Mormon anonymity/psuedonyms

[_christopher]

One of the recurring themes I see on this board is the derision of ex members who choose to remain anonymous through a made up moniker.

Digging through some of my archived files, I wonder why it is OK for early saints in their writings to have fake names, but not those who post here or elsewhere.


(I don't have recorded where I archived this from. If someone knows, I'd love to have the information.)

Thanks,

Chris <><


Psuedonyms to protect anonymity even played an important part in LDS history. Seven early revelations, when published in the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants in Kirtland, used pseudonyms for various individuals, places and things (the revelations were received by Joseph Smith from March 1, 1832 to June 22, 1834). These sections appear today in LDS canon as D&C Sections 78, 82, 92, 96, 103, 104 and 105. In 1854, Orson Pratt explained that these pseudonyms were used to protect certain individuals (the affected revelations all had to do, in some way, with financial matters and Church-owned properties). Beginning with the 1921 edition of the D&C, the individual real names were included in brackets next to the pseudonyms. In later editions, just the real names were used; however, as recently as in the 1981 edition of the D&C, four pseudonyms (Alam, Mahalaleel, Horah, and Shalemanasseh) could still be seen in D&C 82:11, because the true identity of those persons was thought lost. Those last four were rediscovered in 1983, however, and today's version of the D&C (at least the online version at LDS.org) now contains only the real names, not pseudonyms. Here are the pseudonyms employed for persons, places and things, and their real identities:

Enoch, Gazalem, Baurak Ale, Seth = JOSEPH SMITH
Ahashdah = NEWEL WHITNEY
Alam = EDWARD PARTRIDGE
Pelagoram, Baneemy = SIDNEY RIGDON
Mahalalell = A. SIDNEY GILBERT
Olihah = OLIVER COWDERY
Horah = JOHN WHITMER
Mahemson = MARTIN HARRIS
Shalemanassah = W.W. PHELPS
Shinehah = KIRTLAND, OHIO
Talents = DOLLARS
Cainhannoch = NEW YORK CITY
Shenderlaomach = FREDERICK G. WILLIAMS
Zombre = JOHN JOHNSON
Tahhanes = THE TANNERY
Laneshire House = PRINTING OFFICE IN KIRTLAND
Ozondah = STOREHOUSE IN KIRTLAND
Shule = ASHERY IN KIRTLAND
Shinelah = PRINT
Shinelane = PRINTING

[_Hally McIlrath]

I'd like to take this opportunity to say that my name really is Hally McIlrath, and I am an exMormon. My name hasn't been removed from the rolls, though, so technically, I still AM a Mormon. But....not a very good one.

Anyway -- nyah nyah, to all those who deride. :P Not all of us are anonymous. I for one am not afraid of you.

[_beastie]

crocket would reply that anonymity is only immoral when the anonymous criticize people who use their real names.

It's been pointed out to him repeatedly that the less powerful often attack the powerful anonymously, due to the desire for personal protection of whatever kind, but he's impervious to reason on this point.

Any idiot knows that there are legitimate and serious safety motivations for posting anonymously. Aside from simple internet safety, there have been a couple believers who have either openly stated or hinted that they would like to "report" some critics to church leaders (or family, as has actually happened on this board). So the justifications for anonymity are quite apparent, and it's a silly, stupid argument used as a diversionary tool (trying to divert attention from the fact that derfenders of the faith are usually unpersuasive).

[_truth dancer]

Hi Christopher,

Very interesting post, thanks for sharing this information!

In spite of Bob's mantra I think he knows there are very good reasons for posting anonymously.

He's just being silly!

:-)

~dancer~