In April of 1838 Joseph Smith prophesied that David W. Patten, an Apostle in the LDS Church, was to prepare for and then go on a mission the following spring, about one year from the date the prophecy was given.1 This prophecy was never fulfilled. On October 25, 1838 David W. Patten was killed in the Mormon War at the Battle of Crooked River.2
When I am involved in outreach to Mormons I challenge them to consider objective facts. I ask them to consider their faith in light of the Bible and history. I often ask, "Have you ever applied God's biblical tests of a true prophet to Joseph Smith?" Without fail I am assured that he or she has. I then say something like, "Well, then you know that Deuteronomy 18:20-22 says that when someone claims to be a prophet of God, but gives even one prophecy that is not fulfilled, God says he is a false prophet. How then do you reconcile Joseph Smith's failed prophecy of D&C 114 with God's directive in Deuteronomy?"
Usually Mormons faced with this problem first try to find their way around the obvious falsity of the prophecy. They offer what to them sounds like plausible explanations such as: "David Patten did perform his mission; he went on a mission to the Spirit World." Or, "Patten must have apostatized. Prophecies are no longer valid if the person becomes unrighteous." These loop-holes in the prophecy are easily shown invalid by a quick look at LDS history.
What then? How does the faithful Mormon respond when faced with the undeniable fact that Joseph Smith was a false prophet according to God's Word?
The standard and oft repeated reply is, "But I have a testimony. I know Joseph Smith was a true prophet and that the Church is true. Nothing you tell me will change that."
Many people are very impressed by the strength of conviction with which the LDS proclaim their beliefs. Yet what many people don't know is that this conviction is not based on objective facts, but on feelings.
LDS Apostle Boyd K. Packer said at the October 1991 General Conference, "A testimony of the [LDS] gospel of Jesus Christ, a witness that the Book of Mormon is true, comes in a delicate, refined spiritual communication. It is described in the [LDS] scriptures as light…as a burning in the bosom. It is best described as a feeling."3
The Mormon testimony is a firm belief--called knowledge by Latter-day Saints--that certain things are true. This testimony is gained primarily through subjective experience. The person prays, asking God to confirm what he already believes or hopes to be true. If the person has some sort of experience (feeling) he believes that God has indicated to him the truth of the object of his prayer.
This practice is based on Moroni 10:4, a Book of Mormon passage which reads, "And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask of God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost."
An analysis of the foregoing passage reveals it to be a loaded test. The Book of Mormon does not promise that God will reveal whether the object is either true or false, only that "he will manifest the truth of it unto you." There is no provision here for God to indicate that it is false. If you experience something, then it's true. If you don't, it's because you 1) did not pray with a sincere heart, 2) did not pray with real intent, or 3) did not have faith in Christ.
According to a former Mormon Authority, everyone who has ever searched for a testimony by this means has found it. He wrote, "Thousands have tried this approach to truth; and have found the testimonies they sought. So far, no one who, with flaming desire, sincere prayer, earnest study, and fearless practice, has sought the truth of 'Mormonism' has failed to find it. Some, for lack of courage, though truth stared them in the face, have kept it to themselves. But, the approach never fails, so declares fearlessly the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."4
What of the poor person who has prayed and not gained a testimony? Obviously the fault must be his.
It is easy to recognize the manipulation thus employed by LDS leadership upon the people. In addition to making a negative conclusion impossible, a "sincere" person will know by experience that the Church is true.
To further paralyze rational, reasoned analysis, Mormonism downplays the importance of objective fact and views critical thought as a possible hindrance to the working of the Spirit. At General Conference in October of 1991 Elder Charles Didier of the Seventy addressed LDS Church Membership. He taught that the first step in obtaining a testimony is desire. He said you must, "…have a sincere heart, humbly seek the truth, be receptive, discard preconceived religious concepts,…" When describing the second step, which was defined as "to know by revelation," he cautioned, "Do not look at reason, logic, or the philosophies of men and theories of the world."5
During the same General Conference Apostle Boyd K. Packer warned the congregation, "Recently the Council of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles issued a statement alerting members of the Church to the dangers of participating in circles which concentrate on doctrine and ordinances and measure them by the intellect alone. If doctrines and behavior are measured by the intellect alone, the essential spiritual ingredient is missing, and we will be misled."6
An illustration of one problem inherent in excluding "the intellect" while relying on "the essential spiritual ingredient" can be found in LDS First Counselor Gordon B. Hinckley's statement on Joseph Smith's First Vision. President Hinckley states: "I have read and believed his testimony of his great first vision in which he conversed with the Father and the Son…by the power of the Spirit, I have received a witness that it happened as he said it happened."7 The problem is that Joseph Smith said it happened at least six different ways; to which version of the story does President Hinckley believe the Spirit bore witness?
On another day President Hinckley said, "I am happy that my faith has not been shaken by the writings of critics who never seem to recognize that knowledge of things divine comes by the power of the Spirit and not of the wisdom of men."8
Likewise, when the faithful lay-Mormon is faced with objective fact that contradicts the position of his Church, as in the example of Joseph Smith's false prophecy, he reverts to his testimony. His ultimate test of truth is this subjective "inner feeling" which, in addition to being far superior to objective truth (in his mind), cannot be disproved or shaken.
Elder Gary J. Coleman of the Seventy said at General Conference, "The doctrines of the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ have become my path to eternal life…Upon asking God if the things of this gospel are true, I have received a witness more powerful than sight, more soul-assuring than words."9
The leadership of the LDS Church succeeds in putting incredible pressure on members with their continual emphasis on finding what is true through personal revelation. Furthermore, a positive testimony of the Church and its claims is employed as a barometer to measure each individual's spiritual health. The desire is fostered, through continuous testimony by revered leaders, for members to attain similar spiritual heights.
LDS Authorities speak at General Conference about their own experiences in their conversions to Mormonism. Elder Muren testified, "Then [the LDS missionary] reached over, touching my knee…saying, 'And now you will know it is true.' The Spirit of God came into my body as a fire. It felt as if it would consume me. It left me physically exhausted but totally assured that the Church was true…As those servants of the Lord 'did minister with power and with great authority,' it was not possible that I could disbelieve their words."10 The previous year Elder Martins said, "It was not possible to control my emotions. I could not imagine myself in tears, but the tears were indeed real. In that moment, the Holy Ghost reconfirmed the truthfulness of the things we already knew: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was the Lord's kingdom on earth, the road back to the celestial mansion of our Eternal Father." And how had Elder Martins and his wife already come to know these things? "A marvelous feeling that we never before had experienced filled our hearts, certifying the truthfulness of the message."11
This spiritual manipulation within Mormonism is not new. In 1854 a book was published which told how Joseph Smith had obtained the signatures of the eight witnesses to the Book of Mormon who testified that they had seen the golden plates. According to several of Joseph's key men who had become disaffected from the Church, "the witnesses were 'set to continual prayer, and other spiritual exercises.' Then at last 'he assembled them in a room, and produced a box, which he said contained the precious treasure. The lid was opened; the witnesses peeped into it, but making no discovery, for the box was empty, they said, "Brother Joseph, we do not see the plates." The prophet answered them, "O ye of little faith! how long will God bear with this wicked and perverse generation? Down on your knees, brethren, every one of you, and pray God for the forgiveness of your sins, and for a holy and living faith which cometh down from heaven." The disciples dropped to their knees, and began to pray in a fervency of their spirit, supplicating God for more than two hours with fanatical earnestness; at the end of which time, looking again into the box, they were now persuaded that they saw the plates.'"12
Unfortunately, Mormonism still teaches this exact approach to its members and investigators. I have, on several occasions, been asked by Mormons if I have prayed about the Book of Mormon. While I have not followed the formula found in Moroni 10:4, I have earnestly prayed and asked God to open my eyes to truth and error, giving me a discerning spirit as I read the Book of Mormon. When I tell Mormons that yes, I have prayed, and God did not tell me the Book of Mormon is true, they tell me to try again. "Keep praying," they say. "Don't give up. You will get an answer." I tell them I believe I have gotten an answer and then ask, "How long should I pray? Until I get the answer you want me to get?"
As a Christian I must base my approach to discernment on God's Word. He has instructed us to search the scriptures, study the Word and prove the spirits based on what they say about Jesus.13 God has never instructed us to pray to know if something is true. He has given us tools for objective analysis; He has given us prayer for sweet communion.
In Acts chapters 17, 18 and 19 we read of Paul's missionary efforts. Paul did not go around the world making impassioned declarations and instructing the people to pray to know the truth of his claims. Scripture tells us that in Thessalonica "…according to Paul's custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and giving evidence…"14 Likewise, Paul and other believers reasoned with the non-believing people of Athens, Corinth and Ephesus. Clearly, the factual foundation for faith was important and an integral part of the gospel.
Many people have had "spiritual" experiences in response to their Moroni 10:4 prayers; what of them? Again, an appeal to God's Word sheds much needed light.
Scripture tells us that Satan is the father of lies and will deceive many with his false signs and wonders.15 Also, we can be led by our own hearts.16 But God warns us that our hearts are deceitful and desperately sick. He says that sometimes the way seems right but leads to death; that he who trusts in his heart is a fool.17 Yet the LDS Church News recently carried the recommendation: "Follow your heart where the things of the Church are concerned…"18
In a climactic scene in the movie The Wizard of Oz Dorothy's dog Toto reveals the fact that the Wizard is a fraud. In a last ditch effort to maintain the illusion the Wizard thunders, "Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain. The great and powerful Oz has spoken!"
As a child my heart broke for Dorothy and her friends. All of the danger and hardships they had endured were for naught; their hopes had rested on a lie. How could that man have been so cruel? How could he have perpetrated such a callous hoax?
Mormonism treats members and investigators in much the same way. Taught a fraudulent method for determining truth, people are manipulated into a position where they no longer have the ability (or courage) for critical thought and objective reasoning.
"I have a testimony. I know the Church is true."
How do we respond as Christians? Those who have been deceived by the false claims of Mormonism, while responsible for their choices, should be treated with compassion. They are in darkness, victims of a callous and cruel hoax. They cannot deliver themselves nor do they recognize the predicament they are in. This is where prayer finds its proper place; in supplication and intercession on behalf of the helpless. And in tandem with prayer we must be persistent and patient in placing the Truth before them; challenging them, educating them, continuously calling them to consider their faith in light of the Bible and history.