Joseph Smith taught that the moon was inhabited by people that live to be 1000 years old?

[Bronco70]

Prophets and apostles have expoused many theories. I think they're humans just like the rest of us. Unfortunately, these ponderings are often accepted as doctrine, even if it is not spoken as such.

My take has been (as an active LDS member) that Prophets are spiritual leaders, but most of what they say and do is not directly driven by God. Mormon culture (not doctrine) has cultivated this idea that anything/everything a prophet says is straight from God. If Prophets are infallible, and they are merely God's mouthpiece, what's the point in that? Why not just run the show yourself?

 

[Siro]

That gets a rating of 4 on the scale of "crazy **** religious people believe". It fits right in there between Karma and rib-based women.

 

[Scat]

OP are you really a lawyer bro?

Have you ever heard of Plato, Aristotle, Socrates? Morons (compared to Kicky).

 

[Beantown]

https://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/YWJ/id/11651

Would love a comment.

Again as previously state here already, this is coming from a second source many many years after the fact. There are many people who say Joseph did or said a lot of things. Look at his own wife Emma, she swore her whole life that Joseph never practiced polygamy

Also look at the time frame. It was the early 1800's and most people were dumber than the modern 1st grader. So when it comes to Joseph and his magic and other weird theories you have to put that into context.

 

[HipHopAnonymous]

My take has been (as an active LDS member) that Prophets are spiritual leaders, but most of what they say and do is not directly driven by God. Mormon culture (not doctrine) has cultivated this idea that anything/everything a prophet says is straight from God. If Prophets are infallible, and they are merely God's mouthpiece, what's the point in that? Why not just run the show yourself?

You know if it was discovered that there were men living to a 1000 years old on the moon that Mormons would be quoting this as solid proof he is prophetic. But since it's obviously false it's just something he said that wasn't really a prophecy or from God.

 

[sirkickyass]

Again as previously state here already, this is coming from a second source many many years after the fact. There are many people who say Joseph did or said a lot of things. Look at his own wife Emma, she swore her whole life that Joseph never practiced polygamy

The evidence is more mixed on that subject than you might suspect.

One of my pet theories about religious development is that religions that thrive always have their founder be extremely charismatic but it's the second guy that's the full-blown lunatic and pushes it into a hardcore that can spread and thrive forever. That's true about Paul, Brigham Young, and is the emerging story about David Miscaivage.

 

[Siro]

The evidence is more mixed on that subject than you might suspect.

One of my pet theories about religious development is that religions that thrive always have their founder be extremely charismatic but it's the second guy that's the full-blown lunatic and pushes it into a hardcore that can spread and thrive forever. That's true about Paul, Brigham Young, and is the emerging story about David Miscaivage.

I don't think that applies to most religions. It's even a stretch for Jesus/Paul given the uncertainty over their existence, let alone the details of their lives.

 

[Beantown]

The evidence is more mixed on that subject than you might suspect.

One of my pet theories about religious development is that religions that thrive always have their founder be extremely charismatic but it's the second guy that's the full-blown lunatic and pushes it into a hardcore that can spread and thrive forever. That's true about Paul, Brigham Young, and is the emerging story about David Miscaivage.

Are you suggesting that Smith didn't practice polygamy?

Also Joseph wasn't this super charismatic guy that just tricked and swooned everyone into believing his stories. You have to realize that the majority of all conversion came from the Book of Mormon. Most people were reading the book and then flocking to Kirkland and Nauvoo. Joseph was dealing with the church on other matters, he rarely was directly involved in converting other or missionary work in general. The Book of Mormon was the key to the church growing and Smith knew that. Its why they risked so much to print so many copies of it.

 

[Bronco70]

You know if it was discovered that there were men living to a 1000 years old on the moon that Mormons would be quoting this as solid proof he is prophetic. But since it's obviously false it's just something he said that wasn't really a prophecy or from God.

Of course. Anyone with an agenda follows that model. But don't mistake my rationale for an excuse. Personally, I think God is a lot less directly involved than mormon culture professes. I could go on for paragraphs about my disenchantment with mormon culture, but I'll spare you that soapbox.

 

[nightmare3983]

Of course. Anyone with an agenda follows that model. But don't mistake my rationale for an excuse. Personally, I think God is a lot less directly involved than mormon culture professes. I could go on for paragraphs about my disenchantment with mormon culture, but I'll spare you that soapbox.

Soapbox! Soapbox! Soapbox!

 

[Beantown]

Of course. Anyone with an agenda follows that model. But don't mistake my rationale for an excuse. Personally, I think God is a lot less directly involved than mormon culture professes. I could go on for paragraphs about my disenchantment with mormon culture, but I'll spare you that soapbox.

But many inside and outside the church are very confused about God's "involvement". The church is there to give its member's a type of structure but the Church has always been focused on the individuals getting their own revelation's than just relying on the church for their spirituality.

 

[Bronco70]

But many inside and outside the church are very confused about God's "involvement". The church is there to give its member's a type of structure but the Church has always been focused on the individuals getting their own revelation's than just relying on the church for their spirituality.

IMO (and it's just that, my opinion) God set the wheels in motion, but expects us to drive. I stay in the church not because I think I'm going to hell if I don't, but because it is a good place for me, spiritually. It's a good environment to foster humility and introspection and service. It helps a lot of people in the same way. On the face, the church is preaches what you say - personal revelation. But mormon culture (especially in Utah) tends to overshadow that with a zeal for minutia. Part of that is the belief that anything the leadership (any GA, and bishops and SPs to some) says is straight from God, and therefore cannot be questioned. I don't believe this at all. I think God wants us to question. If what is being told is correct, and aligns with God's memos, the questions aren't going to hurt anyone. And how else do we learn? Just by hearing and accepting? We could do that up in heaven. Our spiritual development is on us. The church is a good place to work on it. But it's not the only place.

/partial soapbox