Criticism of Mormonism/Books/The Changing World of Mormonism/Chapter 3

Chapter 2

A FAIR Analysis of: Criticism of Mormonism/Books A work by author: Jerald and Sandra Tanner

Chapter 4

Claims made in Chapter 3: Changes in Revelations

Page	Claim	Response	Author's sources
38	According to the authors, "Mormon writers" have "admitted" that revelations have been modified after they have been received.	Doctrine and Covenants textual changes D&C edits not hidden from the Church	History of the Church, vol. 1, p.173 John William Fitzgerald, "A Study of the Doctrine and Covenants," Master's thesis, BYU, 1940, p.329 Melvin J. Petersen, "A Study of the Nature of and Significance of the Changes in the Revelations as Found in a Comparison of the Book of Commandments and Subsequent Editions of the Doctrine and Covenants," Master's thesis, BYU, 1955, typed copy, p.147
39	According to the authors, "Mormon apostle" John A. Widtsoe said that the revelations "have remained unchanged. There has been no tampering with God's word," and that Joseph Fielding Smith, the "tenth president," said that there was no need for "there was no need for eliminating, changing, or adjusting any part to make it fit; but each new revelation on doctrine and priesthood fitted in its place perfectly to complete the whole structure, as it had been prepared by the Master Builder"	Doctrine and Covenants textual changes See Quote mining—Doctrines of Salvation 1:170 to see how this quote was mined.	John A. Widtsoe, Joseph Smith—Seeker After Truth, p.119 Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation 1:170.
41-42	David Whitmer said that the revelations in the Book of Commandments were printed correctly and didn't need to be modified later.	Author(s) impose(s) own fundamentalism on the Saints David Whitmer had fundamentalistic ideas about scripture, but these are not—and were not—binding on the Church. Were changes to the D&C hidden from the Church?	An Address to All Believers in Christ p. 56.
42	David Whitmer objected to changing the revelations.	Author(s) impose(s) own fundamentalism on the Saints David Whitmer had fundamentalistic ideas about scripture, but these are not—and were not—binding on the Church. Were changes to the D&C hidden from the Church?	Saints' Herald, Feb. 5, 1887
43	D&C 68 was changed from its original printing in the Evening and Morning Star.	Author(s) impose(s) own fundamentalism on the Saints Anyone interested in all the textual variants for all sections of the Doctrine and Covenants can see a BYU PhD thesis: Robert J. Woodford, The Historical Development of the Doctrine and Covenants, Ph.D. dissertation (3 volumes), Brigham Young University, 1974. (CD-ROM version from BYU Studies.) (Hard copy available from UMI Dissertation Express; order number 8027231.) Note that BYU Studies allows the purchase of a digital version. The Tanners wish to make this appear to be something hidden. The thesis was written half a decade before their volume.	[ATTENTION!]
45	Critics claim that Joseph Smith was not supposed to do any translating beyond the Book of Mormon, as shown in Book of Commandments 4:2, which was changed in D&C 5:4.	Doctrine and Covenants textual changes—Added material or expansions	Book of Commandments 4:2; DC 5꞉4
47	Joseph Smith claimed to have translated a parchment written by the Apostle John. According to the authors, LDS writers cannot explain why this revelation was changed.	Author(s) impose(s) own fundamentalism on the Saints Changes to "translation" in D&C 7? Doctrine and Covenants textual changes—Added material or expansions	Book of Commandments 6; DC 7
52	The name "Urim and Thummim" was added to the revelations later.	"Urim and Thummim" was a biblical term which members adopted for seeing or revelatory instruments. When the revelations were republished, its use had become common among the Saints. The authors impose their own fundamentalist expectations on the Saints—Joseph and others made no secret that the revelations were edited, expanded, and clarified with reprintings.	Book of Commandments 9; DC 10꞉1-12
59	The United Order was simply a form of Communism.	Prejudicial or loaded language The authors' source says nothing about the United Order being "communism." Since Marx and Engel's Communist Manifesto would not be published until 1848, this would be impossible. Some of the many differences between the United Order and Marxist Communism include: voluntary versus involuntary focused on God and Christ versus atheistic private ownership versus no private ownership Communism and the United Order	Book of Commandments 44; DC 42꞉24-36
59	The United Order was claimed to have actually been Sidney Rigdon's idea.	The authors need to produce actual evidence. Did Sidney ever claim it was his idea, even when estranged from Joseph?	[ATTENTION!]
62	A section on marriage was removed from the D&C.	Author(s) impose(s) own fundamentalism on the Saints 1835 Doctrine and Covenants denies polygamy	[ATTENTION!]
62	The Lectures on Faith were removed from the D&C.	Author(s) impose(s) own fundamentalism on the Saints Lectures on Faith removed from Doctrine and Covenants	[ATTENTION!]
62	It is claimed that few LDS writers will "admit" to changes made in the D&C.	It is no surprise that there is no source for this claim—it is just unproven opinion. As noted for p. 43 above, a BYU PhD student had examined every change to the D&C in 1974, well before the Tanners wrote. Doctrine and Covenants textual changes—Changes were not hidden from the Church	[ATTENTION!]
63	The name "Michael" was deleted from Joseph Smith's vision of the Celestial Kingdom because Adam is Michael.	Adam and Michael conflated in D&C 137?	[ATTENTION!]