DiscussMormonism.com

With all the crappola tossed about like it was true I wonder if somebody trained in FBI profiling could read through the Documented Church History or Teachings of The Prophet Joseph Smith and tell us IF Joseph Smith fits the profile of a sexual predator. I suspect there is not a single "tell" in all his words.

Listen to him talk in 1842 rebuking the saints as hypocrite. There would have to be some irritated victims out there if what those with prophet envy say is true in the slightest sense.

April 10, 1842 (DHC 4:588)
Joseph the Seer arose in the power of God; reproved and rebuked wickedness before the people, in the name of the Lord god. he wished to say a few words to suit the condition of the general mass, and then said: I shall speak with authority of the Priesthood in the name of the Lord God, which shall prove a savor of life unto life, or of death unto death. Notwithstanding this congregation profess to be Saints yet I stand in the midst of all [kinds of] characters and classes of men. If you wish to go where God is, you must be like God, or possess the principles which god possesses, for if we are not drawing towards God n principle, we are going from Him and drawing towards the devil. Yes, I am standing n the midst of all kinds of people.

Joseph Smith knew his time was short and so he went around and sealed up his friends to himself. Perhaps concerned that they were not making it on their own and he might take them as his "back load". He barely understood sealings and had to come back to correct Brigham Young's excesses in adoptions. A desperate time to be sure, knowing you will soon die and all you love will be lost.

The very same day that The Times and Seasons published the Book of Abraham Joseph was reported to have said this: ....he did not know that he should have many opportunities of teaching them, as they were going to be left to themselves; they would not long have him to instruct them; that the church would not have his instructions long, and the world would not be troubled with him a great while, .......for according to his prayers, God had appointed him elsewhere. April 28, 1842 (DHC 4:602-607)

If Joseph Smith was the character mentioned too often on this board then Nauvoo should have been his heyday yahooee ballooee. He should not have been despondent unto death.
Only if Joseph was in fact as virtuous as he publicly let on could his admitted depression and give-up-itiss make sense. Zion was a failure. That's is a fact. That is what got him killed.
The blessings of the Kirtland Temple could not get Zion started. The militant exercise of Zion's Camp could not get Zion started. Possessing the Holy Land could not get Zion started. Joseph realized the Gentiles COULD not redeem Zion. It was a failure. DANG!

I know that there are tons of FBI guys out there. So........?

Joseph went on to say the following on April 10, 1842

Search your hearts, and see if you are like God. I have searched mins, and feel to repent of all my sins.

We have thieves among us, adulterers, liars, hypocrites. If God should speak from heaven, he would command you not to steal, not to commit adultery, not to covet, nor deceive, but be faithful over a few things.........The church must be cleansed, and I proclaim against all iniquity.

He is standing there boldly crying down against the people in their sins. Would to God a GA today had the love of God to do this. This is a desperate act of a man who has lost hope that the people we ever get it right. Give me Zion or give me death.... is what I hear.

A conniving con man? No way. A prophet filled with the love of God? Way!

Are you feeling like no one is paying attention, Nightlion? Is that why you posted such a provocative thread?

Kishkumen wrote:Are you feeling like no one is paying attention, Nightlion? Is that why you posted such a provocative thread?

I am quite used to dim light on my threads. I know the brighter lights feign disinterest and will not broach with me. Feeling some sympathy for Joseph. I got a story to tell about that when the time suits me.

However circuitously lots of my ideas make it in the back door with out attribution. It pleases me however galling.

Well, I don't think Joseph Smith was a pedophile. I think he was very actively interested and passionate about members of the opposite sex. Some of them were fairly young by current standards, but I don't think that makes him a pedophile. I am not, however, an FBI profiler, so my opinion probably doesn't count for much.

Kishkumen wrote:Well, I don't think Joseph Smith was a pedophile. I think he was very actively interested and passionate about members of the opposite sex. Some of them were fairly young by current standards, but I don't think that makes him a pedophile. I am not, however, an FBI profiler, so my opinion probably doesn't count for much.

I was not thinking pedophile anyways. Is that what predatory must mean?

Nightlion wrote:I was not thinking pedophile anyways. Is that what predatory must mean?

Oops! Sorry. I was trying to do too much at once. Um, I dunno, that is a difficult one to put my opinion on. Motives probably count for a lot in that charge, and I am not certain what to say about Smith's motives, because they are complex.

pred·a·to·ry
   [pred-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] Show IPA

adjective
1. Zoology . preying upon other organisms for food.

2. of, pertaining to, or characterized by plunder, pillage, robbery, or exploitation: predatory tactics.

3. engaging in or living by these activities: predatory bands of brigands.

4. excessive or exploitive in amount or cost, as out of greed or to take advantage of consumers or patrons: predatory pricing.

5. acting with or possessed by overbearing, rapacious, or selfish motives: He was cornered at the party by a predatory reporter.

The exploitation aspect of definition 2 fits several examples and all of definition 5 seems to fit.

RockSlider wrote:pred·a·to·ry
   [pred-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] Show IPA

adjective
1. Zoology . preying upon other organisms for food.

2. of, pertaining to, or characterized by plunder, pillage, robbery, or exploitation: predatory tactics.

3. engaging in or living by these activities: predatory bands of brigands.

4. excessive or exploitive in amount or cost, as out of greed or to take advantage of consumers or patrons: predatory pricing.

5. acting with or possessed by overbearing, rapacious, or selfish motives: He was cornered at the party by a predatory reporter.

The exploitation aspect of definition 2 fits several examples and all of definition 5 seems to fit.

That's why I would like a seasoned professional analysis. I think all of Joseph's economic endeavors were for the Church he was building on a shoestring budget. Poor people were flooding into the Church. Persecution robbed everyone in Missouri. Come on. I bet he never owned a pinky ring.

I have no credentials for my opinions, but I'm happy to share them anyway. Sexual Predator seems a bit strong a term for Joseph Smith. I think narcissism was his primary motivating trait. That ties in with being power-seeking, which seems quite obvious in him.

As far as preying on women, well, for some reason cult leaders always seem to end up with their pick of women, for whatever reason, part of which may be that women are attracted to power, and he may have been quite attractive physically as well. So, as far as adult women are concerned, he may not have had to knock himself out all that much. At any rate, I think his conquests of women were as much about power as about sex. Power in this life and fancied power in the next life. The young girls are more problematical and I don't feel quite up to think about that so much right now.

Anyway, Night Lion, good luck proving that Joseph Smith was innocent. He may not fit the FBI classifications for sexual predators, I suspect he wouldn't quite, but that doesn't make him innocent.