they united their hearts and lifted their voices on high.
2
Yea, the word of the Lord concerning his church, established in the last days for the restoration of his people, as he has spoken by the mouth of his prophets, and for the gathering of his saints to stand upon Mount Zion, which shall be the city of New Jerusalem.
3 Which city shall be built, beginning at the temple lot, which is appointed by the finger of the Lord, in the western boundaries of the State of Missouri, and
dedicated by the hand of Joseph Smith, Jun., and others with whom the Lord was well pleased.
4 Verily this is the word of the Lord, that the city New Jerusalem shall be built by the gathering of the saints, beginning at this place, even the place of the temple,
which temple shall be reared in this generation.
5 For verily this generation shall not all pass away until an house shall be built unto the Lord, and a cloud shall rest upon it, which cloud shall be even the glory of the Lord, which shall fill the house.
This temple has not been built yet, some 160+ years later. Even if it was, can the hand of Joseph Smith dedicate it?
How can we tell a false prophet? Deuteronomy 18:20-22 tells us how to distinguish a true prophet from a false one.
Deu 18:20
But the prophet, who being corrupted with pride, shall speak in my name things that I did not command him to say, or in the name of strange gods, shall be slain.
Deu 18:21 And if in silent thought thou answer: How shall I know the word that the Lord hath not spoken?
Deu 18:22 Thou shalt have this sign:
Whatsoever that same prophet foretelleth in the name of the Lord, and it cometh not to pass: that thing the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath forged it by the pride of his mind: and therefore thou shalt not fear him.
One false prophesy proves a false prophet.
The following revelation did come true.
In
D&C 3:4 (given in 1828), we find this: “
For although a man may have many revelations, and have power to do many mighty works, yet if he boasts in his own strength, and sets at naught the counsels of God, and follows after the dictates of his own will and carnal desires, he must fall and incur the vengeance of a just God upon him…”
Joseph Smith gave a speech in May 1844,
Smith proclaimed this: "I have more to boast of than any man ever had. I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a church together since the days of Adam.…Neither Paul, John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did it. I boast that no man ever did such a work as I. The followers of Jesus ran away from him; but the Latter-day Saints never ran away from me yet."
Just 30 days from making that boast, on June 27, 1844; Joseph Smith was shot to death in Carthage jail.
May the peace of the Lord be with you,
Prodigal Son1