My 13 year-old son explains the reason for polygamy

[_lostindc]

My 8 -yr old asked if Joseph Smith was a liar and I told him yes.

How did your child respond? I am being serious because I am in a similar predicament and can use some advice.

How do you explain existence to them if they ask?

I tell them that when we die we go to heaven, everyone, even the bad ones. I believe/hope for a continuation of life after life so I maintain this belief with the kids.

[_Scottie]

The thing is you can probably get away with calling anyone in the whole world a liar, since everyone has lied. I've never felt calling someone a liar means much of anything.

Telling a few lies and being known as a liar are two COMPLETELY different things.

Yes, Joseph Smith was a liar. He didn't just tell a few innocent lies.

[_stemelbow]

Telling a few lies and being known as a liar are two COMPLETELY different things.

Yes, Joseph Smith was a liar. He didn't just tell a few innocent lies.

But then we'd be getting to a matter of subjective opinion, it seems to me. How many lies qualify one to be known as a liar? Is subject matter for which one lies a consideration as to defining one as a liar?

As I said, calling someone a liar is pretty meaningless.

[_Baker]

Telling a few lies and being known as a liar are two COMPLETELY different things.

Yes, Joseph Smith was a liar. He didn't just tell a few innocent lies.

But then we'd be getting to a matter of subjective opinion, it seems to me. How many lies qualify one to be known as a liar? Is subject matter for which one lies a consideration as to defining one as a liar?

As I said, calling someone a liar is pretty meaningless.

"Liar", I believe, is the one who routinely chooses deception in favor of his/her own self interest. Clearly we see this in Joseph Smith.

[_Buffalo]

Telling a few lies and being known as a liar are two COMPLETELY different things.

Yes, Joseph Smith was a liar. He didn't just tell a few innocent lies.

But then we'd be getting to a matter of subjective opinion, it seems to me. How many lies qualify one to be known as a liar? Is subject matter for which one lies a consideration as to defining one as a liar?

As I said, calling someone a liar is pretty meaningless.

Denouncing polygamy publicly and slandering those who accuse you of it while practicing it privately should count as serious lying by anyone's definition.

[_Chap]

Telling a few lies and being known as a liar are two COMPLETELY different things.

Yes, Joseph Smith was a liar. He didn't just tell a few innocent lies.

But then we'd be getting to a matter of subjective opinion, it seems to me. How many lies qualify one to be known as a liar? Is subject matter for which one lies a consideration as to defining one as a liar?

As I said, calling someone a liar is pretty meaningless.

Yup. And since the application of the word 'flat' to any object is a subjective matter too, it is pretty meaningless to say that the earth is not flat.

And since the application of the phrase 'a long way from' is a subjective matter too, it is pretty meaningless to say that San Francisco is a long way from Rome.

And since the application of the word 'cruel' is a subjective matter, it is pretty meaningless to say that the guards at Auschwitz treated the inmates in a cruel manner.

And since the application of any term that is not wholly logical or quantitative is a subjective matter, it is pretty meaningless to use any descriptive terms apart from such examples as 'right-angled' or 'longer than 3 meters'.

Do you get the point? In your effort to avoid any judgement about whether or not Joseph Smith was publicly, frequently and substantially untruthful to a degree that might justify him being called a 'liar', you seem prepared to abandon the habits of normal language use altogether.

Be my guest - but if you do that more generally you may begin to find it difficult to communicate any more.

(Of course, the application of the word 'difficult' is a subjective matter, so it is pretty meaningless to say that anything is difficult. And so on.)

[_Fence Sitter]

Yup. And since the application of the word 'flat' to any object is a subjective matter too, it is pretty meaningless to say that the earth is not flat.

And since the application of the phrase 'a long way from' is a subjective matter too, it is pretty meaningless to say that San Francisco is a long way from Rome.

And since the application of the word 'cruel' is a subjective matter, it is pretty meaningless to say that the guards at Auschwitz treated the inmates in a cruel manner.

And since the application of any term that is not wholly logical or quantitative is a subjective matter, it is pretty meaningless to use any descriptive terms apart from such examples as 'right-angled' or 'longer than 3 meters'.

Do you get the point? In your effort to avoid any judgement about whether or not Joseph Smith was publicly, frequently and substantially untruthful to a degree that might justify him being called a 'liar', you seem prepared to abandon the habits of normal language use altogether.

Be my guest - but if you do that more generally you may begin to find it difficult to communicate any more.

(Of course, the application of the word 'difficult' is a subjective matter, so it is pretty meaningless to say that anything is difficult. And so on.)

You forgot the application of the word 'History'

[_Chap]

You forgot the application of the word 'History'

Sorry - could you unpack that a little?

[_zeezrom]

My 8 -yr old asked if Joseph Smith was a liar and I told him yes.

How did your child respond? I am being serious because I am in a similar predicament and can use some advice.

How do you explain existence to them if they ask?

I tell them that when we die we go to heaven, everyone, even the bad ones. I believe/hope for a continuation of life after life so I maintain this belief with the kids.

Hey Lost! How is your progress in moving to Utah going? Do you, by chance, want to live in a suburb in the southern part of SL county?

My son just nodded in silence. They don't care much about it because it is all a boring tale. They are more interested in the nuts and bolts of life: animals, sports, cardboard boxes, etc

[_Fence Sitter]

You forgot the application of the word 'History'

Sorry - could you unpack that a little?

It seems like 'LDS History' tries to make the facts fit the story instead of the other way around. Look at how the RLDS have painted Joseph Smith involvment in polygamy. To them that is 'History' and anything that does not fit their view is not.