*Note–This was posted this morning. Due to a technical glitch, it was erased. Some comments may have been erased from this morning as well. I am re-posting it this evening.
As you search across the bloggernacle, sometimes you’ll find antagonists who take great issue with the fact that a gun was smuggled to Joseph Smith at the Carthage Jail. These antagonists often act as if the church is covering up this fact. For years I’ve known a gun was smuggled to Joseph from personal visits to the Carthage Jail in Illinois. Tour guides do not try to hide this fact. Some antagonists love to quote that John Taylor believed that Joseph may have killed one or two of the assailants with this gun. However, this is inaccurate. Elder Dallin Oaks wrote a book called Carthage Conspiracy: The Trial of the Accused Assassins of Joseph Smith which goes into great detail about the events surrounding Joseph Smith, as well as the trial of Joseph’s accused assassins.
Continue reading…
I posted this on my blog, but wanted to share with more people.
I always got a kick out of the signs in the student body section proclaiming, “The Prophet is a Ute!” After all, so many Mormons proclaim that BYU is the “Lord’s University”, that it was really nice to point out that President Hinckley is an alum of the University of Utah. The cool thing is that the signs can stay up, because President Monson is also an alum of the U, (though he did get an MBA from BYU, so I guess both schools can claim him.) Anyway, I was quite amused to hear on the radio yesterday, that Joseph Smith has officially decided to attend the University of Utah. You can verify the info right here! If BYU is the Lord’s University, it seems that Utah is the School of the Prophets!
One of the common complaints about and arguments against the Book of Mormon is the claim that it was written in “Reformed Egyptian” – a unique and obsolete language that was peculiar to the Nephites and could not be read by anyone else. There have been many things written about this issue over the years, some of which are merely skeptical and more of which are mocking. One of the common themes has been, “Well, that’s convenient. There’s no way to check any language for accuracy and veracity. Great con scheme.” What the people who wrote these things in the past and say them now didn’t and don’t realize is that there is a modern example of exactly such a language – one that is unique to its own people and, in many instances, cannot be read even by those from whom its written foundation was taken.
That example is modern Japanese. Continue reading…
With Memorial Day upon us, I wanted to highlight a person that people know a little about, Alexander Doniphan, who was known as one of the first “Jack Mormons.” Michael Quinn’s book The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power talks about many incidents which led to the “extermination order” by Missouri Governor Boggs. Doniphan served in the 1838 Mormon War of Missouri, as well as the Mexican-American War in 1846-7.
Continue reading…
Published in Bible,
LDS,
Mormon,
christianity,
history,
marriage,
polygamy,
questioning,
racism,
smith,
theology and
women .
I have long avoided talking about polygamy on my blog. It is a source of tremendous discomfort for me, but it keeps coming up, so I want to give my impressions about this early practice in Mormonism, as well as my beliefs and reconciliations.
Continue reading…
Published in Culture,
Discrimination,
Folklore,
General Authorities,
General Conference,
God,
Happiness,
Humor,
Jesus,
Logic,
Mormon,
Mormons,
abuse,
book of mormon,
burdens,
curiosity,
diversity,
doubt,
education,
eternity,
faith,
families,
fear,
general,
history,
joseph,
marriage,
mormon,
obedience,
orthodox,
prophets,
questioning,
religion,
resolutions,
salvation,
scripture,
sexuality,
smith,
spiritual progression,
spirituality,
tesimony,
theology,
thought and
women .
My home teacher (who is very cool) came by yesterday to drop off some starter cables for my car and as one does in that short interlude we discussed the celestial kingdom and being Gods after this life. He believed that those who don’t make it to the highest kingdom in the Celestial Kingdom won’t have any sexual relationships and if you don’t have sexual relationships their will be no need for sexual organs.
Continue reading…
Published in Asides,
Culture,
Folklore,
LDS,
Leaders,
Mormon,
Mormons,
Priesthood,
curiosity,
faith,
joseph,
mormon,
ordinances,
prayer,
questioning,
religion,
sacrament,
smith,
spirituality,
symbols,
theology and
thought .
Today’s post comes from The Teacher. Section 8 of the Doctrine & Covenants refers to “another gift” Olivery Cowdery had, called at different times “the gift of Aaron” or “the rod of nature.” Several commentators recognize this gift as related to Oliver’s use of a divining rod. Continue reading…
Published in LDS,
Leaders,
Mormon,
Mormons,
Priesthood,
Word of Wisdom,
christianity,
curiosity,
doubt,
education,
history,
joseph,
mormon,
prayer,
prophets,
questioning,
religion,
salvation,
smith,
spiritual progression,
spirituality,
theology and
thought .
Mormonism has a focus on gaining knowledge that is unique in Christendom, largely due to the emphasis that Joseph Smith placed on learning. Joseph’s total open-mindedness to both revelation and all forms of learning are central to the Mormon religion; this open-mindedness had potential for both good and bad outcomes. The lesson discusses two main concepts: what is “knowledge,” and how do we gain it? Continue reading…
Published in Charity,
Humor,
LDS,
Mormon,
Mormons,
Priesthood,
burdens,
children,
faith,
families,
history,
joseph,
love,
marriage,
mormon,
polygamy,
prophets,
questioning,
religion,
smith and
women .
This lesson discusses the written correspondence Joseph sent to Emma during his frequent absences. IMO, this is a tough lesson for many reasons, so read on to see how you would make the most of it. Continue reading…
Published in Culture,
Mormon,
Mormons,
abuse,
christianity,
church,
curiosity,
faith,
mormon,
religion,
smith and
thought .
This week’s lesson is an interesting compilation of horrifying stories of persecution and suffering from the life of Joseph Smith. Read on if you dare . . . Continue reading…
Published in Anti-Mormon,
Asides,
Mormon,
Mormons,
apologetics,
book of mormon,
curiosity,
doubt,
faith,
families,
history,
joseph,
mormon,
new order mormon,
prophets,
scripture,
smith,
testimony,
theology and
thought .
There are some interesting parallels between the first family of the Book of Mormon and the first family of the Restoration (the Smiths). Coincidence? Or was Joseph Smith writing about his own family (vs. translating the story of another family)?
Continue reading…
Published in General Authorities,
LDS,
Leaders,
Mormon,
President Monson,
book of mormon,
church,
doubt,
faith,
historicity,
history,
scripture and
smith .
There are many positions on which century the Book of Mormon originated in, but most seem to fall into two general camps: the book was largely produced in the fifth century by Moroni, or in the nineteenth century by Joseph Smith.
There is a third view: the text was largely produced in the 20th century by committees of LDS Church employees.
Continue reading…
Published in Asides,
God,
Happiness,
Jesus,
LDS,
Mormon,
Mormons,
Word of Wisdom,
church,
eternity,
faith,
families,
inter-faith,
mormon,
plan of salvation,
prophets,
questioning,
religion,
repentance,
restoration,
salvation,
scripture,
smith,
testimony,
theology and
thought .
A unique facet of Mormonism is our view of God’s plan for his children, or our purpose in life. Today’s lesson focuses on what JS restored regarding this plan. Continue reading…
Published in General Authorities,
God,
Jesus,
LDS,
Mormon,
Mormons,
Priesthood,
Sermon on the Mount,
Word of Wisdom,
book of mormon,
christ,
christianity,
church,
curiosity,
doubt,
eternity,
faith,
historicity,
joseph,
liberal,
new order mormon,
obedience,
orthodox,
prophets,
religion,
repentance,
restoration,
sacrament meeting,
salvation,
scripture,
smith,
temple,
testimony and
theology .
Take this assessment and find out:
(Taken from D. Jeff Burton’s For Those Who Wonder : forthosewhowonder.com. Similar to a Correlation Department survey on Religion and Life conducted among LDS Church members in the mid-1980s)
Section I: Measures of Participation and Activity in Standard Church Programs
1. How often do you attend the temple? Continue reading…
Loading ...
