By Jerald and Sandra Tanner
Dr. Hugh Nibley, of the Brigham Young University, claims that Joseph Smith’s teachings “are so well-knit and perfectly logical that they have never had to undergo the slightest change or alteration during a century in which every other church in Christendom has continually revamped its doctrines” (No, Ma’am, That’s Not History, pages 57-58). On page 61 of the same book Dr. Nibley stated:
The gospel as the Mormons knew it sprang full-grown from the words of Joseph Smith. It has never been worked over or touched up in any way, and is free of revisions and alterations.
In a book we have just finished printing, Changes in the Key to Theology, we show that Dr. Nibley’s statement are completely false. The Mormon leaders not only change the doctrines of the Church, but they also change their books to make it appear that no doctrinal changes have been made. For example, in 1855 Parley P. Pratt published a book entitled, Key to the Science of Theology. Two years after this book was printed Parley P. Pratt (who was an Apostle in the Mormon Church) was assassinated at Van Buren, Arkansas. The Church, however, has continued to reprint his book; in 1965 the Deseret Book Co., which is owned by the Mormon Church, printed the “Ninth Edition.” We have compared the 1965 reprint with the original 1855 edition and have found many important changes.
Some of the most important changes are concerning the doctrine of polygamy. Today the Mormon leaders do not teach the doctrine of polygamy, but in 1855, when Parley P. Pratt wrote this book, polygamy was an accepted practice and doctrine of the Mormon Church. In the first edition of this book Parley P. Pratt defended the practice of polygamy. The 1883 edition (which was printed 26 years after his death) included this defense of polygamy. Sometime between 1883 and 1965, however, the Mormon leaders deleted Parley P. Pratt’s statements concerning polygamy. In the first edition the following statement appeared:
. . . restored with the priesthood of the Saints of this age.
Again, it was a law of the ancient Priesthood, and is again restored, that a man who is faithful in all things, may, by the word of the Lord, through the administration of one holding the keys to bind on earth and heaven, receive and secure to himself, for time and all eternity, more than one wife.
Thus did Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, the Patriarchs and Prophets of old.
The principal object contemplated by this law, is the multiplication of the children of good and worthy fathers, who will teach them the truth, and train them in the holy principles of salvation. This is far preferable to sending them into the world in the lineage of an unworthy or ignorant parentage, to be educated in error, folly, ignorance and crime.
The peculiar characteristics of the blessings included in the Everlasting Covenant made with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their lineage, was the multiplicity of their seed; and the perpetuity of the royal, priestly and kingly power in their lineage.
To assist in carrying out and fulfilling this covenant, good and virtuous women were given to their faithful Prophets, rulers, and wise and virtuous men; and, as it was said of the four wives of Jacob, “These did build the house of Israel.”
While peculiar blessings and encouragements were given to a good and faithful man, and to his wives and children; while they were honored of God, and respected by all who knew them; while the father of a hundred children was had in greater honour than the hero of a hundred battles, adultery, fornication, and all unlawful intercourse was strictly prohibited, and even punished by the strictest laws—the penalty of which was death.
A daughter of Israel, who, by prostitution, was rendered unworthy, or unqualified for the duties of a virtuous wife and mother, was considered unfit to live. While the male who would thus trifle with the fountain of life, and contribute to render a female unworthy to answer the end of her creation, was also condemned to death.
Strict laws were also given and diligently taught . . . (The Key to Theology, 1855 ed., pages 163-164)
In the 1965 edition, page 164, 341 words have been deleted. It now reads as follows:
. . . restored with the priesthood of the Saints of this age. Strict laws were also given and diligently taught . . .
Hundreds of other words concerning the doctrine of polygamy have also been deleted without any indication. On page 29 of the first edition this statement appears:
Jesus Christ, a little babe like all the rest of us have been, grew to be a man, was filled with a divine substance or fluid, called the Holy Spirit, by which he comprehended and spake the truth in power and authority; and by which he controlled the elements, and imparted health and life to those who were prepared to partake of the same.
In the 1965 reprint, page 37 this has been changed to read:
Jesus Christ, a little babe like all the rest of us have been, grew to be a man, and “received a fulness of the glory of the Father; and he received all Power, both in heaven and on earth; and the glory of the Father was with him, for he dwelt in him.”
Notice that the Mormon leaders have completely rewritten this statement by Parley P. Pratt.
In chapter 5 which is entitled “Keys to the Mysteries of the Godhead,” Parley P. Pratt did not have anything to say concerning the Holy Ghost. The Mormon leaders, however, filled the vacuum by adding 123 words. Parley P. Pratt had much to say concerning the Holy Spirit (in Mormon theology the Holy Spirit is considered to be separate from the Holy Ghost), but the Mormon leaders evidently did not like what he said, for they have deleted hundreds of words.
There are many other important changes which we do not have room to mention here, however, we have obtained photocopies of the original 1855 edition and have made a photomechanical reprint of it with all the changes marked.
Originally appeared in: