Comments about ‘Being Mormon in a Mormon moment’

Vanka at 3:19 a.m. Sept. 5 asks, "Am I reading this right? Are Mormons, including Bushman, really, seriously criticizing and trying to dictate to others what questions are appropriate?"

Answer: No, you are not reading it right.

Vanka then says, "Please tell me Mormons are not that arrogant..."

Answer: Ok. Mormons are not that arrogant.

Having visions in the early 1800s wasn't that strange.

"I saw two spirits, which I knew at the first sight. But if I had the tongue of an Angel I could not describe their glory, for they brought the joys of heaven with them. One was God, my Maker, almost in bodily shape like a man. His face was, as it were a flame of Fire, and his body, as it had been a Pillar and a cloud. In looking steadfastly to discern features, I could see none, but a small glimpse would appear in some other place. Below him stood Jesus Christ my Redeemer, in perfect shape like a man---His face was not ablaze, but had the countenance of fire, being bright and shining. His Father's will appeared to be his! All was condescension, peace, and love."

Was this a previously unpublished version of Joseph Smith's "first vision," one might ask? No. It was the claim of one Norris Stearns, published in 1815, in Greenfield, Massachusetts---not far from where the Joseph Smith Senior family lived in Vermont.

Nice response, Michael.

Never seen vanka at a loss for words. Clever response Michael