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Hypothetical: Suppose that LDS were confronted with rock solid evidence that the Book of Mormon is not what it is purported to be. That it was not transmitted by God or the Prophet Joseph Smith, but by some other person or persons?

How would LDS respond as individuals and as a church?

Would the majority of LDS or the LDS Church:

1. Dismiss the evidence out of hand?
2. Revise LDS history to include the new evidence?
3. Re-evaluate Joseph Smith as Prophet?
4. Retain the Book of Mormon as-is?
5. Retain the Book of Mormon and re-classify it?
6. Other?

Bonus Question: Could the Book of Mormon be reclassified and still hold it's status in the religious minds of LDS?
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yes

I have already heard a couple of LDS faithful stating the Book of Mormon is no less metaphorical than the Old Testament. There are standards in the stories for members to live by.

Both individuals are highly educated and seem not to question or rationalize the DNA evidence. What they are trying to do is rationalize a continued commitment to an organization they have been born into and feel have been good for their families.

I do not believe they have delved further into other issues (Joseph Smith many wives, financial history, etc.). However, I believe since the first nick has been made into the golden armor of the morg, the rest will eventually come.

hypatia

What they are trying to do is rationalize a continued commitment to an organization they have been born into and feel have been good for their families.

Do you think that the raionalization you refer to is justified?

I do.

Not trying to derail the topic, my apologies to the thread starter.

Oh.

mms wrote:yes

Lovely, well thought out reply, mms. Thank you so much.

Jersey Girl
;-)

Jersey Girl wrote:Hypothetical: Suppose that LDS were confronted with rock solid evidence that the Book of Mormon is not what it is purported to be. That it was not transmitted by God or the Prophet Joseph Smith, but by some other person or persons?

How would LDS respond as individuals and as a church?

Would the majority of LDS or the LDS Church:

1. Dismiss the evidence out of hand?
2. Revise LDS history to include the new evidence?
3. Re-evaluate Joseph Smith as Prophet?
4. Retain the Book of Mormon as-is?
5. Retain the Book of Mormon and re-classify it?
6. Other?

Bonus Question: Could the Book of Mormon be reclassified and still hold it's status in the religious minds of LDS?
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Bonus/Bogus Ad
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Depends on who the "LDS" are.

If they are our esteemed leaders, they'd hide it under a ton of granite, behind 72 locked doors, and they'd take steps to shut the person up who presented them with it.

If "the LDS" are the members, they'd ignore it, because it didn't come from SLCentral.

harm wrote:and they'd take steps to shut the person up who presented them with it.

What steps?

7. All of the above.

Details:
1.) All professors/scholars/scientists/idiots of FAIR, FARMS, Maxwell Inst. et al produce their only true explanation. (Mutually exclusive ones.)
2.) The church declares that there is no official declaration.
3.) The members continue as if nothing happened.

Jersey Girl wrote:

harm wrote:and they'd take steps to shut the person up who presented them with it.

What steps?

Depends on their status.

If they were members, they'd threaten them with excommunication, thereby taking away their credibility.

If they weren't members, they'd either try to buy them off or dig up something in their past to destroy their credibility.

harm wrote:Depends on their status.

If they were members, they'd threaten them with excommunication, thereby taking away their credibility.

I can well understand how unsettling a threat that might be.

If they weren't members, they'd either try to buy them off or dig up something in their past to destroy their credibility.

You mean dig up personal stuff..such as?