For Those Interested in an Unsubstantiated Rumor

[Gray]

Can we get a mod to change the title from "Unsubstanciated" to "Unsubstantiated"? I'm having a moment here.

 

 

[rongo]

31 minutes ago, Nevo said:

• The fact that almost every sentence ends with one or more exclamation marks!!
• Breathlessly declaring that Elder So-and-So is an "eyewitness" of Jesus Christ!
• Referring to a Seventy as "a Seventy" rather than "Elder —"
• Referring to their mission president as "our Mission President" rather than "President —"
• The black marker redactions
• The lack of personal details, context, provenance
• The fact that you haven't mentioned this on your home board and that really nobody on the Mormon-themed web seems to be talking about it.

Aside from these, for me the biggest thing that "gives the lie" to this is the phrase "only the righteous will hear this is from the Lord (those who have ears to hear)."

I am almost 100% certain that no current GA would say something like this. While it could have been filtered and interpreted that way by the correspondent, this thing reeks of satire or an attempt to get the gullible talking from someone who tends to mock Church culture, TBMs, etc. 

I think the whole thing is fake.

And for things that do come from the Brethren, I'm a little jaded since the build-up from the Brethren for months that the next General Conference would be "historic." It turned out that exactly nothing happened, but many talks were dedicated to eulogizing the Tabernacle around the completion of its renovation and seismic upgrade. Anyone else remember that?

I think actual "big news" will simply be announced, without GA's coyly hinting at impending things coming "in the next few months."

[stemelbow]

I'm saying it's fake because I say the leaders have learned their lesson in pretending special messages for a select few that somehow give that particular crew more information than the rest of us.  It might seem like a good idea to help motivate and encourage missionaries or a particular stake now and then, but as far as I've seen it's failed. 

WIth that said, I certainly wouldn't put it past any missionary to write a note like that.  I'm pretty sure I've seen similar from missionaries from time to time.  And I really wouldn't put it past a missionary to completely misinterpret an apostle's words directed at his mission pals. 

Edited April 26, 2017 by stemelbow

[cinepro]

While I'm generally skeptical about such things, I'm inclined to believe this one because Elders are usually pretty good about only spreading stuff that is true.

[Johnnie Cake]

4 hours ago, Gray said:

Can we get a mod to change the title from "Unsubstanciated" to "Unsubstantiated"? I'm having a moment here.

 

 

That spell checker thingie...it was invented for me...when it works I look smart and when it doesn't...well...

[Duncan]

I can't say that i've looked real hard but I've poked around various missionaries' online blogs and found bupkus

[mnn727]

Well, I heard from the Mother of a friend whose Uncles wifes son by her first marriage is the boyfriend to a young woman whose father has a friend who works in the Church office building and they said the Sacrament will now be served with popcorn and root beer instead of bread and water.

I'm pretty sure they would not lie about that.

 

 

[bluebell]

I tried googling it and the only place it shows up (other than here) is the ex-mormon reddit board (man, those people...).

JC, where did you find it?

[Robert F. Smith]

7 hours ago, Johnnie Cake said:

I'm a skeptic at heart and take very little at face value...but what about this information would lead you to assume that the "Letter" (its actually a copy of a missionary's communication home) is fake?  What would be the motivation to manufacture this?  For entertainment?  I do have some additional information that I haven't shared here that leads me to conclude that the source is real and the statement reflects what occurred at least in the eyes of the missionary who provided it.  But I guess time will tell...

If you personally know the date of the letter, by whom written, and have seen it, that is not really a rumor at your end -- provided you have actual access to the letter.  That means that you actually know the name of the GA who is referred to in it.  However, I have on many ocoasions been led to believe that something was authentic, when it wasn't, not the least of which were the documents forged by Mark Hofmann (who now resides at Utah State Prison).

[Johnnie Cake]

28 minutes ago, Robert F. Smith said:

If you personally know the date of the letter, by whom written, and have seen it, that is not really a rumor at your end -- provided you have actual access to the letter.  That means that you actually know the name of the GA who is referred to in it.  However, I have on many ocoasions been led to believe that something was authentic, when it wasn't, not the least of which were the documents forged by Mark Hofmann (who now resides at Utah State Prison).

the only additional information that I have access to is that the one who posted it is an uncle to the missionary from whence it came...the uncle redacted the original message to family members. But I respect your skepticism...

[Johnnie Cake]

1 hour ago, bluebell said:

I tried googling it and the only place it shows up (other than here) is the ex-mormon reddit board (man, those people...).

JC, where did you find it?

Yes that is my source ...like I said unsubstantiated rumor