tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post7694571874665227380..comments2024-03-28T15:23:18.071-07:00Comments on Pure Mormonism: The Book Of Mormon Cultural History Reading ProjectAlan Rock Watermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04971243364867111868noreply@blogger.comBlogger120125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-70683236602372879222014-03-17T12:54:55.386-07:002014-03-17T12:54:55.386-07:00RuthD,
I would like to bring several pieces of in...RuthD,<br /><br />I would like to bring several pieces of information to your attention, in hopes this information will be of some value to you.<br /><br />First, I think you are posting your comments under the wrong article. This article isn't about tithing.<br /><br />Second, Bro. Waterman has not said in any of his articles that we should not pay tithing. His arguments deal with the way tithing is figured and the member's responsibility regarding the disposition of the tithing funds. It would be a good idea for you to read and understand what is actually being said. Then you can form arguments which make sense. Gary Huntnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-53243516089908556642014-03-15T20:15:09.305-07:002014-03-15T20:15:09.305-07:00Ruth,
It would be nice if all we had to do was p...Ruth, <br /><br />It would be nice if all we had to do was pay tithing and forget about it and not worry about what it was used for, or if the men we gave it to were righteous or not or really called of God as they claim. <br /><br />But Joseph Smith warned that we will lose our salvation if we let ourselves be deceived to support falsehoods, false prophets and false churches. And he taught that most everyone in the Church is deceived by false prophets and doesn't know it. <br /><br />So it's vital for 'our' eternal welfare too that we prove all things, including where our tithing is going. <br /><br />If we give our sacred tithing, which is meant for the poor, to men & leaders who use it on themselves or to make more money or build big & spacious church buildings, and they don't use 100% of it for the poor, then we will be held partly accountable for the suffering of the poor, even though we may have paid tithing all our lives. For we didn't make sure our money got where it should go. <br /><br />Blind obedience and blind tithing paying won't save anyone, for we must do our own homework and make sure we are right, leaders are right and our tithing gets to the right place. <br /><br />And since we know that it is the disposition of almost all men & leaders and even prophets, to immediately start doing wrong things in their callings and using their authority unrighteously, we can't trust any man, Bishop or Prophet to be righteous enough to distribute our tithing for us to the poor, thus we must give it directly to the poor & fatherless ourselves, if we want to receive blessings for it and be considered righteous and not be deceived to support evil.<br /><br />I believe the righteous are so concerned about ending the suffering of the poor & fatherless that they make sure all their tithing gets where it is needed and not in rich leaders pockets & projects. <br /><br />BKnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-59346047681465327612014-03-15T16:28:39.024-07:002014-03-15T16:28:39.024-07:00You pay tithing because the Lord asks it of you, n...You pay tithing because the Lord asks it of you, not because the church does. (Genesis 28:22; and several others in OT; Mal 3:8; Luke 18:12 and others in NT; Alma 13:15; 3 NE 24:8; 3 Ne 24:10). You are being faithful to the Lord by doing so and fulfilling your obligation to Him. <br />What the Church does with the money is their responsibility. They must answer for any errors of judgement in the use of those funds that are tithed. Any equivocation or deception is their responsibility and on their heads. Are the details mentioned in this article disappointing, most likely yes. <br />However, our responsibility is to follow what the Lord asks of us. We are blessed for our obedience to God. This is part of working out our own salvation. <br />Also, you are not promised to be blessed financially for paying tithing, although that does often occur. You are promised that the "windows of heaven" will be opened and "pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it." It could be blessings of family, understanding of the gospel and its mysteries, friends, gifts of the Spirit, any number of things the Lord would see fit to bless you with. <br />You tithe to the Lord, the Church is just the medium you do that through. RuthDnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-69767525541491659982014-02-27T09:43:16.426-08:002014-02-27T09:43:16.426-08:00the above post belong(s,ed) to LDSDPer, for some r...the above post belong(s,ed) to LDSDPer, for some reason the numbers I entered to post came out as my 'name'.<br /><br />LOL!<br /><br />Still curious as to what others thing of Daymon Smith's book, thus far.<br /><br />It fits with the feelings I've gotten from my ancestor's experiences--<br /><br />my ancestors who joined the church were drawn by the Book of Mormon and by Joseph Smith; the fact that *we* have gone back and reorganized history to fit with modern events and times is part of why I think so many Mormons are so confused.<br />Frankly, most of my ancestors were just trying to survive, quite literally; communication was completely different in the 1830s; there just can't a comparison; modern LDS historians who aren't scrupulously careful can get things really messed up just on that basis alone. Sad, but true, none of the early members of the church had the 'luxury' of regular paychecks (to be gotten by confirming modern assumptions).LDSDPernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-81291566166880180112014-02-26T14:16:53.679-08:002014-02-26T14:16:53.679-08:00Hi! :)
Is there anyone here? Anyone else can...Hi! :)<br /><br />Is there anyone here? Anyone else can't stop reading Smith's book?<br /><br />My husband and I can't stop; I even discovered an ancestor in there. <br /><br />(won't say whom; it's too embarrassing, but it's not Rigdon or obviously Joseph Smith or even Cowdery)<br /><br />I never thought much about Rigdon, but I always thought Cowdery was a good guy--<br /><br />and I just wonder what everyone else is thinking--<br /><br />we are about 44 pages from the end of the third 'installment'.77 39825645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-21374304941568588722014-02-15T08:41:03.286-08:002014-02-15T08:41:03.286-08:00@Rock,
No; they haven't been published, and I...@Rock,<br /><br />No; they haven't been published, and I'm not sure I have the resources to do it--<br /><br />I know that they are here and there, though, some of them.<br /><br />Brigham Young? I'm not so sure it was open distrust, as much as that he simply didn't exist!!!<br /><br />Joseph Smith was 'the man'--<br /><br />he was the prophet; it's so obvious from what they say. And then there is just a huge gap; I don't think they cared who the leader(s) was/were, because they were just trying to survive.<br /><br />A few accepted calls from Brigham Young, but often with dire results--<br /><br />if there was respect, there wasn't love. I guess it's what wasn't said as much as what was--<br /><br />and, yes, they left Utah as soon as they could--<br /><br />there were those who strongly opposed polygamy, but they were very quiet about it.<br /><br />And there was one who opposed polygamy but felt that it was his duty to make money as much as the 'leaders' did; it was a crazy time--<br /><br />he wasn't successful--<br /><br />LOL!<br /><br />I guess that I was just surprised, when I was younger, that they left him out of the narrative, since he was supposed to be so wonderful (thanks to books I read in seminary, the 'official' history books)--<br /><br />and now I see why.<br /><br />One ancestor expressed admiration for Lorenzo Snow's brother Erastus, even though he was a polygamist, and the ancestor wasn't.<br /><br />I need to go back and read some more, too--<br /><br />Thanks, fusion--<br /><br />:)<br /><br />LDSDPernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-43468322663865724692014-02-15T06:13:18.523-08:002014-02-15T06:13:18.523-08:00So being an anonymous jerk online is fine and the ...So being an anonymous jerk online is fine and the temple is going to save you? That pretty much sums up religion. Janenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-88805442416514563012014-02-15T05:15:04.694-08:002014-02-15T05:15:04.694-08:00Amen to what Fusion just said, LDSDPer.
I've ...Amen to what Fusion just said, LDSDPer.<br /><br />I've been meaning to ask you about your ancestor's journals. Have they been published?<br /><br />I'd really like to know some of the things about their distrust of Brigham Young, and how far reaching that was at the time among other members. We have been given examples of many who left the Church and even Utah, going so far as to return to the states, accusing Brigham of trying to build a personal autocracy; and so I wonder what your ancestors had to say about him.Alan Rock Watermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04971243364867111868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-80566468666594094542014-02-14T23:37:50.639-08:002014-02-14T23:37:50.639-08:00LDS-per,
God bless you sister, may the Lord you a...LDS-per,<br /><br />God bless you sister, may the Lord you and your family as much as possible. Your love for Jesus, the real one in the Book of Mormon, is something I can feel from thousands of miles away everytime I have read one of your posts.<br /><br />FusionAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-55044300650545688952014-02-14T10:05:00.513-08:002014-02-14T10:05:00.513-08:00@anyone and Aw, if he/she will read:
The brother ...<br />@anyone and Aw, if he/she will read:<br /><br />The brother in Ecuador has hungry babies. :(<br /><br />His babies might not grow up, because of malnutrition.<br /><br />My husband and I got to the point where, after SO many Sundays of coming home and hearing the tears of our children--<br /><br />from the things that were said to them at church, etc.--<br /><br />and hearing about how, yes, if we just had faith we could be rich, and since we weren't rich, we hadn't shown faith, etc.--<br /><br />and God loved those in the ward who had money more than those who worked nights for minimum wage--<br /><br />(something that happened to us for a time, not now)<br /><br />based on testimonies and comments in classes, etc.--<br /><br />and we had to come home and pray to have good feelings and forgive and pick ourselves up and go on--<br /><br />my husband and I began to feel drawn so powerfully to the Book of Mormon. It became our guide and our 'rod'--<br /><br />and I had never heard of Rock or of Daymon Smith--<br /><br />I hadn't read history; I had NO idea about all the 'stuff' that happened in and after Nauvoo--<br /><br />except my ancestors' journals, which now make a LOT of sense to me--<br /><br />LOL!<br /><br />I didn't need the internet to learn that the Book of Mormon was the written standard I could trust.<br /><br />But I was glad to find others who felt/feel the same way.<br /><br />I don't NEED the internet, but I like to share my love of the Book of Mormon and, yes, my passion for the kernal of the gospel of Jesus Christ--<br /><br />and my deep faith in Jesus Christ.<br /><br />I like sharing that, but I suppose I am a freak of some kind.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />LDSDPernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-11645967035546542532014-02-14T05:42:32.183-08:002014-02-14T05:42:32.183-08:00AW,
I believe you have gone AWOL. Your criticism...AW, <br /><br />I believe you have gone AWOL. Your criticisms of the questioning on bogs such as these, where folks SINCERELY love the Gospel of Jesus and believe its every word including that of not trusting the arm of flesh, is AWOL and has pretty much collapsed. <br /><br />Your answers to my questions, which I believe to hold merit in each case, has been completely ignored- typical LDS mentality, I declare. And THAT is exactly why people are leaving!! <br /><br />Instead of a sincere inspired attempt to help me and others, you have come back with an analogy that I would interpret as:<br /><br />'Alma, you should put your faith in President Noah and the Brethren, instead of listening to Abinadi...you are in apostasy, bro'<br /><br />'Nephi is the prophet of the church at the time, and the only one authorised to receive messages from the Lord, how can you guys listen to Samuel...this, this ummm guy Samuel that 'inspired policy' has shown cannot possibly hold the priesthood for he is a Lamanite and not one of the Brethren!'<br /><br />'Nephi, you listened to your faither instead of the church leaders in Jerusalem?! Man, you are a fool! Your father thinks he can override the Brethren?! He should just stick with his home teaching...it's not like he is a great and noble one...'<br /><br />Since you haven't, or rather, simply cannot answer my questions which are based PURELY on the scriptures and nothing else, then there is no point in wasting anymore time. Go ahead- you have the freedom to give your money to the folks who exchange secret signs, even those who ask you to not reveal them: <br /><br />http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3I0gXJZ6XmU/Swycsbz_vJI/AAAAAAAAAH8/gwAB1VnrzBE/s640/monsonbushhandshake.gif<br /><br />http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wDBUFOQ9_cc/Th5Vwz3_uMI/AAAAAAAABNA/JoBvKdWd30s/s1600/lds+handshake-01.jpg<br /><br />The Brethren & the Government should not be cut from the same cloth yet on different sides of the fence.<br /><br />It is sad you read the Book of Mormon but do not believe its prophecies that the modern day Gadiantons have done/will do to this people what their former mentors did to the Nephite church and government.<br /><br />Be a real man (or woman if that is who you are) and answer the questions :)<br /><br />Much love,<br />Fusion<br /><br />Fusionnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-32066935759757427042014-02-14T00:56:19.149-08:002014-02-14T00:56:19.149-08:00Aw,
How is the man in Equador going to be able to ...Aw,<br />How is the man in Equador going to be able to tell if it's the Holy Ghost giving him revelation or the Adversary?<br /><br />For there is no way to tell if you are receiving confirmation and truth from the 'Holy Spirit' VS. 'the Adversary' unless you have the scriptures, the words of Christ to prove that what the Spirit is telling you is true or not. <br /><br />We are all easily deceived at times by the wrong Spirit, often most of the time. Even prophets are often deceived too, by false revelation, etc. <br /><br />Thus, as Rock mentioned above, we need both the words of Christ AND the Spirit in order to make sure all teachings, persons or prophets are true or not. (Assuming we are righteous enough to be in tune with the HG) <br /><br />It is a commandment to 'prove all things' and not just rely on or blindly accept what even prophets say, for the prophets teach that blind obedience is one of the fastest & surest ways to be deceived and led astray. BKnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-44064493069337409532014-02-13T19:38:25.509-08:002014-02-13T19:38:25.509-08:00Humility removes the stumbling block of pride and ...Humility removes the stumbling block of pride and allow us to be open to a deeper learning. <br /><br />God must humble us before he can give us any light. When we allow ourselves to trust in God and be humbled through our adversities, the light as understanding, will flow almost faster then you can process it in your mind.<br /><br />But to those who resist humbling, wander off on their own path relying upon their own or borrowed understanding.<br />Wnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-24683697345331048332014-02-13T19:27:03.864-08:002014-02-13T19:27:03.864-08:00To anon @ 3:10 PM
I agree 100% pride is the oppos...To anon @ 3:10 PM<br /><br />I agree 100% pride is the opposite of humility, and it manifests as contention. Especially when there is an audience. it is pride that makes us want to be seen by others as wise or correct.<br /><br />"Humility allows someone to be taught. We are all ignorant, but not all are willing to let in new understanding. We must be taught about the things we do not yet know for us to be saved. Without humility we cannot be taught, and therefore we cannot gain light. Humility is so fundamental a requirement for gaining further light and truth that without it we cannot grow. The two are so intimately linked together they form a near equivalency."Wnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-82922257073571659292014-02-13T17:07:16.117-08:002014-02-13T17:07:16.117-08:00AW,
Keep talking, this is a great exercise. I beli...AW,<br />Keep talking, this is a great exercise. I believe that right before our eyes we are seeing a fulfillment of Ether 12:28:<br /><br /> Behold, I will show unto the Gentiles their weakness, and I will show unto them that faith, hope and charity bringeth unto me—the fountain of all righteousness.<br /><br />It's hard to add to the excellent comments, but here's my two cents. You speak of faith (using the word "testimony") as if it means following something a person tells you even though you have no evidence for it, as in "I have faith that the Church is true. I have faith that if I obey my leaders then I'll be blessed. I have faith in the Gospel (whatever that means). I don't know these things, but through the Holy Ghost I have faith." (Mind you, I'm not inserting your words here, just using a common application of "faith" in our culture). The thing is, the Holy Ghost gives knowledge and light, so saying, "I have faith through the Holy Ghost that ...." is a paradoxical statement. If you have received something (light and knowledge) from the Holy Ghost, then your faith is dormant in that thing.<br /><br />The way that I view "exercising my faith" is that it is simply an effort to conform what I suspect to be true. Thus, "trial of my faith" brings on a whole different meaning. I am now "proving God herewith" to determine if what the Holy Ghost has taught me is indeed true ("trying" it out). These "experiments on the word" as Alma calls them, are no more than a verification of the "seed of hope" which has been planted in my heart. If I don't throw it away, then God (through the Holy Ghost) will show me the truth of "all things."<br /><br />But how can I even exercise this sort of faith through ignorance? If the Holy Ghost has taught me something, then not only is it important to confirm it, for our own confidence it is NECESSARY to research and prove it. Otherwise, some man or demon could tell me some lie which would put me in bondage, and I'd happily conform to their wishes because I "have faith" that it was true. <br /><br />The God spoken of in the Book of Mormon encourages us over and over to search, ponder, study, and especially "change our beliefs," becoming as a little child again, eager to discover His nature and how Heaven operates. Our unbelief comes not in rejecting or challenging what man has told us through an institution, but ignoring the many evidences God shows us about our "weakness." If Rock or Daymon or Denver can help us to see those things, then it seems more trustworthy (according to Ether 12) than a voice from the Corporation saying "Listen to me. All is well in Zion!" <br /><br />If your guy in Ecuador indeed does "find his place" in the church and settles for that, then indeed he is in captivity, because he has just given his agency away.Inspirehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07915227658956979023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-60521938869051794052014-02-13T15:12:45.240-08:002014-02-13T15:12:45.240-08:00me said,
I put my name in the previous comment bu... me said, <br />I put my name in the previous comment but published as anonymous. It's memenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-45601397687989316272014-02-13T15:10:17.277-08:002014-02-13T15:10:17.277-08:00Rock, I believe ignorance is willful ignoring the ...Rock, I believe ignorance is willful ignoring the truth. I don't accept people's ignorance as okay anymore. I use to feel that was fine and their own choice but now I believe that IGNORANCE IS PRIDE, and I feel intolerant of it. I will accept people in varying degrees of understanding of truth but if the ignorance (pride) keeps them from opening their minds and eyes then I'll have nothing to do with them. Anonymoushttp://menoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-23951741751820788002014-02-13T12:20:58.838-08:002014-02-13T12:20:58.838-08:00Aw,
I'm sorry to say this but your arguments ...Aw,<br /><br />I'm sorry to say this but your arguments are getting worse. It reflects your ignorance of the scriptures and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I agree with "me". You're just trying to stir up contention. Gary Huntnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-85036494875523469072014-02-13T12:14:35.125-08:002014-02-13T12:14:35.125-08:00"A man can be saved no faster than he gains k..."A man can be saved no faster than he gains knowledge." -Joseph Smith<br /><br />Aw, your argument presents two types of members: one who "accepts his place in the church," yet so ignorant about the church that he doesn't even know the names of any of those who manage it; the other well read in the history and theology of the religion he has chosen to embrace.<br /><br /> What you have left out of your analogy is the common, mainstream, rank-and-file Mormon whose knowledge of his religion only consists of that which he has received through the approved narrative provided him by the Church.<br /><br />It is this third category that is most likely to be, as you put it, "tortured because his life is filled with doubts and he is constantly looking to a future point when things will be as he expects them to be."<br /><br />It is not the person who relies on the word of God who is tortured and confused today. It is the average member who diligently seeks the word AND the spirit, and yet has begun to feel uneasy about the actions and teachings of the leadership that appear to contradict what he learns through scripture and feels through the Holy Ghost.<br /><br />These are the people who write me private messages and emails thanking me for helping them find balance in their religion, to see that there is much more to Mormonism than relying on the arm of flesh.<br /><br />They are neither ignorant bushmen nor academics. They are among the core membership of the church, and they are troubled because they have dwelt in the wilderness of ignorance, an ignorance that has been deliberately foisted upon them by the Church leadership since the 1970s by means of that insidious program known as "Correlation," designed to place controls on what members of the Lord's church should or should not know about their own religion.<br /><br />Your argument suggests that only those ignorant enough to be able to blindly accept what they are told are the types that make the best Mormons. But I agree with our founding prophet that we must be continually growing in knowledge, particularly as concerns the things of God. "We must embrace ALL truth," said the prophet, "Or we shall never become true Mormons."<br /><br />The Church itself encourages continuous education. That is why there are so many scholars in this church who are familiar with its history -and even the seeming contradictions in its theology -yet still manage to believe in the fundamentals of the faith. <br /><br />Historically, our church would not encourage that ignorant convert from the third world country to remain in his ignorance. They would have encouraged him to get an education and improve his understanding of the religion he has adopted.<br /><br />There was a time before the internet when converts still managed to educate themselves. Most of what I learned about the history and theology of Mormonism was from reading books. In fact, most of the things I share on this blog regarding the history of this church were learned long before I had access to a computer. So that third world convert you cite as your example should be able to educate himself even if he doesn't have a computer.<br /><br />AW, you may remain in darkness regarding the things of God if you wish, but your constant desire to see others remain where you are is disturbing. Members like you live out their lives in the church happy and content, and I'm fine with that. From what I can see, most are decent people who do a lot of good. I feel bad that many of them have never sought nor experienced the baptism of fire, but that appears to be the fault of a Church that teaches them it is not necessary.<br /><br />As for me, I prefer to obtain further light and knowledge. This religion fascinates me, and I want to know everything about it. I expect to be edified by my faith, and by putting forth a bit more effort than some, I am indeed edified. Just because you have not been gifted with curiosity about all the wonderful things this religion has to offer is no reason to denigrate those who have.<br /><br />Alan Rock Watermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04971243364867111868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-2299652432461729412014-02-13T11:58:22.914-08:002014-02-13T11:58:22.914-08:00Aw, or As, as I just addressed you. There are save...Aw, or As, as I just addressed you. There are save two churches only; the church of God and the church of the devil. The first consists of those who come unto Jesus Christ and are baptized and live the gospel as is outlined in 3rd Nephi, recorded in Jesus' own words, and the other consists of all others to varying degrees. One aspect of the church of the devil is contention one with another. You are trying to stir up contention. Where does that leave you?menoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-351936766999354582014-02-13T11:01:17.739-08:002014-02-13T11:01:17.739-08:00As, there is a difference between nescience and ig...As, there is a difference between nescience and ignorance. menoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-70827250938490580762014-02-13T10:45:51.981-08:002014-02-13T10:45:51.981-08:00I think the entire point of "Pure Mormonism&q...I think the entire point of "Pure Mormonism" has been skipped over here:<br /><br />What I think "Pure Mormonism" is:<br /><br />The missionaries meet a man in the highlands of Ecuador. They teach the man the gospel. The man is baptized. This man has no internet, no computer, he has never heard that Thomas Monson spent $2 billion on a shopping mall. If he is lucky, at a single occasion in his life he will be able to go to the temple and be sealed to his family. He doesn't know any of the general authorities by name, and frankly he doesn't need to. He relies entirely on the Holy Ghost to know the truth of the gospel and temple work. he accepts his place in the church. <br /><br />Then we have member x:<br /><br />Member x has beliefs that are subject to change based on the depth of research he finds on the internet. His testimony is based on documentation. He admires people like Denver Snuffer and Daymon Smith that have written exhaustive articles on Mormonism. <br />Everythin must be proved to brother x. Brother x does not have a childlike faith, but the skepticism of a doubting Thomas. And brothe x is quite sophticated in his arguments and tries to persuade others that his estimations of the truth are correct, instead of telling people to rely entirely on the Holy Ghost for everything.<br /><br />Now you have to ask yourself the question, why would the Lord give one man a computer, and not another man? Are our beliefs and testimonies based on reading dissertations and computer research? If this is the case, then the brother in Ecuador has gotten screwed by the Lord. Or maybe none of what we think we have learned about the church on the internet means a hill of beans. You see, the man from Ecuador id happy because he believes, but brother x is tortured because his life is filled with doubts and he is constantly looking to a future point when things will be as he expects them to be.Awnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-16794893455793666972014-02-13T05:47:20.955-08:002014-02-13T05:47:20.955-08:00h,
I wish I had Royal Skousen's Book of Mormo...h,<br /><br />I wish I had Royal Skousen's Book of Mormon. I'd like to read that version myself. I hear good things about it.Alan Rock Watermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04971243364867111868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-25546680967383980112014-02-13T05:33:52.946-08:002014-02-13T05:33:52.946-08:00Sorry for this derailment, but has anyone read Roy...Sorry for this derailment, but has anyone read Royal Skousen's The Earliest Text BoM? I am admittedly a man of very shaky faith in regards to the whole LDS belief system right now (spent my whole life in the church), but I am rather intrigued with reading the best possible source material once again to really establish my opinion.<br /><br />I had kind of given up on Mormonism, but I've read the first 1/4 of Daymon's book and I find it to be excellent. I'm actually holding back on tearing through the second portion until the weekend so that I won't have as long to wait between that and the third lol <br /><br />-hAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-19384218721861652912014-02-12T13:37:18.976-08:002014-02-12T13:37:18.976-08:00By the way, I suspect that poor kid Bednar used in...By the way, I suspect that poor kid Bednar used in the video was assigned in advance to ask that question. So not only is the topic rigged, but the audience was planted.<br /><br />We are expected to assume the tears in that kid's eyes were a result of him feeling the spirit, but that was not my takeaway. Alan Rock Watermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04971243364867111868noreply@blogger.com