The story of Zelph – even though it’s outside the narrative of the Book of Mormon – comes from a tendency of Joseph Smith to make up revelation on the fly to suit his purposes and to bolster faith in his followers.
As a “Prophet of God” Joseph Smith’s prophecies repeatedly failed. Why did David Patten die before he fulfilled his mission.
Did Joseph Smith write himself into Mormon scripture in order to convince people he was a prophet?
It’s apparent that these scriptural passages came through one man. And it’s the same man who is the object of those prophecies – Joseph Smith.
Doesn’t that seem self-serving and arrogant of Joseph Smith to write himself into the narrative of what is called Mormon scripture?
“…I have more to BOAST of than ever any man had. I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam…”
Either the vision of a 14 year old boy was a real physical event or he simply dreamed of having an experience while praying in the woods – an invention of a highly imaginative mind or a demonic deception.
