Vol. 7, No. 3, 1990

Articles on Mormonism

Both the RLDS Church and the LDS Church have disavowed association with Jeffrey Lundgren, suspected cult murderer. The RLDS claimed no association since Lundgren left their Church in 1988 and LDS Church spokesman Jerry Cahill has issued a statement that Lundgren has never been a member of the Utah based "Mormon" Church.

But while there are vast differences between Jeffrey Lundgren, the suspected murder and Joseph Smith, the founder of both the LDS and RLDS churches, there are also significant and unmistakable similarities. In many ways, Jeffrey Lundgren is a product of Joseph Smith's "restoration."

Lundgren used the same reasoning that allowed his followers to believe the story of Joseph Smith to convince them of his own divine calling. It is no accident that before following Lundgren his 30 followers believed a remarkably similar story about another "latter-day" prophet.

(Sources for Lundgren's claims are found in related articles, elsewhere in this issue or in the Watchman Expositor, Vol. 7, No. 2).

1. Both claimed to be prophets.

Smith: "Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet," (Doctrine & Covenants 1, Introduction)

2. Both claimed to receive revelations.

Smith: Doctrine and Covenants (hereafter D&C) is a book of revelations, the majority of which came via Joseph Smith.

3. Both sought the Golden Plates.

Smith: (Joseph Smith, History, verses 34, 52-53, found in the Pearl of Great Price).

4. Both practiced communal living in Kirtland,OH.

Smith: "...for the principle of the church is that what one has, all have," (Elder's Journal, Vol. 1, No. 4, 1838, p. 53).

5. Both lived in Independence, MO and Nauvoo, IL.

Smith: D&C 57 & 58, 125.

6. Both suspected of misusing members' money.

Smith: Kirtland Safety Society Bank. The bank notes, "...had no value beyond that of the paper of which they were composed, " (Early Days of Mormonism, p. 163).

7. Both crossed state lines to avoid prosecution.

Smith fled to Iowa and then back to Illinois (History of the Church, Vol. 6, pp. 548-549).

8. Both killed people with handguns.

While Lundgren's use of the gun was for ritualistic killing, Joseph Smith did use a pepperbox revolver in self-defense when the mob attacked the Carthage Jail. Smith shot three men, killing two, (History of the Church, Vol. 7, p. 103).

9. Both had followers suspected of religious-based mass murders.

Smith: Joseph Smith's body guard, John D. Lee, was executed for his part in the Mountain Meadows Massacre, in which approximately 130 people were killed. (Confessions of John D. Lee, p. 383)

10. Both attempted to build "Zion."

Lundgren: Kansas City Times, Jan. 6, 1990, p. A-14.

Smith: "...the place for the city of Zion," (D&C 57:1-2).

11. Both changed their revelations as needed.

Smith: Compare Joseph Smith's 1833 Book of Commandments with 1835 D&C.

12. Both trained followers in paramilitary activities.

Smith: claimed to be Lt. General of the Nauvoo Legion. (History of the Church, Vol. 4, pp. 354-363).

13. Both drank alcohol in direct violation of the "Word of Wisdom."

Smith: William Clayton, Joseph Smith's personal secretary says that he and Joseph, "drank wine at sis Lyons," (Clayton's Secret Writings Uncovered, Aug. 18, 1843, p. 26).

14. Both used code names in Kirtland, Ohio.

Lundgren: Kansas City Times, Jan. 6, 1990, p. A-14.

Smith: D&C 104.

15. Both taught and practiced polygamy.

Smith: The Lord tells Emma, Joseph's first wife, to "receive all those that have been given unto my servant Joseph..." (D&C 132:52).