My 13 year-old son explains the reason for polygamy

[_stemelbow]

Your "point" is transparent. Mormons will often broaden the scope of what Joseph Smith is held to, which is perfection. "Well I'm not perfect and I don't know anyone who is..."

Generalizations aren't helpful since you're talking to me. Oh well...to be expected I guess.

Lower the bar and ask yourself what a prophet of God would do if God was actually communicating with him. Would he attempt to marry young girls by threatening their parents (or her) with damnation if she refused?

My whole point was about lying. It seems you have bypassed my comments to go off on something else mre to your liking. Oh well...to be expected I guess.

Remember that to the Mormon version of God, polygamy is required for salvation.

Well then I'm not and neither is anyone else I know going to be saved. But what's that to you?

If Joseph Smith were truly a martyr, wouldn't he just promote what God told him was God's will?

You're all over the board here, now...if Joseph Smith was a martyr? besides the second part doesn't follow from the first. Oh well.

The fact is he didn't... he lied about it in public. In this instance, was Joseph Smith a liar?

You don't know God's will anymore than you think Joseph Smith doesn't. In truth your complaint is nothing but emoting. There's nothing here but your assumption. Oh well.

[_zeezrom]

Dammit, why wasn't I born into a Lutheran family? Their founder had issues too but at least he wasn't crazy.

[_harmony]

Quite ironical that you would point this out. One of the very Gods who Joseph Smith supposedly spoke to, takes a backseat to a mortal's narcissistic boasting.

We have no idea if that quote was accurate since it is a second hand account. However, here is a good take on it:[snip]

Why would you assume that assessment was a good take on Joseph's bragging, why me? What's good about it?

Christ saved every person who ever breathed from death. Joseph's miniscule accomplishments didn't even come close to that.

[_Quasimodo]

Dammit, why wasn't I born into a Lutheran family? Their founder had issues too but at least he wasn't crazy.

He was a little crazy. Kind of grumpy, too, I hear.

You could have been an Episcopalian. Then you would have Henry VIII to look up to as a founder.

[_Molok]

Dammit, why wasn't I born into a Lutheran family? Their founder had issues too but at least he wasn't crazy.

He was a little crazy. Kind of grumpy, too, I hear.

You could have been an Episcopalian. Then you would have Henry VIII to look up to as a founder.

Catholic lite. Same religion, half the guilt! :)

[_Quasimodo]

Catholic lite. Same religion, half the guilt! :)

And the ministers still get to wear those snappy outfits.

[_Molok]

Catholic lite. Same religion, half the guilt! :)

And the ministers still get to wear those snappy outfits.

Which, to be candid, is pretty cool. Religions should really consider adding more cool costumes, hooded robes or something. More people would join if they knew the were going to get a costume.

[Guest]

Which, to be candid, is pretty cool. Religions should really consider adding more cool costumes, hooded robes or something. More people would join if they knew the were going to get a costume.

[I deleted the image... thought better about it.]

Could this be the new "look" for LDS Bishops?

[_just me]

Could you pull out the specific references where Joseph says something and post them here?

I don't think that they had tape recorders back then. But here is a take on it:

http://www.fairlds.org/Misc/Polygamy_Pr ... tml#head11

Just scroll down and click on "Secrecy, Polygamy, and Threats of Violence against the Saints" link.

Imagination is also important. With such threats around and rumors of polygamy being circulated that stirred up the hatred....

I don't care about "takes" on the topic. You claimed that Joseph spoke of the reason for needing polygamy to be kept secret. I want to know where it is recorded that he ever said anything about him practicing polygamy and needing to keep it secret for a particular reason. If you don't have such a reference then all you have to do is say so.

Don't claim Joseph said things that he is not recorded (on paper) as ever saying.

[_Fiannan]

My 7 year old daughter recently asked me if I believed in Jesus. I told her, no, I didn't.

She said, "But Dad!! There is so much STUFF!!! How did the Earth get here then??? Who made the animals???"

How do you explain to a 7 year old about accretion and how galaxies/solar systems/planets form? Or evolution?

Consult Sir Isaac Newton's works for that one.