Brigham Young/Criticisms related to

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Criticisms of Brigham Young

Criticisms of Brigham Young

Repudiated concepts: Adam-God theory

Summary: Brigham Young taught that Adam, the first man, was God the Father. Since this teaching runs counter to the story told in Genesis and commonly accepted by Christians, critics accuse Brigham of being a false prophet. Also, because modern Latter-day Saints do not believe Brigham's "Adam-God" teachings, critics accuse Mormons of either changing their teachings or rejecting teachings of prophets they find uncomfortable or unsupportable.

Brigham as Young Earth Creationist

Summary: Some try to portray Brigham Young as a "young earth creationist" (YEC). This is someone who believes the earth was created in the recent past, usually 6-7,000 years ago, based upon a literal and fundamentalist reading of Genesis. They hope that by making Brigham appear uninformed about scientific matters, they can challenge his status as a prophet.

Brigham Young and Joseph Smith's First Vision

Summary: It is claimed either that Brigham never taught about the First Vision, or that he taught that the Lord did not appear to Joseph. Both claims are false.

Jump to Subtopic:

• Question: What is Brigham Young claimed to have said that leads one to doubt that he denied the First Vision?
• Juncker (1994): "Unknown to many, the early church fathers often referred to Jesus as an Angel....in antiquity the word 'angel' meant 'messenger.'"
• Question:Is there anything wrong with early Church leaders using the term "angel" to refer to Jesus Christ?
• Question: Did Brigham Young confirm or expound on Joseph Smith’s first vision?
• Question: When and how often did Brigham Young refer to elements of Joseph Smith's First Vision in his discourses?
• Brigham Young (1861): "The Lord chose Joseph Smith, called upon him at fourteen years of age, gave him visions"
• Brigham Young (1855): "The Lord did not come with the armies of heaven...But He did send His angel to this same obscure person, Joseph Smith jun"
• Brigham Young (1867): "the Lord called upon Joseph he was but a boy—a child, only about fourteen years of age"

Brigham Young and the apostles' ability to bear witness of Christ

Summary: It is claimed that Brigham Young and his successors lacked the ability to bear witness of Christ as a true apostle because they had not had divine manifestations.

Prosecution of Mountain Meadows Massacre

• • Did Brigham strike a deal?—
    Brief Summary: Critics charge that only a corrupt "deal" with Brigham Young allowed prosecutors to charge and convict anyone with the Mountain Meadows Massacre. (Click here for full article)
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Did Brigham Young believe that he would some day become president?

Summary: It is claimed that Brigham believed that one day soon he would himself become president of the United States, or that he would be able to dictate who should become the president.