A Christian apologetic response to the claim of ‘prophet’ by the founders of Islam and Mormonism, Muhammad and Joseph Smith, jr.

Joseph Smith, jr.

Abstract

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, better known as the Mormon Church, adamantly believes that its founder, Joseph Smith, Jr. was a prophet called of God. He not only allegedly helped to restore New Testament Christianity to its original form, but he received additional revelations and prophecies to assist in bringing the Christian Church to maturity. The entire Mormon structure stands or falls with the truthfulness or falseness of Joseph Smith’s claims to be a prophet. This article is in response to those stated claims. Smith believed in multiple gods, with Heavenly Father being an exalted human being from another planet. He also taught that his “spirit children”, whom he conceived with at least one goddess wife, could become gods and goddesses too, if they would only comply with certain laws and ordinances. An examination of his failed prophecy concerning the building of the Independence, Missouri, Mormon Temple in 1832, as well as his failed Civil War prophecy, demonstrated his inability to know what the future held, but also that God was not in the midst of his forecasts. If anyone was to be acknowledged as a biblical prophet of God, that prophet’s theology and ability to know the future had to be consistent with those who went before him. Neither Joseph Smith’s theology, nor his prophetic prowess, were consistent. Therefore, he cannot rightly be aligned with those who were recognized as biblical prophets, who were called by God to act as His spokespersons.