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MormonTimes.com: Brigham Young enthusiast manages Joseph Smith Papers project

Isn't this enthusiast guy mormon? Is this Joseph Smith history going to have a mormon bias? Or will it simply record the facts?

To Shamrock, a citizen can't even get verified historical comments that may have unfavorable mormon news that challenge church authority or credibility posted on the church owned DN public news paper, do you really think anything being reviewed and published from with in the church inner offices is going to be objective, complete or uncensored; not a chance brother, just drink your milk and behave yourself.

I took a class from Bro. Esplin (yes, he's a member) and he is very knowledgable in church history. The Joseph Smith Papers project will publish everything written or known to be approved by Joseph, published in full.
Richard - the church has nothing to hide, and your comments make you sound like just another conspiracy theorist with nothing to do but bash on other peoples' churches.

"The Church has nothing to hide." Now that's funny!

I wonder how Ron feels about Brigham's views and many topics that that the current mainstream LDS church now ignores or rejects altogether...

Adam-God, Blood Atonement, Re-baptism, Plural Marriage, Priesthood restricted to the seed of Cain until "after all the children of Adam have had a chance to be partakers of the blessings of the priesthood" etc.

I agree with Brandt. I've read things about the church that they don't publicize. Then again, I'm sure other churches have unfavorable history too. But if the mormons are God's church, can't they find a way to excuse it all? Why hide it?

RE: Brigham's views
The Mormon church changes with the times. Brigham views are NO MORE!

The papers project is not a "history," it's a compilation of letters, diaries, etc. The problem is, it will never be published in our lifetimes. Not because the Church wants to stop it but because the people doing it are so old and tired they will never finish. First volume was supposed to be out 5 years ago. Ron has a lot of energy but is surrounded by a terrible lack thereof.

The Mormon church is out to get all unbelievers! We will find you and come visit you and act like we care but really we just want to ruin your life (SARCASM!). If your not LDS why do you care what people say or think about us? Why would you care if it was bias or a total lie? Does that affect your life? If your not interested why do you care so much?

Re: John and Gone with the Wind

Gone with the Wind,

Why does the mormon church change? Doesn't the Bible say God never changes his mind? Or is the Bible unreliable?

John,

I was LDS. I do care if it was a bias and/or a total lie. I grew up in this church, it messed me up, and I had to change my thinking, my beliefs, my whole worldview. This affected my life. I am interested and I care a lot.

I am very excited about the Joseph Smith Project. I hope that a similar project is done for every President-Prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As for the anti-Mormons and apostates, do not take Brother Brigham's statements out of context to try to defame the LDS Church or Brigham Young. Just remember what Brigham Young told the apostates in the Kirtland Temple who rebelled against the Prophet Joseph Smith and wanted to replace him as President of the Church and worse. "If you rebel against Joseph, the Prophet, you will sink yourselves to hell! Thank-You

I am a member of the LDS church. I made the decision to stop attending last summer. I had been connected to the church for 31 of my 35 years of life. I was raised to be one of you...when I am asked to mark a box for my religion on a form, it still comes out as LDS because that's with whom I identify. Of course it affects my life when my family is still involved in something even if I have chosen to be uninvolved. I had previously taught these doctrines to my daughter, and I pay attention to "Mormon news" because I need to be knowledgeable about what she thinks of as her religion, too. Just because I've decided to leave a church doesn't mean everyone connected to me left, too. Have you never followed something uninteresting to you simply because it's interesting to a loved one? I learned about baseball because my husband loves it...it's the same idea here.

To all those that add your comments of hate towards the LDS church or any other church for that matter please grow up and stop. I am LDS and am proud of it and I�m so excited for the Joseph Smith Papers to come out. This is something that the members of my church are excited for and looking forward to. Please, let us be excited for this and be able to add messages of excitement without having to read how much you despise and hate the LDS faith. I often feel bad when I read some of the comments posted on these stories because there is so much anger towards a faith that I am sure those that are posting it has no or very little knowledge of the actual faith. Regardless of who you are or what you believe please show respect towards others. I hope those that do believe in Joseph Smith are excited and eager to be able to read the writings of this amazing prophet. Praise to the man who communed with Jahovah.

Shamrock we are a church of revelation, which means truths are learned over time, by men/women who seek deeper knowledge, with questions. Just because a prophet, a weak and imperfect man, speaks for himself seeking out new doctrine, doesn't mean the church is false. The Lord has a process in which the false doctrines are identified, and the truths are taught. Plus we all have the freedom to pray and be taught through the Holy Ghost, if we pray with a sincere heart, real intent, with faith in Christ and not a double mind.

If any anybody needs to be concerned about rebellion to Joseph Smith it should be The mainstream LDS church.
There has been many eternal doctrines once taught by the early leaders that is now null and void or considered false by most mainstream LDS members and leaders alike.

i.e.
People were once excommunicated for rejecting and teaching against the Adam-God doctrine... Now your excommunicated for teaching the truth of the Adam-God Doctrine.

People who live around Mormons and know them, will always comment on these blogs no matter what you say. I only pray you MEMBERS are a kind and genuine people to your nonmember and inactive neighbors. They will otherwise speak out against you. They also live in Utah and are now the biggest group living here. So please, be nice and genuine, for they are here to stay and are not going to go away.

I am interested in reading the Joseph Smith papers. I hope that the papers are all truly authentic works of Joseph Smith?

To John, In answer to your question as to why others care about mormon interests: it is for the same reason that we care about what goes on in China, Russia, Los Angeles or with people anywhere in the world present, past or future. We care because we are social animals and what concerns one concerns all. Is that not what you believe that we are all children of God. I care about you, brother.

Somehow nonmembers and nonactive people don't upset me like they do some of you. I read what they write and it helps me in many ways to be a bit better person than what I am. I know they watch us. Their comments will always appear on these blogs and some with very angry comments as well, but I read them and over look them. Sure they can be hateful and mean, but sometimes our comments are very mean and angry too. We all need to try to get along in this world. Let the nonactive and nonmembers let us know what they want and perhaps we can be there for them. And you never know, they may just be there for you and I someday. We are all children of the same God :o))
I am truly excited about the Joseph Smith papers. This was a great article! Thanks!!!!

I am very excited about the papers coming out. I love the Prophet and know that having a testimony of him is knowing that God still loves us and wants us in His presence. God is perfect. So is the organization of His church, but the people are not and the leaders do make mistakes.

People are stil being excommunicated for writing true history if it goes against church teachings .How will the whole truth be published?