PBS The Mormons

[_Bryan Inks]

I'm seeing responses and questions (and b***s*** apologetics) galore on several other forums.

For example:

One "fact" that I did not know was that Joseph translated part of the Book of Mormon through the same method that he searched for buried treasure previously, that being looking into a hat through a seer stone. is there any validation to this claim?

I believe Joseph Smith could have use dozens of methods over the course of the translation process. He could've been using the breastplate before putting the Urim and Thummin in a hat, and then the seer stone, and then I even hear he eventually didn't need anything to translate to. There may not be one particular method in my opinion. But the story of the Urim and Thummin being replaced by the Seer Stone is a story that after losing the translation of the plates of Lehi, he was warn the manuscript had been altered and that he should now translate the plates of Nephi and they took the Urim and Thummin away, leaving a Seer Stone that he found that was supposedly weaker, thus a punishment of some sort.

Isn't it fun? I replied to "Roucao" with seven quotes from people that were involved in the translation (or were near by) that all support the rock in the hat.

[_skippy the dead]

My boyfriend is a good example. That boy can dance. He's not what you would think of for a "dancing man". The only reason he can dance the way he can is because he grew up a Mormon. Anyone old enough to remember Star Palace? (I think that was its name)

OMG! Yes, I remember the Star Palace! I was a BYU student when that was a big deal! LOL

I must confess that when I was at BYU, I may have - on occasion - gone there. Yikes. And maybe even on country night. In boots. Doing the two-step, cotton eye joe and orange blossom special. Sober, even. I blame my roommates from Idaho.

Yes, I'm 43...I'm old!

I'm not quite that old - you still have a few on me. But I'm [far too] quickly approaching. . .

[_beastie]

I remember that place, though I think I only went there once. Quite the pickup place, if I remember. Sounds positively cheesy, doesn't it?

Hey, are you calling my boyfriend a pick-up artist??? Why, I oughta hire a lawyer. ;)

I actually seemed to have missed the Star Palace fervor. I have to admit that I was quite religiously obsessed during my BYU days. I spent almost as much time on church work as I did on school work. I wasn't a "party girl" by any means. So if Star Palace was up and running from 76-78, I guess I just wasn't in that loop. I do vaguely remember hearing it had a "bad" reputation, and was eventually closed down, right?

I also went on my mission from 79-81, and I suspect that was when Star Palace was at its height.

My boyfriend had platform shoes, too, like John Travolta. His brother wore them and ruined them while he (my boyfriend, not the brother*) was on his mission, much to my boyfriend's chagrin (and my own current chagrin, I'd pay money to see him in those shoes today).

*had to clarify in case anyone was trying to imagine a missionary in platform shoes.. and I think they were purple.

But aside from star palace, "you people" really do dance more than "normal" folk. Heh. (I'm enjoying the rare occasion I can use the outsider "you people" stance on this)

As I've thought about this more, I really do wonder why the Book of Abraham didn't even merit a mention.

[_huckelberry]

Beastie, seven to my understanding but I obseve a differnt seven posting here.

I turned the program on last night on your recommendation. It was quite a bit better than I had expected. Thanks.
Of course a fast outline like as presented must make a choice of what is the main line. Using fire it drew a straight line from Burnt over district, conflict in the midwest to a place of seperation and intense belief out west.

Maybe different people would project their own assumptions into an outline,even one as focused ast this.

I felt convinced that Polygamy was primarily an effort to have something concrete and in hand to do which embodies belief. It naturally has some sexual dimension but it is to my understanding a product of the intense desire to have something to believe which made it take hold.

Belief can be powerfully intoxicating

[_beastie]

Good to see you, huck. I have more thoughts about the program, but it's been running so late I just have to go to bed when it's over. Hopefully I'll have the energy to put together some thoughts on why I found the program moving, personally. It probably has to do with what appealed to me enough about Mormonism as a nineteen year old girl that I was baptized in the first place, and remained such a devout believer for almost 15 years.

[_huckelberry]

"what appeals"

I hope to hear your thoughts Beastie. No need to rush the matter. My reactions are bit unformed yet myself. I thought it was a vivid look at the question even if it may not have presented at final answer.

Interesting use of images. Burning grass in the start burning desert in the end. Perhaps a bit obvious images but the connect to gether. I wonder what it would have been like to live in a community like that off the edge of the nation, off the edge of civilization,out in the desert. I wonder but not necessary wishing I was experiencing it.

[_Brackite]

Anyone else watch it tonight? I was transfixed by it. I thought she did a very good job capturing some of the complex contradictions and enigmas about the religion that absorbed me as a young adult, and still interests me today. I thought it was quite powerful and moving.

Hi There Beastie,

Yes, I did watch all of Part I of the PBS The Mormons a couple of nights ago. I thought that it was well done. I really liked the part on about Polygamy. I rmember the part about this one woman talking about one of her ancestors taking another girl to be his second wife, and how devastated and sad the first wife was. I was really kind of surprise to hear about that, because according to what I have read from a few of the LDS Apologists of Polygamy on the "FAIR"/MAD&D Board, I thought that most of the women back then really liked Polygamy. Oh well, I guess that those LDS Apologists of Polygamy were wrong about that. Most of the women back then, really did Not like Polygamy, and I was glad how this Documentary pointed this out. But the main reason why they entered into it, because the Leaders of LDS Church back then proclaimed it to be a sacred and holy practice of marriage, which had been directly commanded by the Lord. However, I do Not believe that the Lord God ever commanded any of the LDS people in the 19th Century within the LDS Church to enter into a Polygamous marriage.

[_Gazelam]

I saw the first part, and I have seen the first half hour of the second part. Plan to watch the rest tonight.

Some thoughts:

Where the hell did they get the artwork? Very strange. The Image they are using as Moroni all red like that reminded me of Tim Curry as the devil in the movie "Legend"
The whole art thing throughout was really bad.

I enjoyed the interviews, It was good to see the Apostles comments, and fun to see people from the boards like Tal and DCP. I agree that the Poet guy seemed an odd choice.

I know that MMM nneded to be discussed, but didn't it seem like they spent half an hour of a two hour program on it? The First vision seemed skimmed over, there was no mention of the Pearl of Great Price at all, nothing about The Vision found in D&C 76, but a half hour on MMM?

My wife didn't know about the Seer Stone, and I got an odd look at the mention of some of the Plural marriages when the narrator said that Emma didn't know about some of them. My wife also didn't know about MMM. So I had a little fun explaining some of these things to her. Also my Mormon friend at work had never heard about the seer stone. Had fun explaining that to him as well.

Gaz

[_moksha]

My boyfriend is a good example. That boy can dance.

Let me guess, while you and your other suitors sang, he with his happy feet won you over?

[_beastie]

Let me guess, while you and your other suitors sang, he with his happy feet won you over?

No, I've got two left feet, since I didn't grow up Mormon. ;)

the sappy, but true, fact is that I fell in love with his mind first. I didn't even know about his happy feet until my fate was already sealed.