Which part is it that you find most unsettling? From my reading, it says nothing worse than than any other church proclaims.
There are several things that I would consider unsettling to say the least. I would consider it problematic for a church to claim that all the others are inherently false and to use a terminology that is in and of itself offensive towards them.
What we see in modern Christianity is not anywhere as demonizing as what we see in Mormon writings. Let me re-quote what I found in the Journal of Discourses:
“He told him the Gospel was not among men, and that there was not a true organization of His kingdom in the world, that the people had turned away from His true order, changed the ordinances, and broken the everlasting covenant, and inherited lies and things wherein their was no profit.”
“There is no people that have held communion with God, no true church, priesthood or authority, no medium of communication between God and man for church government, to dictate, regulate, manage and control the affairs of his kingdom upon the earth.”
These teachings are claiming that nobody, but the LDS church has any connection with God and that all Christian churches are inherently and completely false, without authority, not being true churches at all.
I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: “they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.”
(Joseph Smith; Pearl of Great Price; Page 49; 1842)
As a side note, you may not want to rely on Mormon Doctrine as authoritive, especially the 1958 edition, as Bruce R. McConkie was reprimanded for it and the church never endorsed it. Though there are a lot of truths in it, not everything in it is endorsed by the church.
I didn’t rely on him. If what he said however is mirrored in the Pearl of Great Price and also in different other writings that are more authoritative, then I expect him to be right in this area of Mormon Doctrine, even though this book was not fully endorsed and he was reprimanded for it. He is, so to speak, another reference that is being authenticated by others who said the same thing or indicate the same thing.
If however it was not endorsed in any way, I wonder why it was still in print and I wonder why this fact just surfaced:
Flyonthewall, just so you know, thirty years or so ago when my brother was getting read for a LDS mission, the letter with his mission calling included a list of required items that he had to bring with him. One was the book “Mormon Doctrine”.
I understand however why there was criticism. It was about his language, his clearness and his directness… It was certainly not politically correct. That is also why I assume that the LDS church just recently quit publishing the book. It still does show the fruits of the LDS church as it was one of their most prominent members who wrote this in reference to the BoM.
It is also the Book of Mormon to which we turn for the plainest description of the Catholic Church as the great and abominable church. Nephi saw this “church which is most abominable above other churches” in vision. He “saw the devil that he was the foundation of it” and also the murders, wealth, harlotry, persecutions, and evil desires that historically have been a part of this satanic organization.
(1 Ne. 13:1-10)
He saw that this most abominable of all churches was founded after the day of Christ and his apostles; that it took away from the gospel of the Lamb many covenants and many plain and precious parts; that it perverted the right ways of the Lord; that it deleted many teachings from the Bible; that this church was the “mother of harlots;” and finally that the Lord would again restore the gospel of salvation
(1 Ne. 13:24-42)
Nephi beheld further that this church was the “mother of abominations,” and “the whore of all the earth” who “sat upon many waters; and she had dominion over all the earth, among all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people.”
(Bruce McConkie; Mormon Doctrine; page 130; 1958)
All of this is based upon what Joseph Smith taught, even though he might not have intended the harshness of Bruce McConkie’s writings. “Mormonism as it is called, must stand or fall on the story of Joseph Smith. He was either a prophet of God, divinely called, properly commissioned, or he was one of the biggest frauds the world has ever seen. There is no middle ground.
If Joseph Smith was a deceiver, who willfully attempted to mislead the people, then he should be exposed; his claims should be refuted, and his doctrines shown to be false, for the doctrines of an impostor cannot be made to harmonize in all particulars with divine truth. If his claims and declarations were built upon fraud and deceit, there would appear many errors and contradictions, which would be easy to detect. The doctrines of false teachers will not stand the test when tried by the accepted standards of measurement, the scriptures.” This is and will continue to be the one thing that will break or validate Mormonism. It all hinges on the statements of one man and on the degree of his truthfulness.
I don’t really expect you to agree with me considering this:
Any Latter-day Saint who denounces or opposes whether actively or otherwise, any plan or doctrine advocated by the “prophets, seers, or revelators” of the Church, is cultivating the spirit of apostacy.
(Ward Teachers Message; Deseret News, Church Section; Page 5; May 26, 1945)
