Jesus, Joseph Smith, and the Question of Truth: A Personal Reflection

April 23, 2025 (28th Revision)

Jackson R. Blevins

Preface

This is the 28th revision of a personal reflection I wrote after over 125 hours of study, prayer, and conversation with members of the LDS Church. It’s not an attack — it’s a testimony. Not of intellectual superiority, but of someone who wanted to know if Jesus was truly enough. What follows is where that search led me.

I didn’t grow up trying to disprove Mormonism. I wasn’t looking for a debate. I was looking for Christ.

You’ll find:

• A biblical defense of Christ as the final truth

• A comparison between LDS doctrine and the gospel of Jesus

• A call to return to Jesus without additions

• A critique of Joseph Smith’s claims through Scripture, history, and character

This document is not meant to humiliate. It is not meant to win. It is meant to witness.

If you’re LDS, I’m not asking you to trust me. I’m asking you to test this against Scripture. Let Jesus speak for Himself.

Note: I currently do not adhere to sola scriptura.

Readers,

I want to give a bit of context before you read what follows: I'm coming into this from a place of only knowing Christ and the Bible. I don’t have a background in any specific denomination, nor am I trying to push a rival tradition. I’m simply someone who has tried to follow the Jesus of Scripture as closely as I can—without filters, without tradition layered over Him, and without assuming I already had the full picture.

In a way, that puts me at an advantage. I’m not comparing one church against another. I’m comparing everything I see to Jesus Himself—and what I’ve seen in your community, the teachings, and the claims about Joseph Smith and the LDS Church have caused some real questions to form within me. What follows is the result of that search.

This letter is written not from a place of argument, but from genuine reflection, personal study, and a sincere desire to walk in truth wherever it may lead. I've spent time with your community, felt your warmth, and seen your sincerity—and it’s that very sincerity that makes me want to have honest conversations.

I believe Jesus Christ is who He says He is. I trust that His life, death, and resurrection were not just significant events, but the climax of truth itself. In exploring what that truly means, I've come to some conclusions that I want to share with you—not to challenge, but to understand whether they resonate with you too.

What Resonates with Me About LDS

Before diving into the more difficult sections of this letter, I want to acknowledge something important: there are aspects of the LDS Church that ring true to me on a deep level.

Your community is warm, sincere, and centered on purpose. The belief that we are meant for more than this world, that there is a divine plan, that our lives carry eternal weight—these ideas resonate deeply with me. I admire the emphasis on family, discipline, service, and the desire to live in alignment with something higher than ourselves.

Even some of the doctrines, while not verifiable within the main biblical corpus, appeal to a part of the human heart that longs for cosmic meaning—eternal purpose, spiritual development, and a future that is active, not passive. I understand why these ideas draw people in. They’re beautiful in a way.

But here's where I must draw a line:

The person of Joseph Smith introduces a break in my trust.

Not because I want to find fault. But because I’ve held his claims next to Christ’s—and they do not seem to match. The more I read of Jesus, the more clarity I gain. The more I read of Joseph, the more ambiguity and contradiction I see.

I do not believe Joseph Smith passes the biblical test of a prophet. And that’s not based on rumors or internet criticism. It’s based on his shifting doctrines, failed prophecies, moral inconsistencies, and the degree to which his revelations seem, to me, to reshape the gospel rather than reinforce it.

So while the heart behind many LDS beliefs speaks to me, the root they are built on does not hold under biblical weight.

That’s where my concern lies. Not in the sincerity of your community. Not in the moral fabric of your values. But in the foundation—the prophet who claimed to restore what Christ never lost.

I say that not to offend, but to clarify. Because if you read the rest of this paper, I want you to know this isn’t about tearing anything down out of pride. It’s about guarding the truth as it was handed down once and for all.

And that truth is Christ.

A Question to the LDS Reader: If Joseph Smith Falls, What Then?

If you've read this far, then you’ve already seen where I stand. But now I want to ask you something directly—something I believe you must wrestle with if truth really matters to you.

Do you believe the Book of Mormon stands true despite the explicit, historical,

moral, and doctrinal flaws of Joseph Smith? And if so, why?

If you acknowledge that Joseph Smith made serious moral errors, contradicted himself doctrinally, and made prophecies that did not come true—do you still trust the book that he claimed to translate by the power of God? Can a flawed prophet birth a flawless scripture?

This isn’t a trap. It’s a sincere call to clarity.

Because your entire faith—every doctrine, every temple ordinance, every belief about exaltation and eternal families—seems to me to rest on one man’s credibility.

The Book of Mormon has no archaeological support, no independent manuscript history, and no historical documentation beyond Joseph Smith’s own words, as well as 11 others. So what are you really placing your faith in?

If Joseph Smith is not who he said he was, then one would think the Book of Mormon is not what it claims to be.

You can’t separate the two. To keep the book and discard the man would be like keeping the fruit after uprooting the tree. That doesn’t sit well with me personally.

So again, I ask: If you believe the Book of Mormon is still true, even if Joseph Smith is not, I would ask you—why?

Because the more I examine it, the more it seems that the entire structure of LDS doctrine collapses when Joseph Smith is removed from it. And at that point, you’re not defending your faith anymore. You’re defending a system. One built not by Christ—but by a man who claimed to speak for Him.

If Jesus is the rock, then Joseph Smith can’t be the foundation.

Jesus as the Climax and Standard of Truth

Thesis: Jesus is the final and ultimate standard of truth. Everything that comes after Him must perfectly align with Him or be discarded.

"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" — John 14:6

Jesus isn’t just a piece of the truth puzzle. He is the full picture. He didn’t come to start a religion—He came to reveal the fullness of God. Everything He did, said, and fulfilled was prophesied, recorded, and witnessed publicly. He didn’t need clarification. He was the clarification.

Jesus Stands on Every Pillar of Truth

To be the embodiment of truth, Jesus had to fulfill and stand upon all the foundational pillars of truth. If even one of these were missing, He would not be the full revelation of God—but He fulfilled them all which include but are not limited to:

1. Historical Truth – Jesus lived in a verifiable time, under known rulers (e.g., Caesar Augustus, Pontius Pilate), and His crucifixion is affirmed by both Christian and non-Christian sources.

"This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses." — Acts 2:32

2. Prophetic Fulfillment – Over 300 prophecies about the Messiah were fulfilled in Him: His birth (Micah 5:2), betrayal (Zechariah 11:12-13), crucifixion (Psalm 22), and resurrection (Psalm 16:10).

   "For all the promises of God find their Yes in him." — 2 Corinthians 1:20

   
   

3. Moral Integrity – Jesus lived a sinless life, forgiving His enemies, loving the outcast, and never contradicting His message.

"He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth." — 1 Peter 2:22

4. Spiritual Authority – He taught with authority, performed public miracles, cast out demons, and forgave sins—things only God could rightfully do.

"They were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes." — Mark 1:22

5. Coherence of Message – Jesus spoke and lived with total consistency. His life was the message. His final words on the cross were not, “More to come,” but:

"It is finished." — John 19:30

Because of all this—His fulfillment of prophecy, historical grounding, moral perfection, spiritual authority, and consistency of message, & so much more—we can know that Jesus truly is who He says He is. He doesn’t just speak truth; He embodies it. No other person in history stands on all 5+ pillars, including scientific, like He does. And that’s why our faith in Him isn’t blind—it’s built on something sure.

A Note on Biblical Prophets vs. Joseph Smith

Before Jesus, prophets served a specific and necessary role: they pointed toward the coming Messiah. Their lives and messages were often messy and flawed, but they never claimed to complete the truth—only to prepare the way for it. Each prophet added pieces to a puzzle that would be fully revealed in Christ.

Jesus Himself affirmed the law and the prophets but clarified that He was their fulfillment:

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” — Matthew 5:17

So when Joseph Smith comes after Christ and claims not only to restore truth but to add to it with brand-new doctrine, authority, and requirements, he is not doing what biblical prophets did. He’s attempting something fundamentally different: to continue and expand what Jesus said was already complete. That puts him in an entirely different category—and requires a different level of scrutiny.

Why I believe Jesus is the final authority:

• He fulfilled over 300 Old Testament prophecies—many completely outside His human control (Micah 5:2; Isaiah 53).

• His resurrection was publicly witnessed by hundreds (1 Corinthians 15:6).

• He spoke with clarity and completeness, never hinting that new doctrine would follow.

• He declared His mission finished (John 19:30).

"We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." — Hebrews 10:10

Why I’m Struggling to Trust Mormonism

Thesis: The claims of Mormonism do not meet the truth standard Jesus established. They seem to add to, contradict, and diminish the gospel rather than reinforce it.

This part is difficult to write. Please understand—I’m not trying to offend. But after weighing the claims of the LDS Church against Jesus Himself, I find a growing gap.

Where the contradictions lie:

1. A Different Gospel

“Even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.” — Galatians 1:8

Jesus preached a gospel of grace (Ephesians 2:8–9). The LDS Church teaches a gospel of progression, ordinances, and exaltation. The Book of Mormon itself says grace comes after all we can do (2 Nephi 25:23). That feels like a different gospel.

2. A Different God

"Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me." — Isaiah 43:10

LDS doctrine teaches that God was once a man, and we too can become gods (King Follett Discourse). But Isaiah says clearly—God has always been God, and there will be none after Him.

3. A Prophet With Contradictions

 Joseph Smith introduced doctrines that changed over time: from a monotheistic Book of Mormon to polytheistic teachings later in his life. He prophesied things that didn’t happen (e.g., Christ’s return before 1891). He lived in secrecy, practiced polygamy while denying it publicly, and claimed ultimate authority over all.

Jesus said:

"You will recognize them by their fruits." — Matthew 7:16

If I apply Jesus’ words to Joseph Smith, I see red flags, not affirmation.

4. A Gospel That Adds To What Jesus Finished

"It is finished." — John 19:30

Jesus completed the work of salvation on the cross. Mormonism teaches that salvation is conditional on temple ordinances, membership, and obedience to church structure. That might not supplement the gospel—it may replace it.

On Wonder, Glory, and Staying Grounded in What Jesus

Revealed

I want to acknowledge something important. Some LDS teachings appeal to a deep part of the human heart—not because they’re true, but because they touch something real in us:

• The longing for eternal purpose

• The sense that life doesn’t end at death

• The intuition that we were made for something glorious

• The idea that there is more to come, possibly even dimensions or realms beyond what we see now

I get that. And I even resonate with parts of that instinct. I’m not afraid of strange or large-scale ideas. The Bible is full of mystery, wonder, and cosmic language. But I’ve come to believe this:

If Jesus didn’t reveal it, I won’t build on it.

I’m not closed to the possibility of reigning with Him, or that eternal life may be more dynamic than we imagine. Scripture hints at glorification, inheritance, reigning, and transformation. But I don’t need to speculate on things Christ never clearly said. Why?

Because if we needed it for this life—He would have said it.

Mormonism takes these longings and turns them into concrete doctrine: three levels of heaven, godhood, eternal families, spirit birth. But Jesus never taught those things. The apostles never taught those things. And without Jesus saying them—we don’t need them.

What we do need is this:

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

We are made to wonder—but also to trust. And if Jesus is who He says He is, then the deepest wonders of the afterlife will not be found in speculation or systems—but in Him.

He is enough.

And here’s something else I’ve come to believe:

It actually requires more faith to operate within the lens Jesus chose to give us. To be satisfied in what He revealed—no more, no less—is harder than chasing after man-made systems and speculative doctrines. It's tempting to imagine grand answers to the mysteries of eternity. Honestly, it would be exciting if Jesus laid it all out for us—what heaven looks like, what we’ll be doing, what “reigning with Him” truly means. That kind of vision appeals to the heart. It appeals to our human nature—our longing for story, purpose, and cosmic belonging.

But He didn’t give us those details. And faith means trusting that choice too.

It’s easy to create a universe that scratches our longings. It’s much harder to say, “He didn’t say it, so I will rest in what He did.” Faith is trusting not just in what He said, but also trusting that what He didn’t say was intentional. That takes surrender. That takes reverence. That takes faith in His judgment, not just His promises.

The Danger of 90% Truth

One of my deepest fears is that LDS members aren’t caught in total falsehood—but in almost-truth.

It’s not the presence of blatant lies that makes it dangerous. It’s the presence of 90% truth that makes the remaining 10% so hard to see.

The LDS Church uses the name of Jesus. It teaches morality. It preaches family, faith, and even Scripture.

But it also adds to Jesus—and that’s where the distortion lives:

• Jesus plus Joseph Smith

• Jesus plus temple ordinances

• Jesus plus worthiness and progression

That’s what makes spiritual deception so hard to spot. It doesn’t come dressed in

darkness—it comes dressed in light.

Even if your compass is off by just a few degrees from true north, give it enough distance and you’ll end up somewhere completely different than you intended.

And that’s the heartbreak. Being offered light—but it’s not the source.

The gospel of Christ is complete, finished, and final. Anything that claims more is needed, by definition, undermines the cross.

So I’m not saying you’ve been handed lies.

I’m saying you may have been handed almost enough truth—just not quite.

And that’s why this matters. Because 90% truth still blinds—if it keeps you from Jesus in full.

If Joseph Smith Is False, What Else Is Too?

The foundation of the LDS Church seems to rest entirely on the credibility of Joseph Smith. If his testimony is untrue—if his visions were imagined or fabricated, his prophecies failed, or his character contradicts Christ—then everything built on that foundation collapses with it. The Book of Mormon, the temple system, the priesthood authority, the entire structure of LDS doctrine—all of it rises and falls with one man’s integrity. (Sounds familiar right?)

In other words: God does not build eternal truth on a flawed foundation. And Jesus made it clear: “You will recognize them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:16). If the fruit is contradiction, secrecy, failed prophecy, and teachings that distort the gospel, then the tree cannot be from Him. And he is not Him.

A Theory on What Prophesying Should Look Like

I don’t claim to be a prophet. But I do believe modern-day prophesying still exists—and I believe we’ve misunderstood what it actually looks like.

Modern-day prophesying is simply this: Calling people back to the clarity and sufficiency of Jesus Christ—without compromise, without agenda, and without fear of rejection.

It doesn’t add to the gospel. It doesn’t demand a following. It doesn’t obscure Jesus—it reveals Him clearly, especially where He’s been buried under man-made ideas.

That’s what this paper is meant to do. Not predict the future, but realign hearts with the only one who holds it.

When Ambition Becomes Theology

One of the ideas in LDS doctrine that I wrestled with most is the belief that God was once a man — and that we too can become gods. That through obedience, progression, and temple ordinances, we can inherit kingdoms, rule over planets, and participate in an eternal cycle of divine exaltation.

I see why this teaching is so compelling.

It speaks directly to something ancient and powerful inside the human heart: The desire for permanence. The desire for significance. The desire to ascend.

It promises not just salvation — but sovereignty. Not just forgiveness — but a throne. And suddenly, the impulse to be worshiped is no longer sin. It’s your spiritual destiny.

But here’s what I’ve come to think: Maybe that’s not revelation. Maybe it’s a baptized version of ambition.

It doesn’t call you to surrender. It calls you to achieve. It appeals not to humility — but to hierarchy. To rank. To rulership.

And that’s a slippery slope.

Because once you believe that God was once like you, it’s not long before you start to believe that you can become like God — not in the way Jesus modeled (as a servant, laying down His life), but in the way Satan sought (exalting self, seeking the highest place).

“You will be like God…” — Genesis 3:5 That was the first lie. Not the last.

So while I understand the appeal of ruling kingdoms, of family lines continuing into eternity, of being crowned and exalted — I have to ask: Did Jesus ever teach that? Did the apostles? Or are we now following a version of Christ that mirrors our desire, instead of crucifying it?

Jesus didn’t come to make us gods. He came to make us whole.

He didn’t say, “You will reign over galaxies.” He said, “Take up your cross and follow Me.”

And so I’ve come to this: If a teaching elevates my status but diminishes the sacrifice of Christ, it may not be revelation — it may be replication of man’s oldest temptation.

A Word on Openness and Limits

Before I close, I want to say this clearly:

I know this paper doesn’t capture everything. Not even everything I think. This isn’t a complete case, and it’s not the whole picture — not of LDS theology, not of Christianity, not of me. There’s more to the story, and there’s more I still don’t understand.

I’m still learning. Still listening. Still trying to test what I hear against Scripture, prayer, and the fruit it produces.

I don’t claim to have nailed it. I’m open to being wrong — even on the things I feel strongly about right now. If someone can show me that I’ve misunderstood, misrepresented, or missed a layer I haven’t considered, I want to hear it. That’s the whole point of seeking: you can’t really search if you’re not willing to be surprised.

This isn’t my final answer. It’s just my current one. It’s the best articulation I can offer, from the study I’ve done and the conviction I’ve developed so far. But I know that truth isn’t threatened by questions — and that means I’m not afraid of pushback. I welcome it.

I’m not trying to win an argument. I’m trying to walk in the light.

So if you’re reading this and something in it doesn’t sit right with you — whether emotionally, doctrinally, or logically — I’d honestly love to talk. Especially if you come not to debate, but to seek alongside me.

Because I’m not looking to prove myself right. I’m looking to walk with Christ.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve made it to this point, thank you.

This paper is not just an argument. It’s not meant to humiliate or insult. It’s a reflection born out of real study, real conversations, and real care—for the truth, and for you.

This paper came from that place.

It came from:

• Attending your events

• Listening to your testimonies

• Having honest talks with missionaries

• Watching and reading material from both LDS and Christian sources

• Asking God to help me see clearly—not emotionally, but truthfully

And here’s what I can say with conviction:

Jesus Christ is enough.

Read the Gospels again with no filter. Open Romans. Open John. Ask God to show you if the Jesus of Scripture is enough—without any additions.

I believe He will. Because He’s already finished the work. And He’s still calling His people back to Himself.

If Jesus already gave us the truth in full, why would God later use a man with lower credibility, new doctrines, and shifting revelations that add confusing new layers to the gospel?

“For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” — 1 Corinthians 3:11

I’m not trying to attack your faith. I’m just showing you where my search for truth has led me. I would genuinely love to hear your thoughts around all of this. If I am wrong I want to understand why.

This is my current thinking on the matter. My goal is to keep an open mind as I move forward in my walk. I look forward to hearing your thoughts, rebuttals, viewpoints, and conversations.

I also want to say that systems and structure are things we seem to need as humans.

Closing Note

This letter was originally written with a specific reader in mind — but the thinking it contains, I believe, belongs to everyone. If it stirs something in you, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

With respect and sincerity,

Jackson

P.S. Truth doesn’t fear scrutiny. Lies do.