DiscussMormonism.com

As I ponder this, I'm not seeing any real difference in the personalities, values, standards, loyalty to the truth, marital fidelity, etc. between Joseph Smith and Donald Trump. Sure, they lived during different times and built different things (buildings vs. religion) during their lifetimes, but everything else seems to be practically the same--they both even ran for President for self-aggrandizement purposes.

I think, for all practical purposes, that Joseph Smith and Donald Trump are essentially the same person inside two different bodies. Am I right or wrong?

This is what tickles me so much when I see DP moan about Trump and Trumpism.

Dr. Shades wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 19, 2022 4:27 am

As I ponder this, I'm not seeing any real difference in the personalities, values, standards, loyalty to the truth, marital fidelity, etc. between Joseph Smith and Donald Trump. Sure, they lived during different times and built different things (buildings vs. religion) during their lifetimes, but everything else seems to be practically the same--they both even ran for President for self-aggrandizement purposes.

I think, for all practical purposes, that Joseph Smith and Donald Trump are essentially the same person inside two different bodies. Am I right or wrong?

There are similarities, but Trump has much higher morals than Joseph Smith did and was a far better president than Joseph Smith would have been.

Well, on the one hand, Trump divorced one wife before marrying the next. And they were all over 18.

On the other hand, Trump isn't literate enough to have written even a badly written book.

Or, put another way: Trump's book actually was written by somebody else.



Joseph almost certainly had better rhetorical skills and a more likeable sort of charisma. Early converts described him as speaking right to their hearts, as making them feel like he was speaking directly to them.

Joseph had his moments of demagoguery (e.g., in Missouri), but he didn't usually touch people by riling up their hate. In that sense, I'd say Trump is more like a combination of Joseph and Brigham Young, who was never described as charming, and gained loyalty and obedience by demanding it.

Both were probably smarter than Trump by a mile.

We're gonna have to name a new kinda Godwin's Law for Trump comparisons. He's become a very clear deplorable character comparison for many.

I suppose I still think Joseph had some degree of sanctimony and some degree of believing what he was selling. But then again, Trump has nearly half of America touting his brand of ridiculous. Joseph did what Jesus couldn't have, but Trump did what Joseph couldn't have.

SaturdaysVoyeur wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 19, 2022 5:27 am

Well, on the one hand, Trump divorced one wife before marrying the next. And they were all over 18.

On the other hand, Trump isn't literate enough to have written even a badly written book.

Or, put another way: Trump's book actually was written by somebody else.



Joseph almost certainly had better rhetorical skills and a more likeable sort of charisma. Early converts described him as speaking right to their hearts, as making them feel like he was speaking directly to them.

Joseph had his moments of demagoguery (e.g., in Missouri), but he didn't usually touch people by riling up their hate. In that sense, I'd say Trump is more like a combination of Joseph and Brigham Young, who was never described as charming, and gained loyalty and obedience by demanding it.

Both were probably smarter than Trump by a mile.

Trump is a prolific author and anyone saying anything otherwise is an ANTI-TRUMPER. Trump has SUFFERED so many TRIALS throughout his life, from physical maladies to enemies trying to destroy him at every turn. This is PROOF that Trump is chosen of GOD, and anyone who fights against the TRUTH is a Jewish demon.

- Doc

Trump isn't much better than Smith in terms of overall character.

I do not understand how it works. I am not sure if some specialists have a much clearer picture. There seems to be an ability some people have to create attractive fantasies and share them in a way that people are drawn into sharing them. Of course con men or seducers do this and have real skill. I wonder if there is a sort of mental aberration (illness?) which amplifies the power to share ones own delusions with others, Communicable psychosis.

Years ago I knew a fellow whose mother in law had episodes of manic delusions. If this occurred she sometimes needed rescuing. He described a time when he found himself struggling to resist being drawn into her delusion. Her expression of delusional belief had power which was difficult to resist. In that case resistance was successful and escape from the delusions was the result. I think there are lots and lots of individual variations on mental illness . I wonder if there are sometimes when people slide into a semishadow area where they 3/4 believe their fantasy stories and are able using that belief to draw other people into sharing that enthusiasm.

I see this , what ever it is, as shared by both Trump and Smith (and the Pied piper). The two have differences and different fantasies to sell so people may react differently to one than to the other. Different people may be vulnerable to each of these two power projectors.

SaturdaysVoyeur wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 19, 2022 5:27 am

Well, on the one hand, Trump divorced one wife before marrying the next. And they were all over 18.

Trump said he liked girls "on the younger side" and he "grabs them by" and his best pal was a child sex trafficker. Many women accused Trump of rape and sexual assault. Trump was disloyal to Melania.

No one accused Smith of rape or sexual assault. There is not enough available evidence to convict Smith for statutory rape under 21st century Illinois laws. There is no first-hand account of Kimball or Winchester accusing Smith of having sex with them.

D&C 132 doesn't prove anything because Smith clearly didn't have sex with some of his polygamous wives. It is doubtful he had sex with women over 50.

Gadianton wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 19, 2022 5:06 am

There are similarities, but Trump has much higher morals than Joseph Smith did an

I disagree.

Dr. Shades wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 19, 2022 4:27 am

I think, for all practical purposes, that Joseph Smith and Donald Trump are essentially the same person inside two different bodies. Am I right or wrong?

Perhaps it's impossible for me to totally separate from decades of LDS-created images of Joseph Smith, but I still imagine him as having more compassion and sincerity than Trump ever had.

At the very least, I believe that there was some part of Joseph Smith that cared about other people, but I don't think there is any part of Trump that cares about anyone other than himself.