Debate topic: Joseph Smith Abandoned The Book of Mormon's Trinitarianism
- Joe Rawlins
- 22 hours ago
- 6 min read
Resolved: Joseph Smith abandoned The Book of Mormon’s Trinitarian Theology
(This post will be updated as the case is being updated.)
Summary: No events in the history of Mormon theology are as significant as Joseph Smith’s purported “First Vision” and the publication of The Book of Mormon, both of which started as strictly Trinitarian documents. That is why Joseph Smith’s Historical revision of these doctrines is important to Mormon History and to understanding how “Restoration” theology evolves. As humans grow and change, so do their Gods.
Considerations: Contributors to my research on this topic include Rob Lauer, Steve Pynakker of Mormon Book Reviews, Evan Sharley, and others.
Please consider the table below and the links to documents elsewhere.
1832 | 1835 | 1838 | 1842 | |
First Vision Account | Nicene Trinitarianism “The Lord” appears to Joseph Smith and forgives him of his sins. | Binitarian One personage appears to Joseph and then another personage appears to Joseph. They testify of one another but are neither recognized as a physical being. | Economical Trinitarianism “Two personages whose glory…” Not published until 1842, Canonized by LDS in 1880. Accepted by RLDS, FLDS, rejected by all others | “Exaltation” (Theosis) - Joseph adds that he was “enquiring the plan of salvation I found” in Protestantism |
Historical Context | 1831 - Relocation from NY to OH & MO 1832 - Joseph Smith makes Frederick G. Williams his personal scribe | The tragic Camp of Israel and the creation of the KSSABC. 1834 - Oliver Cowdery removed from Church History 1836 - Dedication of Kirtland Temple | Feb 1836 - Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon and a handful of leaders start studying Hebrew under Joshua Seixas 1837 - Collapse of KSSABC 1838 Schism - Warren Parrish establishes a new “Church of Christ”in OH and David Whitmer establishes new First Presidency in MO 1838 Mormon War | April 1842, The “Happiness Letter” and polygamy. Smith/Rigdon fallout The Quorum of the Annointed, the Council of Fifty and Endowment 1844 - Martyrdom and Succession Crisis |
New Scripture | 1830 - The Book of Mormon contains the same Consubstantial doctrine as the Nicene Creed. (*See below) 1831-1832 - Joseph and Sidney Rigdon work together on The JST of the Bible preserves the Johannine Comma, added by Erasmus in the 1500’s* “The Book of Moses” and ”Joseph Smith Matthew” 1832-1833 - The “Olive Leaf” Revelation received in School of the Prophets, defining The Plan of Salvation. | Winter 1834-5 - The Lectures on Faith delivered by Smith/Rigdon Lecture 5 teaches that the Father is a personage of Spirit 1835 - The Book of Commandments heavily edited to remove The Church of Christ and compiled with Lectures on Faith for print as The Doctrine and Covenants | 1836-1837 More than 100 substantive changes are made by Joseph Smith to the Printer’s Manuscript, itself, including multiple instances in the first 100 pages where he changed Christological references | 1842 - The Book of Abraham published Polygamy Revelation The Sermon in the Grove The King Follett Discourse Wentworth Letter containing First Vision, Articles of Faith 1880 - The PofGP canonized, adding JST excerpts in “Moses” and “JS-Matthew” and 1838 account of First Vision JST Bible canonized by Israel Smith as “Inspired Version” (LDS never canonize) |
Historical Revisionism | Earliest recorded First Vision Account | Revisions to “Olive Leaf” significantly revised theology, Priesthood, and other key doctrines | 1921 - Lectures on Faith removed from D&C on by James E. Talmage, citing the “confusing” theology of Lecture 5. | |
Critical Historiography | 1837 - Smith and Rigdon desert Kirtland and excommunicate Warren Parrish, Oliver Cowdery May-April 1838 - William McLellin, David Whitmer excommunicated | Sep 8, 1844 - Sidney Rigdon excommunicated by B. Young |
Book of Mormon References to the Trinity in 1830 and current
1 Nephi 3 p. 25 (1830 Edition) on the "Condescension of God"
"Knowest thou the condescention of God? And I said unto him, I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things. And he said unto me, Behold, the virgin which thou seest, is the mother of God, after the manner of the flesh.
"And it came to pass that I beheld that she was carried away in the spirit; and after that she had been carried away in the spirit for the space of a time, the angel spake unto me, saying, look! And I looked and beheld the virgin again, bearing a chi[l]d in her arms. And the angel said unto me, behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Eternal Father!"
1 Nephi 11:18 (Current - Altered by Joseph Smith in 1837)
18 And he said unto me, Behold, the virgin whom thou seest is the mother of the Son of God.
1 Nephi 11:21 (Current - Altered by Joseph Smith in 1837)
21 And the angel said unto me, behold the Lamb of God, even the Son of the Eternal Father!
1 Nephi 3, p. 26 (1830 Edition)
And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me again, saying, look! And I looked and beheld the Lamb of God, that he was taken by the people; yea, the Everlasting God, was judged of the world; and I saw and bear record. And I, Nephi, saw that he was lifted up upon the cross, and slain for the sins of the world.
1 Nephi 13:40-41 (Current)
40 And the angel spake unto me, saying: These last records, which thou hast seen among the Gentiles, shall establish the truth of the first, which are of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, and shall make known the plain and precious things which have been taken away from them; and shall make known to all kindreds, tongues, and people, that the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father, and the Savior of the world; and that all men must come unto him, or they cannot be saved.
41 And they must come according to the words which shall be established by the mouth of the Lamb; and the words of the Lamb shall be made known in the records of thy seed, as well as in the records of the twelve apostles of the Lamb; wherefore they both shall be established in one; for there is one God and one Shepherd over all the earth.
2 Nephi 26:12
12 And as I spake concerning the convincing of the Jews, that Jesus is the very Christ, it must needs be that the Gentiles be convinced also that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God.
2 Nephi 31:21 (Current)
"And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end.
Mosiah 15:1-5
1 And now Abinadi said unto them: I would that ye should understand that God himself shall come down among the children of men, and shall redeem his people.
2 And because he dwelleth in flesh he shall be called the Son of God, and having subjected the flesh to the will of the Father, being the Father and the Son—
3 The Father, because he was conceived by the power of God; and the Son, because of the flesh; thus becoming the Father and Son—
4 And they are one God, yea, the very Eternal Father of heaven and of earth.
5 And thus the flesh becoming subject to the Spirit, or the Son to the Father, being one God, suffereth temptation, and yieldeth not to the temptation, but suffereth himself to be mocked, and scourged, and cast out, and disowned by his people.
Mosiah 16:15 (Current)
15 Teach them that redemption cometh through Christ the Lord, who is the very Eternal Father.
Alma 11:38-44 (Current)
38 Now Zeezrom saith again unto him: Is the Son of God the very Eternal Father?
39 And Amulek said unto him: Yea, he is the very Eternal Father of heaven and of earth, and all things which in them are; he is the beginning and the end, the first and the last;
40 And he shall come into the world to redeem his people; and he shall take upon him the transgressions of those who believe on his name; and these are they that shall have eternal life, and salvation cometh to none else.
44 ...and shall be brought and be arraigned before the bar of Christ the Son, and God the Father, and the Holy Spirit, which is one Eternal God, to be judged according to their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil.
3 Nephi 11:27 (Current)
27 Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, I will declare unto you my doctrine. And this is my doctrine, and it is the doctrine which the Father hath given unto me; and I bear record of the Father, and the Father beareth record of me, and the Holy Ghost beareth record of the Father and me; and the Father and I and the Holy Ghost are one."
Ether 3:14-15 (Current)
14 Behold, I am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ. I am the Father and the Son. In me shall all mankind have life, and that eternally, even they who shall believe on my name; and they shall become my sons and my daughters.
15 And never have I showed myself unto man whom I have created, for never has man believed in me as thou hast. Seest thou that ye are created after mine own image? Yea, even all men were created in the beginning after mine own image.
First Vision Accounts
1838
1842