DiscussMormonism.com

Plutarch wrote:

grayskull wrote:I personally think his idea of internet fun is to unload his entire arsenal on clearly unequal opponents. I also think he's come close to outright admitting this. The man is smart and has read a great deal. And really hates the fact that people far beneath him education wise think they've come to the conclusion the church is false through reason. So when Johny reborn comes along and proof texts the church into "another gospel" he's right there. With all kinds of historical and intellectual trivia to load to pepper his sarcastic replies with. It's like he just wants to scream, "Darn it to heck! You can't think the church is false! I'm smarter than you, don't you see?!"

Or, another way to view it is this.

The early days of the internet consisted of known scholars with university accounts willing to discuss knotty issues. As the internet opened up to the masses, the mob mentality that Joseph Smith faced against brickbats is now manifested with insults, defamations, and all that Lehi saw with the great and spacious building consisting of mockers who have "gathered together to fight against the twelve apostles of the Lamb." (1 Nephi 22:35.)

As Joseph Smith was killed by an anonymous mob with soot-disguised faces, so the Twelve endures the taunts and insults of anonymous posters who often, on the one hand, claim to be faithful members of the Church but, on the other hand, take pot shots with fake names.

A few good folks are willing to step forward of fight against the forces of cowardice and hypocrisy to defend the Twelve. A few of those are skilled and able to do so. They research, publish and can write to persuade. And, what are they blessed with the folks the likes of you? Threats, taunts and ridicule.

But, carry on.

P-- http://www.lw.com/attorney/default.asp [enter "Crockett"]

About ten years ago, the Church produced a video telling the story of how a boy saved a rattlesnake. The rattlesnake begged the boy to carry him down a large mountain. The boy was frightened of the rattlesnake, and said, "But if I touch you, you will bite me."

The rattlesnake assured the boy that he would not strike if the boy agreed to help him. Reluctantly, the boy carried the snake down the mountain. When they reached the bottom, the snake bit the boy. Astonished, the boy asked why the rattlesnake had gone back on his word. The rattlesnake replied, "You knew what I was before you carried me."

The prophet who was narrating the story(I believe it was President Hinckley) went on to counsel Church members to steer clear of places that are evil. Don't engage on the pretext of doing good things. Run! Run fast in the opposite direction.

President Kimball provided similar counsel when he was prophet.

Plutarch----If you honestly believe in your heart of hearts that the posters here are as evil as the mob that killed the Prophet Joseph Smith, then you should definitely follow the prophet's counsel and run! Cease to post here.

If you really want to be the upstanding defender of the gospel that you claim to be, then you need to follow the counsel of your leaders.

My point, Plutarch, is that you are the biggest hypocrite here. You obviously receive your own payoff by sniping at, and demeaning others.

You've stated it in other threads yourself. Participating on this message board is entertainment for you. That being said, please save us the bloated sense of self-importance in painting yourself as a good person "willing to step forward to fight against the forces of cowardice and hypocrisy to defend the Twelve."

Let's call a spade a spade. You're full of crap and you know it.

liz3564 wrote:You've stated it in other threads yourself. Participating on this message board is entertainment for you. That being said, please save us the bloated sense of self-importance in painting yourself as a good person "willing to step forward to fight against the forces of cowardice and hypocrisy to defend the Twelve."

Let's call a spade a spade. You're full of crap and you know it.

My comment pertained to Dr. Peterson. I don't consider myself qualified to step forward and fight against the forces of evil.

In terms of me being full of crap, we all have our crosses to bear.

P

In terms of me being full of crap, we all have our crosses to bear.

P

It's obviously a heavy one. ;)

How is defending the gospel comparable to emerseing oneself into a worldy culture and its practices ?

Gazelam wrote:How is defending the gospel comparable to emerseing oneself into a worldy culture and its practices ?

I'm not exactly sure what point you are trying to make with this comment, Gaz.

If you honestly believe that the majority of posters here "immerse themselves in worldly culture and practices", then I think you have a very narrow view.

Have you read the poll on "Composition of the board" in the Celestial forum?

There are almost as many Mormons here as there are Critics or Anti-Mormons.

I am active LDS. I have a testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Just because I question points of Church policy at times doesn't diminish that testimony.

What frustrates me about those of you who claim to be "apologists" is that you seem to have a hard time recognizing posters who differ in their opinions as "real people".

Let me post the following question to you, Gaz, and Plutarch, and, frankly, any other "apologist" lurking or otherwise who cares to answer:

Why is there a constant need to snipe at someone personally when they don't agree with you?

I've posed this question to Pahoran before, and he has yet to answer me. Who knows? Maybe he'll read this and respond.

To be honest....when you do that, you detract from the point you are trying to make. Use the mind that God has given you and make a solid point! And...let's go one further....LET THE POINT STAND AND SPEAK FOR ITSELF! Why the need of a one-two punch to down the other person in a personal attack?

This is what I object to.

You belong to Christ's church. Grow up and act like it.

I wasn't attacking you, sorry if you took it that way. I was merely saying that in the "parable" the snake represents the evil things of the world that tempt and entice us. I don't think this board is the same thing as that.

Gazelam wrote:I wasn't attacking you, sorry if you took it that way. I was merely saying that in the "parable" the snake represents the evil things of the world that tempt and entice us. I don't think this board is the same thing as that.

My analogy may have been unclear. Since Plutarch had compared the posters on this board to the mob who killed Joseph Smith in a prior thread, (which deeply offended me), I proposed the analogy of the snake. Since Plutarch's view seems to be that we are at that level of evil, in my opinion, it is hypocritical for him to post here. That was my point.

Maybe he should read more posts than Vegas's and Porters. : )

Gazelam wrote:Maybe he should read more posts than Vegas's and Porters. : )

LOL

I understand your point...However, comparing someone to a murderer is a pretty grave statement. PP and Vegas both strike me as good people. They're caring fathers and husbands, have jobs, etc. They have both had unfortunate experiences with the Church which has left them hurt and angry, but I don't see either one of them as evil, and surely not capable of the kind of evil the mob that killed Joseph Smith instituted.

I think that's why Plutarch's words stuck such a chord with me. How could any of these people here be compared to those mobsters?

Being a girl, you don't have an understanding of testosterone. Vegas and Porter are perfectly capable of being members of that mob, just ask them.