NOM

Church leaders always claim that they hide nothing. Of course we know that is not true and there are many examples to illustrated it. The seer stone, and the 1832 First Vision account leap to mind.

While they have had periods of greater transparency, usually in the form of being dragged into the light amidst much kicking and screaming, I'm trying to get a grasp on some of the things we know about that remain hidden. Mormonism Live Episode 190 listed a few:

-The white and large brown seer stones
-Council of Fifty minutes (but weren't some of those released?)
-William Clayton's diaries
-16 pages from the same letter book that contained the 1832 account, and appear to have been removed at the same time
-The first portion of Newell Knight's account of Mormon history (likely another First Vision account)

As far as I know, only part of Oliver Cowdery's journal has been released, but with major chunks redacted (e.g. the released portions completely skip the Kirtland temple dedication).

Other examples?

Financial records.

Honest membership records

Until recently, they hid the numerous changes in the D&C. Now they obscure them in the Joseph Smith papers.

These false prophecies have been kept pretty well hidden:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vN65RkY3oKw

Matt Harris's recent book, Second Class Saints, shows that the Church actually wants to hide, or at least obscure how the Church makes such decisions as the change in their racial doctrine in 1978. The mean spirited First Presidency message of 1970-71 is a example of how some in the hierarchy used their power to block policies they disagreed with.

Matt Harris's recent book, Second Class Saints, shows that the Church actually wants to hide, or at least obscure how the Church makes such decisions as the change in their racial doctrine in 1978. The mean spirited First Presidency message of 1970-71 is a example of how some in the hierarchy used their power to block policies they disagreed with.