Mormons and Non-Mormons: Why do people call Joesph Smith a fraud?

In his youth, Joseph Smith was arrested and convicted for using occult practices to defraud. Smith claimed to have translated what he called The Book of Abraham from Egyptian manuscripts, though he knew nothing of Egyptian, and his "translation" had nothing to do with the manuscript he claimed to have translated. Some of his prophecies clearly did not come to pass. From 1890 on, Mormon leaders have asked Mormons not to fulfill a covenant which Smith revealed. He had proclaimed that it was "a new and everlasting covenant; and if ye abide not that covenant, then are ye damned; for no one can reject this covenant and be permitted to enter into my glory." 13 This "new and everlasting covenant" required men to have more than one wife if they were to receive full salvation. Since the present Mormon leaders do not agree with what Joseph Smith wrote about your salvation, how can you be saved?

there are demons that disquize themselves as angels, I had one show up when I was a mormon, and he astral projected me into space, it was pretty cool, I saw every planet in our solar system at the speed of light, I still remember the massive jupiter and saturn and then I ended up on a planet on the outside of the milkyway between two angels and I was extremely happy. I don't rmember how I got back.

Believe it or not, I think this is even better then what joseph smith went thru and I could have gone to Kolob for all I knwo, but I really think Joseph saw a demon disquized as an angel, I have had too many dealing with demons as a mormon and wiccan and I pretty much know more about them then normal people do and the nature of them, so I think joseph smith was led astray.

After traveling at the speed of light and coming back, I became extremely psychic as a mormon and therefore prophetic, whereas Joseph had to use the hat trick to see into the future.

People just feel threatened by the claims he made, I think. Most of them are incredible--claiming to see God, claiming to have been given another book of scripture, claiming to be a prophet when most people don't believe they exist anymore...it's a lot to take in, and I think it's a whole lot easier for people to attack him or just repeat the vague accusations they've heard from others than to risk wondering if any of his claims were true. Sure, most of the accusations against him are silly or false, but if you've been told your entire life by pretty much everyone you knew that someone was a fraud and a con artist, wouldn't you believe it without bothering to look too deeply into the matter? I try not to get annoyed at people who attack him or my faith, because I know they're just parroting what they've heard from others. It's not entirely their fault.

And no, I don't think ANYONE would have been intelligent enough to write something like the Book of Mormon. It's too complex, and no matter how smart he was or wasn't, Joseph Smith simply didn't have the education or the time to come up with something like that. It's ludicrous to think he could have, but again, it's easier for people to believe he did then to wonder where it actually came from and what that might mean.

Those who learn of Joseph the Lord's way, by study and by prayer, by actually reading and praying about the Book of Mormon, etc. come to the knowledge that Joseph Smith is a true prophet of God. The same is true concerning Brigham Young and all other prophets of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Others who dwell on supposed negatives, such as happened to "chris t" get depressed, even feel unwarranted anger in taking the word of those who fight against the truth. Chris, I wish you had read Joseph Fielding Smith's 3-volume set, Doctrines of Salvation, when you were trying to answer critics of the Church. There is some great material there on the very topic you mention, plus much else you could use. How many people do you think got turned away from Christ by those who presented falsehoods against Him? It seemed easy to claim He was trying to destroy the Law of Moses, yet He was actually fulfilling the Law.

Neither Joseph Smith nor anyone else in all of history could have written the Book of Mormon, other than the prophets of God who were directed by the revelations of God. It was translated by Joseph in about three months' time, yet no one could have produced it out of their imagination in a lifetime, I would say. Each time I read the Book of Mormon, the Spirit owns it as being the work of God, and its depth is far beyond man's unaided abilities to produce.

I find some of the responses amusing.. like if you have had the missionary discussions you wouldn't consider him a fraud. - I actually went on a mission teaching other people about him and have later found him to be a fraud. Just look into the temple ceremony history. I got started when I was trying to prove a quote from Brigham Young to be wrong where he said that Adam was our God. Instead of calling the quote false, I went directly to the source at a library that had a really old copy of Journal of Discourses. Joseph Smith was a crazed power hungry freak who had a very good imagination. You can't just deny this without doing some self study on your own. I am not all about discrediting the mormon beliefs. They are very good people. They have just been deceived. Please read the sources I mention and yes, it will be a struggle. You know.. it is possible that you are wrong. It was VERY hard for me.

the comparable reason i think in Moses, or Elijah or Noah or Adam. i don't worship those human beings nor do i think they have been infallable and perfect. i'm an knowledgeable guy who has spent many extra years than you examining the corners of our faith. i think the e book of Mormon is real...purely on that element on my own Joseph Smith would desire to have been a prophet. as nicely that I felt some time past that I had to understand self sufficient of the different guy or woman the truthfulness of the gospel i replaced into studying and going to proselytize. I have been given the respond myself, self sufficient of all of us's opinion or teachings helpful or detrimental, that what i replaced into studying replaced into real. considering then I even have spent my existence attempting to place my existence in step with the Gospel and that i will spend the subsequent 50 years with that purpose. i'm sorry you have been dissuaded out of your testimony. i'm specific you're an distinctly superb guy or woman and that i desire you the main suitable.

Satan and he loves to make up crap and use people to point it out. Joseph Smith was a prophet and there is no dening that because of what heavenly father has done for me since i joined the church. Before i was a pot smoking trouble causing hippi. I didnt go to church. I wasnt a very nice person. I treated my own family like crap and had a long list of people i despised. Now since ive been in the church my life is soooo muc better i am happy for once i dont hate anyone and i dont do any drugs at all whatsoever. I treat people with respect and dignity. I guinely love everyone like family. Id give all I got to help someone in need. I feel the spirit of God so strong in church it is insane i cant believe how powerful it is. It is so refresing and warm. I just cant get over it. LDS church is Gods restored church for these days the latter days. I hope and pray that everybody out there would just try to like it just give it a chance and they will feel the same thing i feel. And it will change them the same way it has changed me. I even feel the spirit moving typing this responce. I know that the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day saints is true and i say this in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

People say he's to young. How can someone so young do that. WELL ANYTHING THATS FOR GOD IS POSSIBLE.

People say he's delusional because he went through so much in his life. WELL THE SAME HAPPENED TO JESUS AND YOU DON'T SEE HIM DELUSIONAL.

People say Joseph Smith is a fraud. REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PEOPLE DURING JOSEPH'S TIME WHEN THEY WOULDN'T BELIEVE HIM?

If THEY CAN'T ACCEPT ANOTHER BOOK BY A YOUNG BOY, WHAT ABOUT THE BIBLE. ? SOME PROPHETS WERE YOUNG TOO WHEN GOD COMMANDED THEM TO DO SOMETHING. AGE DOESN'T MATTER. LISTENING WITH OPEN EARS MATTER. A BROKEN HEART AND A CONTRITE SPIRIT.!!!

The book of Mormon doesn't impress me as literature. I don't think Joseph Smith entirely made the book of Mormon in his imagination, or at least some of his doctrines. It seems he has been deceived by an angel. If this is true, then Joseph smith I say respectfully is a false prophet. If you call that name calling, then Joseph Smith is a sacred cow that you don't allow any criticism of, because he's either a false prophet, or a prophet of God. If I don't believe Joseph smith is a prophet of God, then I say he's a false prophet. If that's name calling, that's your problem.

His name would be held for good and evil by all nations. But from the day the church has been restored, all manner of evil has been spoken of it.

It's not surprising that many call Joesph a fraud as he is the revelator of our faith. If one can defraud him then all other principles of our faith eventually fail and fall short. If Satan can discredit him then it makes it harder for the Lord to bring about His will.

Some people who have never had the missionary discussions would say mean things about Joseph Smith. If only they had these discussions they would understand the church and Joseph Smith.