My Column in the "Mormon Times"

[_Daniel Peterson]

Today's ghastly exercise in unreason:

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/7001 ... itism.html

[_Buffalo]

Today's ghastly exercise in unreason:

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/7001 ... itism.html

Of course it condemns antisemitism. Jews are white and delightsome!

[_RayAgostini]

Personally, in my biased opinion, I think this is one of Dan's best articles, and do think it provides a convincing case that the Book of Mormon is not anti-Semitic (or more accurately, anti-Jewish). If Hitler had read this "heretical text", my guess is that he would have been outraged. Contrast Hitler to Joseph Smith. I still don't "gel" with the Church, but the Book of Mormon still intrigues me.

[_DrW]

Personally, in my biased opinion, I think this is one of Dan's best articles, and do think it provides a convincing case that the Book of Mormon is not anti-Semitic (or more accurately, anti-Jewish). If Hitler had read this "heretical text", my guess is that he would have been outraged. Contrast Hitler to Joseph Smith. I still don't "gel" with the Church, but the Book of Mormon still intrigues me.

Ray,

Is there anything in the passages from the Book of Mormon Dr. Peterson quoted in his article that would convince you that these passages were originally written ca 600 BCE rather than in the first part of the 19th century?

If not, why does the Book of Mormon intrigue you?

[_Patriarchal gripe]

I can't remember where, or if it is even correct, that I read that Hitler actually read the Book of Mormon. Anyone? I seem to recall that he was sympathetic to the doctrine of the skin color curse befalling the Lamanites because it jived with his worldview of skin color and purity.

Yes, the Book of Mormon is a standard of racial thought that should be praised in print by the DesNews. It should be the go-to book on race understanding.

I do find it interesting that there is a gospel hobby aspect to Judaism among Mormons. Restoration of ancient truths, and all that, I suppose.

[Anonymous]

.

[_Corpsegrinder]

Dan,

W. Cleon Skousen’s The Naked Communist--the book that “changed” Glen Beck’s life--barrows much from The Protocols of the Elders of Zion. Skousen’s New World Order conspiracism barrows heavily from The Protocols as well, as do many of his anti-communist writings from the 1960’s. And like Skousen, Ezra Taft Benson, Erenest L. Wilkenson, and J. Reuben Clark believed the international communist threat to have been a manifestation of a deeper, Jewish-led conspiracy for world domination.

This being the case, do you or any other apologists plan to address the role of anti-Semitism in shaping the attitudes of these and other prominent Mormons?

Edited to add:

In your column, your timeline of Mormondom’s cozy relationship with Judaism stops abruptly at 1936. Why is this? Is there anything that happens after 1936 that we should know about?

[Guest]

Dan,

W. Cleon Skousen’s The Naked Communist--the book that “changed” Glen Beck’s life--barrows much from The Protocols of the Elders of Zion. Skousen’s New World Order conspiracism barrows heavily from The Protocols as well, as do many of his anti-communist writings from the 1960’s. And like Skousen, Ezra Taft Benson, Erenest L. Wilkenson, and J. Reuben Clark believed the international communist threat to have been a manifestation of a deeper, Jewish-led conspiracy for world domination.

This being the case, do you or any other apologists plan to address the role of anti-Semitism in shaping the attitudes of these and other prominent Mormons?

Edited to add:

In your column, your timeline of Mormondom’s cozy relationship with Judaism stops abruptly at 1936. Why is this? Is there anything that happens after 1936 that we should know about?

I clearly remember a General Authority speaking at a Priesthood Session of Stake Conference in Washington State in the 1960's and letting loose with one of the most anti-Semitic diatribes I had heard first hand in my life up to that time.

Among other things, he stated that we should all understand that Jew represented the anti-Christ and that they were not to be considered fellow travelers with Mormons or by the Mormon Church.

This talk really bothered me for a long time. Of course nothing was said about this "special insider information" by this particular General Authority in the General Session of that Conference.

[_Corpsegrinder]

DrW, would you by any chance remember which General Authority it was who gave this talk?

[_Doctor Scratch]

Mortal Man had some plangent and interesting observations about this article over at the ironically named Mormon Dialogue board. He was warned by the mods for his comments and Pahoran launched a thread attacking him in response.