I think the innoculation theorists are right

[_Buffalo]

The few troublesome issues about the church that I knew about as a believer are the issues that still don't bother me now (with the exception of the priesthood ban, which always troubled me). But things like the secret polygamy after the first manifesto and the multiple versions of the first vision still make me go "meh." I was inoculated, so they're just not that interesting or troubling to me.

I never knew about polyandry and the age of Smith's wives, and that SHOCKED me when I discovered it as a believing adult. No inoculation, you see.

[_Sophocles]

I agree. The story of the 116 pages was the most obvious example of this for me. Just like the South Park episode illustrates, to any outside observer that story basically proves that Joseph Smith is a fraud.

There was no sweeping this one under the rug, because the account plays out right in the pages of the Book of Mormon. So the church had no choice but to inoculate believers against it, and every Mormon kid learns the story in Seminary, if not sooner.

And it has worked beautifully. I know a lot of people who admit later in life that the 116 pages was their first moment of cog dis, but in the moment it does was inoculation is supposed to do--strengthens us against future attacks by helping us develop the tools to deal with it. The story of the 116 pages ensures that each Seminary student graduates with at least basic skills in mental gymnastics.

That being said, I wonder if the sheer volume of troubling information would prove overwhelming. Imagine having to learn about the Book of Abraham, polygyny/polyandry, Kinderhook plates, and all the rest as a Seminary student.

[_Buffalo]

I agree. The story of the 116 pages was the most obvious example of this for me. Just like the South Park episode illustrates, to any outside observer that story basically proves that Joseph Smith is a fraud.

There was no sweeping this one under the rug, because the account plays out right in the pages of the Book of Mormon. So the church had no choice but to inoculate believers against it, and every Mormon kid learns the story in Seminary, if not sooner.

And it has worked beautifully. I know a lot of people who admit later in life that the 116 pages was their first moment of cog dis, but in the moment it does was inoculation is supposed to do--strengthens us against future attacks by helping us develop the tools to deal with it. The story of the 116 pages ensures that each Seminary student graduates with at least basic skills in mental gymnastics.

That being said, I wonder if the sheer volume of troubling information would prove overwhelming. Imagine having to learn about the Book of Abraham, polygyny/polyandry, Kinderhook plates, and all the rest as a Seminary student.

That's another great example. It's clearly a smoking gun against the church, but it NEVER bothered me. I learned about it in seminary.

Yes, there is a HUGE amount of information to innoculate against. I don't suppose they'd have to cover all of it, just the top 20, maybe.

[_Stormy Waters]

I agree to an extent. I think the feeling that you had been deceived is the worst part. Innoculation would solve that problem.
But I think it also depends on the topic. For example with the 116 pages I was taught that evil men had taken them and altered them so that even if Joesph Smith reproduced them, they would appear different. Therefore Joseph Smith couldn't reproduce them. I was gullible enough to buy this story.
But consider a more damaging topic like the Book of Abraham. What will they teach people about that? The missing scroll theory? That it was an inspired translation?
You are sure to lose people by exposing them to these issues. So it's just a question of which strategy is better. Do they lose more people by allowing some members to find out about difficult issues online, or do they lose more by exposing the entire membership to them?

[_Jaybear]

I agree. The story of the 116 pages was the most obvious example of this for me. Just like the South Park episode illustrates, to any outside observer that story basically proves that Joseph Smith is a fraud.

What part of the story do you think makes sense to the outside observer?
Gold plates.
Plates engraved with Reformed Egyptian.
Smith being told by angel where to find the gold plates.
Unnamed bad guys trying to steal the gold plates.
God not allowing anyone to look at the plates.
Translating the plates by looking at a rock in a hat.
Plates being taken back to heaven.

[_Polygamy-Porter]

I agree. The story of the 116 pages was the most obvious example of this for me. Just like the South Park episode illustrates, to any outside observer that story basically proves that Joseph Smith is a fraud.

What part of the story do you think makes sense to the outside observer?

Gold plates.
Plates engraved with Reformed Egyptian.
Smith being told by angel where to find the gold plates.
Unnamed bad guys trying to steal the gold plates.
God not allowing anyone to look at the plates.
Translating the plates by looking at a rock in a hat.
Plates being taken back to heaven.

None of it.

Think about how you feel about the origins of the Quran. Only muslims believe it to be the word of God as dictated to Muhammad by the archangel Gabriel and written down in Arabic.

However, to the unwitting member, especially born into the church, since all of the above with the exception of the hat/rock trick all is taught at a very young age, or as the OP states "inoculation".

As a youth, the lost 116 pages was my first AYFKM? moment. Perhaps my young mind was too simplistic in thinking the solution to lost pages was quite simple, just RETRANSLATE THEM.

But as with all cults, the group emotion and mentality kept me from leaving, although I did get into hot water with the seminary teacher for asking asking some questions with a very sarcastic tone.

[_DarkHelmet]

I agree. The story of the 116 pages was the most obvious example of this for me. Just like the South Park episode illustrates, to any outside observer that story basically proves that Joseph Smith is a fraud.

What part of the story do you think makes sense to the outside observer?
Gold plates.
Plates engraved with Reformed Egyptian.
Smith being told by angel where to find the gold plates.
Unnamed bad guys trying to steal the gold plates.
God not allowing anyone to look at the plates.
Translating the plates by looking at a rock in a hat.
Plates being taken back to heaven.

all of those can be accepted on faith. Most people didn't' buy any of this, but a few had faith and believed Joseph Smith. Lucy Harris put Joseph Smith in a bind when she challenged him to reproduce the 116 pages. Now you have logic challenging his faith claims. If you have faith in all those other things, then you have faith that Joseph Smith can easily reproduce the 116 pages. When he couldn't do it, that should have ended the charade right there.

[_Jaybear]

all of those can be accepted on faith. Most people didn't' buy any of this, but a few had faith and believed Joseph Smith. Lucy Harris put Joseph Smith in a bind when she challenged him to reproduce the 116 pages. Now you have logic challenging his faith claims. If you have faith in all those other things, then you have faith that Joseph Smith can easily reproduce the 116 pages. When he couldn't do it, that should have ended the charade right there.

Brilliant. That explains quite a bit that had eluded me.

I never quite understood, for example, why Smith's claimed to have been compelled to practice polygamy by an angel with drawn/flaming sword was not high on the list of problems.

It helps me understand why members are readily able to believe that the writings of the biblical patriarch Abraham coincidentally found their way to Smith, who was able to translate them, until that is the papyri is discovered and translated.

Thanks for that insight.