NANA "LOL Mercy huh? that is only for Gods!"


Elphie: You mean to tell me you are NEVER merciful. Bah! I don't buy that at all.

Okay, How about this? You will be a Goddess one day, true? If we remove the “dess,” and just cheat by a few million years, who‘s gonna notice?

Nana: Now, you said you would join my group? IF you go over to 'our' group forum... SHARING THE GOSPEL tDMg and read.... It is called - Seek and Ye Shall Find! I know...


Elphie: I must not understand where I am to go. Is it on your Hub Pages, or somewhere else. I apologize, but over the last few years I got stupid. So would you please explain to me again where I am supposed to go?

NANA: it is Jesusy.


Elphie: Oh I am laughing my derrier off. “Jesusy.” I am going to say that at my next family reunion. Of course, I will only get glares, but oh my, I will be laughing on the inside.“

NANA: By the way.... i do believe that I have every book in your Church Collection. On a quick glance... every single one of them! Did you read yourself out my dear? It takes a strong testimony to read that library? “

Elphie: It doesn’t take a strong testimony--it takes a passion for Mormon history, as well as a disease that keeps you fairly bedridden.


here are two books that I have not read completely. They are:


The Mormon Experience: A history of the Latter-day Saints, a History of the Latter-day Saints, Leonard Arrington and Davis Bitton

Reason: Probably because I discovered LDSTalk and stopped reading as much as I previously had. I have a great deal of respect for Leonard Arrington, and believe he was very honest and thorough, so much so the Church booted him out as head of the history department. J So I probably should put my computer down, and pick up the book. Ya think?


By the Hand of Mormon: The American Scripture that Launched a New world Religion, Terryl Givens

Reason: While all Mormons adore Givens, he grates on me and frankly, I can’t stand the man. Is that a reason not to read his book. Of course not. But I find him to be arrogant and self-righteous while trying very hard not to appear arrogant and self-righteous.

Yet I have a good straight male friend who insists he has a man crush on Givens. ick

Additionally, he sounds like a hobbit. When I watch him on tv, I’m throwing water at the screen, hoping the water molecules will waft through the universe, splashing into his unconsciousness that I do not believe in, and will suddenly make him so thirsty, that he will be drinking water for the next 15 minutes. Hopefully that will cure his monotone, gravely voice for at least five minutes!!!

Okay, I have heard his book is very good. I admit however, I seriously dislike him. And I seriously realize this is an insipid reason not to read his book. I am shamed.


I am sure there are a few others I have not read, or have only skimmed without actually concentrating on them. I'm looking at them right now, and aren't seeing them, though.

Sometimes I write posts about historical incidents, and I'll pull a few books out and focus on only that incident. In fact, I did that the other day but decided not to pursue it. So the book is out with 20 tabs, and it looks like that's all I've ever read.

The other books, yes I have read them. My favorites were:

Mormon Enigma: Emma Hale Smith

Juanita Brooks: Mormon Woman Historian

(Both of these women are heroes to me. I've even slept with these books...please don't comment.  )

Rough Stone Rolling (I knew Bushman at Cambridge in 1974; I also knew Romney at the same time. No comment)

In fact, I e-mailed Bushman the other day. There is a fairly major error in some blog posts over at the "MoreGoodFoundation" web site. I e-mailed Bushman to make sure I was right, and he e-mailed me back almost immediately and said he remembered me! Of course I was terribly flattered, althogh I knew there was no way he could because I used my married name. However, I do have a real weirdo first name (no, not Elphaba). So it is possible. But wasn't that nice of him to e-mail me back?

And aren't I quite the name dropper??

Mormon Domestic Life in the 1870s: Leonard J. Arrington Mormon History Lecture Series, with Claudia Bushman (of course I knew Claudia as well, and was there when she and a few other women launched the Exponent II. I was very proud to play a very very minor role in that.)


Both Mormon Hierarchy(s). D. Michael Quinn (my heart breaks for him)

In Sacred Loneliness, The Plural Wives of Joseph Smith, Todd Compton

Women’s Voices, an Untold History of the Latter-day Saints, 1830-1900

And one I forgot to add: Mormon Mother, Annie Clark Tanner. I LOVE this book.

If one were to ask me, as an ex-Mormon, how did Joseph do what he did in starting the Church, etc., I would point them to Dan Vogel’s book: “The Making of a Prophet.” In other words, I believe in the “pious fraud.” theory.

I do not understand how anyone could go through Joseph’s papers and come away thinking he did not believe he was a prophet, and that he believed he talked to God.

However, I do believe he was capable of “pious frauds,” when he believed it served to further his church, which to some people would be thought of as fraud. For example the Kirtland anti-Banking fiasco. He was involved in committing fraud.

But why did he do it? He never did anything to become wealthy. Yes, he wanted to be comfortable, and as an ex-Mormon, I find the times “God” commanded the members build him a home a little self-serving. But even yet, it was never anything opulent or monumental.

Where did he demand money be spent? The temples. What did he gain from that in a temporal world? Absolutely nothing.

So, if you have read Dan Vogel’s book I’m sure you disagree with all of it. For me, as a non-believer, so much of it fits the puzzles. But it never really puts Joseph in the “con-man” pejorative. And I absolutely agree with that.


Again, please tell me where I am to go, and I hope I will not be walking through the snow.


Elphaba