Subject: The “Missing Chapter” from Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Ezra Taft Benson
Dear Friends,
I, Dave Hocking sent an email a while back, with a link to a “missing chapter” from The Teachings of the Prophets: Ezra Taft Benson Manual. Go to the bottom, click on the link, and listen to a compilation talk by President Benson! This critical talk is called the “Missing Chapter” because it is not included in the Teachings of the Presidents, Ezra Taft Benson Manual, here.
Well, well, well!! It is interesting to discover that the Correlation Committee not only censored Joseph when he said things they did not agree with…they censored President Benson, as well! This censorship is on a VERY relevant topic for TODAY!!!!!!! It has EVERYTHING to do with what we are going through right now!
Did you notice he said not to get involved in Socialism (and Communism)? He was telling us about the secret combinations going on right under our noses! Every member of the Church should hear this immediately and make a copy of the transcript and paste it in their Ezra Taft Benson Manual, if they have a hard copy! He was a watchman on the tower and his critical message was taken from our view with censorship!! I would hope it would be corrected in the online manual!
President Benson said “what I am about to share is true”!!! When a prophet of God is speaking and says something is true, should we not hearken to his words??? How can we possibly adequately hearken to his words when we do not have all of his words??? It is so wrong! This manual was used in Gospel Doctrine classes around the world with the intent of teaching the members of the Church what President Benson taught us…and one of his most critical talks was omitted? I am upset right now!!
Joseph Smith Censored
In regards to censoring the Prophet joseph Smith in the Wentworth Letter in Chapter 38 page 441 of the Joseph Smith Manual, it needs a correction, as well!! (See my blog exposing this tragedy here)
Who could we possibly contact to make that request to the Brethren that these two online manuals be rectified? I Wonder if Boyd Tuttle could help with it?? In fact, I have Boyd Tuttle’s email address! I am going to take the time to write him, explain the situation, and ask him if he can help with this or at least direct me to someone…besides the correlation department…who will hear me!!! (If you personally can help or know a General Authority who you can share it with).
There has GOT to be a way to get to the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve!! The correlation department is intercepting everything members try to get to the Brethren. The Brethren probably have no clue what the saints are struggling through…other than they see membership declining rapidly! When they cannot hear from us, how can they know what we are struggling with?? Do you think the Brethren are aware of this censorship????? I do not! And I will tell you why!
I cannot speak for the omission in President Benson’s Manual, but I know for a fact that President Gordon B. Hinckley was prophet when the Joseph Smith Manual was first published in 2007!! In 2001, he started the publication of the Joseph Smith Papers so the Church would be “transparent”!! He said the Church needed very little revelation today because Joseph had been told so much…”we just need to study Joseph’s writings” said he!!! So, are we to assume President Hinckley knew of and/or approved of the censorship in the Wentworth Letter in the Joseph Smith Manual??? Indeed not!! It is a direct contradiction of everything President Hinckley was doing and saying at the time concerning the Prophet Joseph!!! Is this just me making a mountain out of a mole hill, or is censoring the words of prophets a serious transgression…and should it not be rectified?
I am probably reacting this way because, on a smaller scale, this is reminiscent of the mainstream media today…they print what they want us to know! It must fit their agenda or it does not make it in print! I am sick and tired of both! I want truth! I am so hungry for the whole truth!
And while I am at it, I am going to write the Ensign Magazine (Facebook Liahona is the new name replacing Ensign) and ask if they would publish Oliver and Joseph’s Eight Letters from 1835 during 2021 while we are studying D&C! (Will some of you readers join me)? What better time to have the history of the Church up to 1835, which was written by THE two most competent men to report on the subject—Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery—in our most prominent Church magazine? Joseph had them printed in his own personal journal and in every church magazine and publication available until his martyrdom! And then other apostles and prophets had them published again and again…once even in England. The final publication was in the New Improvement Era in 1899, entered by Joseph F. Smith—the most renown Church Historian in the history of the Church.
The Ensign [Liahona] is our most read and popular Church magazine today! Why have they never printed the Eight Letters?? (You can read the eight letters here). Stop and think for a minute! Doesn’t that give cause for reflection and questions? Why would they not want to publish them if Joseph and many of the early brethren did so?? There are less popular Church magazines that might consider publishing the Eight Letters! Ya think??
I have a possible explanation to the question above! Do you realize we have a slightly different history of the Church than the early saints had! They all knew and believed Cumorah was in NY and not in Mesoamerica! They all knew and believed that the Native American Indians were descendants of the Lamanites!! After all, the Lord sent the very FIRST missionaries to the Lamanites —the Native American Indians—in New York, Missouri, and Ohio. (See D&C 28, 30, and 32).
Interesting information about where the Mesoamerican Theory came from by Stephen Reed
Our good friend Stephen Reed offers the following to a follower of the Mesoamerican Model.:
“The Two Cumorah Mesoamerica geography theory for The Book of Mormon, was created by a member of the RLDS Church named Louis E. Hills in 1917. That’s during World War I. It’s mentioned in The Saint’s Herald of April 1917.
It was rejected by the First Presidency of the RLDS Church in a public statement dated November 15, 1921, published in the Saints’ Herald on December 13, 1921.
It was also again rejected by The RLDS First Presidency in January 1923 at the conclusion of a Church Committee called The Committee on Book of Mormon Archaeology specifically appointed to review L.E. Hills’ theory. The Committee’s report and The First Presidency’s acceptance of that report was published February 14, 1923 in The Saints’ Herald.
After 1917 up to 1923, when L.E. Hills’ ideas were being reviewed by his Church peers, he wrote two books, then a third in 1924, in an effort to convince his detractors.
There was then a public debate about his map and ideas in 1924 in Independence, MO also mentioned in The Saints’ Herald.
What [Mesoamerican Theoriest] have been defending are [Hillls] Maps and ideas in his books which were copyrighted in his name. Those copyrights have long ago expired and his maps and ideas are now in the Public Domain.
Anyone can resell them, similar to anyone who can resell Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.”
What [Mesoamerican Theorists] have been promoting has been rejected by a grandson of The Prophet Joseph Smith and his cousin President Joseph Fielding Smith.
I’ve placed most of this information on my blog. Good Luck!
What I failed to mention, is that there are now members of Community of Christ and Restoration Branch who currently promote the ideas of Louis. E. Hills, since he was an earlier member of the RLDS Church. There are two organizations.
Their websites are:
HillCumorahExpeditionTeam.com
hceti.org
BOMF.org
To Any Mesoamerican Theorists, Stephen suggests, Maybe you could contact them and share your LDS M2C ideas, since your ideas came from them.
Good Luck in defending M2C!
They did NOT go to Mesoamerica to the preach to the Lamanites! Joseph and the early Church leaders taught the Indians that the Book of Mormon was a history of their ancestors, it was of great worth to them, and that they were ancestors of the Jews from Jerusalem. This is what the early brethren knew and much of this information is found in the Eight Letters! Oddly enough, not all of the members of the Church today believe these things!”
Stephen Reed Mesa, AZ [email protected]
Here are other scriptures and proofs that the Native American and the Jews are related:
“He [Moroni] then proceeded and gave a general account of the promises made to the fathers, and also gave a history of the aborigenes of this country, and said they were literal descendants of Abraham. He represented them as once being an enlightned and intelligent people, possessing a correct knowledge of the gospel, and the plan of restoration and redemption. He said this history was written and deposited not far from that place, and that it was our brother’s privilege, if obedient to the commandments of the Lord, to obtain and translate the same by the means of the Urim and Thummim, which were deposited for that purpose with the record.” Excerpt from Letter IV
(For this very purpose) The Book of Mormon plates were preserved and translated in order that all these should be brought to a knowledge of the Savior. It may be concluded, then, that among the American Indians and the Polynesians who are mostly the descendants of the Lamanites, is also a sprinkling of the descendants of the Nephites who may have escaped the general destruction.” D&C Sec 3 page 22 Doctrine and Covenants Commentary by Sjodahl and Smith
In the Wentworth Letter Joseph Smith said, “Through the medium of the Urim and Thummim I translated the record by the gift, and power of God. In this important and interesting book, the history of ancient America is unfolded, from its first settlement by a colony that came from the tower of Babel, at the confusion of languages to the beginning of the fifth century of the Christian era. We are informed by these records that America in ancient times has been inhabited by two distinct races of people. The first were called Jaredites and came directly from the tower of Babel. The second race came directly from the city of Jerusalem, about six hundred years before Christ. They were principally Israelites, of the descendants of Joseph. The Jaredites were destroyed about the time that the Israelites came from Jerusalem, who succeeded them in the inheritance of the country. The principal nation of the second race fell in battle towards the close of the fourth century. The remnant are the Indians that now inhabit this country. This book also tells us that our Saviour made his appearance upon this continent after his resurrection, that he planted the gospel here in all its fulness, and richness, and power, and blessing; that they had apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers and evangelists; the same order, the same priesthood, the same ordinances, gifts, powers, and blessing, as was enjoyed on the eastern continent…” The Wentworth Letter, Joseph Smith Jr.
“I am asked to occupy the few minutes yet remaining: If the Spirit gives me liberty I will pursue the train of thought that has passed through my mind while Brother Richards has been speaking upon the spirit that has gone abroad upon the remnants of the house of Israel who occupy this land, the American Indians whom we understand to be the descendants of the Nephites, the Lamanites, the Lemuelites and the Ishmaelites who formerly possessed this land, whose fathers we have an account of in the Book of Mormon.” The Indians—The Influence of the Elders Among Them in the Interest of Peace, Etc. Discourse by Elder Erastus Snow, delivered at Logan, Sunday Afternoon, February 5th, 1882
This has always been a mighty land in God’s plan. It was in the valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman prior to his death, called the great high priests together and there bestowed upon them his last blessing. The Lord appearing there proclaimed Adam to be Michael, the Prince, the Archangel. (D&C 107:53-54) It is to that same spot that Adam, as the Ancient of Days, shall come to visit his people (D&C 116), where judgement shall be set and the books opened. (Daniel 7:9 ff; Revelation 20:4) It is here on this land that the New Jerusalem shall be built “unto the remnant of the seed of Joseph” — ourselves and those others the literal descendants of Lehi. (Ether 13:5 ff; 1 Nephi 14:1-2, 2Nephi 10:18) And finally, it is here on this hemisphere that Zion shall be built. (Tenth Article of Faith.) It is this fact and this purpose, the building of Zion on this hemisphere, which is Zion, which seems to be the dominant elements in all of God’s dealings with them who possess this land, for Isaiah, speaking more than twenty-five hundred years ago, declared that “out of the Lord from Jerusalem” (Isaiah 2:3.) President J. Reuben Clark, Jr The Glorious Purpose page 103
This has always been a mighty land in God’s plan. It was in the valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman prior to his death, called the great high priests together and there bestowed upon them his last blessing. The Lord appearing there proclaimed Adam to be Michael, the Prince, the Archangel. (D&C 107:53-54) It is to that same spot that Adam, as the Ancient of Days, shall come to visit his people (D&C 116), where judgement shall be set and the books opened. (Daniel 7:9 ff; Revelation 20:4) It is here on this land that the New Jerusalem shall be built “unto the remnant of the seed of Joseph” — ourselves and those others the literal descendants of Lehi. (Ether 13:5 ff; 1 Nephi 14:1-2, 2Nephi 10:18) And finally, it is here on this hemisphere that Zion shall be built. (Tenth Article of Faith.) It is this fact and this purpose, the building of Zion on this hemisphere, which is Zion, which seems to be the dominant elements in all of God’s dealings with them who possess this land, for Isaiah, speaking more than twenty-five hundred years ago, declared that “out of the Lord from Jerusalem” (Isaiah 2:3.) President J. Reuben Clark, Jr The Glorious Purpose page 103
“Spoke of the righteousness of Lehi and of the great faith of Nephi in doing whatsoever the Lord commanded him. Also spoke of those, who, because of iniquity, had been cut off from among the Nephites and cursed with a dark skin, like unto the Lamanites, the blood of Lehi and Nephi had been transmitted unto the people of this land, many of whom have the features and manners of the American Indians. Asked the Lord that if this were true, that he would not forget the integrity of his servants Lehi and Nephi, and would verify the promises made unto them concerning their descendants in the last days, upon this people, for we felt that they were a worthy nation.” Dedication of Japan by Heber J. Grant
In 1927, Janne M. Sjödahl a Swedish immigrant and convert to the LDS church, wrote a book on one of the founding works in the area of Book of Mormon studies. In his book he said; “The Onondagas: These have special interest… It appears from this, that this warrior, Zelph, was an Onondaga, as well as a “white” Lamanite, and that the Onondagas (of New York), consequently must be of Lamanite lineage. It also appears that at least some of the mounds in the Ohio Valley were erected by the descendants of Lehi” J.M. Sjodahl, An Introduction to the Study of the Book of Mormon.
“I think it’s important to realize that the title page of the Book of Mormon says, “written to the Lamanites.” That’s one of the very first things it says. I think Latter-day Saints today think well, the Book of Mormon is written for us. Well it was, written for the entire world, but of course Mormon, Moroni in their understanding of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, they fully realized that this book, this record, would eventually come forth to their descendants to the descendants of Lehi, and his family. And, this is clear to Joseph Smith. There’s no question in my mind that Joseph Smith knows from the very beginning this record needs to be received and given to and accepted by Lamanite descendants. And in 1830, to Joseph Smith and the Church members, a Lamanite meant to them, a North American Indian. There’s just no question.” Alexander L. Baugh BYU Church History Department; transcribed from the documentary “History of the Saints” Mission to the Lamanites Part 1.
So what did Robinson mean when he said they discovered the remains of a “Nephtish” structure? It is important to note that the early Latter-day Saints clearly believed that the native North American tribes were descendants of the earlier Nephite-Lamanite civilization. With this belief, Robinson probably used the word “Nephitish” to indicate that the structure or altar was built by, or originated with, the North American Indians. He may have also used “Nephitish” to mean that the altar was of ancient origin. Therefore, what Robinson was attempting to describe were the remains of what appeared to be a sacred altar structure erected by early Native Americans.” (Alexander L. Baugh, “Joseph Smith in Northern Missouri,” in Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer, ed. Richard Neitzel Holzapfel and Kent P. Jackson (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University; Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2010), 291–346.)
Joseph said that “the Book of Mormon is a record of the forefathers of our western tribes of Indians . . . By it we learn that our western tribes of Indians are descendants from that Joseph that was sold into Egypt, and that the land of America is a promised land unto them.” Joseph Smith’s Letter to The American Revivalist Feb 2, 1833 (Quoted in Dean C. Jessee, The Personal Writings of Joseph Smith (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1984), p. 273)
“He told me of a sacred record which was written on plates of gold, I saw in the vision the place where they were deposited, he said the Indians were the literal descendants of Abraham…” Joseph Smith Journal, November 9, 1835; The Joseph Smith Papers: Journals Volume 1:1832-1839 (Salt Lake City: Church Historian’s Press, 2008), 88-89.
“The first Sabbath after our arrival in Jackson county, Brother W. W. Phelps preached to a western audience over the boundary of the United States, wherein were present specimens of all the families of the earth; Shem, Ham and Japheth; several of the Lamanites or Indians–representative of Shem; quite a respectable number of negroes–descendants of Ham; and the balance was made up of citizens of the surrounding country, and fully represented themselves as pioneers of the West. At this meeting two were baptized, who had previously believed in the fulness of the Gospel.” HC 1:191 The First Sabbath in Zion.
“Ultimately, what did Joseph accomplish? By the gift and power of God, he translated the Book of Mormon which revealed who the Native Americans are, their heritage of prophets and priests, of repentance and righteousness, and of pride and destruction. It discloses promises to this remnant of Israel, so diligently sought by their ancestors and vouchsafed by the covenants of the Lord. It proclaims their glorious future in the face of their state of poverty. In a personal way, Joseph seemed to feel a kinship to this people whose culture was so very distant from his own. He knew he and they were both descendants of Joseph of old, the son of Israel. He knew that Joseph of old, their prophet ancestor, had foretold that a mighty seer would be raised up from his posterity to bring to pass much restoration to the remnant of his seed (2 Nephi 3:6–12). From his early tutoring by Moroni to his personal visits with numerous Native American chiefs, Joseph Smith sought to bring to this chosen people the glad tidings of the restoration.
But what did he see in the way of fulfillment for his efforts? In mortality he saw very little, but in vision he must have seen the Lamanites “blossom as a rose” (D&C 49:24)…
Joseph Smith stands at the head of this last, greatest of all dispensations (see JD 8:224). From his position today in the spirit world, he undoubtedly presides over the day of the Lamanite which now has arrived (see Kimball “The Day of the Lamanites”). In that sphere, with the cultural biases, the language difficulties, and the centuries of tradition put aside, one wonders if Joseph is not now preaching those very words and seeing the budding and blossoming of that rose which will, in due course, both there and here, reach the perfection of its bloom. Let us be true to the Book of Mormon, true to the revelations and efforts of the Prophet Joseph regarding the Native Americans as a people of destiny, and thus true to the Lord God who gave Joseph the vision of the blossoming rose and who will, assuredly, lead us to its fulfillment.” Byron R. Merrill, “Joseph Smith and the Lamanites,” in Joseph Smith: The Prophet, The Man, ed. Susan Easton Black and Charles D. Tate Jr. (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1993), 187–202
“As I read the Book of Mormon, it seemed to me that it was about my American Indian ancestors. It tells the story of a people, a part of which were later described as “Lamanites,” who migrated from Jerusalem to a “land of promise” (1 Nephi 2:20) about 600 B.C.” Larry Echo Hawk, “Come Unto Me, O Ye House of Israel,” Ensign, [Nov. 2012].
Scriptural Proof, “the Jew, of whom the Lamanites are a remnant”
2 Nepht 30:4 And then shall the remnant of our seed know concerning us, how that we came out from Jerusalem, and that they are descendants of the Jews.
I Nephi 1:2 Yea, I make a record in the language of my father, which consists of the learning of the Jews and the language of the Egyptians.
I Nephi 3:3 For behold, Laban hath the record of the Jews and also a genealogy of my forefathers, and they are engraven upon plates of brass.
D&C 29:26-27 “And again, I command thee that thou shalt not covet thine own property, but impart it freely to the printing of the Book of Mormon, which contains the truth and the word of God—Which is my word to the Gentile, that soon it may go to the Jew, of whom the Lamanites are a remnant, that they may believe the gospel, and look not for a Messiah to come who has already come.”
D&C 19:27“Which is my word to the Gentile, that soon it may go to the Jew, of whom the Lamanites are a remnant, that they may believe the gospel, and look not for a Messiah to come who has already come.”
2 Nephi 30:4“And then shall the remnant of our seed know concerning us, how that we came out from Jerusalem, and that they are descendants of the Jews.”
David Hocking Continues…
“I also think it is very interesting that BYA (Brigham Young Academy at that time) sent an expedition of professors and others to Guatemala in 1900 to look for Zarahemla! It is true! I have a copy of a newspaper article that tells all about it! So the last time the Eight Letters were published in Church Publications (other than the JS Papers after 2000) was 1899! Mmmmmm! I think it is possible to connect some dots here! What do you think? The BYU scholars became the interpreters of our Church History because the Brethren were running a world-wide Church and did not have time to research. (See the 1981 article by Elder Boyd K. Packer entitled “The Mantel is Far, Far Greater than the Intellect” to verify my last statement.)
However, it is not just censorship. When all of the prophets since 1830 claim that Cumorah is in New York and the Meso Scholars claim Cumorah is in Mesoamerica, they are repudiating the prophets!!! And they are leading many astray in the process!
These BYU scholars….the interpreters of our Church History…will have a lot to answer for one day!!! Deliberately censoring and hiding the words of prophets from the ears of the saints to support their own agenda and repudiating prophets of God to support their own agenda are not small transgressions!!!!!!!! It is serious to me…I resent it and find it hard to overlook! How dare they change the words of prophets and then hand their philosophies to us to read and study !! I understand that they have done many good things and produced many things of great worth for the Church. But I have learned that when it comes to their beloved Mesoamerica Model, there is no room for discussion! The case has been opened and it is now shut! And they will resort to censorship and repudiating prophets to make it fit their agenda! That is absolutely wrong!
But now we find censorship in President Benson’s Manual, and it had nothing to do with the Meso Model. It has motivated me to try to do all that I can to amend this situation! And the only thing I know to do is to try to contact someone and let them know how it is breaking my heart. Do you think I am crazy? (Please help me). I am a simple member of the Church! But I love this Gospel with all of my heart! It is true and it is from the Lord! It hurts my heart to witness this! Evidently, this is a test for us because the Lord would intervene if it were not! Truth will eventually win, and the Lord will give us all light and knowledge! But I think He wants us to try to help and share with those we love!
