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Internet Mormons and Joseph Smith.

Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 6:38 pm
by _JonasS
Shades' sig line wrote:"Smith could have opened a teen brothel and sold barbecued puppies on a stick, and staunch internet Mormons would not care."
--Boaz & Lidia, 5/11/08


Ohhh no, am I one of those? LOL. I think I just don't care about anything. Harhar.

Do you think Internet Mormons have a firmer testimony after they resolve within themselves that it wouldn't matter, than say, Mormons that know nothing of what really happened?

Re: Internet Mormons and Joseph Smith.

Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 7:18 pm
by _Maxrep
JonasS wrote:
Shades' sig line wrote:"Smith could have opened a teen brothel and sold barbecued puppies on a stick, and staunch internet Mormons would not care."
--Boaz & Lidia, 5/11/08


Ohhh no, am I one of those? LOL. I think I just don't care about anything. Harhar.

Do you think Internet Mormons have a firmer testimony after they resolve within themselves that it wouldn't matter, than say, Mormons that know nothing of what really happened?


My perspective is that chapel Mormons have the more fervent testimonies. Despite their lack of familiarity with doctrine/history, that their internet Mormon brothers and sisters have, chapel members have not had to settle on accepting a less faithful history. I don't want use the term "ignorance is bliss", in the sense that members raised on Sunday school doctrine and history are unintelligent, but that they have not had to conceed ANYTHING. They enjoy a "no compromise" testimony of winner takes all.

Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 4:34 am
by _Gazelam
We just understand the doctrine and reasons behind what some find questionable. Some operate under the assumption that God isn't real, and therefore the occams razor approach destroys their former faith. TBM's operate under the knowledge that God is real, and Joseph Smith was his prophet. With that ground to stand on you seek to understand why these things occured and what was on Gods mind, or Josephs.

Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 6:08 am
by _sunstoned
Because they have been exposed to a more truthful view of the history and doctrine, Internet Mormons have to make concessions and justify things that the Chapel folk know little about. Take the Book of Abraham fraud for example. The evidence is all there. Enough, that if Joseph Smith was alive today he would be convicted of fraud in any court. The Chapels don’t know this, and the Internets spin ridiculous stories to explain it.

Re: Internet Mormons and Joseph Smith.

Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 4:47 pm
by _Dr. Shades
JonasS wrote:Ohhh no, am I one of those? LOL. I think I just don't care about anything. Harhar.


Then you're just the kind of Mormon that the heirarchy wants.

Do you think Internet Mormons have a firmer testimony after they resolve within themselves that it wouldn't matter, than say, Mormons that know nothing of what really happened?


Of course not.

The more ignorant the Mormon, the stronger the testimony. This has been borne out repeatedly. Just pay attention in Fast & Testimony meeting for all the proof you need.

Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 5:52 pm
by _the road to hana
Gazelam wrote:We just understand the doctrine and reasons behind what some find questionable. Some operate under the assumption that God isn't real, and therefore the occams razor approach destroys their former faith. TBM's operate under the knowledge that God is real, and Joseph Smith was his prophet. With that ground to stand on you seek to understand why these things occured and what was on Gods mind, or Josephs.


But there are more than two possibilities here. You've listed:

1) God isn't real

2) God is real, and Joseph Smith was his prophet

but you've left out:

3) God is real, but Joseph Smith wasn't a prophet

Assuming there are only the two propositions you've listed is a false dichotomy.

Re: Internet Mormons and Joseph Smith.

Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 5:52 pm
by _JonasS
Dr. Shades wrote:
JonasS wrote:Ohhh no, am I one of those? LOL. I think I just don't care about anything. Harhar.


Then you're just the kind of Mormon that the heirarchy wants.

Do you think Internet Mormons have a firmer testimony after they resolve within themselves that it wouldn't matter, than say, Mormons that know nothing of what really happened?


Of course not.

The more ignorant the Mormon, the stronger the testimony. This has been borne out repeatedly. Just pay attention in Fast & Testimony meeting for all the proof you need.


I have reason to believe I am the only Internet Mormon in my home ward and possibly even here. I was advised by my home ward not to be one. I don't bear my testimony. Only if I am asked to and I don't say the typical rolling of the tongue crap that all the children and people who have no testimony says. I just simply say experiences I have had that I feel relevent, like when I was ward missionary. I just thought that perhaps Internet Mormons had a stronger testimony because they know things and still go, yet those who don't know things will fall easier because they haven't had their testimony tried.

Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 1:52 am
by _Gazelam
RoadtoHana,

But there are more than two possibilities here. You've listed:

1) God isn't real

2) God is real, and Joseph Smith was his prophet

but you've left out:

3) God is real, but Joseph Smith wasn't a prophet

Assuming there are only the two propositions you've listed is a false dichotomy.


No, what I listed is exactly true. When you delve into the doctrines involved, there is simply no comparison between the Mormon Church and any other denomination, especially so called "christian" faiths. If Jesus was the Christ, and he was, then the Mormon Church is obviously His Church.

Pick and issue: Authority, Baptism, Sacrament, Temples, The Fall of Adam, The Atonement of Christ...etc...etc... Modern revelation brings clarity and understanding to all of these teachings and goes further than just listing them as teachings, it explains why they are taught and/or why they are necessary.

Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 1:55 am
by _Trevor
Gazelam wrote:Pick and issue: Authority, Baptism, Sacrament, Temples, The Fall of Adam, The Atonement of Christ...etc...etc... Modern revelation brings clarity and understanding to all of these teachings and goes further than just listing them as teachings, it explains why they are taught and/or why they are necessary.


And Scientology explains why you are full of thetans. What's your point?

Re: Internet Mormons and Joseph Smith.

Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 4:22 am
by _rcrocket
Dr. Shades wrote:
JonasS wrote:Ohhh no, am I one of those? LOL. I think I just don't care about anything. Harhar.


Then you're just the kind of Mormon that the heirarchy wants.

Do you think Internet Mormons have a firmer testimony after they resolve within themselves that it wouldn't matter, than say, Mormons that know nothing of what really happened?


Of course not.

The more ignorant the Mormon, the stronger the testimony. This has been borne out repeatedly. Just pay attention in Fast & Testimony meeting for all the proof you need.


Let me give my philosophy. The more dishonest and corrupt the character, the weaker the testimony. Your advice to Scottie to lie to the government and his ex-wife about his income demonstrates dishonesty and corruption. No employer would make such a person any kind of fiduciary

I reject the concept that the more ignorant, the stronger the testimony.