“Peter Pan” is Unmasked as Mike Parker

[Marcus]

I think another piece of the smoking gun pointing to Smoot as Captain Hook was first identified by Scratch.

In June of 2019, Scratch posted this:

In a provocative new post entitled "Some controversial topics," Sic et Non has announced a new level of warfare being directed at Rodney Meldrum ands fellow "Heartlanders." The Editor in Chief writes:

I’m sorry to see contention among members of the Church — especially when that contention centers on what is, after all, an issue of at most secondary importance. I’ve been on the receiving end of “Heartlander” attacks, both public and private, some of them remarkably nasty and abusive, for quite some time.

What's he "sorry" about, you might ask? In fact, it's a recent blog posting from Stephen Smoot, who has seized upon a posting to the FIRM Foundation's Facebook page. Smoot takes issue with the fact that the "Mesoamerican model" has been described as "apostate."

So, to summarize: "Sic et Non" is "sorry" that S. Smoot is upset over the FIRM Foundation's labeling of their (the Mopologists') pet theory (the LGT) as "apostate." What is the response, then? See for yourself:

So, in that sense, I’m not displeased to see that certain members of the Church (I don’t know who they are; I don’t even have a hunch or a suspicion) have begun to respond to similar attacks. Here are some examples of such responses:

You really must check them out for yourself, but in short: the links are to a rather low-rent looking blog called "NevilleNevilleLand," and whose avowed purpose is as follows:

This is the first in (what I expect to be) a series of critical examinations of the arguments of Jonathan Neville.

Brother Neville is the prolific author of at least twelve books and over sixty blogs (!), most of which expound his theories on the the Book of Mormon.

Though Peter hastens to add, at the end of the entry, that:

I wish to clarify that I hold no animosity toward Jonathan Neville; I merely wish to demonstrate that his one-note zeal for his theories has caused him to embrace ideas and conclusions that are not warranted by evidence and clear thinking.

—Peter

This is getting awfully murky, isn't it? We've got the presumably serious Dr. Peterson announcing that it "saddens" him when Latter-day Saints are adversarial towards one another, but, hey: he understands it because they (the Heartlanders) have been "nasty" towards him, so now he's glad to see people--including "Peter" (or, rather, someone pretending to be Peter Pan), the proprietor of "NevilleNevilleLand"--"have begun to respond to similar attacks." Huh? I see no signs on "NevilleNevilleLand" that Neville or any of the other heartlanders was "nasty" towards Peter. Peter himself insists that his blog of criticisms against Neville were spurred on by Neville's "one-note zeal." (Peterson provides five separate links to "NevilleNevilleLand." I cannot for the life of me figure out why they are zeroing in so aggressively on Neville...Any guesses?)

Anyways, it's worth remembering what set this whole thing off--i.e., Smoot was enraged that the FIRM Foundation would call the Mesoamerican model "apostate."

<snipped>

If you go to Peterson's sic et non link, you'll see no less than 5 links to the NNL, three of which were written by Captain Hook, a.k.a. (in my opinion), the mortally offended Smoot.

So, FIRM Foundation calls Smoot's pet theory 'apostate', Peterson commiserates as a fellow attack-ee, Captain Hook puts in 3 vitriolic responses, Pan takes over to tell everyone HE holds no animosity toward Neville, and we're off to the races.

I'd have to check the dates, but it seems Smoot's blog entry at the studio et quoque fide blog is taken off line, as Scratch's link doesn't work. Is that when his plonialmonimormon blog starts up?

[Philo Sofee]

https://www.millennialstar.org/the-maxw ... ntroversy/

From the link above:

Third, if rumors are true, and Dan was fired because of connections between Bradford and Dehlin, then we must fear that the foxes are in the henhouse.

Good damned god. These people are real “they’re either with us or against us” types, aren’t they? Bradford? Really? There really is a new schism in the church, and it’s Petersonite Mormonsim. Look how his followers kiss his ass and defend him. Look at his heresies he and his acolytes teach. The church would do well to cut all these yahoos loose.

- Doc

No kidding!!! This is just so entertaining!!! Hey, on a good note for Peterson, the same exact situation in Early Christianity occurred with its own apologists about the same time (200 years after the church started) caused the road to apostasy and for the same reasons, their intellects wouldn't let them acknowledge the lowliness of the humble followers of Christ, so Christianity went with philosophy instead of revelation, rejecting the prophets... That is so amazing how parallel this all is!

[Dr Moore]

I'd have to check the dates, but it seems Smoot's blog entry at the studio et quoque fide blog is taken off line, as Scratch's link doesn't work. Is that when his plonialmonimormon blog starts up?

It was live at least through of 5/7/2021. The post was dated May 9, 2019 and first captured June 6, 2019.
https://web.archive.org/web/20190606191 ... raphy.html
https://web.archive.org/web/20210507190 ... raphy.html

[Philo Sofee]

This is like those good old soap operas in the 1970's "As the World Turns" or "Days of Our Lives." We could name this entertaining ruckus, "As the Mopologist Stomachs Turn," or "Diatribes of the Internet," or "Us Guys vs. Those Guys."

[Dr Moore]

Here's a fun one.

https://archive.bookofmormoncentral.org ... 2_1-62.pdf

Did Spencer know? Or did Mike just laugh about being thanked twice? This was last June. And, did Mike Parker offer his help in two identities? That must have been funny.

[Author’s Note: I would like to thank Mike Parker and Gregory L. Smith for reviewing an earlier draf of this review and ofering helpful suggestions, as well as my other family and friends (especially my father) who helped edit and ofer clarifying remarks. I would also like to thank
the pseudonymous “Peter Pan” who ofered encouragement as I wrote this review.]

[Marcus]

I'd have to check the dates, but it seems Smoot's blog entry at the studio et quoque fide blog is taken off line, as Scratch's link doesn't work. Is that when his plonialmonimormon blog starts up?

It was live at least through of 5/7/2021. The post was dated May 9, 2019 and first captured June 6, 2019.
https://web.archive.org/web/20190606191 ... raphy.html
https://web.archive.org/web/20210507190 ... raphy.html

Thanks!

And while you could split hairs and say that calling the model apostate is not the same thing as calling the people who believe it apostate, let’s be honest about the implications here: what is a person promoting apostate views and beliefs, if not themselves an apostate?
They want to have their cake and eat it too, but it just does not work...

Captain Smoot neglected to share that thought with 'I-have-never-called-Neville-names' Parker Pan.

[Res Ipsa]

I think another piece of the smoking gun pointing to Smoot as Captain Hook was first identified by Scratch.

In June of 2019, Scratch posted this:

In a provocative new post entitled "Some controversial topics," Sic et Non has announced a new level of warfare being directed at Rodney Meldrum ands fellow "Heartlanders." The Editor in Chief writes:

What's he "sorry" about, you might ask? In fact, it's a recent blog posting from Stephen Smoot, who has seized upon a posting to the FIRM Foundation's Facebook page. Smoot takes issue with the fact that the "Mesoamerican model" has been described as "apostate."

So, to summarize: "Sic et Non" is "sorry" that S. Smoot is upset over the FIRM Foundation's labeling of their (the Mopologists') pet theory (the LGT) as "apostate." What is the response, then? See for yourself:

You really must check them out for yourself, but in short: the links are to a rather low-rent looking blog called "NevilleNevilleLand," and whose avowed purpose is as follows:

Though Peter hastens to add, at the end of the entry, that:

This is getting awfully murky, isn't it? We've got the presumably serious Dr. Peterson announcing that it "saddens" him when Latter-day Saints are adversarial towards one another, but, hey: he understands it because they (the Heartlanders) have been "nasty" towards him, so now he's glad to see people--including "Peter" (or, rather, someone pretending to be Peter Pan), the proprietor of "NevilleNevilleLand"--"have begun to respond to similar attacks." Huh? I see no signs on "NevilleNevilleLand" that Neville or any of the other heartlanders was "nasty" towards Peter. Peter himself insists that his blog of criticisms against Neville were spurred on by Neville's "one-note zeal." (Peterson provides five separate links to "NevilleNevilleLand." I cannot for the life of me figure out why they are zeroing in so aggressively on Neville...Any guesses?)

Anyways, it's worth remembering what set this whole thing off--i.e., Smoot was enraged that the FIRM Foundation would call the Mesoamerican model "apostate."

<snipped>

If you go to Peterson's sic et non link, you'll see no less than 5 links to the NNL, three of which were written by Captain Hook, a.k.a. (in my opinion), the mortally offended Smoot.

So, FIRM Foundation calls Smoot's pet theory 'apostate', Peterson commiserates as a fellow attack-ee, Captain Hook puts in 3 vitriolic responses, Pan takes over to tell everyone HE holds no animosity toward Neville, and we're off to the races.

I'd have to check the dates, but it seems Smoot's blog entry at the studio et quoque fide blog is taken off line, as Scratch's link doesn't work. Is that when his plonialmonimormon blog starts up?

It looks like studio et quoque fide was Neal Rapplye's blog. https://bookofmormoncentral.org/users/neal-rappleye

[Marcus]

Here's a fun one.

https://archive.bookofmormoncentral.org ... 2_1-62.pdf

Did Spencer know? Or did Mike just laugh about being thanked twice? This was last June.

[Author’s Note: I would like to thank Mike Parker and Gregory L. Smith for reviewing an earlier draf of this review and ofering helpful suggestions, as well as my other family and friends (especially my father) who helped edit and ofer clarifying remarks. I would also like to thank the pseudonymous “Peter Pan” who ofered encouragement as I wrote this review.]

Kraus included that identical paragraph at the end of TWO of his articles about Neville, both originally published by the Interpreter.

[Marcus]

It looks like studio et quoque fide was Neal Rapplye's blog. https://bookofmormoncentral.org/users/neal-rappleye

Yes, I got the impression it was a guest blog piece at Rappleye's blog authored by Smoot, based on DCP's comment, but I'm not positive on that.

[Res Ipsa]

It looks like studio et quoque fide was Neal Rapplye's blog. https://bookofmormoncentral.org/users/neal-rappleye

Yes, I got the impression it was a guest blog piece at Rappleye's blog authored by Smoot, based on DCP's comment, but I'm not positive on that.

Could be. I clicked the link and ended up in spam hell.