It has often been put forward that "if you believe the Book of Mormon, then you know that Joseph Smith is a Prophet. If you know that Joseph Smith is a prophet, then you know all the other things he revealed are true."
I myself said this repeatedly on my mission. I believe it was even a line in one of the discussions (1 discussion 6th principle?)
This next set of posts will detail, chronologically (as close as I can get it) to the splinter groups that formed; which still believed the Book of Mormon at the time of their departure, to illustrate that many many many individuals reject the "Manager's Special" offered at this particular cafeteria:
First up, David Whitmer and the Church of Christ:
http://www.utlm.org/onlinebooks/address1.htm
Things you don't have to believe:
1) Polygamy
"We denounce the doctrine of polygamy and spiritual wifeism. It is a great evil, shocking to the moral sense, and the more so because practiced in the name of Religion. It is of man and not of God, and is especially forbidden in the Book of Mormon itself in these words. "Behold, David and Solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before me, saith the Lord.... For there shall not any man among you have
save it be one wife: and concubines he shall have none: For I the Lord God, delighteth in the chastity of woman." (Book of Mormon, page 116, chap. 2. par. 6)"
2) Joseph Smith prophesies that do not match New Testament scriptures such as a prophet coming before apostles, High Priests being a distinct calling, Quorum of the Fifty, and so forth
"By heeding revelations given through Joseph Smith, who, after being called of God to translate his sacred word — the Book of Mormon — drifted into many errors and gave many revelations to introduce doctrines,'
"As to the High Priesthood, Jesus Christ himself is the last Great High Priest, this too after the order of Melchisedec, as I understand the Holy Scriptures."
"The next grievous error which crept into the church was in ordaining high priests in June, 1831. This error was introduced at the instigation of Sydney Rigdon."
3) The Doctrine and Covenants (Book of Commandments is kept): But the Latter Day Saints have another book of doctrine — the "Doctrine and Covenants" — in which are the doctrines that Christ never taught to the "twelve" at Jerusalem, nor to the "twelve" upon this continent.
Changes are listed in part VIII
4) Adam-God
5) Blacks and the Priesthood; issues throughout the years
6) Joseph converting indians (2 Nephi 11:18):
"He never preached a sermon to them in his life to my knowledge."
7) Support the heads of the church in everything they should teach
8) Danites: "I see from a letter written by the heads of the church, while they were in Liberty Jail, that they repented while in jail of having anything to do with this secret organization, and came out again Dr. Avard, declaring it all wickedness, and resolved to henceforth disapprobate everything that was not according to the gospel, and which was not of a bold, frank and upright nature."
9) Joseph's infallibility: "At times when Brother Joseph would attempt to translate, he would look into the hat in which the stone was placed, he found he was spiritually blind and could not translate.'
10) It was inspired to sell the copyright of the Book of Mormon
"Brother Hyrum said it had been suggested to him that some of the brethren might go to Toronto, Canada, and sell the copy-right of the Book of Mormon for considerable money:"
"Some revelations are of God: some revelations are of men: and some revelations are of the devil."
What is kept:
1) First principles and ordinances of the gospel
2) Truth claims of the Book of Mormon
3) Stone-in-a-hat manner of translation
4) Women cannot hold the priesthood
5) Literal Gathering of israel
6) They own the temple lot, to build the temple in Missouri
7) Book of Commandments (unedited Doctrine and Covenants)
8) Verifying revelations against the New Testament and Book of Mormon.
Published April 1st, 1887.
So we can see, that from the very early days of the religion, there were many options as what to believe and when. Many dishes to be served; and many ways to select from the spiritual buffet.
Next post will handle the Strangites; then Rigdonites, and the reorganized church, and finishing up with the FLDS, Allreds, and the Remnant Church of Jesus Christ.
If I've missed any, please let me know so I can include them in order.
