The False in Contrast to the True

 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 12
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It will help to clarify the matter if we show how the false fails in these four marks, before we show how alleged facts having these four marks must be true.
False religions are founded on deceit and fraud. For instance, Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism, stated that the angel Moroni appeared to him three times, and told him that the book of Mormon-the Bible of the Latter Day Saints- was buried in a certain place. Four years later, Joseph Smith stated that he repaired to the spot and had delivered to him by the angel a stone box in which was a volume six inches thick, composed of thin gold plates and fastened by three gold rings. But we have only his own word for all this. There were no witnesses, and he was at best a man of questionable character.
Joseph Smith tried to get his assertion backed up by fraud. Three men-Oliver Cowdery, David Whitner and Martin Harris-swore that an angel of God showed them the book. This does not satisfy Mark No. 2. Collusion and fraud were quite possible. Even if the three men had not later denounced their testimony as false, no reasonable man would be satisfied with such evidence, concerning that which was asserted to be miraculous, and of such importance in matters of religious belief. When it was stated that the gold plates had suddenly and mysteriously disappeared, it looked like the confidence trick. The whole thing was a concoction without a word of truth in it.
In the same way Mahomet stated that in the month Ramadan, in Mount Hira, the angel Gabriel came to him by night as he slept, held a silken scroll before him and compelled him to recite its contents, though he was unable to read or write. This and his pretended converse with the moon, his night-journey from Mecca to Jerusalem, and thence to heaven, were not performed in the presence of anyone, let alone before so many witnesses as to put the matter beyond possibility of collusion or fraud, and this lacks Mark No. 2 Completely.
Similarly we have Madame Blavatsky's assertions as to the Mahatmas, Mrs. White's visions in connection with Seventh Day Adventism, Mrs. Eddy's hallucinations in connection with Christian Science, the seances of the Spiritist-all lacking these four marks, and yet we have multitudes following their errors, whilst refusing Christianity, standing as it does on such an irrefutable basis.