Posted on 06/30/2008 6:25:14 PM PDT by Utah Girl
Viewers of tonight's season premiere of "History Detectives" will learn that a book about the horrors of "Female Life Among the Mormons" is a work of fiction.
And the woman who owns the 1856 volume will be "disappointed" by that news.
"History Detectives" (8 p.m., Ch. 7) is a fascinating series in which historical objects are examined to determine if they're authentic. (Tonight's other two segments feature a World War II diary and a coin shot by Annie Oakley.)
In the case of the 1856 book about the horrors of Mormon polygamy, Marcie Waterman Murray of Stanfordville, N.Y., bought it at an auction and wants to know who wrote it. (There's no author listed.)
"I was very moved by this book. It really stayed with me a long time. I've become fascinated with it," Murray says.
What stayed with her is a barbaric account, written in the first person, of a young woman who married a Mormon elder in New York and traveled to Utah with Brigham Young. She suffered the "abominations" of polygamy and the "degradation it imposes on females."
That includes one account of a misbehaving wife who was stripped nude, tied to a tree and whipped until "blood ran to the ground."
Enter Tukufu Zuberi from "History Detectives."
"You don't know if this is a real book. You don't know if it's really from the 19th century. You don't know what it is," Zuberi said in a phone interview with the Deseret News. "But it is a document which definitely offers a skewed view toward marriage among Mormons.
"It puts (women) on the level of being slaves. You can take it as something that's either laughable, looking at it today, or something that really provided fuel for those who were anti-Mormon back in the 19th century."
Without detailing the entire episode, Zuberi quickly discovers that this is not a genuine history. Among other things, it purports to tell the story of Joseph Smith's death and gets it flat-out wrong.
And the show's conclusions are clear. "It seems that our book is little more than pulp fiction, and shot through with historical errors," Zuberi says in the show.
The segment briefly outlines 19th-century LDS history, including the effort to demonize Mormons.
"Someone could write it today in order to kind of speak badly of the Mormons," Zuberi said. "Someone could've written it then to speak badly of the Mormons. And that's our task to find out."
He does his best to track down the author, including using "some high-tech stuff to determine who wrote the book and determine the authenticity or lack thereof."
"This one I was surprised by. The Mormon story has a lot of twists and turns."
In 21st-century Utah, "Female Life Among the Mormons" seems silly, even campy. But, obviously, the book's owner thought perhaps hoped it was genuine.
Upon learning that it's fiction, she gasps and says, "I'm actually a little disappointed. But I'm glad to know the truth."
But it certainly seemed as if she would've been more glad if Mormon women really had been tied to trees and whipped.
In my study of religious teachings, I found that all reformations were trying to change something someone else was teaching.
Often times there would be two or more reformation from one of the older reformations. After a while it starts looking like the branches of a tree.
Are you so blind that you do not even realize that your hellfire and brimstone ranting are nothing but just a vicious attempt at doing exactly that for whatever cult you shill for.
++++++++
If I believed like you seem to, he would share the body Christ got, after all, they are the same person and if one does something, they all do it.
Now, if you are referring to the GOD HEAD, the Holy Spirit will get his body when it is his time.
They easily move from traditional Christian thought back and forth into their own “doctrine” (that which we dare not repeat or question). They have just enough knowledge to sound just like Historic Christians, to entice the unknowing. I guess that indeed is the "Milk and Meat" bit, from their own works. Their knowledge of true Christianity falls apart under the pressure of inquiry forcing them back into their default sales pitch of obfuscation and verbal slight of hand. Very interesting.
Branches?? Do you mean like this?
<
"> There you go again, misstating Christian doctrine (but I'm used to that here). Still didn't answer the question - mormon doctrine teaches that inorder to attain godhood, one must pass through mortality. The Holy Spirit, according to mormonism, is a personage of spirt - with out a body. So the question still stands - how can the HS be a God with out getting a body?
It is what they are taught to play. It is a combination of mormon superiority complex combined with the canned script that the boys on bicycles carry with them. Sole purpose is to confuse the individual into believing that Christianity is hopelessly in turmoil with joseph smith riding in on a white horse to save the day.
They easily move from traditional Christian thought back and forth into their own doctrine (that which we dare not repeat or question). They have just enough knowledge to sound just like Historic Christians, to entice the unknowing.
Common among cults are the redefinition of terms. Thus you would have seen that the term godhead is used by mormons - but instead of the trinitarian Christian definition (better translated Deity) they will re translate it in their mind to a committee of three separate and individual gods unified in purpose.
I guess that indeed is the "Milk and Meat" bit, from their own works.
In a generally Christian-exposed society, the general public (targets of mormon missionaries) are familiar with Christian terms. Therefore, wrapping their terms in Christian sounding bites provides them with a level of legitimacy. Most would be repulsed by the eternal progression, temple ceremonies and the meat of mormon doctrine (absent completely from the bom). As it is, many converts leave mormonism shortly after joining, once they start getting exposed to the 'meat'.
Their knowledge of true Christianity falls apart under the pressure of inquiry forcing them back into their default sales pitch of obfuscation and verbal slight of hand. Very interesting.
You are seeing an almost text book case. Notice the refusal to even quote these amorphous Christian 'doctrines', but are spun forth more like my say-so. The education provided to the lurkers is invaluable and is why I put up with most of it.
I know I learn more everyday.
For some, once they get off the script, they are unable to reasonably present their case (although there are some who are able to go a little further - even that is limited).
I know I learn more everyday
Me too.
ya, same thing
If that is true, they can look at well over 16 centuries of church history to learn how it's done.
=+=+=
There you go again, misstating Christian doctrine (but I'm used to that here). Still didn't answer the question - mormon doctrine teaches that inorder to attain godhood, one must pass through mortality. The Holy Spirit, according to mormonism, is a personage of spirt - with out a body. So the question still stands - how can the HS be a God with out getting a body?
+++
You were asking about LDS teachings and then do not use our teachings in your answer.
Remember, we were all with Father before coming to this life and the Holy Spirit is one of our brothers, who has not yet moved from being a Spirit into this life to gain a body. He will when it is his time.
Which Bible?
Your teachings clearly state that inorder to attain godhood, one must become mortal and receive their physical body. Yes or No
Remember, we were all with Father before coming to this life and the Holy Spirit is one of our brothers, who has not yet moved from being a Spirit into this life to gain a body. He will when it is his time.
The greatest heresy found in Christendom is that God is a spirit, an essence that fills immensity. Bruce R. McConkie, The Millennial Messiah, p. 77. The Holy Spirit is described as a spirit in the teachings of mormonism - therefor it cannot be a god. If the Holy Spirit has not learned by obedience to the LDS Gospel Plan as a mortal, again, how can it be a god? Talmage said that the Holy Ghost "is a personage of Spirit" (A. of F., p.42; see D.& C. 130:22), but later he claimed an immaterial being or body cannot exist (Ibid., pp. 43, 48). Thus, the Holy Ghost must have a "material" or "tangible body," or He does not exist!
And while we are on the subject - explain how God, with a "body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's" (D. & C. 130:22), begets spirits instead of tangible bodies like he has!
HAHAHAHA Like hell they don't. Every stinking Mormon bashing so-called Christian on this forum delights in constantly doing exactly that, ad nauseum. Do Christians go around claiming ALL Mormon professors (professors of what they believe) are corrupt like Mormons do of Christians? (No)
True Christians don't -- but Mormon-basjing so-called Chritians [self-proclaimed| on the this forum sure have a jolly old time doing so.
Now it's my turn:
Do the Mormons go around loudly proclaiming that all other Christians are not ChristianS? they most certainly do not!
Placemark
Discuss the issues all you want, but do not make it personal. Also, do not use potty language on the Religion Forum.
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.