Surprised this apologetic view of polygamy hasn't come up here yet

[jay santos]

I think you guys are being a little too hard on her.

I'm actually pretty OK with an apologetic argument that God was using polygamy as an Abrahamic test on the church. And in order for it to be an Abrahamic test, Joseph and the rest should not be told it's an Abrahamic test, right? So it's reasonable that he would explain it with the best logic he could to the church.

It's a stretch, but I've seen a lot bigger stretches from the Apologetics community.

[pellegrino]

I think you guys are being a little too hard on her.

I'm actually pretty OK with an apologetic argument that God was using polygamy as an Abrahamic test on the church. And in order for it to be an Abrahamic test, Joseph and the rest should not be told it's an Abrahamic test, right? So it's reasonable that he would explain it with the best logic he could to the church.

It's a stretch, but I've seen a lot bigger stretches from the Apologetics community.

the idea is not bad, but good theories generally reflect the facts of the real world in an accurate way. That is where Hudson's idea falls apart.

[pellegrino]

Did you notice that she taking an endowed chair at texas a&m? (snicker)

yes, which made this presentation all the more confusing.

[LA Ute]

Did you notice that she taking an endowed chair at texas a&m? (snicker)

Is that a step up or down?

[Katy Lied]

KSL and the Deseret News are to Mormonism what Komsomolskaya Pravda was to Communism. It's very difficult to take them seriously when it comes to anything even remotely related to Mormonism.

Oh brother.

[SeattleUte]

Along those lines, I have noticed a trend to completely disassociate ourselves from these FLDS folks, as well as other polygamous sects. Statements such as "there is no relationship whatsoever to the LDS Church" seem equally disingenuous.

It isn't just this woman. Even our beloved GBH, a man very adept at public speaking, spoke to a similar degree when he was being interviewed by Larry King (or was it 60 mins?).

I'm not sure how someone can say that there is absolutely no relationship whatsoever between the sects and the LDS Church. In fact, there is a very direct relationship between the two, although they are distinct entities and do not work in conjunction with each other.

However, the offshoot practices cut too close to the bone to acknowledge that we have more in common than differences.

I'm not surprised LA Ute wishes this article were true. I think we all wish it were true.

GREAT POST.

[SeattleUte]

Oh brother.

The analogy is precise.

[LA Ute]

GREAT POST.

I think the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is about as connected to, and responsible for, the FLDS church's beliefs and actions as the Catholic Church is for the actions and beliefs of the Lutheran Church.

[Katy Lied]

The analogy is precise.

You of all people ought to be able to distinguish the difference between Pravda and The Deseret News.

[Pheidippides]

I think the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is about as connected to, and responsible for, the FLDS church's beliefs and actions as the Catholic Church is for the actions and beliefs of the Lutheran Church.

Reverse LDS and FLDS and then I think you have the analogy right.

[SeattleUte]

You of all people ought to be able to distinguish the difference between Pravda and The Deseret News.

He was addressing their reliability. They are equally unreliable when reporting about the institutions that own them.

[LA Ute]

Reverse LDS and FLDS and then I think you have the analogy right.

How so? The FLDS and the Lutherans are the splinter denominations.

[SeattleUte]

I think the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is about as connected to, and responsible for, the FLDS church's beliefs and actions as the Catholic Church is for the actions and beliefs of the Lutheran Church.

I think the revulsion and hatred that many LDS feel for FLDS is explained by 3D's post. Many LDS don't want to confront that their own revered prophets and apostles did the same things that FLDS do and LDS find so odious. The precedent that both sets of leaders use of course is the Old Testament, which in many ways is a chronicle of a people that were in many ways uncivilized and barbaric.

Polygamy, especially when it preys on underage women and girls, is indeed horrible, absolutely uncivilized. There's a reason that enlightened countries, indeed even Christianity througout its history, have rejected and condemned polygamy of any kind. But many LDS are in denial about their revered past leaders' participation in such malfeasance, and these strenuous efforts at creating distance from the FLDS are all about that.

[Pheidippides]

How so? The FLDS and the Lutherans are the splinter denominations.

No, we are the splinter denomination. Not in terms of organizational legacy, perhaps, but in practice. Consider that Martin Luther looked at the church and pointed out all the things he thought were wrong, nailed them to his door, and changed practice and theology. On our side, the mainstream LDS church changed it's practice and theology and the FLDS didn't follow suit. Both of those examples are grossly simplified, but when you view this as an exercise in doctrine and theology and not one of organization the analogy is backwards.

[LA Ute]

I think the revulsion and hatred that many LDS feel for FLDS is explained by 3D's post. Many LDS don't want to confront that their own revered prophets and apostles did the same things that FLDS do and LDS find so odious. The precedent that both sets of leaders use of course is the Old Testament, which in many ways is a chronicle of a people that were in many ways uncivilized and barbaric.

Polygamy, especially when it preys on underage women and girls, is indeed horrible, absolutely uncivilized. There's a reason that enlightened countries, indeed even Christianity througout its history, have rejected and condemned polygamy of any kind. But many LDS are in denial about their revered past leaders' participation in such malfeasance, and these strenuous efforts at creating distance from the FLDS are all about that.

If you're saying that Warren Jeffs = Brigham Young, then your argument makes logical sense. That's far from an open and shut case, though, no matter how you try to make it. And I'm being charitable in making that statement.