Posted on 04/27/2009 9:00:48 AM PDT by Colofornian
Early suckerology: 'The Science of Anti-Mormon Suckerology: Parley P. Pratt and Early Mormon Apologetics' Isn't that the coolest title ever? Parley P. Pratt wrote this rhetorical article in 1845 and defined various Mormon terms. I tried to find out what "suckerology" meant. Nothing. But nonetheless it's a fascinating post that gives a window at early Mormon apologetics and, as Christopher explains, "Perhaps more significantly for interested researchers, it speaks to early Mormon understandings of their place in America as true patriots and sincere religionists. It also probably deserves a closer reading through the lens of gender, race, and ethnicity." Wow!
(Excerpt) Read more at mormontimes.com ...
Pratt, who had wives in the double figures, is featured in one chapter of Jon Krakauer's book, Under the Banner of Heaven. Krakauer writes about how Pratt, as an LDS missionary to Arkansas in the 1850s, met a married woman who was separated from her husband. Pratt shipped her off out of Arkansas. Her husband caught up with Pratt -- and didn't take too kindly to him taking up with his wife -- and killed Pratt.
As Krakauer mentions, that prompted LDS back in Utah to be provoked about Arkansas residents in general. And shortly thereafter, the Fancher party -- most of them from Arkansas -- was ambushed and massacred by Mormons dressed up as Native Americans as it crossed southern Utah...the Mountain Meadows Massacre...the first 9/11 terrorist act on this soil -- as over ten dozen men, women, and children were executed at close range on Sept. 11, 1857. (Only one perpetrator ever stood trial)
What's interestingly ironic about this 1845 Pratt piece is this paragraph he wrote: The Whites.—Artificial black men. Murderers who paint themselves black in order that they may not be know when they commit a crime.—This term is also sometimes applied to men who neither paint nor murder in person, but who justify and approve of those who do.
It seems somebody in southern Utah decided to take Pratt's writings seriously literal to perhaps seek to "avenge" Pratt's death -- "Murderers who paint themselves black in order that they may not be know when they commit a crime" -- only they dressed as Native Americans and brought some local Native Americans along with them while instigating the ambush upon the Fancher party. The Native Americans present backed out when the stand-off started turning into days. LDS convinced the party to yield their weapons...marched them toward town and then massacred them.
BTW, we also now have the longest historical meaning that Mormons really mean when they use to the term "anti-Mormon" thanks to Pratt: Anti-Mormon.—A mobber. A man opposed to the laws of his country; an instigator and justifier of murder, and of driving men, women, and children from their homes and plundering them of their property.
So when LDS use this term in keeping with history, they are speaking into a context where that term meant calling somebody a lawbreaker, a mobber, a plunderer, and worse "an instigator and justifier of murder."
Interesting historical backdrop.
True patriots? Wasn't Smith planning an insurrection against the US government? Wasn't he prohibiting freedom of the press?
Who cares about the *sincere religionists* label? People can be totally sincere and very religious and it doesn't mean beans. Neither sincerity nor religion mean much if they are wrong or it is not done with the right motivation.
I also heard he was the one who introduced Sidney Rigdon to Joseph Smith. And he was a key participant in Joseph's failed money digging exercise in Salem, MA.
The story that Pratt's murder in some way provoked the Mountain Meadows Massacre is much repeated fiction. (Someone in the Baker-Fancher wagon train supposedly laughed at Pratt's death and claimed they had the actual pistol that killed Pratt in their possession -- which in turn enraged the Saints -- thus leading to a "justifiable" act of revenge.) Again, IRRC, this tale did not appear in either the Army's or Judge Cradlebaugh's original reports. Instead, it surfaced years later as arrest warrants were issued for Lee (and others) as an explanation for the Saints' involvement in the atrocity.
Placemark
| True patriots? | Depends on who you ask. |
| Wasn't Smith planning an insurrection against the US government? |
"Their (Mormon) hostility to the lawful government of the country has at length become so violent that no officer bearing a commission from the Chief Magistrate of the Union can enter the territory or remain there with safety. . . . I accordingly ordered a detachment of the army to march for the City of Salt Lake - as a posse for the enforcement of the laws."
-- President James Buchanan's proclamation, Deseret News, June 16, 1858
|
| Wasn't he prohibiting freedom of the press? | Well, he DID order destruction of one. |
| Who cares about the *sincere religionists* label? | Evidently MORMONs do - NOW wanting to be considered CHRISTIAN |
WOW! Now, do you or do you not admit ever calling the LDS “heretics”?
Now, we all know what the “Historical Christian” Church does with “heretics” don’t we?
Don’t worry, if the “historical christians” come after me or mine, they will find out up close and personal what a Peacemaker is for.
Boy that sounds like lds Danite talk (circa 1838-1841 in Missouri). Speaking of which...H. Michael Marquardt wrote about the Danites, the LDS Missouri militia, and Parley P. Pratt's linkage:
"Captain Samuel Bogart said that on the evening of October 24 [1841] he met with several Mormons and read to them his order of General Atchison. Bogart supposed that they would inform the Mormons of Caldwell County the character of his company. Wiatt Craven, who was in Captain Bogart's company, mentioned that Parley P. Pratt and David Patten made an attack upon them and Craven was wounded. Craven said the Mormons approached them and both parties commenced firing about the same time and he was taken prisoner. Moses Rowland and several Mormons were killed during this battle. Testifying also was John Lockhart who was in Bogart's company being one of two picket guards. The guards hailed the other company, that was the Mormon company, and told them to lay down their arms but they did not. Nehemiah Odle, Sr. was also in the battle of October 25 between Captain Bogart and the Mormons. Odle said Parley P. Pratt participated but he did not know who fired first. (Marquardt, pp. 486-487 -- see source citation below)
It was then reported that Mormons broke into a store in Gallatin, MO (stored owned by Jacob Stollings).
Source: H. Michael Marquardt, The Rise in Mormonism: 1816-1844 (Xulon Press, 2005), pp. 486-487 - see: http://books.google.com/books?id=Z_v2IAnMssMC&pg=PA559&lpg=PA559&dq=%22joseph+smith%22+ages+wives&source=bl&ots=5p93hgC0GO&sig=dFuE7Su8tlQdx6Sznjo5JM69JpY&hl=en&ei=SLzoSamjFZ-qtgew_q2KBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10#PPA486,M1
But with all of the exploits of Pratt -- Mitt's Romney direct ancestor -- funny we don't hear him talking about him...all his wives, his early apologetics of belittling those who oppose Mormonism, his wounding of other militia members in gun battles, his taking a married wife away from Arkansas and how he died as a result. Instead, during the campaign, Romney said he couldn't imagine anything more terrible than being in such polygamous family arrangements.
I always wondered why a “prophet” needed an army almost the same strength as the nation he was a citizen of...
Hey, when LDS missionaries come to my door, I welcome them & we have a good chat. And, guess what? They actually leave our home physically unscathed.
OMM, if they're safe in my home, you'd be, too.
When I visit with my LDS relatives, we all have a good time.
Then why do you try to associate me with violence so often when your religion is the most violent in the Western World?
OMM, I know you want to change the subject matter to the inquisition, or the crusaders' wars with Muslims...or to the Salem witch hunts...but #1, unlike you -- who seems to try to defend everything done in the name of Mormondom, I don't try to defend everything done in the name of Christianity. (And besides, when you compare & contrast these things vs. what's been done in the name of communist & fascist dictators & other rogue thugs, there's no comparison -- and 'tis often greatly exaggerated).
Are you allowed to coin two new words in one title?
Bloggernacle & suckerology
???
Just which denomination exactly is the *Historical Christian* Church?
Don’t worry, if the “historical christians” come after me or mine, they will find out up close and personal what a Peacemaker is for.
Well, for one thing, they're all dead now so that shouldn't be an issue, but paranoia can be treated, you know.
So are threats what Mormon peacemakers are all about? That's interesting in light of what Jesus had to say.....
Matt 5:38-42 "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
Projection can be treated too, you know.
Nobody is coming after you.
Because of posts like post 7 that you made.
Got references, citations, and statistics to back that up?
Alma 43:
47 And again, the Lord has said that: Ye shall defend your families even unto bloodshed. Therefore for this cause were the Nephites contending with the Lamanites, to defend themselves, and their families, and their lands, their country, and their rights, and their religion.
Get a history book.
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