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The case of the anti-Mormons

Thank goodness it's not factual, both because it'd be horrible for those women who were supposedly tortured, and as a Mormon, I'm glad there isn't more fuel for anti-Mormons.

I do find it interesting that the owner of the book was dissapointed that it wasn't factual. Why? Because she wanted the women to be tortured? Because she wanted some fuel for anti-Mormons? Or because this devalues her antique book? I don't know, but it's an odd thing for her to say, I think.

I think it's safe to assume the book owner was more dissapointed by the lack of authenticity because it devalues the book. All things Mormon are of high value and interest right now. I think we are again showing our persectution complex if we immediately assume she wanted it to be true in order to add fuel to the anti-Mormon fire. Some of us appear on par with Tom Cruise this past year when it comes to being defensive of (often legitimate) criticism.

I think the woman was sad mostly because she found out she had been emotionally manipulated by a story in such a way that it brought out discriminatory, hateful feelings in her toward Mormons. When the truthfulness of the claims upon which she justified her hatred was removed, the woman was confronted with her own bigotry. Horrified, she wished the story was true if only to resolve her own resultant internal ethical conflict. Selfish? yes. Surprising? not really. Humans are constantly justifying their thoughts and actions to themselves in light of perceived contradictions that arise from merely living. We all do this. Her's is just a terrible example of it. Let's be wary of supposing we're above this sort of behavior.

Many anti-Mormons don't care about the truth. I've seldom read an anti-Mormon letter, article or book without finding multiple examples of deceptive propaganda -- taking quotes out of context, building up and tearing down straw men, etc. We have modern propaganda just as bad as this old book, including at least two recent movies. The odd thing is that the more critics complain, the more converts the church gains as investigators look into the outlandish claims and come to find out for themselves the truth of the matter. For example, recently critics have begun trying to confuse the public or the difference between the main-stream Mormon Church and radical offshoot groups. And where does such deceptive practices lead -- to the truth, naturally. The further critics stray from the truth the more they destroy their credibility.

Anti-Mormons need to get a life. Anti-Mormons go through life with a chip on their shoulder looking to throw their anger and vile abusive filth at any Mormon that passes their way. If you do not like the Mormons, stay away from the freaking Mormons. Just stop your one sided hatred and discrimination toward the Mormons. I can not believe how much hatred the Mormons put up with, if the Anti-Mormons treated the Jews, Blacks or Gays like they treat the Mormons, they would be in jail.

No Mormon Man will ever say there was any abuse in the pioneer days of the Mormon church. Most anything women said back in the 1800's about LDS church polygamy will be dusted off as hearsay. I believe those women were mistreated and were miserable living a polygamy life style. They were lonely women who would have given anything to have one good man to themselves. I'm sure that Mormon Men will tell you differently and some of the brain washed woman as well. However, I had an ancestor who hated polygamy. Her heart always remained true to her first husband who was not a polygamist. She remained in a polygamist life style because in those days there was no place to escape to if you had a bunch of kids.... You put up and shut up, and did as you were told.
I think this book is factual and not fiction.

Anonymous, I seriously hope that if you have a job, you aren't allowed to make any serious decisions...

Let's be realistic, of course there were abusive husbands in pioneer Utah, just as there are now, but public floggings, give me a break. My great grandfather had five wives, (actually six, but one divorced him and went to San Francisco with her mother) and 47 children. He learned a lot from the loss of that first wife. My grandmother told me repeatedly how harmoniously the five wives lived together. All the children referred to the other wives as their aunts. I once referred to two of the children as half brothers and was severely rebuked. They were all brothers and sisters. Maybe we shouldn't generalize about life under "the principle" either one way or the other.

Easier said then done when all 50+ members of your family and extended family are Mormon and won't leave you alone about Mormonism.

Who do you consider Anti-Mormon? Anyone who is not Pro-Mormon. As a former member, I feel like I have learned more "truth" about the LDS Church since I decided to leave, than I ever did while I was active.

It just seems ironic that after attending Seminary and Institute, gospel doctrine and other Church classes, and even attending the temple, that I am just beginning to learn the real history.

It's possible that some of the "facts" may be skewed by someone's personal opinion, but at least those items are mentioned, and not completely eliminated as they seem to have been from my Church lesson books.

It's really embarrassing when you're a life-long member of the Church and realize that many non-members know more about our history than we do.

Thank goodness for the internet. At least here, we can FIND information.

What's a Mormon?

To second Anonymous: "Anonymous, I seriously hope that if you have a job, you aren't allowed to make any serious decisions..."

Oh, let's not be too hard on the first anonymous. Sounds like she's just viewing the whole thing through her ancestor's atypical experience. And atypical it was.

People tend to gravitate to the drama and pathos of those tragic stories, but like the other poster said: the truth is readily available for those that want to search it out.

"Mormon" is a nicname for a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The name is taken from a book of scriptures called "The Book of Mormon"

People still try to impress everyone in the Lds church how harmoniously Mormon families are. However, once church is over each Sunday, most members turn back into their true demonic selves.
You are right Mormon men are in force on this post protecting all their phony baloney lies.

Wow!!! Renae,
I'm from another planet and I have never heard that stuff before. Thank you for the information on LDS & FLDS.

My grandmother was the daughter of a polygamist. She always hated it. But then, she was the daughter of the #2 wife. Apparently the children of the #1 wife were treated much, much better.

I agree with Rien, and anonymous 10;35pm, I also had some LDS ancestors with many wives, and most were quite miserable to be quite truthful with the practice of polygamy.

Growing up, my best friend was the daughter of a polygamist, so I would occasionally imagine what that might be like. I thought of myself and my friend as "sister-wives" doing everything together for all eternity, sleeping on opposite sides of our husband. And I actually was intrigued with the idea, as long as there were only us two wives.

But what happens when you add in even more? How much time does any one family actually receive? Talk about a lack of "quality" time. Talk about a lack of "any" time.

Even the Muslims are wise enough to limit the number to four. IMO, most early Church leaders just got way, way, way too carried away.

I remember, when I was younger, hearing a few crime stories from friends that I later found out were just urban legends. It wasn't like I wanted them to be true, but I still felt a sort of disappointment. I mean, I'd believed them. For that matter, I suppose the friends had believed whoever they had heard the stories from, too. That's how urban legends keep going.

So, maybe the lady was disappointed in the same way. The story was written in the first person. She felt like she "knew" the author from reading it. Then, unlike friends who tell urban legends thinking they're the truth, she found out the author had been lying to her all the way through.

The title of this was misleading. I didn't read anything about yewt fans.