One characteristic of religious groups that have branched off from, or departed completely from, the LDS Church is the teaching that one or another of Mormon prophets “fell.” This is particularly true of most polygamous Latter-day Saint groups. Though the RLDS (now called Community of Christ) has changed radically through the years, some of its members have taught that Joseph Smith Jr. “fell.”
Below are links to a book by a former RLDS man named Paul Trask, called Part Way to Utah in which he speaks of Joseph Smith Jr. being seen as a fallen prophet.
View the chapter dealing with RLDS view of Joseph Smith as a “fallen prophet” on page 9 of this book.
Another link to this document is here.
Some might see a parallel between some Biblical leaders like King Saul and LDS “fallen prophets.” What do you think?
For more information, see The Mormon Mirage 3rd Edition: A Former Member Looks at the Mormon Church Today(Zondervan, 2009). Also available as an audiobook and as an expanded-text E-book for Nook, Kindle and other reading devices.
