alanmolstad
02-09-2016, 09:35 AM
Im about to post here for you the words of a Mormon who is addressing the topic of how his Mormon church deals with the issue of Smith's women, and how it paints the church now.
http://mormonstories.org/brian-hales-12-myths-regarding-joseph-smiths-polygamy/
Now the post is written by a Mormon*, so as you read it you have to keep that in mind.
But the reason Im posting it here now is that I believe it is one of the most interesting points of view I have ever found on the topic of Smith's women, as written from the Mormon point of view.
You see, most Mormons always write on this topic in the same manner, they simply ignore the facts and dismiss all the evidence, or say they cant believe anything coming from an "anti-Mormon" source.
But in the following post I find myself reading the words of a Mormon who actually wants his church to come to grips with the facts....
Because I really enjoyed reading the following post by this Mormon writer, I have decided to post it in it's entirety.
(Please enjoy)
Rob
February 21, 2013 at 6:54 pm
I could not have written it any better how I felt after I finished listening. I will now just expand on this a bit.
I was anxious to here this podcast to see if someone, anyone, could shed a defining light on the subject.
I can honestly say the light is not shining.
Still. Why is it we can defend Joseph Smith for the most extraordinary perversions known to mankind, yet our bishop’s office’s are packed with sinful saints getting their life whip lashed over teenage love or not doing their visiting teaching (yes, my wife was called in the bishop’s office for that and chastised for not getting it done each month)?
I am sick to death of hearing that “back then, it was different, and if you just had a better understanding of how life was you would understand better.”
Yea sure it was.
Today we deal with much larger sins and transgressions like double pierced earrings and tattoos.
In fact it’s such a problem we even dedicate Sunday School lessons to this horrid behavior.
Heck, maybe even through in the ever so evil energy drink lesson.
Now we are getting somewhere. Real meat here.
And speaking of milk and meat . . . it’s good to know that we can just BS anyone we think isn’t ready for the meat.
Can you imagine the adulterer that goes in to get his temple recommend and tells the bishop he of course is worthy to go to the temple?
In his mind he knows the bishop isn’t ready for the “meat” part of his sinning ways so he just gives him the milk.
That is a sick way of getting out of a bad situation.
What is the alternative? Ummm, truth could work!
We are so far off plum that no one even knows which end of the stick is up or down anymore.
Case in point; Walk into any Deseret Book Store and look at the walls and walls of books.
These are just current offerings, not all of them.
Now, look at the small shelf of scriptures.
All of these m***es of books are in some way shape or form about the scriptures or some form of interpretation of them.
We are doing the same thing to scriptures that we are doing with Joseph Smith.
Write another book with another point of view all in the name of trying to help the dumb saints understand things better.
Oh, and if it helps the bottom line, that’s cool too.
Why? Here is the simple reason.
If Joseph really did all these horrible things, (maybe we could debate this issue some more until we have worn out everyone)then he of course isn’t much of a role model, and we can’t have that now can we, especially from a guy that is next to Jesus, or better than Jesus from Joseph’s perspective?
And quoting President Packer, this isn’t very “Faith Promoting”.
Joseph Smith wouldn’t make it 10 minutes in today’s world of defending himself, on just about anything.
So instead of truth, what do we have? We have faith . . . and loads of it, cuz there ain’t anything else to put your foot on.
I was going to sum things up, or put my final slant on this post or on the quoted letter above,
But when you read it and understand the context the guy was in when he wrote it....you dont need to add anything else.
he says what needs to be said....
* He is a Mormon ( or recent ex-Mormon, its kinda foggy) and I am a Christian,
But we are both looking at the same historical facts and drawing from them the same conclusions....
http://mormonstories.org/brian-hales-12-myths-regarding-joseph-smiths-polygamy/
Now the post is written by a Mormon*, so as you read it you have to keep that in mind.
But the reason Im posting it here now is that I believe it is one of the most interesting points of view I have ever found on the topic of Smith's women, as written from the Mormon point of view.
You see, most Mormons always write on this topic in the same manner, they simply ignore the facts and dismiss all the evidence, or say they cant believe anything coming from an "anti-Mormon" source.
But in the following post I find myself reading the words of a Mormon who actually wants his church to come to grips with the facts....
Because I really enjoyed reading the following post by this Mormon writer, I have decided to post it in it's entirety.
(Please enjoy)
Rob
February 21, 2013 at 6:54 pm
I could not have written it any better how I felt after I finished listening. I will now just expand on this a bit.
I was anxious to here this podcast to see if someone, anyone, could shed a defining light on the subject.
I can honestly say the light is not shining.
Still. Why is it we can defend Joseph Smith for the most extraordinary perversions known to mankind, yet our bishop’s office’s are packed with sinful saints getting their life whip lashed over teenage love or not doing their visiting teaching (yes, my wife was called in the bishop’s office for that and chastised for not getting it done each month)?
I am sick to death of hearing that “back then, it was different, and if you just had a better understanding of how life was you would understand better.”
Yea sure it was.
Today we deal with much larger sins and transgressions like double pierced earrings and tattoos.
In fact it’s such a problem we even dedicate Sunday School lessons to this horrid behavior.
Heck, maybe even through in the ever so evil energy drink lesson.
Now we are getting somewhere. Real meat here.
And speaking of milk and meat . . . it’s good to know that we can just BS anyone we think isn’t ready for the meat.
Can you imagine the adulterer that goes in to get his temple recommend and tells the bishop he of course is worthy to go to the temple?
In his mind he knows the bishop isn’t ready for the “meat” part of his sinning ways so he just gives him the milk.
That is a sick way of getting out of a bad situation.
What is the alternative? Ummm, truth could work!
We are so far off plum that no one even knows which end of the stick is up or down anymore.
Case in point; Walk into any Deseret Book Store and look at the walls and walls of books.
These are just current offerings, not all of them.
Now, look at the small shelf of scriptures.
All of these m***es of books are in some way shape or form about the scriptures or some form of interpretation of them.
We are doing the same thing to scriptures that we are doing with Joseph Smith.
Write another book with another point of view all in the name of trying to help the dumb saints understand things better.
Oh, and if it helps the bottom line, that’s cool too.
Why? Here is the simple reason.
If Joseph really did all these horrible things, (maybe we could debate this issue some more until we have worn out everyone)then he of course isn’t much of a role model, and we can’t have that now can we, especially from a guy that is next to Jesus, or better than Jesus from Joseph’s perspective?
And quoting President Packer, this isn’t very “Faith Promoting”.
Joseph Smith wouldn’t make it 10 minutes in today’s world of defending himself, on just about anything.
So instead of truth, what do we have? We have faith . . . and loads of it, cuz there ain’t anything else to put your foot on.
I was going to sum things up, or put my final slant on this post or on the quoted letter above,
But when you read it and understand the context the guy was in when he wrote it....you dont need to add anything else.
he says what needs to be said....
* He is a Mormon ( or recent ex-Mormon, its kinda foggy) and I am a Christian,
But we are both looking at the same historical facts and drawing from them the same conclusions....