#1. Joseph Smith engaged in activities that were commonly viewed as scams and con jobs. He went to trial for this activity.
#2. Joseph Smith was called to be a prophet. His experience as a peepstone treasure hunter was important training for the job of the restoration.
Now I never said Bushman believes Joseph Smith's treasure hunting business was a flat out scam to rip people off. But I would ask him, or you, what is the difference between 1) a scam artist and 2) someone who admittedly engages in all the activities of a scam artist... but somehow isn't really a scam artist.
This can be cleared up easily: Does Richard Bushman say that Joseph Smith at any point was a con man? Yes or no.
If yes, I disagree. If no, I agree.
One moment in annihilation's waste, one moment, of the well of life to taste- The stars are setting and the caravan starts for the dawn of nothing; Oh, make haste! -Omar Khayaam
The Dude wrote:But I would ask him, or you, what is the difference between 1) a scam artist and 2) someone who admittedly engages in all the activities of a scam artist... but somehow isn't really a scam artist.
This can be cleared up easily: Does Richard Bushman say that Joseph Smith at any point was a con man? Yes or no.
If yes, I disagree. If no, I agree.
You are begging the question I just asked. "What is the difference between..."
"And yet another little spot is smoothed out of the echo chamber wall..." Bond
Let me put this another way. Bushman acknowledges some important data regarding Joseph Smith's youthful adventures but he comes up with a totally whimsical conclusion. Essentially he says 1 + 1 = 11 instead of 1 + 1 = 2 as everybody without a testimony can see. 1 + 1 doesn't equal prophet, it equals con man. I already realize that Bushman won't or can't reach the most logical conclusion from his data, so you ought to give up trying to corner me with the "flatly false" garbage. You misunderstood what I was saying when you started in on this. I was saying that from Bushman's telling, Joseph Smith did everything that a young con artist would have done. Oh, except somehow he was really a prophet in training, not a young con man! That's the whimsical conclusion.
"And yet another little spot is smoothed out of the echo chamber wall..." Bond
Another question: That Monson was quoting, should he have stated so, giving credit to his source--if he knew it? A detail that might be more significant today than it might have been in times past. Differentiates between being a creative writer and well read...
He did give credit. He referenced the Music Man and Professor Hill.
Thanks Jason, and to all others who clarified the ambiguity. An excellent example of how easy it is to be misunderstood, misunderstand and to rumorize :-) a community. It surprised me to think he wouldn't have.
He was one who, as our Mission President, Toronto, Canada, '50s, was (to him unknowingly) most instrumental in my therapy as a young convert resolving his innermost. As close to the front as I dare, at every Conference, my tears flushed away pains that lay deep within. A most true, and personal baptism and rebirth...
Warm regards, Roger
Have you noticed what a beautiful day it is? Some can't... "God": nick-name for the Universe...
One moment in annihilation's waste, one moment, of the well of life to taste- The stars are setting and the caravan starts for the dawn of nothing; Oh, make haste! -Omar Khayaam