They Shoot Mormons, Don't They? Religious Bigotry, alive and well today

Saundra Duffy

[Saundra Duffy]

They Shoot Mormons, Don't They? Religious bigotry, alive and well today

May 4, 2007 - by Saundra Duffy-Hawkins

“I wouldn’t vote for a Mormon for dogcatcher, much less President of the United States!” There’s a lot of that kind of hateful rhetoric going around since Mitt Romney decided to throw his hat in the ring – as if Mormons are some kind of hideous evil monsters. The loudest anti-Mormon shouts, sad to say, are coming from America’s so-called “Christian right”. How can Mitt Romney hope to get a fair shake in this spiritually polluted atmosphere?

There was another man running for President who faced the same dilemma – John F. Kennedy – only he was the target of anti-CATHOLIC bigotry. In his 1960 speech to the Greater Houston Ministerial Association, JFK said the following: “. . .I believe in an America where religious intolerance will someday end - where all men and all churches are treated as equal - where man has the same right to attend or not attend the church of his choice - where there is no Catholic vote, no anti-Catholic vote, no bloc voting of any kind - and where Catholics, Protestants and Jews, at both the lay and pastoral level, will refrain from those attitudes of disdain and division which have so often marred their words in the past, and promote instead the American ideal of brotherhood.” John F. Kennedy Library & Museum (Speeches, 1960). By the way, if you listen to the audio version of JFK’s speech, you will hear the hurt and frustration in his voice and the unfair treatment surely must have caused many a sleepless night.

Fast forward to 2007 where JFK might as well have been “whistlin’ Dixie”. The hostility toward Mormons today, in my opinion, is even worse than that suffered by JFK. Although it is said that JFK lost about a million votes to religious intolerance, Romney stands to lose even more if the anti-Mormon evangelicals hang together.

According to Media Matters for America - “. . . a Web-based, not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) progressive research and information center dedicated to comprehensively monitoring, analyzing, and correcting conservative misinformation in the U.S. media” - FOX News is not reporting accurately on the level of evangelical hostility to the Romney run. Media Matters for America points out that among evangelical leaders rejecting Mormons: Shirley and James Dobson (National Day of Prayer and Focus on the Family, respectively), the Southern Baptist Convention (collectively), Pat Robertson (Christian Broadcasting Network), and Dr. D. James Kennedy (Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Florida). “Among many conservative evangelicals – who comprise a significant part of the Republican base – Mormonism is considered an un-Christian cult.” Media Matters for America (2007)

While stumping in Florida, a man in the audience stood up during the Q&A portion and said the following to Romney: “You, sir, you’re a pretender. You do not know the Lord. You’re a Mormon.” Media Matters for America (2007). This is the kind of un-American, disrespectful treatment Mitt Romney will apparently have to endure throughout the entire campaign – as if just being a Mormon is reason enough to open the floodgates for free flow of pent-up hatred and vindictiveness.

For the record, the Mormon bashers know full well that the official name of Romney’s church is “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints” and the members should rightfully be called “members of the LDS Church” but the words “Mormon” and “Mormonism” have an aura of negativity so they prefer to use the “M” word as if it were dirty.

Less than five minutes cruising around the official LDS website (LDS.org) will show anyone who’s interested that the Church is a Christian organization, with Jesus Christ at the Head. There are no paid clergy – all are volunteers. Humanitarian aid is legendary. Members of the LDS Church believe in strong family values; they are patriotic, they are law-abiding upstanding citizens of their community. Many LDS young men right out of high school go on two-year missions – you know, the guys on bikes – and during their mission they don’t date, read newspapers, go to movies or watch TV; but rather they dedicate two years of their lives to serving others. Many women go on missions as well, and couples, only theirs is 18 months in length but the obligations are basically the same. Most members do not shop or go out to eat on Sundays – reminiscent of the good old days when shops and stores were closed in obedience to the Commandment, “Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy”. If they can help it, LDS Church members do not work on Sundays, either, preferring to spend the day at church and with their families. Church members are encouraged to store up a year’s supply of food and water so they will be able to care for their families in the event of an emergency. The LDS Church believes in self-sufficiency and self-reliance but in the event of a financial hardship the Church distributes food and supplies through their welfare (Bishop’s Storehouse) program. Members of the LDS Church do not drink alcohol nor do they use illicit drugs; they do not drink coffee and tea. A Mormon in good standing, therefore, will not be found in a drunken stupor puking her guts out at 3 a.m. anywhere in the world. Furthermore, members of the church are encouraged to dress modestly, be polite and courteous. And members of the LDS Church are faithful tithe payers. Come on, people, what’s not to love?

So what on earth is their beef, the anti-Mormon zealots? Why is there such disdain for the LDS Church and its members? In Hugh Hewitt’s book, “Mormon in the White House?” he states his thesis that the fierce anti-Mormon sentiment among main-stream Christians stems from one or two or all three of the following factors (in order of importance):

1) “It is just too weird.

2) “A Mormon president will supercharge Mormons’ missionary work.

3) “If there is a Mormon in the White House, Salt Lake City will call the shots, at least on the biggest issues.” Hewitt (2007, p. 221-227)

Hugh Hewitt has written an exquisite book about the Romney campaign and overcoming the “Mormon problem.” It’s a good read and I highly recommend it. Of the three problem points listed in the previous paragraph, Hewitt believes – unless some unforeseen blunder destroys his chances – none of the three is insurmountable for Mitt Romney. (Plus, he has the best hair.)

Well, I’m no Hugh Hewitt, not even close; he’s an icon on the conservative radio talk show circuit. Hewitt could talk circles around me (I’ve seen him in action in Sacramento); he’s brilliant; he’s well educated, well read, no doubt a genius, plus he’s kind of cute. I’m basically a “nobody” – an overweight grandma – but after having researched for this paper, I have come to a totally different conclusion as to why there is such in-your-face angst over Romney’s religion of choice: It’s all about money, power and control (in that order). I think they’re (the evangelical religious bigots, that is) scared half to death and are revving up their attacks, not to save souls, but to save their reputations (which if tarnished would lead to financial ruin).

As I said, all one must do is browse around the LDS official web site to see what the LDS Church believes and stands for. Any reasonable person would conclude that Mormons are not evil monsters at all. In fact, they are God fearing, Christ believing, Holy Ghost following people going about doing good. “You will know them by their fruit” and the LDS has plenty of fruit and they are willing to share.

Earlier, I stated that some high-powered ministries have publicly condemned Mormons: Shirley and James Dobson, the Southern Baptist Convention, Pat Robertson, and Dr. D. James Kennedy – just to name a few. There are hoards of others. Sunday after Sunday, preachers, evangelists, reverends and ministers from all Christian denominations pound the pulpit with anti-Mormon rhetoric. I heard the message loud clear when I was a Baptist and when I tiptoed through evangelical/Pentecostal territories. Was I ever miffed when I later learned for myself the Gospel truth about the LDS Church.

Just think about it, please. If Dr. D. James Kennedy, for example, who wrote the book, The Wolves Among Us, were to admit he’d been wrong in labeling the LDS Church a “cult” that leads unwary ignorant people astray (to hell), what would become of his multi-million-dollar ministry? Suffice it to say, there’s big money to be had by sale of books, tapes, CD’s, videos, and other anti-Mormon propaganda, not to mention speaking engagements and world-wide religious crusades. We’re talking trillions, all told. I realize the anti-Mormon aspect of these ministries is but a small portion of the business, but if the truth came out, that they had been using falsehoods about the LDS Church as a cash cow, their entire empires could tumble.

The ABC News program 20/20 aired on March 23, 2007, exposed the lavish lifestyles of some of the top evangelical preachers – million dollar mansions and personal jets. ABC News - 20/20 (2007) (Again, the LDS Church has no paid clergy.)

It’s nothing new. Severe harassment and persecution has been the lot of the LDS Church since it’s inception in 1820 when a 14-year-old boy named Joseph Smith saw visions and communed with heavenly beings. Rather than discuss the spiritual aspects of the LDS Church, however, let’s stick to facts of history. Taken from a college-level early American history textbook, Joseph Smith, upon experiencing the visions and visitations, believed “that God had work for me to do, and that my name should be for good and evil among all nations, kindreds and tongues.” Ayers, Gould, Oshinsky, and Soderlund (2004, p. 292). The textbook continues, “They were met with hostility virtually everywhere they went . . . . As the movement gathered momentum, hundreds of people joined the church; entire congregations of churches of other faiths joined . . .” Ayers, Gould, Oshinsky, and Soderlund (2004, p. 293)

During the dark time of American history when slavery was flourishing and when Native Americans were forced from their lands, the pioneers of the LDS Church also suffered at the hands of unscrupulous politicians, governmental leaders, and angry hate-filled mobs. “In the face of relentless persecution, Joseph Smith, the founder of the church, had led his flock to Illinois. There they had established the town of Nauvoo, which by the mid-1840’s had become the largest city in Illinois with over 15,000 people. . . In June 1844, a mob of non-Mormons broke into the jail where Smith was being held and killed both him and his brother. . .The Mormons abandoned Nauvoo in the spring of 1846 as anti-Mormons pounded the town with cannon, destroying the Great Temple. In a well-coordinated migration, 15,000 Mormons moved in stages to the Great Salt Lake.” Ayers, Gould, Oshinsky, and Soderlund (2004, p. 334-335) Many walked all the way and many died along the way, including innocent babes.

Joseph Smith at one time was tarred and feathered by a mob. No jury, no trial, no judge – and they had planned to castrate him, too. On October 27, 1838, the then governor of Missouri issued an “extermination order”: “The Mormons must be treated as enemies, and must be exterminated or driven from the State if necessary . . .” Far West History (n.d.) Please note that the order called for exterminating “Mormons” making no distinction between men, women and children, and indeed women and children were subject to the extermination order.

In an event known in LDS history as “the Haun’s Mill Massacre”, precipitated by the extermination order, 30 to 40 LDS families were surprised by some 200 to 250 militia. After the smoke cleared, seventeen LDS people lay dead including a ten-year-old boy. Thirteen LDS members were wounded including a woman and a seven-year-old boy. “A few Missourians returned the next day and took plunder.” LDS FAQ (n.d.) No Missouri militiamen were killed but three were wounded. Just a few years earlier, the LDS folk who died that day had been members of other churches - Congregational or Methodist or Baptist or Presbyterian.

In l976, Governor Bond of Missouri officially rescinded the extermination order and presented apologies for the “unfortunate developments” it caused. Quoting from Governor Bond’s Executive Order: “WHEREAS, Governor Boggs’ order clearly contravened the rights to life, liberty, property and religious freedom as guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States, as well as the Constitution of the State of Missouri; and . . . Expressing on behalf of all Missourians our deep regret for the injustice and undue suffering rescind Executive Order Number 44 dated October 27, 1838, issued by Governor W. Boggs. . .” Far West History (n.d.) The individuals who harassed, abused, and even murdered Mormons in cold blood were never tried for their crimes.

I read Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Letter from Birmingham Jail and it really touched my heart. There he was, suffering for the Lord in jail, and these religious leaders with highfalutin titles on the outside wrote an open letter (“A Call for Unity”) in which they criticize King’s tactics and basically blame King for the racial turmoil of the time. Though you can tell King is upset and hurt by the attack – made worse because he’s stuck in jail and can’t confront the religious leaders face-to-face – his response is gentle genius. “I wish you had commended the Negro sit-inners and demonstrators of Birmingham for their sublime courage, their willingness to suffer, and their amazing discipline in the midst of great provocation. One day the South will recognize its real heroes.” Barnet and Bedau (2005, p. 881)

King has a few choice words for the Church, too: “If today’s church does not recapture the sacrificial spirit of the early church, it will lose its authenticity, forfeit the loyalty of millions, and be dismissed as an irrelevant social club with no meaning for the twentieth century. Every day I meet young people whose disappointment with the church has turned into outright disgust.” Barnet and Bedau (2005, p. 880)

King signs off with “Yours for the cause of Peace and Brotherhood”.

There’s an eerie commonality between what JFK and MLK endured at the hands of the religious bigots of their day and what Mitt Romney is facing today. I hope and pray that Romney will be able to fend off these undeserved attacks from the religious hypocrites with the same grace, dignity and God-inspired resolve displayed by the other two.

A few popular bumper stickers read: “Honk if you love Jesus” and “Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven” or “Jesus is my co-pilot”. Yet, apparently, these same bumper-sticker Christians are the ones waging war against Mitt Romney’s run for the Presidency solely on the basis of his chosen faith in a Church that bears the name of the Savior of the world.

References

ABC News - 20/20 (2007). Philanthropic donations come from your heart, but where do they end up? Ex-money manager says "enough!" to secretive Christian Ministry spending. Glenn Ruppel & John Stossel. United States: ABC News.

Ayers, E. L., Gould, L. L., Oshinsky, D. M., & Soderlund, J. R. (2004). American Passages - a history of the United States - Volume I: to 1877 (2nd ed.). Belmont, California: Thomson/Wadsworth.

Barnet, S., & Bedau, H. (2005). Letter from Birmingham Jail. Current Issues and Enduring Questions - a guide to critical thinking and argument, with readings (7th ed., pp. 867-882). Boston and New York: Bedford/St. Martin's.

Far West History. (n.d.). The Extermination Order and how it was rescinded. Retrieved April 28, 2007, from http://www.jwha.info/mmff/exorder.htm

Hewitt, H. (2007). A Mormon in the White House? 10 things every American should know about Mitt Romney. Washington, D.C.: Regnery Publishing, Inc.

John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum. (1960, September 12). Address of Senator John F. Kennedy to the Greater Houston Ministerial Association. Retrieved April 22, 2007, from http://www.jfklibrary.org

Lds Faq. (n.d.). What was the Haun's Mill Massacre? Retrieved April 28-2007, 2004, from Brigham Young University Web Site: http://ldsfaq.byu.edu/view.asp?q=57

Media Matters for America. (2007). Fox News whitewashes evangelical hostility to Romney's faith. Retrieved April 22, 2007, from http://mediamatters.org/items/printable/200702280002

[tantiboh]

“...because some of their president/prophets thought Adam was a God...”

I thought we dealt with this last week? The so-called “Adam-God Theory” is a misrepresentation, and is not LDS doctrine. It is based on a pretty liberal interpretation of a quote from Brigham Young - an interpretation that flies in the face of what he taught on many other occasions, suggesting to experts that he misspoke and/or was mistranscribed.

Please, when you receive information that your assertions are incorrect, take that information into account before spreading them again.

[tantiboh]

“Well, I think there’s something about him having to call out her secret name or she gets the boot.”

This is false, and we’ve told you this before.

Why do you cling to these strange ideas?

If there’s something that we believe that you find kooky, we will gladly own up to it, and we have on multiple occasions. You continue, though, to be determined as to what we believe, despite our assurance to the contrary.

Some might call this “baiting.” Personally, I’d prefer not to think so ill of you; but my options are growing thin.

[tantiboh]

“Did you know that Utah is about 75% mormon?”

Used to be. These days, the number is around 60%; about 40% are church-going.

Darn Californians keep moving east. It’s hitting us pretty hard in CO too.

http://www.sltrib.com/ci_2886596

[Bonaparte]

"... suggesting to experts that he misspoke and/or was mistranscribed."

I dunno, tantiboh, I just dunno...

LDS says Young was a prophet, seer, revelator. Do prophets, seers and revelators "misspeak"? How can that be? And on a matter of such importance! I mean, surely the identity of the Creator of the Earth and Man is not a trivial item, right?

And if Young had been "mistranslated," why did he not correct this error in the articles reporting and discussing his Adam-God pronouncement? He certainly had every opportunity to straighten things out.

Afterall, the newspaper Millenial Star was controlled by the church that he headed. He read it all the time and approved its content. Why would he not correct a "mistranslation" of his sermon, a "mistranslation" that was repeated in that publication for well over a year?

This is all very well-documented.

As that great prophet Casey Stengel said, "You could look it up!"

Taking Casey's advice, you will find it in Journal of Discourses, v. 1, pp. 50-51.

"... when you receive information that your assertions are incorrect..."

But what do we do when we receive information that the assertion is correct?...

Such as the following, duly sourced and documented at the article linked above. You could look this up, too! (Right, Casey?)
___________________________________________________________

In a letter dated May 11, 1966, Apostle LeGrand Richards wrote: "Your third question: 'Is the Adam God Doctrine, as taught in the Journal of Discourses, true?' Answer: No." Some of the Mormon leaders now claim that Brigham Young was misquoted. This claim is completely untrue. Rodney Turner, who now teaches religion at Brigham Young University, feels that it is impossible to maintain such a position:

Was Brigham Young Misquoted? It is the writer's opinion that the answer to this question is a categorical no. There is not the slightest evidence from Brigham Young, or any other source, that either his original remarks on April 9, 1852, or any of his subsequent statements were ever misquoted in the official publications of the Church. . . .

In the light of Brigham Young's attitude toward the errors of others, and in view of the division created by his remarks concerning Adam, it would be stretching one's credulity to the breaking point to believe that he would have remained silent had he been misquoted. . . . The complete absence of any real evidence to the contrary obliges the writer to conclude that Brigham Young has not been misquated in the official publications of the Church ("The Position of Adam in Latter-day Saint Scripture and Theology," M.A. thesis, BYU, pp.45-47).

On page 58 of the same thesis, Rodney Turner declares: "A careful, detached study of his available statements, as found in the official publications of the Church, will admit of no other conclusion than that the identification of Adam with God the Father by President Brigham Young is an irrefutable fact."

[Bonaparte]

"Darn Californians keep moving east."

You have my sincere condolences. Those Californians are a pain the booty!

[Bonaparte]

I just gotta, gotta tell ya, tantiboh.

Young said it.

And he defended his Adam-God revelation for years.

Here he is years after that sermon, still defending it --

Brigham Young's Adam-God doctrine met with opposition both within and without the church. In October 1857 he stated: "Some have grumbled because I believe our God to be so near to us as Father Adam. There are many who know that doctrine to be true" (Journal of Discourses, vol. 5, p.331).

You see, I'm a confused guy. Young says he said it. The Millenial Star, in many articles, says he said it. The Journal of Discourses of LDS, says he said it. A Brigham Young University scholar says he said it.

But you and few church leaders tells us he didn't say it.

Who are we gonna believe?

No, I'm not gonna pray and ask God, because I already know what he's gonna say. He's gonna look at me through one eye and say, "Didn't I give you common sense?" And I don't want to hear that. I've heard too many times as it is.

[Bonaparte]

Here is a concise explanation of why mormon leadership began turning away from the Adam-God claims of Brigham Young after about 1890, began spinning it as a misquote. It's just one ex-mormon's opinion, but it sure makes sense to me.

[Bonaparte]

Two Mormons Arguing

Or

Prophecy On The Fly
____________

Mormon 1: I prayed on it and God revealed to me that I'm right and you're wrong.

Mormon 2: Gee, that's kinda funny, because I prayed too and he told me just the opposite.

[FastCoyote]

I worked in Hong Kong, and I’m a Milton Friedman fan, so I am well aware of “bank notes”. However, a failed bank that operated without a charter is not much more than a counterfeiting machine. If it walks like a fraud and quacks like a fraud, it’s darn likely a fraud. It isn’t just the $3 bill, it’s Joseph Smith’s signature word and bond.

[FastCoyote]

“All religions have members that embarrass them, if not, I can always join.”

Quite true. My problem is not that you might have flawed characters, they could be forgiven, but that you claim gods walk among you.

[FastCoyote]

“About the quote here, this is actually pretty close to the Mormon view.”

I am neither Mormon nor Catholic. I object as stridently to Scientologists who have a similar view of their own ascendency.

[Bonaparte]

"... it looks to me like some bubbling multiverse where you don’t know what is going on."

It's Chinese baseball, FC.

In Chinese baseball, you can keep moving the bases.

Joseph Smith and Brigham Young were 19th century Chinese baseball players.

You just never knew what was going to come out of their mouths from one day to the next. It could be as outlandish as they wanted it to be and they knew that they could pull it off, because Utah was still fairly isolated and their converts were taught to obey above all else. Neither Smith nor Young would tolerate dissension.

But then Utah got statehood and people were flowing in. Utah was not so isolated anymore and was subject to a lot more outside scrutiny. By 1902 or so, President Joseph Fielding Smith realized that doctrines like Adam-God could no longer be openly preached and so they weren't, they were scrubbed from things like the Lecture at the Veil, etc. He also realized that the polygamy thing had to be scrubbed, too, and he came out very forcefully against it around (I think) 1904. By the end of WWI, few mormons were openly practicing it.

[FastCoyote]

“Please, when you receive information that your assertions are incorrect, take that information into account before spreading them again.”

Come now, you have been shown many a fact that knocks the knees out of Mormon pillars and have not budged an inch, so why expect more of me.

But you distort the situation again, you don’t negate what I said about the Adam-God theory but only ascribe to it a lesser role. Another revelation that it was revealed was not a revelation except for those who believed the revelation.

[Bonaparte]

"... polygamy is a revelation, unless it isn’t a revelation, but it’s still a revelation in the spirit world cause that’s the only way the whole Mormon theology works with the “becoming a god” thing (why become a god if you can’t Hale Bop a few spirit broads)?"

I think you've got the idea.

Smith and Young both knew that to get folks on board, you have to have a gimmick or two. And they picked some very effective gimmicks -- sex, money and power -- you get the sex right now, soon as you sign up, all the women you want -- you get the money as you go, as your faithfulness and obedience gets established -- and you get the power at the end, when you are rewarded for a lifetime of unquestioning obedience and faithfulness, doing, thinking and saying exactly what church leadership tells you and nothing else.

[FastCoyote]

“Some might call this “baiting.” Personally, I’d prefer not to think so ill of you; but my options are growing thin.”

Oh come now, you have hated me for quite a while, why not be truthful to the rest here and tell us how ill you really think of me. You weren’t so shy in your personal message to me, which was quite virulent to the point of delusion, so pretending otherwise and suggesting I’m baiting you is a bit laughable.

Truthfully, I can only read so much of the apologist Mormon flim flam before I feel queasy, so I may have missed some revelation of yours that Joseph Smith walked on water, or that husbands really don’t have to call out their wives secret names. But you know, I think I can be forgiven for not understanding the intricacies of a religion based on masonic rites, 17th century witchcraft, crystal gazing, polygamy and other esoterica concocted by someone claiming to be a saint. Frankly, I find the Scientologists have more compelling mythology and at least they admit it was a science fiction writer who fabricated their microcosm.

Why do I cling to these strange ideas? Perhaps you should ask yourself that question first.

[nowandlater]

Not fair! No one pinged me on this conversation! So what did I miss?

Oh bye the way, I am encouraging all those who care to comment on Mormonism to check out at least one of the Mormon songs of worship on my homepage http://www.freerepublic.com/~nowandlater. I am suggesting it to at least to help others get a feel what the content of our worship focuses on. After you listen to a song or two, please feel free to bash us.

[Netizen]

34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?

I asked abaout this earlier in the thread and didn't get an answer. Maybe you can answer it. Where in the law is that stated? Can you supply the verse?

[Netizen]

Well with all that unnecessary personal data, this ol’ heretical Episcopalian is going for the popcorn ...

2,586 posted on 05/15/2007 11:15:00 PM EDT by MHGinTN (You’ve had life support. Promote life support for others.)

[George W. Bush]

Again I ask, what church do you go to?

Just a note here: those who launch attacks but refuse to identify their own affiliation after being asked a few times in a friendly manner on theology threads are pretty much goofballs or gadflies you should ignore.

Always remember that you may be debating atheists or teenagers or someone else hiding behind internet anonymity, any of which may just be tweaking you for fun.

[tantiboh]

“LDS says Young was a prophet, seer, revelator. Do prophets, seers and revelators “misspeak”? How can that be? And on a matter of such importance! I mean, surely the identity of the Creator of the Earth and Man is not a trivial item, right?”

Yes. That’s why we go to God for confirmation.

“And if Young had been “mistranslated,” why did he not correct this error in the articles reporting and discussing his Adam-God pronouncement? He certainly had every opportunity to straighten things out.”

I agree, and I don’t know the answer to that.

Still, prophets are men, and men are fallible. I do not believe the so-called “Adam-God Theory” because the Holy Spirit has not confirmed it to me as true.

You must understand my focus. While I learn from the prophets, I do not follow them. I follow Jesus Christ. If a prophet errs, I will take Christ’s word over his.

Nevertheless, a man can err, and still be a prophet of God. It’s Christ’s decision whether or not to strike such a man down; in the meantime, as long as I feel the confirming voice of the Spirit that the man is a prophet, I will sustain him as such.

Which is why, despite all efforts to the contrary, my confidence in Joseph Smith’s calling is unshakable (and indeed, has grown in the last few weeks, thanks to these discussions). You have a few shovel loads of evidence against him (and his successors). I have been provided with a barge of evidence for him.