Posted on 07/23/2009 4:21:08 PM PDT by delacoert
Yup. From even pre-vision times...At about the age of 17, Joseph Smith, Jr. was quite "fluent" in telling tall tales...
We even see this later in his life when, still in his 20s, he gave himself secret code names that he pretended were names God gave him -- like Baurak Ale [sounds like a good beer brand for these days, eh?] (Doctrine & Covenants 103:35) and Gazelam (D&C 104:26)...and he would do the same for people he was sending everywhere as missionaries.
It all comes to down to men & women placing their 100% spiritual trust in what a mere lad said he saw. Here's what Lucky Mack Smith said about her 17 yo son, Joseph, Junior:
"During our evening conversations, Joseph would occasionally give us some of the most amusing recitals that could be imagined. He would describe the ancient inhabitants of the continent, their dress, mode of traveling, and the animals upon which they rode; their cities, their buildings, with every particular; their mode of warfare; and also their religious worship. This he would do with as much ease, seemingly, as if he had spent his whole life among them. On the twenty-second of September, 1824, Joseph again visited the place where he found the plates the year previous; and supporting at this time that the only thing required, in order to possess them until the time for their translation, was to be able to keep the commandments of God...he fully expected to carry them home with him. (Lucy Mack Smith, edited by Preston Nibley, History of Joseph Smith, p. 83, Bookcraft, Salt Lake City, 1958)
Now keep in mind Lucy Mack Smith's account placed all this, time-wise, before Smith, Jr. had ever supposedly "translated" any gold plates of ancient history.
(Nice highlight, D. I think for many non-temple Mormons, the above has actually their basic philosophy the rest of increasingly acknowledged folklore -- almost all of Mormon doctrine! Many lds now conclude, "We don't collect precepts based on whether something is true or false. What is important is why.")
Two women missionaries knock on a door. The man answering seems nervous and eager for them to leave. Later, the missionaries see a photograph of this man in the newspaper. Turns out, he has been arrested in the murders of several young women, all about the same age as these missionaries. The two women go to police, who allow them to talk to the suspect. They ask him why he didn't harm them. He replies that he wasn't about to do anything to them with those three huge guys standing behind them. The implication is that the missionaries were saved by the "three Nephites" (ancient disciples who, according to Mormon scripture, still roam the Earth).
Tell us, Mormons, if these Nephites, along with the apostle John (whom Mormon "scripture" also says never died)
-- if you had this "fearsome foursome" of towering apostleship (John)...
...and ne'er-dyin' discipleship o' Nephites...
...why do you need a 14, 15, or 16 year-old lad [Smith couldn't make up his mind was his age was when he had his first "vision"]?
Doesn't a pimply-faced teen treasure-hunter become a bit superfluous if never-say-die John & company still haunt this earth behind some plain-day Superman mild-manneredism?
Why haven't the LDS First Presidency folks over the years added the apostle John and these three Nephites to their "General Authorities" roster?
Isn't John already an apostle?
Shouldn't he be speaking at general conferences every April and October?
Is there somebody named John w/ some last name already in the Lds general authority lineup?
Is he actually the Clark Kent of Mormonism?
Is he really the apostle John?
And if not to all these questions, why not???
Mormonism's famous swearin' elder from the early 1900s, J. Golden Kimball, is rattling off a long list of people named to church positions in a conference in Utah County. He can tell the congregants are just raising their hands -- offering their sustaining votes -- without listening. Finally, he says, "How many of you are in favor of moving Mount Nebo into Utah Lake?" Again, the voting is unanimous. Some local LDS leaders still repeat this legend before reading a long list of sustainings.
Yeah, Golden had a rep for his "colorful" mouth...which didn't keep him from apostlehood. But this story is no doubt a true one...I mean Lds try claiming that not just anything becomes "Scripture," that it's got to be voted in, etc. But this is exactly the way all Mormon votes are conducted. And this shows exactly why Mormonism qualifies as a mind-numbing cult.
Paul & Peter? Paul says he opposed Peter to his face once (book of Galatians). Mormons? Mindless hand-raising "sustaining." Follow the leaders. Do what your told. When your leaders speak, you're thinking's been done for you. (This last sentence is an actual quote from a Mormon leader in the late 1940s!)
The mormon church teaches that the President/Prophet/Seer and Revelator speaks exclusively for God(s) in all things on Earth, unless he’s contradicting past prophets — or contradicting the Standard works — except in the case where the Standard Works are less than the prophet or equal to the prophet, otherwise they are greater than the prophet — who speaks exclusively for God(s) in all things on this earth.
THE THREE LITTLE NEPHITES - A Mormon Fairy Tale
Once upon a time there were three Nephites who went out preaching among a wicked people. The people were angry and cast them into three prisons. Now the first Nephite rent his prison in twain too hard. The two halves of the prison flew so far that they smashed people’s houses. The second Nephite rent his prison in twain too soft, so that it was barely cracked and he really had to squeeze to get himself out. The third Nephite rent his prison in twain just right, so the halves were separated, but not so much that they broke anything.
But the people were still angry, and they cast the three Nephites into three pits, and covered them with earth. Now the first Nephite smote the earth too hard, and it rose up and delivered him, but also made a mountain that buried a city. The second Nephite smote the earth too soft, and he had to struggle and fight to get out of the pit. The third Nephite smote the earth just right so that he was delivered but no cities were buried.
But the people were still angry, and they cast the three Nephites into three furnaces. Now the first Nephite cooled his furnace too much, and he got frostbitten toes while escaping. But the second Nephite did not cool his furance enough, and his hair got a little singed. The third Nephite cooled his furnace just right, so he was able to escape in comfort.
Finally, the people cast the three Nephites into three dens of wild beasts. Now the first Nephite played with the wild beasts too roughly, and he accidentally killed them all. But the second Nephite played with the wild beasts too gently, and he got a bite on the neck for his trouble. But the third Nephite played with the wild beasts just right, enough to impress the people, but not so much that the beasts were injured.
And the first two Nephites began to feel that the third Nephite was being a show-it-all. And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other two. And the first and second Nephites no longer tarried with the third. And thus was born the latter-day preference for sending missionaries in pairs instead of threes.
***But this is exactly the way all Mormon votes are conducted. And this shows exactly why Mormonism qualifies as a mind-numbing cult.***
I am remeinded of watching O L Jaggers on tv years ago. He would rattle off some gobble-de-gook and say to the adience...”Are you listening!” And as mind-numbed robots they would say “yes.” or “Do you believe me!” and they would say “yes.”
adience= audience.
Proofread.
proofread’
proofread!
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