Philadelphia acceptance of LDS temple

  • Thread starter Thread starter gazelam
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
Prayers extended recognizing the temple and comments read through this title will continue so make it a great day.
 
Not a lot of explaining of LDS scripture going on in this thread.

Do the D&C’s get deleted or modified from time to time?
 
campeador said:
Not a lot of explaining of LDS scripture going on in this thread.

Do the D&C’s get deleted or modified from time to time?
Click to expand...
I’m not sure about deleted. I know some were changed or edited and that revelations that Joseph Smith recorded in the Book of Commandments (that later became some of the source material for the D&C) were omitted.
Letter from Dr. Hugh Nibley to Morris L:
Revelations have been revised whenever necessary. That is the nice thing about revelation—it is strictly open-ended.
Click to expand...
The most common changes to the D&C in the modern Mormon church occur at the administrative level. Polygamy is currently administratively prohibited, but doctrinally still part of exaltation. The Word of Wisdom is administratively required for the “saving ordinances needed for exaltation” in the temple despite D&C saying it wasn’t a commandment. Tithing is administratively “understood to be 10% of income” despite it not saying “income” but “increase” in the D&C - and definitely not practiced as “income” in the early Mormon church.

Similarly, changes such as the recent prohibition of baptism of children adopted by same-sex couples are administrative and occur in the confidential “Church Handbook of Instructions” that standard members have no access to - unless they go to Wikileaks. For all the talk of prophets, seers, and revelators, the Brighamite sect of Mormonism has the fewest revelations and prophesies in their D&C.

This guy has some research into the topic, with scans and comparisons of the early revisions of the D&C and changes that were made.
 
The* Lectures on Faith* published in 1834 were once Mormon scripture but were dropped in 1920. The Lectures on Faith were Mormon teachings which included “the Father being a personage of spirit” and something close to the Christian trinity.
 
Thanks AnimaQuaerenti and Stephen. So it does seem that the D&C’s have been changed in the past, and that LDS scripture can be changed and that sections can be deleted.

In light of this, do the LDS believe Joseph Smith will have power over Salem, and that this city will be given into his hands, etc. as stated in D&C 111, or do they plan to modify, change or possibly delete this from scripture, or is this a prophecy that will be fulfilled sometime in the future?
 
campeador said:
In light of this, do the LDS believe Joseph Smith will have power over Salem, and that this city will be given into his hands, etc. as stated in D&C 111, or do they plan to modify, change or possibly delete this from scripture, or is this a prophecy that will be fulfilled sometime in the future?
Click to expand...
Ah, Section 111 - time to let loose the backwards and mentally disingenuous Mormon apologia!

After the trip, it was insisted that the trip to Salem was “a venture of their own design, not one of divine direction.” That gives them the out of being accused of false prophecy. To the more particular point that they found no treasure, the faithful LDS apologist will say that the treasure was in proselyting, not in earthly riches - despite the fact that Smith and company went there to alleviate the church’s crippling debt.

Erastus Snow and Benjamin Winchester later went back to Salem and started a Mormon church there, and called the prophecy fulfilled - so no, campeador, there’s no reason to look behind the curtain! There’s no false revelation here! Just a story that clearly doesn’t make sense to non-Mormons but is perfectly accepted by Mormon believers.
 
AnimaQuaerenti said:
Ah, Section 111 - time to let loose the backwards and mentally disingenuous Mormon apologia!

After the trip, it was insisted that the trip to Salem was “a venture of their own design, not one of divine direction.” That gives them the out of being accused of false prophecy. To the more particular point that they found no treasure, the faithful LDS apologist will say that the treasure was in proselyting, not in earthly riches - despite the fact that Smith and company went there to alleviate the church’s crippling debt.

Erastus Snow and Benjamin Winchester later went back to Salem and started a Mormon church there, and called the prophecy fulfilled - so no, campeador, there’s no reason to look behind the curtain! There’s no false revelation here! Just a story that clearly doesn’t make sense to non-Mormons but is perfectly accepted by Mormon believers.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the explanation AQ. I think it’s important to note that the building of the Kirkland temple in 1836 had left the church deeply in debt. The pressure to pay off his creditors is almost certainly the reason for his trip to Salem. (Source)
 
campeador said:
Thanks for the explanation AQ. I think it’s important to note that the building of the Kirkland temple in 1836 had left the church deeply in debt. The pressure to pay off his creditors is almost certainly the reason for his trip to Salem. (Source)
Click to expand...
A similar analogue to this story is when Joseph and company unsuccessfully attempted to sell the copyright to the Book of Mormon in Canada. If you haven’t read up on it before, it’s equally entertaining.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top