If the Church knew all the commandments, one half they would condemn through prejudice and ignorance

If the Church knew all the commandments, one half they would condemn through prejudice and ignorance

Joseph Smith Jr., the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was a controversial figure in his time and continues to be a subject of debate and scrutiny among historians and religious scholars. One of the criticisms often leveled against Smith and his followers is the belief that they cherry-picked certain commandments from the Bible while ignoring or dismissing others. This accusation is often summed up in the statement, “If the Church knew all the commandments, one half they would condemn through prejudice and ignorance.”

This quote suggests that the Church, in this case referring to the LDS Church, is selective in its interpretation and application of religious teachings. Critics argue that Joseph Smith and his followers were guilty of picking and choosing which commandments to follow based on their own biases and prejudices. They claim that certain teachings were emphasized while others were conveniently ignored or dismissed.

One of the most controversial aspects of Joseph Smith’s teachings was his practice of polygamy. While polygamy was practiced by some early followers of Smith, it was officially banned by the LDS Church in 1890. Critics argue that the practice of polygamy was in direct violation of biblical teachings and that Smith and his followers were guilty of ignoring this commandment in favor of their own desires.

Another criticism often leveled against Joseph Smith and the LDS Church is their treatment of marginalized groups, such as women and people of color. Critics argue that the Church has historically discriminated against these groups and that this discrimination is evidence of prejudice and ignorance on the part of Church leaders.