Posted on 08/29/2007 8:36:48 AM PDT by meandog
The confluence of Hollywood and politics continues for Mitt Romney's presidential bid, revolving around his Mormon faith.
On Sunday night, "Big Love," the HBO drama about a Mormon family, included a reference to Romney. In the scene, the family's patriarch is watching TV when a woman's voice comes over the air: "He saved the Olympics. Who cares if he lets his dog ride on the roof of his car. People are just out to get him for any little thing."
Romney has generally won plaudits for leading the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, but has been criticized after a Globe profile this year told the story of how the family dog Seamus once rode in a pet carrier atop their station wagon on a trip.
Now comes word that a documentary is being filmed, called "A Mormon President," which explores anti-Mormon sentiment and features Joseph Smith, the Mormon prophet killed in 1844 soon after he announced his presidential bid. "Very few people realize that Romney is not the first Mormon to run for the White House," producer/director Adam Christing, a member of the Mormon History
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
I just thought you ought to know that about the crusty old BYU prof...incidentally, he was "inspired" to rebut Brodie's magnificent scholarship by none other than the hierarchy of the church; kinda strange prodding in the annals of academia. Besides, although Nibley was fluent in several ancient languages, he was hardly a historian of the statue of Brodie (if you'll remember she was also the lady who exposed Thomas Jefferson's relationship with Sally Hemmings). The church could not apparently get someone in the BYU history department to agree with them in countering Brodie.
No, you changed it into a question about the accuracy of Joseph Smith's translation, so I went in that direction with my response
BTW, The prophet Joseph Smith said that the Book of Mormon is “the most correct of any book on earth, (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 194).
Yes, he did. The meaning of the phrase "most correct" is not the same as that of the word "perfect" or "flawless". Also, the statement was made in the context of religious works. He wasn't comparing it with mathematics texts or dictionaries.
I honestly don't know much on the subject. I have read much of Dr. Nibley's work in relation to the Pearl of Great Price, and he was a brilliant man.
I also know a man who was a student of Dr. Nibley's at BYU, as well as a personal friend of one of his sons. He has nothing but high praise for him, as well as a few amusing stories. :-)
Many brilliant minds are at times quirky, eccentric and at odds with authority. Dr. Nibley seems to fit that description.
If you've ever visited the campus at BYU, then you know that it is a fairly conservative atmosphere. Back in the 1960s, when Nibley was on the faculty and one of the most prized faculty members for his remarkable work in linguistics, the old prof used to tool around and tell the students that it was perfectly all right for them to dress, look, and smell like the hippie trash that gathered around Berkely--he even encouraged it. This got him into hot water with the church as well as the school's administration but they could do nothing about it. He had written his rebut to Brodie a decade and a half earlier and was then pretty much of a sacred cow at BYU. He was a real kook, anti-war type but an extremely gifted scholar in ancient languages--but, it should have been expected, after all Noam Chomsky is an extremely gifted and talented linguist also (though a complete nitwit in politics and war).
IOW, he was a coward and willing to murder for fear of loss of political power. Pontius Pilate felt the same way which is probably the reason Gov. Ford compared himself to him extensively in his History of Illinois.
However, it does not make it right to murder because of political fear.
>>I don’t think [Governor Ford] he had much choice
[Rameupton:IOW, he was a coward and willing to murder for fear of loss of political power. Pontius Pilate felt the same way which is probably the reason Gov. Ford compared himself to him extensively in his History of Illinois.
However, it does not make it right to murder because of political fear.]
Actually, this shows what kind of coward you are. Governor Ford is my new hero, all the Mormons in Illinois would have been slaughtered to the man woman and child had he not acted as judiciously as he did.
But dear Freepers, why trust either FastCoyote or Rameupton, why not go to the original testimony and see which of the two of us is full of IT: From Governor Ford’s memoirs:
http://solomonspalding.com/docs/frd1854c.htm#pg313
Make sure to read all of it (as I have) before spouting more ignorant baloney from the mothership.
I now have more documentation than anyone posting here, and the consensus emerging from Mormon, exMormon and anti-Mormons is that ole Joseph was a land speculator, bank ponzi artist, treasure hunter and pompous wanabe king/prophet/general. And that comes from everyone from close associates to two Governors and a number of military men. The conspiracy necessary to pull of a collected disinformation campaign becomes exceedingly unlikely.
Okay, I am prepared for the usual response (How can you believe the testimony or the Governor of the State of Illinois who was a non-Mormon?). The rule is, only Mormons are pure persecuted saints, everyone else is a liar, we know the song and dance by now so save your breath.
I haven't heard that one in awhile. :)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.