DiscussMormonism.com

Some LDS inlaws take a vacation to Cancun. While there, they decide to visit Chichen Itza, and hire out an LDS tour guide to get the "LDS perspective", in their words.

When they arrive at the Temple of the Warriors, the guide points out the never ending rows of stone pillars. He then states that there are 2000 pillars, and that they represent the 2000 Strippling Warriors. During the retelling of this experience, my inlaw has goose bumps popping out her eyeballs.

At this point, my skepticism is pretty well as high as it could get. I wasn't buying the 2000 pillars or the tie to the Strippling Warriors, all coming from LDS(native) tour guides working that generous end of tour tip from their Mormon audience. I discretely google this on my phone. The number of pillars is around 1200.

They paid their money, they got their story. I guess that's what a symbiotic relationship is.

Don't leave us hanging here!

Please tell us how you pissed on their parade and mopped the floor with their testimony of the 2000 pretend warriors.

Though there have been times I have unloaded both barrels in the company of active church members, this particular situation could not be one of them. My wifes sister was telling this story. I place much more value on my wifes comfort with her family than correcting her sibling regarding a touchy topic.

During the year I spent investigating my way out of a testimony, I was serving as Exec Sec. I got to really like the Bishop and his counsellors (some came and went during that time). I was having a brief conversation with one of those good men and he was asking some perfunctory questions about my decision to leave the fold.

I told him it was a huge array of issues, not just one or two things, but he asked me to give him one or two. I mentioned my view that the Book of Mormon is not historical.

I was surprised at the vehemence of his reaction: "I've been there! I've seen Quetzlcoatl! I've seen the tree-of-life-rock! You can't tell me it isn't true."

Of course, I immediately, though silently, agreed with him. I couldn't tell him it wasn't true. Nothing I could have said would have convinced him.

beefcalf wrote:I was surprised at the vehemence of his reaction: "I've been there! I've seen Quetzlcoatl! I've seen the tree-of-life-rock! You can't tell me it isn't true."

Of course, I immediately, though silently, agreed with him. I couldn't tell him it wasn't true. Nothing I could have said would have convinced him.

You screwed up. You should have asked him to open his scriptures to Facsimile No. 3 and then bear your testimony that you know the Explanations offered by Joseph Smith are untrue. See if he can tell you the king's name and why Anubis was called a slave. You will walk away smelling like a rose.

Paul O