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The case of the anti-Mormons
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I think this book is factual and not fiction.
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.
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.
You are right Mormon men are in force on this post protecting all their phony baloney lies.
I'm from another planet and I have never heard that stuff before. Thank you for the information on LDS & FLDS.
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.
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.
What you are doing is taking things found on the internet as facts. Now, even if SOME of it were factual, does this change the truthfulness of the Gospel? My answer is absolutely not! For example,
There were many comments when Pres. Monson was ordained as President of the Church. Some were saying how they had witnessed him doing something a man of God would not do. If these folks were alive during the time of Christ, they would continue questioning the truthfulness of the Gospel . They would say, "Hey Peter, you were the one that denied Jesus Christ the night he was arrested! Why should I believe you?" Or how about. "Paul, why should I believe you. Aren't you the one that placed my parents in jail for being Christian? I also saw you at the stoning of Stephen. How come you didn't put an end to it if is Christianity is the true Gospel."
I would suggest you read "Bridging the Divide" to understand what is and isn't doctrine and then decide what you "believe".
Spencer Kimball approved the sealings. They took place in the Salt Lake temple the summer of 1977. Yes, nineteen seventy-seven.
I also believe the book is authentic in this article because like others on here have said, my ancestors as well were quite miserable with the practice of polygamy. It was sad and sickning!
I believe the book here is fact, even if this woman did make a few mistakes writing it. Go to Gospel doctrine classes in the LDS church and see for yourself how much false doctrine one can consume in one Sunday afternoon.
That's a real cute story. I'll be looking forward to your next book of fiction.
Verifiable on the LDS church's genealogy site.
Give me your email and I'll send you the link.
WHAT DOES THE TRUTH HURT YOU?
Wouldn't it have been wonderful if those women could have been taken care of by the church at that time instead of being married off as wife number 3 or 4 to someone she doesn't want or love? That way they wouldn't have had to become an "assignment" for someone. I would think the Christian thing to do would have been to care for them as one would an older widowed sister.
LDS with a good husband,
I, too, am disgusted with the history of polygamy in the church. I have a relative who left behind a journal saying how awful it was. She had to support herself and her children by running a boarding house because her husband could not afford to take care of all his wives and kids. Wouldn't it be nice to be a member of a church where you don't have to ask your husband if he wants more wives than only you? You have to live in fear that if you die, he may take another wife, and then you'll be in a polygamous marriage in the afterlife. How much fun is that??
Duh!
I totally agree with you. I wonder why FLDS and LDS men think they are so Godly and should have a bunch of wives. Not Godly if you ask me.
I am very happy with the one wife that I have been married to for 25 years. She's also will always be the only one the only one.
I have never understood the polygamy deal in the church, and it is the very thing that keeps me from believing. If Joseph Smith hadn't gone off to the dark side, and started polygamy, I probably would have easily believed his BeeS. However, polygamy is wrong! And nothing can convince me any differently.
It's pretty easy to mock what don't understand.
Culturally polygamy has been around since the beginning of time. And many still practice it, including some enclaves here.
monogamy is relatively new.
And yet society, hollywood, etc. celebtates having many sexual partners, adultry, having mistresses, prostitution, wifeswapping, teeenage sex, gay marriage, etc.
but polygamy is bad?
quite a dichotomy!
Many of us don't believe in polygamy, so if you need another wife be my guest, and by all means, go find one. You gluttons are few, but truly unbelievable. Since when do Mormons go by anything written in the bible? What you assume is polygamy in the bible is just another deviates illness to have a new bed partner. God never said go practice polygamy. Man said it for his own gratification and to have sex slaves.
Just wondering.
Were some abuses occuring during the time that the fictional book was set? - Sure. Are some people abused today? - Duh...
People are not perfect, never were. We can learn from history and fictional portayals and act better in our lives, or whine about fiction and the 'perfect' time that never was. Your choice.
When was the last time anyone when meeting a new person outlines mistakes, bad choices, or mean things they ever did? No one introduces themselves as �Hi I'm So-and-so and I stole candy in the second grade, lied to a friend, etc. Want to hire me or be mine friend!� Get real stop making mountains out of minor things, everyone wants to be seen and remembered in the most positive light.
To Mike (I assume you are a man) Why couldn't polygamy be a commandment from God? It's not always all about sex like you seem to indicate. God takes care of His people in the way He sees fit and at the time, that included polygamy. I don't know all the answers but I do know that God gives us commandments for our good. I am not a polygamist. God commanded that to end. But I sure could use a sister wife at times. ;)
To Jeff- status is not what we're after. You ain't seen nothin' yet!
People who don't share my desires to maintain myself in this way, can often feel somehow that I am judging them as 'inferior' or 'wicked,' when in actuality, I'm just striving to uphold my own beliefs. I think it's unfortunate that animosities should arise from such things as trying to be a better person, but sometimes it stems from sheer laziness: It's easier for Mormons to hang out with other Mormons, because there's no conflict of beliefs, and it's just plain lazy. I grew up in a community where mormons were a minority, so it's more clear to me than to others perhaps.
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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.