First Published August 21, 2025Last Updated September 23, 2026by Binyamin Rutstein

2 min read

Joseph Smith's story doesn't look like the Hebrew Bible at all.

Listen to this articleSpeed Ready

In the Hebrew Bible…

Revelation was public — Sinai was heard by an entire nation. Prophets spoke words tested by the community, not hidden away. God’s covenant was with the nation of Israel, rooted in their land and history.

So What Happened With Joseph Smith?

Joseph Smith’s story?

Private visions.

A hidden book no one else could examine.

No national covenant, no open miracles, no continuity with Israel.

Mandatory 10% payments to the Mormon Church to stay in good standing and earn salvation.

Why Doesn’t It Match the Hebrew Bible?

That’s why it doesn’t resemble the Hebrew Bible — not in form, not in spirit, not in history.

When a group hides its teachings, sells heaven as a product, and punishes questions… That’s not covenant.

That’s a cult with a bank account.

Is This Really About Salvation?

“What if the Mormon Church, with over $200 billion in assets, isn’t offering salvation… but running the most successful scheme in America?”

Explore the NextSelf Blog. Start with this post explaining the world of souls, and what does it mean to be light? And my Youtube. Content is published to this facebook first and a few days later, to the blog.

The blog lists all the difference patterns to study, understanding patterns is how one can develop 'Daas' [felt knowing].
Content does not provide medical services or professional counseling, and it is not a substitute for professional medical care.

Questions people ask

How is Joseph Smith’s story different from the Hebrew Bible?

In the Hebrew Bible, revelation was public. An entire nation heard it at Sinai, and the words of prophets were tested by the community. Joseph Smith’s story is different. It rests on private visions and a hidden book no one else could examine, with no national covenant and no open miracles.

Why does it matter that revelation at Sinai was public?

The article says Sinai was heard by an entire nation, not kept secret by one person. Prophets spoke words the whole community could test, not hidden messages only a few could see. G-d’s covenant was with the nation of Israel, tied to their own land and history.

What does the Mormon Church require members to pay?

The article says the Mormon Church requires mandatory 10 percent payments. Members must pay to stay in good standing and to earn salvation. The article contrasts this with the Hebrew Bible, where G-d’s covenant with the nation of Israel did not depend on payments, only on a public revelation the whole community could test.

Why is the Mormon Church called a cult?

The article says that when a group hides its teachings, sells heaven as a product, and punishes questions, that is not a covenant. It calls this pattern a cult with a bank account, and points to the Mormon Church’s more than $200 billion in assets to ask if it is really offering salvation.

Comments

Comments are reviewed before they appear. Your email is never published.