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.
Mormonism and church integrity
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Mormonism and church integrity
Jump to Subtopic:
- Accusations of lying and hypocrisy on the part of the Church
- Alleged whitewashing of Church history
- Alleged hiding of facts in Church history
Accusations of lying and hypocrisy on the part of the Church
Jump to Subtopic:
- Accusations of hypocrisy in Church practices related to the Word of Wisdom
- "Lying for the Lord"
- Joseph Smith fired a gun at Carthage Jail
- No paid ministry
- City Creek Center Mall in Salt Lake City
- Accusations of lying in the 19th-century Church
- Dealing with doubts about the Church and its integrity
Has the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) "whitewashed" its history?
Jump to details:
- Question: Has The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints deceived its members regarding controversial issues about its origins, history, and/or scripture?
- Question: What are the different levels of knowledge that members may have about Church history?
- Question: Do Mormon histories have a long history of omitting mention of plural marriage as a cause for the Saints' troubles in Illinois?
- Question: Why does the account of Sidney Rigdon's 'trial' recorded in the Times and Seasons differs markedly from the version available in the History of the Church?
- Question: Does Oliver Cowdery's blessing and promise to Orson Hyde contain a false prophecy, which was then altered before being printed in History of the Church?
- Question: Did Wilford Woodruff criticize assistant Church Historian Andrew Jenson's decision to publish the names of those who were married to Joseph Smith because he wanted to hide the fact that Joseph was married to other women?
- Question: Did the Church order Ronald L. Poelman's 1984 conference talk to be re-recorded with a "cough track" in order to hide the fact that changes had been made?
- Question: Why is History of the Church written in first-person, as if Joseph Smith himself wrote it?
- Question: How has the Church responded to issues related to Church history?
- Question: Does Church manual, The Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young, attempt to "hide history" by portraying Brigham Young (a well-known polygamist) as having only one wife?
- Question: What does The Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young say about Brigham's wives?
Alleged hiding of facts in Church history
Summary: The Church is routinely accused of suppressing and hiding uncomfortable facts from its own history. Yet, the very same people quote Church sources in order to provide proof of their claims. This concern often rests on a misunderstanding. It is true that the Church's teachings are primarily doctrinal and devotional—Church lessons are neither apologetic nor historical in scope or intent. It is remarkable, however, how many of the issues which some charge the Church with "suppressing" are discussed in Church publications.
Jump to details:
- Church sources discussing issues with Joseph's 1826 South Bainbridge court appearance
- Church sources discussing issues with Oliver Cowdery's divining rod
- Church sources discussing issues with Changes to the Book of Mormon
- Church sources discussing issues with The seer stone and/or the stone with the hat
- Church sources discussing issues with Book of Mormon authorship theories
- Church sources discussing issues with B.H. Roberts and the Book of Mormon
- Church sources discussing issues with Book of Mormon and DNA
- Church sources discussing issues with Book of Mormon geography
- Church sources discussing issues with Polygamy
- Church sources discussing issues with Changes to the Doctrine and Covenants
- Church sources discussing issues with First Vision Accounts
- Church sources discussing issues with Kinderhook plates
- Church sources discussing issues with Kirtland Safety Society
- Church sources discussing issues with Martyrdom and Joseph's use of a gun
- Church sources discussing issues with Changes to the Word of Wisdom
- Church sources discussing issues with Joseph Smith and politics
- Church sources discussing issues with Origin of the Book of Abraham and Joseph Smith papyri
- Church sources discussing issues with Violence and conflict
- Church sources discussing issues with Isaiah in the Book of Mormon
- Church sources discussing issues with Anachronisms in the Book of Mormon
- Church sources discussing issues with Blacks
Notes