Polygamy And Dishonesty-

[cursor]

I restate that it is insulting for you to assume people are misinformed or ignorant of the issues simply because they do not draw the same conclusions you do.

My opinion is that you are either ignorant or simply misinformed in this regard. I suspect that if the all LDS (worldwide) were to be tested regarding their knowledge of the early stages of polygamy ... the bulk of them would fail miserably.

[KevinG]

My opinion is that you are either ignorant or simply misinformed in this regard. I suspect that if the all LDS (worldwide) were to be tested regarding their knowledge of the early stages of polygamy ... the bulk of them would fail miserably.

No. I've witnessed many a critic accuse some pretty well informed Mormons they were ignorant because they disagreed with them not because they were truly ignorant. Some very well researched and educated responses to the accusation of "lying" were presented and categorized as ignorance because they were in disagreement with the charge that Joseph lied. The ignorant Mormon charge falls kind of flat on these boards.

Perhaps I need to visit the "center stakes of Zion more" but I've yet to run into widespread ignorance of polygamy or the history of our church. Disagreements over the details of reports from critics and faithful years after the fact of course, but not ignorance.

But thanks for doubling down on the accusations of my ignorance. Its always nice to be complemented about my lack of intelligence.

Edited October 9, 2012 by KevinG

[KevinG]

That does not in any way [responsibly] address the fact that there are many LDS folk who are not well informed about the specifics of Mormon history.

Thanks for nannying. I also enjoy it when someone takes a comment out of context halfway into a conversation and responds without a clue as to why the point was made. But since you brought it up what is your solution for the "widespread ignorance" of Mormon history among Mormons"?

I myself have loaned Rough Stone Rolling and Journal History of the Church to many friends as well as linked FAIR and LDS.org regarding doctrinal questions. On an institutional level the church is making a plethora of materials available on line including the Joseph Smith papers.

What more can be done to combat our supposed historical literacy problem?

[cursor]

Sorry to "nanny."

Sorry to be offensive, at all.

... since you brought it up what is your solution for the "widespread ignorance" of Mormon history among Mormons"?

1. Be more open and clear in standard LDS courseware.

2..Make sure that every LDS household has at least one computer, complete with recommended links to significant doctrine and LDS history.

3. Make the internet more accessible to remote folk.

4. Motivate and encourage members to truly dig in ... and chew/masticate the facts.

In the meantime, we can at the very least recognize that there is a substantial disconnect for a great many Latter-day Saints.

[cursor]

I myself have loaned Rough Stone Rolling and Journal History of the Church to many friends as well as linked FAIR and LDS.org regarding doctrinal questions. On an institutional level the church is making a plethora of materials available on line including the Joseph Smith papers.

My stepmother told me just the other day during a personal visit with my dad that she had loaned her copy of Rough Stone Rolling to one of her sons.(one of nine children—who currently has eight children of his own). Her former husband (who died tragically young) was a Director of sorts within the LDS seminary system. The target son read the book, and was totally aghast at what he didn't previously know about about Joseph Smith. How many members within the Church have significantly LESS exposure to questionable historical detail?

[Calm]

Sorry to "nanny."

Sorry to be offensive, at all.

1. Be more open and clear in standard LDS courseware.

2..Make sure that every LDS household has at least one computer, complete with recommended links to significant doctrine and LDS history.

I find this very problematic on a variety of levels including making lds targets for criminal attacks in high crime/poverty areas. Better to have a ward library with access, but with equipment not likely to be tempting. The rules for the library include not having electronics that might attract thieves in fact.

[Pahoran]

None. Most Tongan I know look down on me for researching things beyond the essential elements of the Gospel. In short, there is really no audience for such things.

In which case, they won't be whiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiining incessantly about not having been told about them.

And since they won't be whiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiining incessantly about it, it won't be necessary for anyone to tell them to do their own homework.

This actually draws attention to the fact that the demand to be spoonfed every bit of information, whether it is relevant to our salvation or not, fills an emotional need in certain cultures that is ultimately irrelevant to those whose values and priorities lie elsewhere.

And who is to say that those cultures have got it wrong, and contemporary North American culture has it right?

For my money, anyone who kvetches about Joseph's "letter to Sarah Ann" and calls it a "love letter" when it was actually addressed to "Brother and Sister Whitney &c," really is pitching rocks from inside a glass house when he rails about "dishonesty."

Regards,

Pahoran

[Nemesis]

I think this thread has run its course.

Nemesis