Dr. Peterson, why do you think the Church chose to omit ...

[_beastie]

I think that, rather than "devious", the best term to describe this type of behavior is "patronizing". Let Big Brother decide what you really need to know, and what you don't need to know.

The fact that Joseph Smith was an adherent of the hemispheric model will be edited out of church material over the years. And in another 15 years, Mormons will be accusing critics who insist that Joseph Smith was an adherent of the hemispheric model of lying and distortion.

[_harmony]

The purpose of the manual is to provide a selection of materials from Joseph Smith -- quotes, and not typically full texts -- that will teach the principles the Church wishes to have taught.

Which do not include things like Book of Mormon geography, white Lamanites, men on the moon, and assorted other wayward prophecies.

[_Daniel Peterson]

The purpose of the manual is to provide a selection of materials from Joseph Smith -- quotes, and not typically full texts -- that will teach the principles the Church wishes to have taught.

Which do not include things like Book of Mormon geography, white Lamanites, men on the moon, and assorted other wayward prophecies.

Everything Joseph Smith wrote will appear in The Papers of Joseph Smith.

It will be far more accessible than ever before. Which will have, I predict, absolutely no effect upon those who like to believe that the Church is suppressing its history.

[_harmony]

Everything Joseph Smith wrote will appear in The Papers of Joseph Smith.

It will be far more accessible than ever before. Which will have, I predict, absolutely no effect upon those who like to believe that the Church is suppressing its history.

And will The Papers of Joseph Smith be given out to every priesthood and Relief Society member? Not just made available, not just published in a book that can be purchased at Deseret Book, not just serialized in the Ensign, not just put into every ward library. Every adult member needs it delivered to them, the same as the prophet manuals are delivered now. Because unless and until that's the case, progress hasn't been made.

[_Daniel Peterson]

Everything Joseph Smith wrote will appear in The Papers of Joseph Smith.

It will be far more accessible than ever before. Which will have, I predict, absolutely no effect upon those who like to believe that the Church is suppressing its history.

And will The Papers of Joseph Smith be given out to every priesthood and Relief Society member? Not just made available, not just published in a book that can be purchased at Deseret Book, not just serialized in the Ensign, not just put into every ward library. Every adult member needs it delivered to them, the same as the prophet manuals are delivered now. Because unless and until that's the case, progress hasn't been made.

The Papers of Joseph Smith will appear in many, many volumes. If you want to pay for distributing them to every Church member, I doubt that anybody would object.

[_JustMe]

And will The Papers of Joseph Smith be given out to every priesthood and Relief Society member? Not just made available, not just published in a book that can be purchased at Deseret Book, not just serialized in the Ensign, not just put into every ward library. Every adult member needs it delivered to them, the same as the prophet manuals are delivered now. Because unless and until that's the case, progress hasn't been made.

The Papers of Joseph Smith will appear in many, many volumes. If you want to pay for distributing them to every Church member, I doubt that anybody would object.

HEY! If'n she's willin ta pay for em, I'll put my order in NOW..... WOO HOO! Thanks for such kindnesses!

[_squawkeye]

All this stuff about Lamanites and where they were, the Wentworth letter and where Joseph was told by an Angel the Lamanites lived...

The US in 1830 included nothing South into Texas. The Doctrine and Covenants (Now) has the revelation that directs missionaries to the Lamanites in the lands bordering Missouri. (memory here, no books on hand)

Joseph was told the inhabitants of This Country, which included NewYork and the areas where he and Saints walked and rode. Not Mexico or Guatamala or even Arizona as we know it today. After all, the Hill Cumorah is in New York per Joseph Smiths statements at the time. Not Peru or Jamaica and some beachfront hotel for Mormon tourbrokers to collect money from fools.

The 'country' at the time of the revelations coincides well with the revelations Joseph made/told.

Nowhere near the current ideas of fleecing fools for vacation tours to Central America. Much closer to Great Lakes and the 'US' as a country during Joseph Smiths time.

To take it as we see it now is as stupid as wondering why the handcart folk didn't just take the freeway?

Now I gotta get to the rack. Have a drive back to Iowa in the morning and have to watch out for deer, cureloms and white lamanites on the way.