Why did I ever read beyond the slaying of Laban?

[Guest]

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[_Sethbag]

The idea that if the voices in one's head "command" one to cut off another human being's head, then obeying those voices is a sign of strength and righteousness, is repugnant. It's the same issue as with Abraham and the attempted sacrifice of Isaac. That story doesn't reflect well on Abraham - it too is repugnant.

We both know that anyone killing another person nowadays and justifying it with a claim that God told him to would be tried and convicted, and regarded (even by LDS) as a whacko nutjob. We intuitively know that this story is crazy. For some reason though, we talk ourselves into believing it's a good thing in the story books.

I too wonder why I couldn't see that as a believer, and read that story and all that followed it in the Book of Mormon quite a number of times, from cover to cover, and was never as bothered by that story as I should have been.

[_Drifting]

If Elder Bednar came upon a drunk anti-Mormon in the street and cut their head off because he said God told him to, would the members still sustain him?

[_Molok]

Terrorists in modern times decapitate unbelievers. Any Mormons out there believe God is really telling them to do so?

[_Hades]

I remember asking my mom questions, when I was a kid, about things that didn't add up. I asked her if Adam and Eve's kids had to marry each other to have kids. She said they did, but it was ok because back then the race was pure. I asked her if those old prophets really lived to be 100s of years old. She said they did. My next question was, why doesn't anyone live that long now? She said it was because back then the race was pure. The answer really didn't do anything for me on either question, but I did what I was taught to do and put it on a shelf.

The thing is, they get most of us from birth. We are taught what our parents were taught from birth. The people we trust most in the world truly believe, and that is damn convincing.

I wonder why I didn't run after going through the temple the first time. I remember thinking that wasn't what I signed up for. That was all just too crazy and weird. God couldn't really have anything to do with that. Over a relatively short period of time, I talked myself into it. That's what I was taught to do. That's what all the people I knew and trusted did. It must be ok.

My deconversion took years. I had to let things go one at a time. Throughout the process, I never thought I would let it all go. Looking back I also wonder why it took so long. There are so many things I just had to choke down with a smile and pretend it was good. The human mind seems to cling to things that are considered safe. Now I'm just happy I was able to do it at all.

[_Gordon]

No, what's sad and weak is that you don't understand what is repugnant about god commanding someone to cut off a drunk persons head in the middle of the street...all because apparently god is too damned stupid to figure out another way to get his writings into the hands of his chosen prophet.

Apparently, what you find "repugnant" is that I don't agree with your view on the matter.

I'm sure the Lord could have had a cricket crawl into to vault, consume the records, and waltz out with them to spew into Nephi's waiting hands, if He wished. But that doesn't get rid of an evil man, nor prove His prophet's faith, now does it?

[_Gordon]

The idea that if the voices in one's head "command" one to cut off another human being's head, then obeying those voices is a sign of strength and righteousness, is repugnant. It's the same issue as with Abraham and the attempted sacrifice of Isaac. That story doesn't reflect well on Abraham - it too is repugnant.

We both know that anyone killing another person nowadays and justifying it with a claim that God told him to would be tried and convicted, and regarded (even by LDS) as a whacko nutjob. We intuitively know that this story is crazy. For some reason though, we talk ourselves into believing it's a good thing in the story books.

I too wonder why I couldn't see that as a believer, and read that story and all that followed it in the Book of Mormon quite a number of times, from cover to cover, and was never as bothered by that story as I should have been.

If one had the option to cut of Hitler's head well before he butchered millions of Jews (at G-d's command), would you still find the act "repugnant"?

Think about it.

[Guest]

No, what's sad and weak is that you don't understand what is repugnant about god commanding someone to cut off a drunk persons head in the middle of the street...all because apparently god is too f*****g stupid to figure out another way to get his writings into the hands of his chosen prophet.

Apparently, what you find "repugnant" is that I don't agree with your view on the matter.

I'm sure the Lord could have had a cricket crawl into to vault, consume the records, and waltz out with them to spew into Nephi's waiting hands, if He wished. But that doesn't get rid of an evil man, nor prove His prophet's faith, now does it?

That's exactly it. Those who resort to hyperbole here where we are talking about a murderous evil man that was judged and dispatched by a servant of the Lord are being extremely disingenuous. And I believe it reflects poorly on their own character and sense of right and wrong. The fact they embrace such a horrible monster means their own souls are polluted and they are likely just reprehensible monsters themselves.

[_SteelHead]

So you are commanded by god, and smite Hitler before he enacts the holocaust. Why? Because god told you by so doing you would prevent the holocaust, prevent the destruction of a nation by the death of a man. Then a few years later the holocaust happens anyway.

What does that say about god? What does it say about your channel to him?

[_Tobin]

So you are commanded by god, and smite Hitler before he enacts the holocaust. Why? Because god told you by so doing you would prevent the holocaust, prevent the destruction of a nation by the death of a man. Then a few years later the holocaust happens anyway.

What does that say about god? What does it say about your channel to him?

Few evil men such as Laban get their comeuppance until it is much too late. I don't mourn the loss of such a man. He demonstrated who and what he was and received a just judgement by the Lord.