From the Book of Mormon Trinity to the King Follett Sermon to...

[_Fence Sitter]

Stem,

Do you know that the first version of the first vision conformed with the type of visions, dreams and born again experiences reported by many many people, including Lucy Smith, at the same time it was supposed to happen to Joseph Smith Jr? A much more believable account of what really happened is that Joseph Smith had a born again experience, as stated in his and O.C.'s first versions, that involved a single personage who told Joseph Smith Jr that his sins were forgiven. In its original form the story represents a common experience at that time and is highly believable. (By believable I mean I do not doubt that people actually believed they experienced "something".)

[_Darth J]

Stem,

Do you know that the first version of the first vision conformed with the type of visions, dreams and born again experiences reported by many many people, including Lucy Smith, at the same time it was supposed to happen to Joseph Smith Jr? A much more believable account of what really happened is that Joseph Smith had a born again experience, as stated in his and O.C.'s first versions, that involved a single personage who told Joseph Smith Jr that his sins were forgiven. In its original form the story represents a common experience at that time and is highly believable. (By believable I mean I do not doubt that people actually believed they experienced "something".)

http://mormonthink.com/firstvisionweb.htm#having

[_sock puppet]

Stem,

Do you know that the first version of the first vision conformed with the type of visions, dreams and born again experiences reported by many many people, including Lucy Smith, at the same time it was supposed to happen to Joseph Smith Jr? A much more believable account of what really happened is that Joseph Smith had a born again experience, as stated in his and O.C.'s first versions, that involved a single personage who told Joseph Smith Jr that his sins were forgiven. In its original form the story represents a common experience at that time and is highly believable. (By believable I mean I do not doubt that people actually believed they experienced "something".)

http://mormonthink.com/firstvisionweb.htm#having

Geez, Darth J, now I feel left out. I never had a visitation. If elohim and jehovah were appearing right and left to those guys, why not to me too?

[_Sethbag]

Geez, Darth J, now I feel left out. I never had a visitation. If elohim and jehovah were appearing right and left to those guys, why not to me too?

Because you had recently masturbated?

[_sock puppet]

Geez, Darth J, now I feel left out. I never had a visitation. If elohim and jehovah were appearing right and left to those guys, why not to me too?

Because you had recently masturbated?

Why through their omniscience, they knew I'd have stopped for a moment to shake their hands.

[_moksha]

Got a lot of honeys ---> You are married for Time and Eternity to them all -----> Would rather have them all young and attractive -----> Being a God would have natural anti-aging and instant perfection -----> Having a body was a natural offshoot to the question of what to do with all the heavenly honeys with perfected bodies.

What??? Are you trying to insinuate that polygamy itself was the driving force behind these "so called" changes in doctrine? You better get a grip, because they were due to continuous light and revelation buster. I know where you live and your schedule, so watch it. Knock off those ASCII arrows while you are at it.

[_sock puppet]

Got a lot of honeys ---> You are married for Time and Eternity to them all -----> Would rather have them all young and attractive -----> Being a God would have natural anti-aging and instant perfection -----> Having a body was a natural offshoot to the question of what to do with all the heavenly honeys with perfected bodies.

What??? Are you trying to insinuate that polygamy itself was the driving force behind these "so called" changes in doctrine? You better get a grip, because they were due to continuous light and revelation buster. I know where you live and your schedule, so watch it. Knock off those ASCII arrows while you are at it.

Penguin fight! Penguin fight! and it didn't even break out in the cafeteria.

[_moksha]

Penguin fight! Penguin fight! and it didn't even break out in the cafeteria.

I might have to take out a restraining order if this results in a meltdown of even minimal proportions.

[_quark]

OP author:

I disagree with your assumption about the origin of #2. I don't think Joseph was trying to think of ways to differentiate his creation from other churches.

I think he was motivated by his own momentum. More unique meant more Godly influence to his followers. How terribly gratifying it must have been to create God's connection to earth in real-time! Every new idea was perceived as his divine connection to a source so powerful and so unreachable! His unique ideas made him all the more powerful and valid in the eyes of his flock.