[webheart]

I found the subject to be interesting enough to merit reading the article. I got about three screen pages down, then scrolled the rest to see how long it was going to be. I really wanted to read more, but couldn’t.

I find it very difficult to read anything more than 6 paragraphs long where the author bolds, italicizes, increases the font size, indents and otherwise frequently emphasizes different parts of the text which the author somehow thinks are more important than the rest.

If the subject is interesting, the formatting changes are unnecessary. I would prefer a little more brevity and some conistency in the formatting. All of the format changes are distracting and frustrating. It takes away from the credibility of the author, and makes him look like a kook.

If emphasis is needed, it should be applied to passages that are truly revelatory, and sparingly.

[greyfoxx39]

Feel free to click the link at the beginning of the thread the leads to the original article entitled "Pure Mormoniam" for less "editorial comment" by the OP.

In my experience, many readers will skim longer articles. I emphasize accordingly.

[Alex Murphy]

Here's the gist of the article, which draws heavily on the writings of Daymon Smith, "Mormon antropologist":

• Churches should never incorporate, because it places the church under the authority of the civil government and not under God
• The LDS church (first) stopped being "under God" and sovereign in 1829, when Joseph Smith petitioned the state of New York for permission to form a church
• By 1880, Brigham Young and the apostles of the LDS Church had become distracted with managing the profit-making, monetary interests of the LDS church. Infighting among the apostles began. The "restored gospel" was no longer being preached or promoted by them.
• By 1887, the (unincorporated) LDS Church had grown so financially and politically powerful that it threatened the East Coast's "banking establishment"
• In 1887, under the influence of the banking establishment, the United States of America "dissolved" the LDS church legally, and seized all church assets. The LDS church ceased to exist. Ending polygamy was the "cover story" given to the public, but the real reason was ending LDS church control over western politics, economics, and resources
• By 1890, the LDS leaders "kissed and made up" with the Federal government to get their assets back
• The LDS leaders formed the LDS church corporation in 1923 to protect their assets. All church assets would now (unlike before) be under the sole control and discretion of the LDS President/Prophet
• Boyd K. Packer, the current LDS President/Prophet, is "obviously" "inherently evil".

[Elsie]

A simple solution:

Cut the article, paste it in a word procesor, and make all the text the same.

Takes way less than 30 seconds to do.

[Elsie]

It takes away from the credibility of the author, and makes him look like a kook.

I resemble that REMARK!!