LDS and The "New Jerusalem"

[Martwen]

If you’re asking where it is, it is supposed to be Independence Missouri. Unfortunately for Smith and his followers, they were run out of Jackson County(even after the site of the new temple
had been dedicated and all) before they could build ‘Zion’. Seems that Smith’s neighbors didn’t take too kindly to threats.

But if God wanted his temple there would he have not allowed JS to build one there. Did Joshua fight the battle of Jecho and win against all odds! Only the site was dedicated not the temple. Again his generation is gone from the earth.

 

[ApostateRLDS]

Yes, in Missouri the citizens were very welcoming of african-americans:

Early Plans Abandoned

At the same time the Kirtland Temple was being built, a group of several temples was being planned for Independence (Jackson County), Missouri. These plans were thwarted when Mormons and Missourians proved unable to get along with each other. The political, social, economic, and religious gulf between the two groups was too wide to breach, **especially when Mormons published an editorial in their newspaper in 1833 inviting free men of color to join the church. Slave-state Missourians responded by forcibly pushing Mormons out of Jackson County. Several church members died in the process. **As a result, the planned temples in Independence were not built. Later, temples were conceived for Far West (Caldwell County) and Adam-ondi-Ahman (Daviess County), Missouri, but these too were abandoned. In the fall of 1838, problems between Missourians and Mormons escalated into in a series of armed skirmishes that historians call the Missouri Mormon War of 1838. The result was that Mormons were expelled from the state and fled to Nauvoo, Illinois, and elsewhere.

signaturebookslibrary.org…rmontemple.htm

Nice try. But what you’re saying has no basis in reality. Both Joseph Smith, Jr. and Brigham Young supported slavery as a divine institution, so you’re implication that the LDS were forced out of Jackson County because of their opposition to slavery is specious. They were forced out because the statements made by the LDS both verbally and what were found in the Book of Commandments were taken as threats by local residents.

The armed incursion into Missouri led by Joseph Smith to ‘redeem’ Jackson County( otherwise known as Zion’s Camp), the threats made by Sydney Rigdon, the terrozing of ex-LDS in Caldwell County by Joseph Smith’s personal goon squad, the Danites, the terrozing of non-LDS in Davies County, the sacking of Gallatin, the plans to sack both Richmond and Liberty Missouri, the attack on a contigent of Missouri militia, the attempted assasination of ex-Governor Boggs …All of these events vindicate the residents of Jackson and Clay Counties and discredit the preposterous notion that the LDS were driven out out because of their religious beliefs or because of their supposed oppposition to slavery.

 

[BartBurk]

Nice try. But what you’re saying has no basis in reality. Both Joseph Smith, Jr. and Brigham Young supported slavery as a divine institution, so you’re implication that the LDS were forced out of Jackson County because of their opposition to slavery is specious. They were forced out because the statements made by the LDS both verbally and what were found in the Book of Commandments were taken as threats by local residents.

The armed incursion into Missouri led by Joseph Smith to ‘redeem’ Jackson County( otherwise known as Zion’s Camp), the threats made by Sydney Rigdon, the terrozing of ex-LDS in Caldwell County by Joseph Smith’s personal goon squad, the Danites, the terrozing of non-LDS in Davies County, the sacking of Gallatin, the plans to sack both Richmond and Liberty Missouri, the attack on a contigent of Missouri militia, the attempted assasination of ex-Governor Boggs …All of these events vindicate the residents of Jackson and Clay Counties and discredit the preposterous notion that the LDS were driven out out because of their religious beliefs or because of their supposed oppposition to slavery.

I don’t believe Joseph Smith felt slavery was a divine institution. In his campaign for President he endorsed purchasing the slaves, freeing them, and sending them to Mexico where there was less racism. BY definitely thought it to be a divine institution. I think it is possible that most of Mormonism’s racist policies began with BY instead of Joseph Smith.

 

[Elric]

I am not saying that at all. But did you read the links? I think that you will see just where mormons are coming from. This is why I posted the links. Better understanding can lead to dialogue.

I read your links, they raise more questions but one in particular:

What is with all this re-direction and evasivness (its something that I have noticed with all the mormon FAQs/arguments that I have read)?

Its all “if you attack the BOM ect, then you also attack the Bible” or “if you attack Joe Smiths prophecies, then you attack the Bible as well” .

Not only is this completly unhelpful and not answer the questions asked (or arguments put foward), but it is completly false.

They dont explain an any way why Mr Smiths prophecies didnt come true, or answer any of the questions regarding the questionable origions of the BOM or the apparent Hebrew civilisation in North America or anything else for that matter.

Why not simply be open and honest instead of resorting to evasive and misdirection with your answers?

When you act in such a way, it makes it appear as though you have something to hide. Is this the case?

Oh and by the way, Mr Smith didnt prophecise the ACW. Its not even close to what happened. I would suggest that you lot stop using selective hind sight in the vain attempt to make his prophecies true, its not really working for you.

 

[Jerusha]

I don’t believe Joseph Smith felt slavery was a divine institution. In his campaign for President he endorsed purchasing the slaves, freeing them, and sending them to Mexico where there was less racism. BY definitely thought it to be a divine institution. I think it is possible that most of Mormonism’s racist policies began with BY instead of Joseph Smith.

Agreed. We need to be accurate. We don’t need to lie or juggle conflicting statements and beliefs to prove that we are right.:tiphat:

 

[ApostateRLDS]

I don’t believe Joseph Smith felt slavery was a divine institution. In his campaign for President he endorsed purchasing the slaves, freeing them, and sending them to Mexico where there was less racism. BY definitely thought it to be a divine institution. I think it is possible that most of Mormonism’s racist policies began with BY instead of Joseph Smith.

Well, he may have changed his position for political expediency(imagine that, a candidate changing his position to get elected), but if you read the LDS Church’s ‘History of the Church’, Vol.2, Ch.30, Pg.438,you’ll see Smith going to great lengths to justify his position that slavery was ordained by God.