Joseph Smith Papers

[_Fence Sitter]

Why pay for it when you can read it online free?
http://josephsmithpapers.org/

[_hatersinmyward]

I am just chucking this out there because I am interested in the responses. I have a friend that is reading through the Joseph Smith Papers and has found some "faith shaking" things as he has read through them. His opinion was that the Joseph Smith papers were put out there to "sift the wheat from the chaff" a trial of faith of sorts. That those weak members whose testimony was built upon a foundation of sand would be sifted as the chaff and for the strong members it would only strengthen them. This way only those truly worthy would be able to enter the kingdom.

Thoughts?

Yep.

This conference, falling away from Mormonism is going to be the big selling point.

So says the streets.

[_Dan Vogel]

I am just chucking this out there because I am interested in the responses. I have a friend that is reading through the Joseph Smith Papers and has found some "faith shaking" things as he has read through them. His opinion was that the Joseph Smith papers were put out there to "sift the wheat from the chaff" a trial of faith of sorts. That those weak members whose testimony was built upon a foundation of sand would be sifted as the chaff and for the strong members it would only strengthen them. This way only those truly worthy would be able to enter the kingdom.

Thoughts?

What in the Joseph Smith papers does your friend find “faith shaking”? I think we need to establish what would be considered faith shaking and to whom?

I believe the church’s interest in the Joseph Smith papers is an attempt to take control their own history and not leave it up to outsiders.

[_moksha]

Acknowledging the real stuff from legend is only faith shaking if you have chained yourself to the legend. That said, it is true that long chain carbon based molecules were created to separate the organic chemists from their analytical brethren.

[_harmony]

I believe the church’s interest in the Joseph Smith papers is an attempt to take control their own history and not leave it up to outsiders.

Too little, too late. Maybe pre-internet, but now... that horse has left the barn. Closing the door now won't help get him back.

[_karl61]

I wish they would put them online for free.

[_nackhadlow]

I wish they would put them online for free.

They do put them online for free.
http://josephsmithpapers.org/thepapers

[_MCB]

That those weak members whose testimony was built upon a foundation of sand would be sifted as the chaff and for the strong members it would only strengthen them.

Since Joseph Smith was the founder of the religion, and claimed to have written the Book of Mormon, the Smith Papers only prove that it was founded on sand, which moves with the wind and water, never stable.

The horse is out of the barn.

[_karl61]

I wish they would put them online for free.

They do put them online for free.
http://josephsmithpapers.org/thepapers

thanks