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Originally Posted by rockwoodchev
I'm not sure that you can say this is an "Approved History Book" Just because it is sold at Deseret Book doesn't mean it is "approved". Actually, if you listen to the bushman interviews with John Dehlin, Bushman mentions that the church has gotten out of the business of releasing history books.
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I agree with you on the 'approved' comment. But hey--- The Church is B-A-C-K in business....
Joseph Smith Papers
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Originally Posted by rockwoodchev
One thing that amazes me is when some of you will mention that why would anyone read this type of book when you can just pray for a witness.
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FWIW, *I've* never said that.
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Originally Posted by rockwoodchev
With all the push in our church about keeping and reading history of the church. We study it once every 4 years, but in my mind, most people know very little about the history of our early leaders. In reality, there is very little that is in the official material that is even true.
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Really? I think you've gone way too far on that one. Sometimes saying everything we know is not the right thing to do. In this case, I think the setting makes all the difference.
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Originally Posted by rockwoodchev
How many people know the real story about polygamy and polyandry?
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I'd guess about 10% and 2% of the active members, respectively. I know I'm pulling #'s out of thin air.
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Originally Posted by rockwoodchev
How many people know the real story about the peepstone and the "translation process"
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I'll bet *you* don't, no offense intended. I'm sure you know about the hat and the glowing letters and the two stones (as well as the "Nephite Interpreters") --- and that's pretty good. But it ain't ALL, my friend. The spirit played a role, and I don't think there's any direct description of how that worked other than "by the power and gift of God". And I really think that should be enough. Let the Book speak for itself.
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Originally Posted by rockwoodchev
How many people know about the Kinderhook Plates?
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Guessing-- 2% of the active members.
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Originally Posted by rockwoodchev
How many people know about the history about the Book of Abraham?
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About 5% for most of it, (the parts written about in the Ensign magazine), and only 2% for the really interesting parts. At a guess.
Your point, though, seems to be that the Church should be teaching all this history. If so, I really think you're wrong.
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Originally Posted by rockwoodchev
It just seems weird that in books like our study guides like Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, not one single word is mentioned about Polygamy. But... when a book like RSR is read, it is all over the place. Crazy...
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One is secular, the other is faithful. It is not at all "Crazy". Everything has a purpose.
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Originally Posted by rockwoodchev
For me... RSR cemented in my mind many problems with early history of the church. If Joseph Smith was willing to "lie for the Lord" about Spiritual Wifery, what else would he lie about? I've yet to answer that question.
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Keep working on it. Read the testimonies given in D.C. concerning polygamy decades later. I've pondered it for decades, and I'm doing very well with it, thank you very much. If it weren't for the history of Joseph Smith Jr., I would never have had the courage to become a mystic. He's my hero.
HiJolly