R. Austin Morse
Attorney and Counselor at Law
Independence, Missouri
May 2, 2001
Mr. Jeff Fox
Readers Views-The Examiner
PO Box 459
Independence, MO 64051
Re: Letter to the Editor-Rebuttal
"Community of Christ" or "Community of Smith"?
To the Editor,
I am writing in response to Mr. Bob Myers’s recent letter denying the relationship of the R.L.D.S. church to Joseph Smith and works salvation. It is interesting that Mr. Myers and the R.L.D.S. church want to pick which part of the Joseph Smith legacy they want to endorse. That the R.L.D.S church does not now teach some of Joseph’s heresies is not the point. The point is that Joseph Smith is the founder and foundation upon which the R.L.D.S. church rests and that foundation is illusory, a mirage.
For example, that church taught me, from infancy, that Joseph translated gold plates through the Urim and Thummin by the power of the Holy Spirit. I was shocked when I discovered, through R.L.D.S. publications, that it never happened. There is no evidence supporting that story. All those present during the Book of Mormon creation agree Joseph was looking at a seer stone in the bottom of a hat and did not use any gold plates. Therefore, it is false to say that the Book of Mormon is a translation of any kind as the Book of Mormon title page indicates. Joseph appeared to be channeling like a medium.
Similarly, every important event of Mormon origins is fraught with misrepresentations to the point where R.L.D.S. history is unreliable as a basis of personal faith. Strong testimony concerning celestial marriage doctrine is found in the Nauvoo Expositor and the first issue of the Saints Herald (Vol.1 Jan 1860). Joseph teaches the Adam-God Theory in the King Follet Sermon.
Most importantly, Joseph altered the doctrinal requirements for salvation. The Bible teaches we are saved by faith, through the grace of Jesus Christ. I have found 22 declarations of works salvation in R.L.D.S. scripture. Please consider, “we know it is by grace we are saved after everything we can do.” 2 Nephi 11:44 Joseph added the words “and works” to the following passage from Romans, “Therefore ye are justified of faith and works through grace.” Romans 4:16 If anyone would like to receive a free comparison of Joseph’s teaching on salvation with the Bible then please write Lifeline Ministries at P.O. Box 1536 Indep. MO 64055.
The reason why I bother writing these letters is that I believe Joseph Smith stands between confused, hurting people and salvation and healing in Jesus Christ. I believe that God wants to bring the entire R.L.D.S. church out of illusions and into the reality of Jesus. The path to such a true restoration is confession of Joseph’s wrongs and disassociation with his scriptural legacy. Before the R.L.D.S. church can become the Community of Christ, they must first stop being the Community of Smith. If the R.L.D.S. leadership decides to cut loose from Joseph Smith then I hope and pray, for the sake of all my R.L.D.S. loved ones, that they turn to the reality of Jesus.
May the richest blessings of God be upon you, Mr. Myers.
Sincerely,
R. Austin Morse