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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 |