How Can I Respond To A Friend's Criticism Of Joseph Smith?

[cdowis]

I thought a prophesy was supposed to be something no man could possibly know without Devine intervention. Those sound like opinions any human being could have had at the time. They're pretty mundane.

 

OK, so please give us a list of those who predicted in the 1830's the Civil War, starting in South Carolina.   It was so mundane you should be able to give us at least a dozen or so examples, but just a couple will suffice.

 

Quite frankly, I think you are full of baloney but let's see if you can prove me wrong.

Edited May 12, 2014 by cdowis

[eddie]

OK, so please give us a list of those who predicted in the 1830's the Civil War, starting in South Carolina. It was so mundane you should be able to give us at least a dozen or so examples, but just a couple will suffice.

Quite frankly, I think you are full of baloney but let's see if you can prove me wrong.

Here's a good comparison. Throughout the 1990's Osama Bin Laden and Al Qaeda made several threats and attacks on US targets throughout the world. Find anyone that predicted an attack on 9/11 in NYC that would lead the US and the West into a prolonged war against terror. (The D&C predicted the place, reason, and response to the attack 29 years before it happened.)

Even today with modern intelligence gathering, information, and communication, there was no smoking gun about the biggest attack on US Soil since the Civil War, particularly not in 1982. This is with modern technology, press, and surveillance covering world events.

Yet a team of professional analysts couldn't predict 9/11 even a few days before it happened, much less decades.

[eddie]

Or how about the seed of Lehi (those descended from Laman) would accept the gospel more than most other nations on earth (A prophecy directly from the Book of Mormon. They weren't even calling missionaries to Central and South America much during the lifetime of Joseph Smith.). Today Spanish is the most widely spoken language in the church, even though the book was translated into English and most converts were from the US, UK, and Scandinavia.

These are all prophecies being fulfilled, 170 years after his death.

[The Nehor]

I would punch him in the gut, bash his head open with a tire iron, and then suck his brain out through a straw. I find it effective.

[Porter_Rockwell]

ame="Porter_Rockwell" post="1209379220" timestamp="1399854638"]

Well considering the Civil War wasn't for 29 years after the fact and he correctly prophesied not only that it would start, but also where it would start, and how the other states would react (asking for aid from the UK) is pretty spot on for just an educated guess.

As for the science behind alcohol, well argue the results. The laws of God transcend any understanding, including any modern day research. Just argue the results of those that live the laws of the gospel. Note this states some of the longest life spans ever recorded.http://m.washingtonpost.com/blogs/she-the-people/post/mormonism-good-for-the-body-as-well-as-the-soul/2012/06/20/gJQARk3IqV_blog.html

It's all make believe ...lol. Be as cautious and explainative as you choose

[Porter_Rockwell]

OK, so please give us a list of those who predicted in the 1830's the Civil War, starting in South Carolina.   It was so mundane you should be able to give us at least a dozen or so examples, but just a couple will suffice.

 

Quite frankly, I think you are full of baloney but let's see if you can prove me wrong.

You're the one making grandiose claims...and you ask me for proof ?

I'm just the average guy saying it's all a big lie. You have no proof to discredit me.

[Porter_Rockwell]

Here's a good comparison. Throughout the 1990's Osama Bin Laden and Al Qaeda made several threats and attacks on US targets throughout the world. Find anyone that predicted an attack on 9/11 in NYC that would lead the US and the West into a prolonged war against terror. (The D&C predicted the place, reason, and response to the attack 29 years before it happened.)

Even today with modern intelligence gathering, information, and communication, there was no smoking gun about the biggest attack on US Soil since the Civil War, particularly not in 1982. This is with modern technology, press, and surveillance covering world events.

Yet a team of professional analysts couldn't predict 9/11 even a few days before it happened, much less decades.

So american foreign policy, politics, pussification and Clintonesque self focus and general stupidity is the proof of Joe Smiths prophecy.... You prove my point

[Porter_Rockwell]

So american foreign policy, politics, pussification and Clintonesque self focus and general stupidity is the proof of Joe Smiths prophecy.... You prove my point

Osama was the result of the US foreign policy to support the Muja Hideen (sp) against the Russians for the sake of protecting the Caspian Sea oil reserves on behalf of other investors. The USA created, financed, and supported Bin Laden for years against the Soviets.

The US has no enemies...except the people the CIA trains and arms, who turn against the US in the end. The US has never fought a just war....just wars that are profitable.

Lmao...so 100'000 economists didn't see the downturn of the markets? It's almost like someone there was money to be made. C'mon, wake up...your church and your life is a lie

[eddie]

So american foreign policy, politics, pussification and Clintonesque self focus and general stupidity is the proof of Joe Smiths prophecy.... You prove my point

So answer the question and don't dodge. Who else predicted in the 1830's that the Civil War would be started in South Carolina, and that the Confederacy would ask for aid from the UK.

Who else also gave a health code (amongst other things such as fasting) that when examined 170+ years later adherence would lead people to have the longest life spans ever collectively recorded.

Who else translated that entire cultures and nations would accept the BofM more readily than others.

Or prophesied of a move west to begin again, or his own death and martyrdom?

You asked for specific examples of fulfilled prophecies and were given several. I also illustrated how difficult it would be for anyone to prophesy about how a war began by showing no one predicted 9/11 even knowing there were Islamic terror threats in our generation, yet it was easy for Joseph Smith to do it in 1832. See the contradiction?

People that saw Jesus and the early Apostles perform miracles also were not convinced, that only happens through spiritual confermation, not sign seeking. People deny or try to explain away those both in ancient and modern times.