Contradictions in Mormon Documents

by Dudley Ross Spears

There are very obvious contradictions in the documents Mormons must hold to be divinely inspired by their god. These documents include The Book of Mormon, proposing to be "Another Testament of Jesus  Christ," Doctrine and Covenants, proposing to be "a collection of  divine revelations and inspired declarations given for the  establishment and regulation of the kingdom of God on the earth in  the last days," and The Pearl of Great Price, proposing to be "A  selection from the Revelations, Translations, and Narrations of  Joseph Smith."

I ask the reader to consider the fact that if all of these came from  the same alleged "divine" source, there should be harmony and  complete agreement in what is "revealed."

The most glaring contradiction I find is between The Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants. They contradict each other in the way polygamy, for which Mormonism has been made infamous, is dealt with.  The Book of Mormon condemns it; Doctrine and Covenants defends it.

To make matters worse, those who have occupied the office of "President, Prophet, and Seer" in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter  Day Saints contradict one another. When the Congress of the United  States made polygamy unconstitutional, then president Wilford  Woodruff declared, "Inasmuch as laws have been enacted by Congress  forbidding plural marriage, which laws have been pronounced  constitutional by the court of last resort, I hereby declare my  intention to submit to those laws, and to use my influence with the  members of the Church over which I preside to have them do likewise."  (D&C, "Declaration 1").

However, the very first President, Prophet, and Seer, Joseph Smith,  Jr., declared God revealed "a new and an everlasting covenant"  through him. D&C, Section 132, verse 4 pronounces damnation any who  would "abide not that covenant." Smith added, "no one can reject this  covenant and be permitted to enter into my glory." I emphasize that  Smith claimed divine revelation from on high and pronounced the eternal damnation on any who would not abide in it or reject it. It is found in Doctrine and Covenants, Section 132, verses 61-63.

Vs. 61 - And again, as pertaining to the law of the priesthood-if any man espouse a virgin, and desire to espouse another, and the first give her consent, and if he espouse the second, and they are virgins,  and have vowed to no other man, then is he justified; he cannot commit adultery for they are given unto him; for he cannot commit adultery with that That belongeth unto him and to no one else.

Vs. 62 - And if he have ten virgins given unto him by this law, he cannot commit adultery, for they belong to him, and they are given unto him; therefore is he justified.

Vs. 63 - But if one or either of the ten virgins, after she is espoused, shall be with another man, she has committed adultery, and shall be destroyed; for they are given unto him to multiply and  replenish the earth, according to my commandment, and to fulfil the promise which was given by my Father before the foundation of the world, and for their exaltation in the eternal worlds, that they may bear the souls of men; for herein is the work of my Father continued,  that he may be glorified.

Did "President" Woodruff change this alleged "revelation?" Quite obviously he did. In the same Declaration he wrote, "There is nothing  in my teachings to the Church or to those of my associates, during  the time specified, which can be reasonably construed to inculcate or  encourage polygamy; and when any Elder of the Church has used  language which appeared to convey any such teaching, he has been  promptly reproved."

Please read over the words Joseph Smith wrote. He presents them, not as his own words, but as words Jesus spoke to him. Jesus allegedly endorsed a priest having "ten virgins" without any adultery involved.  But Woodruff claims the Mormon Church doesn't teach or allow such a  thing.

The covenant Smith claimed was a "new and everlasting covenant"  lasted only until Woodruff complied with the constitutional ban on polygamy. He stopped the everlasting right there. If Jesus was in contact with Smith as well as Woodruff did Jesus change the "everlasting covenant" and make it last only until the congregational action took place?

What does The Book of Mormon have to say about multiple mates in a  single marriage? Jacob 2:22-24 has this to say about "grosser crimes" charged against the brethren of Jacob.

Vs. 22 - And now I make an end of speaking unto you concerning this pride. And were it not that I must speak unto you concerning a  grosser crime, my heart would rejoice exceedingly because of you.

Vs. 23 - But the word of God burdens me because of your grosser crimes. For behold, thus saith the Lord: This people begin to wax in iniquity; they understand not the scriptures, for they seek to excuse themselves in committing whoredoms, because of the things which were written concerning David, and Solomon his son.

Vs. 24 - Behold, David and Solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before me, saith the Lord.

What Jesus allegedly revealed to Joseph Smith in Doctrine and  Covenants is condemned as a "gross crime" in The Book of Mormon.  Multiple wives as engaged in by David and Solomon, according to The Book of Mormon, were abominable to God. It was a "gross crime." There is no way these two statements can be harmonized. If one of them actually came from God, which one would it be? The fact is, both are nothing more than fake revelations that have been palmed off on gullible people who have become trapped in Mormonism.

This is but one of the many contradictions found in documents that  Mormons must hold to be divinely inspired.