Runtu wrote:Here's a Stoddard family site that lists pretty much everything I could find. The only sources for the Law story are the dubious diary and late recollections of a grandchild and great-grandchild (circa 1950).
So, I'm thinking this story is to be taken with a rather large grain of salt.
Given that DN is portraying it as a "little known fact" I'd say the intention is for members to put down the salt and swallow it whole.
“When we are confronted with evidence that challenges our deeply held beliefs we are more likely to reframe the evidence than we are to alter our beliefs. We simply invent new reasons, new justifications, new explanations. Sometimes we ignore the evidence altogether.” (Mathew Syed 'Black Box Thinking')
Cinnamon Bear Head wrote:I wonder where Law got his gun? Percussive revolvers existed in 1844, but in Europe and as showpieces (proof of concept) for royalty. Americans took the idea in 1835 but did not develop a marketable product until 1856. The average American did not have access until then.
Great information. Thanks.
Another faith promoting tall tale falls victim to historical fact.
I'm often amazed at the various kinds of domain experts who tend to show up here, pretty much whenever needed.
Last edited by Guest on Wed Mar 18, 2015 5:24 pm, edited 2 times in total.
David Hume: "---Mistakes in philosophy are merely ridiculous, those in religion are dangerous."
DrW: "Mistakes in science are learning opportunities and are eventually corrected."
I have a question wrote:Given that DN is portraying it as a "little known fact" I'd say the intention is for members to put down the salt and swallow it whole.
In the comments for the article someone has pointed out that the source is not considered reliable. in my opinion a mistake like this is understandable, the question to me is whether or not they'll issue a correction.
I have a question wrote:Given that DN is portraying it as a "little known fact" I'd say the intention is for members to put down the salt and swallow it whole.
In the comments for the article someone has pointed out that the source is not considered reliable. in my opinion a mistake like this is understandable, the question to me is whether or not they'll issue a correction.
Wether or not they'll issue a correction.....
My question would be, what editorial scrutiny does a piece like this go through before publication, if any?
Ten minutes on this board and the William Law 'fact' is in tatters.
“When we are confronted with evidence that challenges our deeply held beliefs we are more likely to reframe the evidence than we are to alter our beliefs. We simply invent new reasons, new justifications, new explanations. Sometimes we ignore the evidence altogether.” (Mathew Syed 'Black Box Thinking')
I have a question wrote:Given that DN is portraying it as a "little known fact" I'd say the intention is for members to put down the salt and swallow it whole.
In the comments for the article someone has pointed out that the source is not considered reliable. in my opinion a mistake like this is understandable, the question to me is whether or not they'll issue a correction.
I completely disagree...This diary entry rings completely true to me in every sense of the word...everyone knows that Apostates kill Gods Prophets and that God's prophets have the ability to counter the laws of physics with their super magical priesthood powers...if Joseph hadn't caused that gun to misfire with the power of his superior male magnetism...the bullet surely would have bounced off his chest due to his super magical priesthood powers...ergo this must be a true recollection of an actual event….I have no doubt. The church is true…amen.
"...The official doctrine of the LDS Church is a Global Flood" - BCSpace
"...What many people call sin is not sin." - Joseph Smith
"Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away" - Phillip K. Dick
“The meaning of life is that it ends" - Franz Kafka
I have a question wrote:Wether or not they'll issue a correction.....
My question would be, what editorial scrutiny does a piece like this go through before publication, if any?
Ten minutes on this board and the William Law 'fact' is in tatters.
I think that's a fair point. I'm not an expert on William Law, but reading this article I knew immediately that if he did try to murder Joseph how relevant it would be. I think anyone moderately knowledgable about Mormon history should have immediately wondered why if it is true, they'd never heard of it before.
I have a question wrote:Wether or not they'll issue a correction.....
My question would be, what editorial scrutiny does a piece like this go through before publication, if any?
Ten minutes on this board and the William Law 'fact' is in tatters.
I think that's a fair point. I'm not an expert on William Law, but reading this article I knew immediately that if he did try to murder Joseph how relevant it would be. I think anyone moderately knowledgable about Mormon history should have immediately wondered why if it is true, they'd never heard of it before.
I think anyone with a modicum of common sense would have read the factoid and thought 'bull crap' I'd better check this out because it sounds too good to be true...
“When we are confronted with evidence that challenges our deeply held beliefs we are more likely to reframe the evidence than we are to alter our beliefs. We simply invent new reasons, new justifications, new explanations. Sometimes we ignore the evidence altogether.” (Mathew Syed 'Black Box Thinking')
Runtu wrote:It does read rather like a 19th-century romance novel, to be sure. I suppose it would be impossible to authenticate it.
If you analyzed the paper the journal's written on, you could probably show that it was produced with anachronistic industrial processes.
Or you could just ask the prophet if he thought this was a legit document and was interested in buying it? God would let him know if it is fake, right?
"Any over-ritualized religion since the dawn of time can make its priests say yes, we know, it is rotten, and hard luck, but just do as we say, keep at the ritual, stick it out, give us your money and you'll end up with the angels in heaven for evermore."
CaliforniaKid wrote:If you analyzed the paper the journal's written on, you could probably show that it was produced with anachronistic industrial processes.
Or you could just ask the prophet if he thought this was a legit document and was interested in buying it? God would let him know if it is fake, right?
