FAIR is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing well-documented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice, and history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Criticism of Mormonism/Books/One Nation Under Gods/Use of sources/Those Power-Hungry Mormons
| Prophetic Autobiography | A FAIR Analysis of: Criticism of Mormonism/Books/One Nation Under Gods A work by author: Richard Abanes
|
Joseph Smith's Narcissism |
Chapter 5, People of Zion: Those Power-Hungry Mormons
The Quote
One Nation under Gods, page 95 (hardback)
I heard [Martin Harris] make this statement that there would be another president of the United States elected; That soon all temporal and spiritual power would be given over to The Prophet Joseph Smith and the Latter Day Saints. His extravagant statements were the laughing stock of the people of Palmyra.74
The Reference
Endnote 74, page 522
74. Chandler, reprinted in Vogel, vol. 3, 222-223.
The Problems
From the very beginning of the Church there have been many members and leaders who have spoken their own opinions. What they have said came from their own thoughts and not necessarily from inspiration or the Holy Ghost. Some are quick to accuse the General Authorities of the LDS Church of speaking "false doctrine." The truth is, the accusers do not realize what the Church's doctrine consists of. They are quick to assume that because a leader said it, it is official and set in stone.
The way this quote is written in Vogel's work (Early Mormon Documents, published by Signature Books) gives the appearance that it was Martin Harris himself who set up the meetings, and not Joseph Smith the Prophet. The author seems to want the reader to think that Harris was acting and speaking in behalf of the Church when, in fact, there is no such evidence. Rather, it appears Martin was acting on his own accord to give the meetings in Palmyra. Apart from the fact the quote comes from a tertiary source, the author has made it difficult to check the actual quote in its full length and context. Many who read this work will take the quotes at face value and assume they are well-documented and accurate when, in fact, this quote does not necessarily give a fair representation of the situation.
The author makes it appear that the Church itself would overrun the presidency and seize power. This gives him ammunition to portray the LDS Church as power-hungry and tyrannical. Given the full length of the citation, it is clear that Christ and his Church will govern the earth-in the millennial period. In no way, shape, or form does the quote mention the Saints "removing" the presidency of the country.