FC,
YOU of course, are making a HUGE assumption
that by providing factual evidence, you MAY
change a committed mormon’s belief in the
authenticity of his or her church.
By now, you know that nothing can be further
from the truth. Nothing.
No matter how “dull and smelly the turd”,
it will be polished and re-presented to
you - after calling you the appropriate
names, of course - as a scurrilous attack
by those with an agenda! An agenda, mind
you!
It doesn’t matter if it is Joseph Smith
seeing people walking about the moon,
dressed like Quakers. (true)
It doesn’t matter if their High Prophet
tells you there are people living on
the sun wearing DKNY sunglasses. (true,
except for the sunglasses)
It doesn’t matter if it is JS telling
you how to shake hands with angels
to tell the good from the bad.
(true)
It doesn’t matter if it is an armed JS,
firing into the crowd. (true)
Once, one even told me Joseph Smith used
a Seer Stone, but it was because GOD was
“training him” in preparation for translating
those golden plates. (true)
In short, FC, FACTS do not matter. Nor does
it matter where the facts come from.
I could walk into the sub-terrainian LDS
vault located 1,000 feet below the SLC Temple,
select a document (that was signed by Joseph
Smith, including fingerprints, the statement
of 3 witnesses, and photos of him signing it)
where he confessed that moroni was really
what his niece called him and it seemed
appropriate for an angel, so when he made the
whole thing up, he went with moroni.
If I presented it here, it would be jumped
on as “not really considered scripture”.
That he was ill when he signed it. He was
forced to sign it. He was under the influence
of a drug someone slipped him. You would never
get the response, “Well, if JS said it himself,
by golly, maybe the whole thing really is a turd.”
No, the polishing cloths would be pulled out...
Before you knew it, Genesis would be amended
to say the future prophet would be forced
to recant... etc.
FC. Have you considered this?
best,
ampu
[FC. Have you considered this?
best,
ampu]
I well realize that there is ZERO hope of ever convincing any but a few Mormons that there are gaping holes both in their approved history and in their theology that cannot be closed.
But that is in fact my point.
In leadership positions, Mormons become a danger to themselves and others, because they have learned to spin and turn and square whatever circle is presented them. While this makes them very faithful people, and good tithers, you don’t want the figurative Captain of a ship denying there are icebergs ahead because he believes Joseph Smith was infallible.
Each new wriggle, each new spin, cumulatively adds to the impressions of anyone watching this dance. It isn’t pretty, but it is quite necessary.
With all due respect ampu, the turd is actually the “factual evidence” you & others willingly support w/o doing the proper research. You read the writtings of those you have an axe to grind against the church, & then make your assumtions about what we’re all about. Wouldn’t it be sad if the only testament we had of Jesus Christ was that written by Judas Iscariot? Some would undoubtedly believe his garbage as well. Despite our diagreements ampu, I really think you’re better than that. Maybe it’s time to reflect a little.