Ida Smith has her say on my age-of-reason blog [Christopher Nemelka]

The Political Surf / Ogden Standard-Examiner ^ | February 14, 2011 | David Gibson

[Alex Murphy]

A while ago, I published a blog on whether there should be an age of reason test for elderly LDS church members. The catalyst was an article I read about Ida Smith, a former prominent LDS church member who has left the church to follow a former LDS temple security guard who claims to have translated the sealed portions of the Book of Mormon.

The post here has generated a lot of debate and Ida Smith offered her own response via a letter to the editor. Read I have to admit I admire her response to my admittingly somewhat presumptuous comments to her late-in-life change. She writes:

“I was amused to read the February 3, 2011 post about me by Standard-Examiner Opinion Editor, Doug Gibson (“Is there an after-the-age-of-reason limit for very old LDS church members?”) Mr. Gibson and others commenting on his post, without any personal knowledge concerning me, have challenged my ability to reason, simply based on my age and my willingness to be open to the possibility that there is another way to look at human reality than the way they do.

In response, let me simply smile … : )

And turn my cheek … - )

And ask … is there any way I could get the original of Cal Grondahl’s wonderful cartoon, which accompanied Mr. Gibson’s post?? I loved it!”

Ms. Smith also invites those interested to meet her and her faith’s prophet, Christopher Nemelka, at the Salt Lake City main library on March 19 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the main theater.

Although I doubt I’ll make it to the library event – I have enough trouble keeping up with the more traditional sections of The Book of Mormon — I’ve e-mailed Ms. Smith an attachment of Cal’s cartoon and he’s thrilled she loved it.

[Alex Murphy]

“I was amused to read the February 3, 2011 post about me by Standard-Examiner Opinion Editor, Doug Gibson (“Is there an after-the-age-of-reason limit for very old LDS church members?”) Mr. Gibson and others commenting on his post, without any personal knowledge concerning me, have challenged my ability to reason, simply based on my age and my willingness to be open to the possibility that there is another way to look at human reality than the way they do.

In response, let me simply smile … : )

And turn my cheek … - )

And ask … is there any way I could get the original of Cal Grondahl’s wonderful cartoon, which accompanied Mr. Gibson’s post?? I loved it!”

See related thread:
Is there an after-the-age-of-reason limit for very old LDS church members?

[svcw]

You will never understand Grace until you understand you do not deserve it. Grace is inviting to the unrighteous and terrifying to the righteous.