Sunday, July 31, 2016

On Hiatus!

For the first time in the seven year history of this blog, I'll be going a couple of months without posting anything.  The Lovely Connie and I are busy preparing to leave my native California to resettle in Sandpoint, Idaho by the end of August. (Haven't you heard? Idaho is the new Zion!)

I expect to resume with another of my tedious screeds in September.  The intention today was to fill this space with a review of Denver Snuffer's new book on Joseph Smith, A Man Without Doubt; but there simply isn't time to write it.  So instead I'll just urge everyone to Buy The Book.  Or at least read the many five-star reviews the book has engendered so far, all of which are more cogent than anything I might have produced anyway. (There is one smugly negative review by someone who demonstrates complete unfamiliarity with either Denver or his book, but it's still worth reading just to watch how other reviewers piled onto that hapless ignoramus.)

Recently Denver gave a remarkable presentation at the Sunstone Symposium, but I don't know if it's available on line as of yet. If it is, perhaps someone can post a link in the comment section below. The title of that paper is "Was There An Original?" In it, Denver discusses how much Mormonism has changed (and not for the better) since its founding under Joseph Smith.  Denver shows how Mormonism "began as a very big religion, but has diminished considerably over the years," and discusses the recent causes for that decline.

Also along those lines is the recent blog post by the Anonymous Bishop, Do We Still Believe Anything Joseph Taught?  If you've had the chance to read Rob Smith's Teaching For Doctrines The Commandments of Men, you have probably arrived at your own conclusions.  (Rob's remarkable blog is called Upward Thought. Go there if you'd like a free pdf version of his book; you'll see a link on the right-hand side.)

That's all for now. In the immortal words of The Tempos"see you in September."


UPDATEMore than one alert reader has informed me that Denver Snuffer's Sunstone presentation can be accessed here:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/48452426ksg24os/SL16271%20Was%20There%20an%20Original.mp3?dl=

That is the audio presentation. You can also find the written paper, which is valuable because the audio version does not contain the extensive footnotes, most of which include commentary that I feel is essential to the topic.  Here's an example from the very first page (footnote 9): 

“Growth” and “decay” should not be measured by numbers, but by the content of light. Measured by numbers alone, Mormonism has had a triumphant history (although its momentum is now likewise showing signs of decay). Measured by light, it has only dimmed since the passing of Joseph and Hyrum.

16 comments:

Anon said...

here's a link to the sunstone paper:
http://denversnuffer.com/2016/07/sunstone-paper/

David said...

Love the pic of the overloaded pickup, just hope you have better plans then that.

Safe Journey

Anonymous said...

Hi Rock:

Given your recent posts on helping the poor I thought your readers might enjoy the following post about what it means to truly know the Lord.

https://onewhoissearching.com/2016/07/24/to-know-the-lord-part-1/

All the best on your move.

Unknown said...

Rock, glad to hear your moving to Idaho, although I think you'll find that we are the "New California" and maybe Zion to, who knows. Sandpoint is a beautiful area. Best wishes and a safe trip.

Unknown said...

Rock if you need a place to stay on your journey our house is open to you and your family if you choose to come through Boise ( Meridian ).
Just message me on face Book.

Unknown said...

Since you mentioned Rob Smith's blog, I feel I should leave this here: https://ilookedandbeheld.wordpress.com/2016/07/31/plural-marriage-a-response

Irven said...

Rock. If you are coming up through NV and taking I-15 up into MT, let me know. You can pit stop in Rigby. Room and board on me.

Unknown said...

Glad to hear you are going to be a neighbor ... of sorts. It's only about a 5 hour trip down to where we are at (Elk City). Might have to get together some time! :)

Rebecca C. said...

Hey Rock. Even though I've heard your voice, I always mentally hear your posts in the voice of the cowboy from the Big Lebowski. Every. Single. Time.

Peace

Informed said...

Rock, since room and board offers are coming from people in other cities, and my city has not been offered yet, you are welcome to stay at our house in Clinton, Utah. It's an hour south of the Utah Idaho border, and a half hour north of Salt Lake City, so if the wasatch front is on your way, you are always welcome here. Message me on Facebook if you'd like to take me up on it. (Devin Fausett)

Alan Rock Waterman said...

Thanks to all who have offered to put me up; I've responded to all via private message, and you all have my enduring thanks. The route doesn't take us through Utah. According to the map, I'll be driving from here in Sacramento up through Northern California and into Oregon, then across east at Washington State to Sandpoint in the Northern tip of Idaho. So I miss Utah entirely.

Several of the good folks in that area are tithing toward a plane ticket for Connie, as she is too frail to make a drive that far. (These good folks are contributing their tithes for the next two months to fund our entire move, for that matter, as we would never have the resources to do this on our own.)

One good brother is even flying down here to take the wheel of the truck, so I can drive my car. (We considered towing the car behind the truck, but we got a much better deal for the truck sans the tow thingy.)

It's very satisfying to know I have so many friends willing to give me a place to lay my head; too bad I won't be going through Utah. It would have been a privilege to meet you.

Alan Rock Waterman said...

Rebecca,
You have imagined the tenor of my voice perfectly. Pitch it with a higher register, add some nasal in the delivery, lose the laconic drawl, and my voice is indistinguishable from that of Sam Elliot.

Uncanny.

Alan Rock Waterman said...

OneWhoIsSearching,
That's a remarkable piece. Very informative. Thanks for posting that link.

Robin Hood said...

Hope the move goes well Rock.
I have relatives in Idaho.
Went there once; thought it was ok.
Not far enough north though. If you don't like Idaho keep going until you get to Canada. I recommend Cardston. 90% Mormon, no alcohol, and the Queen's on the money!

jjkrambule said...

okay...we're ready to have you back...

Alan Rock Waterman said...

Fair enough, Janeen!
We just got internet service yesterday, and I am indeed mulling my next post. So much to do yet before we can even pretend to be settled in, but I intend to get something written before this month is out. Meantime, I have very little time to even use the internet, so my presence on, say, Facebook and such will be rare.

I have so much to catch up on. For all I know the Corporation of the President has fallen in upon itself already and I would not have even heard about it.