Reader comments
Smith's journals made available to public for 1st time

This is one book i will be sure to miss...

WAHOOOOO!

Praise to the man�

Good boy - Johnny.

This is great news! I will enjoy studying it immensely!

... insightful comment.

There is better fiction out there folks. Don't waste your money on this one it is a snoozer.

I am a MORMON...albeit somewhat reluctant to assume "victimhood" over agressive actions against us.
I browse the internet and read a lot. I love the internet and the interactive element in the inherent communication on it.
I read many different religious sites. There, I see a lot of negative remarks that are waaaay over the top. These are posted by people claiming membership in churches that are the base and subject of these sites.
I invariably find extremely negative remarks against Mormons on almost every site visited.
Why do people do this?
I have NEVER posted anything negative against one's religion on any of these sites.
Why do people come on here and post just to be negative?
What is the benefit of these nasty remarks?
Do these negative posters REALLY think their tone and choice of words will cause me to have doubts about MY beliefs and doctrine?
It is just a showcase of the deviseness others have in their attitudes, I guess.
Don't get me wrong...I will, and have, responded harshly at times, but I am just a low level counter puncher.
Think about it....do you REALLY think I am impressed by your negativism?
Think about it!!

Sure. Be sure and miss one of the greatest of Americans ever! Silly fool!

I have also come across a lot of material on the internet that the "anits" have put on there. It actually did work and caused me to seriously question my faith, i have managed to stay faithful. many people every year leave the church because they comem across some of this stuff. So YA IT DOES WORK, and unfortunatley there are more people that are writting things against the church than writting for it.

Is an Internet Troll. Be careful not to get caught up with his bait. When you respond with a debate, he sits at home and laughs, loving every minute. don't give him the satisfaction and he will go away.

To Biblo,

�Unfortunately there are more people that are writing things against the Church than writing for it.�

This is because those that could be writing for the Church have better things to do.

Where can I obtain this book? My ancestor was one of the scribes, 1838-39.

May all the TROLLS march forward.

I have said it before and I will say it again, these people that are always putting the church, and the leaders down, are people that are not sure of what they have in their own churches and their leaders. therfor they are intimidated by our church, and the truth that we speak. I hope I got that right. I'am not a good explainer. I never like to say anything about another man's beliefs, but some times you have to tell it like it is

Bilbo,

People take harsh positions against Mormonism because Mormonism has perhaps, one of the strongest religious claims in American History. That it is the Gospel of Jesus Christ restored through divine revelation, AND that every other creed is WRONG. That alone makes Mormonism the target of scrutiny of every kind, and we (LDS) should not be so sensitive about criticism, even if it is often outrageous.

Also, we, as Latter-day Saints have often times been less than honest when portraying the character of our beloved leader. We have, in some ways, robbed Joseph of his humanity, creating some sort of flawless golden effigy that frankly doesn't reflect the Prophet's human character in his totality. I have witnessed myself that many members of the Church have a testimony based on this "heavily edited" version of Joseph Smith, and are appalled to learn of his shortcomings.

The Joseph Smith Papers will allow for the human Joseph Smith to come back. We will be able to see his remarkable accomplishments, but also, some of his terrible mistakes and naivete (just like other prophets, including Adam, Lehi, Jonah, and Peter).

I am confident that his sincere heart will show through.

Don't worry about any of that anti stuff folks, the one thing that I have a sure testimony of is that as long as I sincerely try to live a Christ like life, religion aside, I always come back to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Light cleaveth to light. I have doubted my testimony, but it always comes back. Even the prophet was left to his own devices at times, pleading with the Lord to come back to him. The only reason you would EVER leave the church and not come back is because what you want to do is more important than what God wants you to do. Just serve your fellow man, put the Lord first, be truly introspective and lay aside self-justification, and you will be blessed, even if it is intermittently, with the knowledge you seek. Keep the Faith. I cannot wait to read these journals.

Wow,I cant believe that any religion would sit back and allow the members to talk negitivly about one another and that my brother and sisters is what I am reading please act like children of GOD and behave in that manner no matter what church you are with.

They probably are doing better things, but we have been charged with helping the work move along online in chat rooms and blogs that are appropriate and uplifting.

Thanks for the great comments.
I actually feel sorry for those negative posters.
I believe their life is so miserable they must find negativeism in every one else.
I wish they could get excited as My wife and I were in 1979. That was the year we converted from evangelical to LDS.
GREAT moive on our part.
Every question I had...and I had PLENTY!...was answered by prayer and scripture.
Never have doubted the TRUTH in HIS word!