Peterson bears his testimony...

[Philo Sofee]

I think it is fair to say that, as far as it concerns critics, DCP never met a straw man he would not stoop to use.

[Markk]

I agree with the Reverend: I don't see signs of DCP's testimony having been "rocked," but this is in some ways vintage DCP--reminiscent of his old-school, FARMS-style apologetics, although watered down considerably. What's actually sort of funny about this piece is that he *is* rather candidly bearing his testimony. I recall an old essay of his--perhaps it was "The Witchcraft Paradigm"--where he was very dismissive of critics who claimed that all apologists did was "bear their testimonies." His retort was something to the effect of, "Nuh-uh!! We use evidence and peer review!" He doesn't bother with that line of argument at all here.

For me the most interesting part was his characterization of critics and their claims, from the opening portion:

Every once in a while, I read hostile statements online about the mindset of Latter-day Saint apologists. Some critics claim, for instance, that we’re in it for the money, perhaps even drawing highly lucrative personal incomes for our apologetics from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. That allegation is scarcely worthy of response, since it’s offered without so much as a nod in the direction of genuine supporting data and since it is, in fact, flatly contradicted by the evidence. My wife and I, for example, are (admittedly rather insignificant) donors to The Interpreter Foundation, and the leaders and authors for Interpreter, along with almost everybody else who makes the organization function, are unpaid volunteers.

What I’ll discuss here, though, is the assertion that the self-conceived task of Latter-day Saint apologists is to persuade members of the Church to hold on and, most importantly, to continue paying tithing, in the face of overwhelming proof that Joseph Smith’s prophetic ministry was transparently fraudulent. Our mission, as we ourselves supposedly view it when we’re being candid, is to convince gullible followers a slight chance may still exist that, despite all the evidence, the claims of the Restoration might nevertheless possibly, perhaps, maybe not be false.

As usual, he doesn't provide a link, nor any verbatim text to back up what he claims that critics are saying. Who has ever said that apologists were "getting rich" off of doing Mopologetics? *I* have said many times--and it is factually true--that apologists have been paid for their apologetic work. The proof is in the FARMS tax forms from 1998 and 1999, and they show that Peterson was paid over $20,000 to serve as Chair of FARMS. No: I don't think he nor any other Mopologist is "in it for the money," though I don't think it bothers them if they wind up profiting as a "side effect" of what they're doing.

As for the second paragraph: sure--I do think there are critics who make that claim. I would suggest that Mopologists are more driven by the desire to exact revenge on critics and conduct smear campaigns and that sort of thing, but, again, Peterson doesn't address that assertion here.

What's interesting, though, is the way he casts himself as speaking for "the group." He's careful to explain early on that they're not a "hive mind" (though that is debatable), but he does repeatedly depict himself as a kind of "ring leader" or "impresario" who is knowledgable and authoritative enough to express the group's mission and values:

I’ll speak in the first-person singular, representing my own opinion. But I will regard myself as speaking for most if not all of us, as a group.

That's very important, I think, especially insofar as it has a bearing on the conduct of people like Parker and Boylan.

Hi Doc, hope all is well...

I certainly read more into it than you do, right or wrong, primarily because of this statement. He is clearly, to me, testifying of his commitment to the church, and its "requisite ordinances" in claiming the LDS church is the true restoration...and is more than enough based just on that "fact." He then goes on to block out his doubts, by having the HG for help to get past the insecurities of "secular evidence's" against, and not for his faith. He then caps this off with, if he is faithful in his studies, he will have the burning of the bosom, which is the life blood of a healthy testimony.

I look at it like this, again right or wrong...FARMS lost, DCP and the Monologists lost, Fair is losing, they did and do more harm than good. The church confirms today, much of what they denied. He was all but expelled as one of the chosen defenders of the faith. Remember when he was going to be the leader of the "army of apologists" descending on the antis. Heck, even the Interpreter, if scrutinized with much of what these guys used to spout in the past, reflects the Bushman, Prince, and Givens rescue efforts monologs. By default, they have to toe the line with essays, not knowing what is coming out next.

I don't think you are giving yourself and others here enough credit...like Sandra Tanner recently stating "we won"...I believe you can say the same and be a part of that.

Take care.

..." My own position is simply this: There is enough secular evidence for the claims of the Restoration to justify commitment to its principles and to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which teaches them and which offers the requisite ordinances. (More than enough, in my honest judgment.) But there is also enough secular evidence, if one prefers, to justify doubts and reservations. There is sufficient light, but the light is not overwhelming. We must choose; the choice is unavoidable. Happily, this is where the Holy Ghost can help us. I think here of the word of the Lord to Oliver Cowdery, where both divine guidance and studious reflection are recommended:

Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me.

But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right.

But if it be not right you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong. (D&C 9:7–9)