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Thank you for your input Mad Hatter. Now that I have that cleared up, what of Smith's prophecies that did not come to pass. If these prophecies are not true, how can they be divinely inspired? E.g. In Doctrine and Covenants Section 87, Smith prophesies "At the rebellion of South Carolina the Southern States will call on other nations, even the nation of Great Britain and then war shall be poured out upon all nations . And slaves shall rise up against their masters and that the remnants shall vex the Gentiles with a sore vexation" Now he got the first part right about South Carolina and calling on Britain for aid. While it is possible that he merely could have put two and two together, I will give him credit for that. However, as we know from history war did not pour out among all nations, the slaves did not rise up against their masters (many in fact joined the Confederate side) and the remnants (Native Americans) were vexed themselves and much of the "vexing" that they did was negligable compared to the devastation wreaked upon them. Also, in Doctrine and Covenants 124: 22-23, 59 Smith claims that he would possess the house in Nauvoo "For ever and ever". Not only did his children never inhabit the house after his death, but According to The Comprehensive History of the Church 1:160, “The Nauvoo House was never completed; and after its unfinished walls had stood unprotected for a number of years and were crumbling to decay, they were taken down; the foundations were torn up and the excellent building stone of which they were constructed sold for use in other buildings in and about Nauvoo.” However, the church has rebuilt the house into a tourist attraction. Also, to continue a previous a previous thread I have found an inconsistency within the Pearl of Great Price itself. "I am the Beginning and the End, the Almighty God; by mine Only Begotten I created these things; yea, in the beginning I created the heaven, and the earth upon which thou standest” (Moses 2:1). The Book of Abraham, on the other hand, contradicts this monotheistic view of creation: “And then the Lord said: Let us go down. And they went down at the beginning, and they, that is the Gods, organized and formed the heavens and the earth” (Abraham 4:1). I am sorry if my tone is beginning to sound accusatory, but getting the same response for most of my questions is starting to make me very skeptical and a little frustrated. I would really like to believe that these beliefs are true, but I need a little more reassurance. There just seems to many too many holes.

Thank you Dr. T. I appreciate your insight as well and I am well informed of the position you hold. However, I am hoping to see a bit more of the Mormon viewpoint of my questions. Someone beyond the "scriptural relativism" (just made that up) of Mad Hatter. If anyone has a different interpretation or would like to affirm his stance please respond. It is in curiosity that you find answers to your questions.

Whoa, I am really confused now, unless Dr. T is not LDS. So, by consensus which is it?

Ok, but does that stance not cast the Book of Mormon into doubt as well? I mean Nephi just about said that it is possible that he may have erred. Does that also mean that parts of the Book of Mormon are false as well? On a second thought, is it church doctrine that Prophet Smith and all those who have taken the mantle from him are always certain about their revelations? Are they all divinely inspired? Does the same go for his prophecies as well? Maybe I ask too many questions, but that is how I learn.

I appreciate your insights, mad hatter (Alice in Wonderland fan?) but it has cast further confusion on me. If the Bible is fallible, why even use it at all? How can you then trust anything you read. I'm sorry if I am being difficult, but your post has only confused me more.

Hello to all, I have begun studying The Book of Abraham along with Brigham Young's Journal of Discourses and come across some puzzling passages. "Gods exist and we must be prepared to be one with them" Journal of Discourses 7:238 "And then the Lord said: Let us go down. And they went down at the beginning, and they, that is the Gods, organized and formed the heavens and the earth" Abraham 4:1 Now, if we are to believe that the Bible and works of Prophet Smith (e.g. Pearl of Great Price, Doctrine and Covenents, etc.) complement each other and serve to strengthen each other. How do we reconcile the Bible, which states that there is only one God (Jehovah) while the Pearl of Great Price and others seem to contradict that notion. P.S. I am just noticing this, but doesn't Abraham 4:1 also contradict Genesis 1:1? "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth" It says God not Gods. I must say that this issue was brought to me by one who has done considerable research into the LDS church, I, despite not yet being LDS myself, tried to play devil's advocate (metaphorically speaking, of course) and tried to explain away several of his challenges. However, I have no understanding of matters such as these. Any insight provided would be greatly appreciated.