I know a lot of Mormons, as I'm sure many of us do. I can't really see how to fit anyone I know into any of the categories. Everyone i know seems to overlap a few of the categories. But, I also have to say I don't think I know any that fit or overlap much into category three. I'm sure they're out there but I just haven't seem them, much...maybe some people have some tendencies that may sound a bit familiar in category 3, but they'd also do things like deny the global flood or other such things. I don't know, maybe I have the wrong impression of all the Mormon folks I interact with.
Also I'm terribly non-conformist when it comes to stuffing people into categories generally (people are complicated and don't fit well into categories)...So I'm likely being a bit obtuse about it.
Stem, your view here makes complete sense to me. There is a lot of variety in people and I might see a mixing spectrum of views between each of the categories presented here. Perhaps the four categories are poles, extremes, illustrating different tendencies people have.
Alphus and Omegus noted that various categories might be tried to see different things, ok. I remember people observing that there were two kinds of Mormons, iron rod and Liahona. Iron rod were strict by the rule folks. Liahona people looked to general principals taught by the church or God and used individual interpretation to apply. I do not know if those labels are still used by anybody but that discussion between Jacob Hansen and Jim Bennet is a perfect illustration of the two types.
Categories are like models. All are wrong. Some are useful.
he/him
“I prefer peace. But if trouble must come, let it come in my time so that my children can live in peace.” — Thomas Paine
