Is this possible? How?

[_Tarski]

I recently visited my family in Utah during the holidays.
My sisters and parents were there. I was there for a week. My brother in laws was there too. He is an attorney and a life long active member. My parents have been super active in the church for 60 or 70 years. They read tons of church books by GA's etc. They went on 2 senior missions and while my father was a bishop and high councilman, my mother was RF president. They attended church sponsored "know your religion programs" in the 70's. My sisters are also super active and constantly read scriptures, attend meetings, and read church books.

Would you believe the following to be true? Guess which are true.

1. None of them could name more than one of Joseph Smith's wives (Emma) and some were unwilling to admit that he even had more than one wife. The others said his other wives were few and only "on paper". The idea that Emma and members were at one point unaware was called an antimormon lie.

2. None had ever heard of any issues connecting the Book of Abraham to funeral scrolls. All accepted a simple translation theory.

3. All of them were steeped in anti-evolution creationist propaganda of the most inane type and were skeptical that a member in good standing could accept evolutionary theory. They all thought that there was literally no death before Adam and Eve.

4. All believed in a world-wide flood that covered even tall mountains. My discussion of geology only revealed anti-scientific emotional backlash and denial.

5. All believed in the hemispheric model of the Book of Mormon and had never heard of the LGT ("so then where was the narrow neck of land?" they demanded"). They all thought it (the LGT) was clearly incompatible with the text itself. They also said that it was “well known” that there was tons of evidence for the Book of Mormon in archeology (ancient America speaks!!)

6. Almost none had heard about any Book of Mormon/DNA issues and said it was doctrine that American Indians were simply the descendents of Book of Mormon Lamanites and denied any Bering Straight /Asian connection (calling it a mere theory).

7. None were aware of any issues concerning metallurgy, elephants or horses in the Book of Mormon.

8. None believed the "head in the hat" translation processes. They said it was an antimormon lie.

[_KimberlyAnn]

Hi, Tarski! Glad you're back.

I guess they're ALL true!

KA

[_Runtu]

Hi, Tarski! Glad you're back.

I guess they're ALL true!

KA

I'll second that. And welcome back, Tarski. I was wondering what had happened to you.

[_Imwashingmypirate]

I recently visited my family in Utah during the holidays.
My sisters and parents were there. I was there for a week. My brother in laws was there too. He is an attorney and a life long active member. My parents have been super active in the church for 60 or 70 years. They read tons of church books by GA's etc. They went on 2 senior missions and while my father was a bishop and high councilman, my mother was RF president. They attended church sponsored "know your religion programs" in the 70's. My sisters are also super active and constantly read scriptures, attend meetings, and read church books.

Would you believe the following to be true? Guess which are true.

1. None of them could name more than one of Joseph Smith's wives (Emma) and some were unwilling to admit that he even had more than one wife. The others said his other wives were few and only "on paper". The idea that Emma and members were at one point unaware was called an antimormon lie.

2. None had ever heard of any issues connecting the Book of Abraham to funeral scrolls. All accepted a simple translation theory.

3. All of them were steeped in anti-evolution creationist propaganda of the most inane type and were skeptical that a member in good standing could accept evolutionary theory. They all thought that there was literally no death before Adam and Eve.

4. All believed in a world-wide flood that covered even tall mountains. My discussion of geology only revealed anti-scientific emotional backlash and denial.

5. All believed in the hemispheric model of the Book of Mormon and had never heard of the LGT ("so then where was the narrow neck of land?" they demanded"). They all thought it (the LGT) was clearly incompatible with the text itself. They also said that it was “well known” that there was tons of evidence for the Book of Mormon in archeology (ancient America speaks!!)

6. Almost none had heard about any Book of Mormon/DNA issues and said it was doctrine that American Indians were simply the descendents of Book of Mormon Lamanites and denied any Bering Straight /Asian connection (calling it a mere theory).

7. None were aware of any issues concerning metallurgy, elephants or horses in the Book of Mormon.

8. None believed the "head in the hat" translation processes. They said it was antimormon lies.

Well, I would say all of them, you wouldn't have asked otherwise, but surely they would have known about the last to be true.

[_rcrocket]

Genetically inferior material, perhaps.

[_Tarski]

Genetically inferior material, perhaps.

Good first guess! But then you have to explain the attorney brother-in-law who graduated with a 4.0 from the Lord's university (of course, attorneys impress me less and less these days). Then there is also the oft flaunted IQ scores of 3 of them.
But then I agree that these beliefs are nothing to be proud of. I am embarrassed for them.
Come to think of it, stupidity would be a better explanation of not understanding something somewhat difficult. Are these things difficult? How can you explain never having heard of these things in the first place?
Perhaps your "good first guess" is nothing but a typical quip with no substance.

PS- I could be convinced that being willing called to be a Bishop is a sign of genetic inferiority. Care to argue for that point?

[_harmony]

Maybe they missed all that information, when it came out in the Ensign.

[_Who Knows]

I'm guessing 2 and 3. Those were the only ones i was ever aware of, or knew about, prior to my 31st birthday (i'm 34 now). And what I did know was extremely superficial.

I'm surprised they even talked to you about any of these issues. My family doesn't dare go there.

[_Tarski]

Maybe they missed all that information, when it came out in the Ensign.

or was it misinformation? Anyway, perhaps they did miss something. CFR

[_Imwashingmypirate]

Your family doesn't dare?