I found the episode where they went on the trip to NY to see the Mormon sights and stopped at the place that Joseph Smith was killed very interesting. In the epi Bill argues with the docent about the fact that Joseph Smith married widow and orphans. Guess what? Bill was wrong. At least a couple of his wives were widows before they married him. Bill seemed so religious and knowledgeable about the Mormon faith I found it interesting that he would not have known that.
shareyou do realize that most mormons know next to nothing about the founders of their own religion, don't you? they are notoriously under informed as to the (less savory) aspects of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young's lives. Most especially anything to do with plural marriage and the taking of young brides. all in all, mormons are frightening and dangerous. be not fooled by their starched white shirts and tireless smiles. they are legion and they are tearing down the walls to get in at you.
I'm a homicidal maniac...they look like everyone else. - Wednesday Adams
and you do realize that people like you know next to nothing about mormons? if you want to know about mormons, go to lds.org, mormon.org, or talk with the missionaries. you'll get much more accurate information than the pointedly anti-mormon resources you've apparently been frequenting.
share<< you do realize that people like you know next to nothing about mormons? if you want to know about mormons, go to lds.org, mormon.org, or talk with the missionaries. >>
OMG. Riiiiiiight. THEN we should go to the Enron execs to ask us to explain THEIR scandals (???)
For info the Mormons would rather you didn't know about, I'd suggest:
Utah Lighthouse Ministry: http://www.utlm.org/ (fascinating archives of materials and memories having to do with former mormons.)
Rethinking Mormonism: http://www.i4m.com/think/
Remembering the Wives of Joseph Smith: http://www.wivesofjosephsmith.org/
http://www.postmormon.org/exp_e/index.php/home is also worth a look, too.
(Or cut + paste:http://www.postmormon.org/exp_e/index.php/home
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You can also look into interviews, etc., with Fawn Brodie, who was excommunicated from the LDS for writing an honest biography on Mormon founder Joseph Smith. She had access to all the materials in the LDS libraries, then they freaked out when she actually approached Smith's life in a straightforward, scholarly manner, and threw her out of the church (!)
Interview with Fawn Brodie: http://www.salamandersociety.com/interviews/fawnbrodie/
Q: In the new material [for the second edition] that you have been able to obtain, or get access to, has...
A: It all verifies the original thesis, that [Joseph Smith's] was an evolutionary process from the very beginning, that the visions probably began in some kind of childhood dream and, at any rate, were very, very different from the way he described them when he began writing his history. The fraudulent nature of the Book of Mormon is, I think, unmistakable; that has not changed. The devout Mormons still believe it to be the work of God. The "Jack Mormons" are pretty certain it is not, but still respect the organization of the church and feel that it does a great deal of good, so they stay with it. I can see that there are many things about the brotherhood that are very rewarding. But, I think there is no question that the Book of Mormon was fraudulently conceived. This will always be a stumbling block to people who are trying to make converts.
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What the previous poster said was a little over the top but from experience you NEVER want to ask a Christian or Mormon directly about their religion! This is just encourages them to begin trying to cram their weirdo dogma down your throat because they will interpret it as a sign that you are ripe for conversion.
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"Yes, reason has been a part of organized religion, ever since two nudists took dietary advice from a talking snake."
you do realize that most mormons know next to nothing about the founders of their own religion, don't you?Two years ago, PBS did a documentary on LDS. One aspect I found fascinating was the Mountain Meadows Massacre where unarmed non-Mormons were slaughtered by Mormons in 1857. I wonder if those Bible beaters who try and convert us have had that piece of history whitewashed (or brainwashed) from their history books. share
And they tried to blame the Native Americans.
Racist!
If you love Satan and are 100% proud of it copy this and make your signature!
I imagine they don't talk about it with their kids but there was some meeting for a remembrance thing a few years ago between the descendent's victims and some mormon people.
I think they aren't going to talk about it bc it becomes odd when a religion that is suppose to be about peace goes into genocide mode.
Then again, judaism is genocide full throttle and christianity is just an extension on it.
I imagine they don't talk about it with their kids
All in all, Mormons are frightening and dangerous? How many Mormon's do you know?
shareIn that scene Bill and the "amateur historian" were both "right" but the docent seemed to be in denial about certain aspects of the history of the LDS church.
Smith and Young did marry widows but they also married women who already had living husbands and, at least in Young's case, teenage girls. The docent wants to pretend that Young only married women to protect them from the difficulties of pioneer life but anyone who's read about the subject knows that it was far from being that simple or "pure".
Yall need to read Wife No. 19 by Ann Eliza Young. Her autobiography has been widely shot down by the Church but um...the Catholic Church denies unsavory details, too. So I believe the woman told the truth. Mormons have a tendency to believe whatever they're told. They're being indoctrinated. They don't learn the history unless someone goes out of their way to teach it.
That aint no etch-a-sketch. This is one doodle that can't be undid, homeskillet.
GreekChik,
Thanks for the ref. I found the book for just 99 cents on kindle. (It's a zillion dollars for a paper copy, but whatever you prefer!)
I haven't researched yet, but I've had my eye out for books to read now that I'm about finished with my Big Love binge. So I very much appreciate the suggestion! It looks interesting and, if you have a kindle, not a bad price. I'm not too worried about my investment if I don't care for it ;) But it does sound like a good choice.
Best,
Allie
Yes, I agree but that is the case with all religions. No one wants to see a spec of dirt or dust on their own religion but are very quick to point out the problems in other people's religion.
Example : There is a lot of killings and genocides in the bible but a christian tends to ignore that or just say "it was god's will" or that I am misinterpreting the passage.
Example 2 : Tell a muslim that Mohammed married a 6 year old girl and their response is that she was actually 9 and that it was ok back then. If it was ok back then, why change?
Yes, everyone has an excuse.
Apparently I lack depth... That whole episode bored me to tears, with the minor diversion in a parking lot, one of Nicki's little boys says "That man was scary, Mommy!" and Nicki calmly says, "All Baptists are, honey."
That cracked me up.
The rest of the episode? A waste of time. Anyone can go on and research the religious bits. I suppose it's interesting to note that Bill kept insisting this trip was so important and "retracing the steps" of their ancestors, while getting it all wrong.
But it's not really a surprise that he would have incorrect information. He was tossed on the streets at 14 after having whatever passes for education at "the compound", and I don't think he spent the next 4 years at the local public high school.
"When you say Dylan, he thinks you mean Dylan Thomas...whoever he was."