My TBM GF's latest gem

[_karl61]

I know why they don't make bold statements anymore - likely because educated people ask for futher details. There was a time when they thought that they were the educators. Did you ever see that letter Bruce R. Mcconkie sent to that one professor. I wish I could read it again.

[_Mercury]

Actually, Elder Boyd K. Packer spoke about this, cautioning members not to treat the Book of Mormon as a history, and I suppose by extension, a geography manual.

Yes, there are naïve LDS out there. (I am not one of them, despite reports to the contrary.) And lots of people pass on urban myths. Anyone hear the one about two little old white ladies who are on an elevator when Kobe Bryant gets on with two German shepherd dogs.........

I have never heard South American/Mesoamerican geography taught by a General Authority from the pulpit. Now, I have heard people put forth their own speculations. And often times the more naïve take someone's speculations, and then go around blatting about how somebody said something was really true.

They don't have to teach it over the pulpit when seminary teachers, adults over youth and countless others pump this crap into kids with pseudoscientific fervor. I ant count the number of times "its been said that..." and "A general authority said once..." is used to bring credibility to Mormon urban legends. The church is furthered by Faith-Promoting Rumor probably more than the fluff that passes for theological discussion. If ou deny this then you are truly blind.

[_moksha]

Her response, "Welll...there may be a few little things like that, but I've heard that archaeologists actually use the Book of Mormon when studying ancient America! There is TONS in there that has been proven true!!"

<sigh>

She is right. Scientists have conclusively proven that the Americas were there and that boats had been invented by 600 BC. There are many other items of this sort.

[_Mercury]

Her response, "Welll...there may be a few little things like that, but I've heard that archaeologists actually use the Book of Mormon when studying ancient America! There is TONS in there that has been proven true!!"

<sigh>

She is right. Scientists have conclusively proven that the Americas were there and that boats had been invented by 600 BC. There are many other items of this sort.

Umm no, shes wrong and subsequently you are as well. I don't know if you were trying to be funny or what.

http://www.irr.org/mit/smithson.html

[_keene]

Her response, "Welll...there may be a few little things like that, but I've heard that archaeologists actually use the Book of Mormon when studying ancient America! There is TONS in there that has been proven true!!"

<sigh>

She is right. Scientists have conclusively proven that the Americas were there and that boats had been invented by 600 BC. There are many other items of this sort.

OMG I R CONVERTED!!!1

Not only did the americas exist, but so did boats!! How could I have let myself go so wrong?

;)

Not only that, but she's just an amazing girl! I've never been so compatible with a girl...TBMishness notwithstanding...

I've dated hot girls before, but they are have all been really boring with no real connection. We really have a great connection, which is sooo hard to find.

So, yes, she's worth it. Even if I have to roll my eyes occasionally.

I said the same thing about my first 3 fiance's, and my ex-wife...

[_cksalmon]

In his book, Justified by Faith (p. 4), Stephen D. Nadauld quotes from Henry A. Smith's Matthew Cowley: Man of Faith (SLC: Bookcraft, 1954, 138-139):

I was asked to administer to a baby in New Zealand. I was able to bless it. The father came up to me with this child, fourteen months old, and he said, 'Our child has not been blessed yet, so I want you to give it a name.' I said, 'All right, what is the name?' [Don't understand this part, frankly--CKS] He gave me the name of the child, and then he said in a matter-of-fact way, 'While you are giving it its name, give it its sight.' The child was born blind. He said, 'We have had it to the specialists in Wellington. They said it was born blind and they cannot do anything for it. So while you are giving it a name [didn't "it" already have a name, per supra?--CKS], give it its vision.' Eight months later I saw the child and it saw me...." (emphasis in original).

Now, I wonder, how much fact-checking went into the inclusion of the miraculous even described in this narrative. My guess is, None.

It's a pretty important, supernatural claim. But, I've never heard of it until I read Naudald's rather apathetic, chart-ridden book on "justification by faith"--yes, you do have to earn it--(written by a professor in the Marriot school of management at BYU, former CEO of a dairy farm).

Now, is this true? Seems like it would have made some sort of news broadcast here or there: LDS priestly blessing restores sight to the blind!

[_Mister Scratch]

Actually, Elder Boyd K. Packer spoke about this, cautioning members not to treat the Book of Mormon as a history, and I suppose by extension, a geography manual.

Yes, there are naïve LDS out there. (I am not one of them, despite reports to the contrary.) And lots of people pass on urban myths. Anyone hear the one about two little old white ladies who are on an elevator when Kobe Bryant gets on with two German shepherd dogs.........

I have never heard South American/Mesoamerican geography taught by a General Authority from the pulpit. Now, I have heard people put forth their own speculations. And often times the more naïve take someone's speculations, and then go around blatting about how somebody said something was really true.

It seems, charity, that you are offering up excuses for the GAs, trying to explain away their obvious indifference to correcting the widespread disinformation that flourishes amongst TBMs. The fact of the matter is that the GAs would prefer that these faith-promoting rumors stay in circulation. You say that they do not teach this stuff "from the pulpit," but do they really discourage it? I would argue that they (at the very least implicitly) encourage belief in some of this totally false nonsense, and that the existence of FARMS is proof of said encouragement. I imagine the Brethren's thinking went something like this: "Ah, gee... All of this so-called research is really damaging some members' testimonies. On the other hand, the false information and rumors that some of the spread is helping to combat that. What should we do? Oh! I've got it! We'll establish a pseudo-scientific organization at BYU to look into this stuff. After all, if real scholars at a real university are researching such things as Book of Mormon geography, then it will give struggling members more reason to believe." I think that, in the end, the mere existence of FARMS/FAIR does more to bolster members' faith than the actual research being done.

So: Scottie's TBM GF can continue to feel like these passed-along fallacies are legit, since, after all, DCP and his ilk at The Lord's University are busy scurrying away to prove all of them.

[_harmony]

Actually, Elder Boyd K. Packer spoke about this, cautioning members not to treat the Book of Mormon as a history, and I suppose by extension, a geography manual.

Yes, there are naïve LDS out there. (I am not one of them, despite reports to the contrary.) And lots of people pass on urban myths. Anyone hear the one about two little old white ladies who are on an elevator when Kobe Bryant gets on with two German shepherd dogs.........

I have never heard South American/Mesoamerican geography taught by a General Authority from the pulpit. Now, I have heard people put forth their own speculations. And often times the more naïve take someone's speculations, and then go around blatting about how somebody said something was really true.

'

Actually, the GC pulpit is exactly the place where this should be taught. I, for one, am disappointed that it is not. It should be soundly condemned in general conference and opposition to such misinformation should be taught in every mechanism we have, including Seminary, Primary, Mutual, Sunday School, Institute... all those places we "hear" such things should take their angle from our leaders in GC, and not only not teach it all, but soundly condemn it.

[_Jersey Girl]

styleguy....I have that Book of Mormon! It was given to me many years ago by a young LDS man. When I saw the photos, the assertions seemed bogus to me from the get go.

I assume I was correct?

[_Jersey Girl]

Actually, Elder Boyd K. Packer spoke about this, cautioning members not to treat the Book of Mormon as a history, and I suppose by extension, a geography manual.

But charity, that's exactly what the apologists are doing.