Independent Article on Mormons (UK)

[_Mary]

Quite a balanced article I thought, with just a few glaring misrepresentations by active members.

Steve Bloor and Jenn Ashworth also contributed on the post/ex-mormon front. My non-member husband thought their comments were good.

What think you?

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/th ... 76632.html

[_Mary]

Here one of the glaring misrepresentations (in my opinion).

Polygamy was introduced to the faithful in 1852 as a revelation from God to Smith's successor prophet, Brigham Young, but Elder Herbertson argues this was intended solely as a challenge of faith. It was ended, the Church says, because God determined it had served its purpose – even if critics argue that Mormon authorities revoked the doctrine to improve the Church's reputation, socially and politically.

[_Blixa]

Here one of the glaring misrepresentations (in my opinion).

Polygamy was introduced to the faithful in 1852 as a revelation from God to Smith's successor prophet, Brigham Young, but Elder Herbertson argues this was intended solely as a challenge of faith. It was ended, the Church says, because God determined it had served its purpose – even if critics argue that Mormon authorities revoked the doctrine to improve the Church's reputation, socially and politically.

Oh I think anyone would consider that glaring, Mary! : )

[_Mary]

Ain't it just! Why on earth do members do this? Does he really believe what he said?

[_Elphaba]

That was an interesting article, mistakes and all. I agree it included a good balance of believes and non-believers.

I was very confused by the sentence in the following paragraph that I've bolded and underlined. I included the whole thing for context:

Alex Boyé is remarkably relaxed about the Church's racial record. The 41-year-old musician was born in London and converted at 16 under the influence of his manager while working at McDonald's. He has since moved to Utah to sing in the famed Tabernacle Choir, becoming one of the Church's most famous black personalities. Boyé argues that any racism within the Church merely reflected common social attitudes in America prior to the civil-rights movement. "I don't know of any church on this Earth that hasn't had a race issue in its past," he says. "Mormonism is a relatively new faith and most of the guys who came into the Church at the start were Baptists and Presbyterians who brought that tradition of racial inequality with them. We put an apology for everything that's happened in our scriptures for Mormons to read every day. Can you name any other church that has done anything like that? We all make mistakes, and that's what I love about the faith: it helps us be better people."

What in the world is he talking about?

[_Mary]

Yeah, that was the other quote that flummoxed me somewhat.

1) Because there were 19th Century (and 18th Century) groups that were opposed to slavery and racism and
2) Because I have never heard of any apology forthcoming from the church over its past policy of excluding blacks from the priesthood.

[_Blixa]

That was an interesting article, mistakes and all. I agree it included a good balance of believes and non-believers.

I was very confused by the sentence in the following paragraph that I've bolded and underlined. I included the whole thing for context:

Alex Boyé is remarkably relaxed about the Church's racial record. The 41-year-old musician was born in London and converted at 16 under the influence of his manager while working at McDonald's. He has since moved to Utah to sing in the famed Tabernacle Choir, becoming one of the Church's most famous black personalities. Boyé argues that any racism within the Church merely reflected common social attitudes in America prior to the civil-rights movement. "I don't know of any church on this Earth that hasn't had a race issue in its past," he says. "Mormonism is a relatively new faith and most of the guys who came into the Church at the start were Baptists and Presbyterians who brought that tradition of racial inequality with them. We put an apology for everything that's happened in our scriptures for Mormons to read every day. Can you name any other church that has done anything like that? We all make mistakes, and that's what I love about the faith: it helps us be better people."

What in the world is he talking about?

Wow! I have no idea.

I also don't know what to make of the statement above it, either.

[_hobo1512]

And of course, DCP has put his 2 cents in the comments section. He is touting mormonscholarstestify.