Newsgroups: talk.religion.misc
Subject: LDS: Goodbye!
From: <HISWJH@BYUVM.BITNET>
Date: Sunday, 27 Sep 1992 11:16:54 MDT
Distribution: na
Organization: Brigham Young University


The anti-Mormon attack leaves much to be desired (to say the
least).  Several non-Mormons, who disagree quite strongly with
the LDS, have commented on this.  (Note I distinguish
between the rabid anti-Mormons, and an ordinary non-Mormon
who disagrees with the LDS).

The anti-Mormon tactics have been as follows:

1.  Find a controversial issue in LDS theology.  Note that, for
the most part, they are not discussing what all LDS agree upon.
They are discussing ideas about which the LDS community
disagrees extensively.

2.  Find the most extreme positions taken by LDS leaders or
writers.

3.  Take the extreme positions out of context and purposefully
misconstrue what those writers are really saying.  (Mark has
even gone to the extreme of confusing the writings of Joseph F.
Smith and Joseph Fielding Smith, and then denouncing the two
men, who held different opinions, as a single nefarious liar,
because they disagreed!  Incredible!)

4.  Print their out of context quotations on the network.

5.  Refuse to read Mormon responses, and denounce Mormons as
dishonest deceivers if we object to their tactics.

6.  Proclaim what good Christians they are and how they just
LOVE the Mormons (but hate Mormonism).


This "method" has been repeated over and over, and I am sick of
it.  I have posted numerous detailed, reasoned responses,
with extensive evidence from scripture, traditional Christian
writings, and LDS Christian writings.  I have not seen a single
one of my arguments responded to with any substance.  I have
also indicated published works which are in print to which the
anti-Mormons or interested neutral observers, can turn for a
full discussion.  There is absolutely no evidence that that any
anti-Mormon is making the slightest effort to see the real LDS
position.  I have also seen absolutely no evidence that any
anti-Mormon has made the slightest effort to read, understand,
or respond to what I have been saying.

So I quit.

I have access to a huge electronic database of LDS writings
which cover all the issues raised by the anti-Mormons.  I also
have a OCR scanner, and could scan in all sorts of additional
information.  I seriously considered simply copying the anti-
Mormon tactics and "blitzing" them with such a barrage of pro-
Mormon postings that they could never have time to respond
(which is exactly what they have tried to do to the LDS).
However, what's the point?  The anti-Mormons won't read it or
respond to it, and the ordinary non-Mormon will just be
overwhelmed, and I'd just be wasting my time.  Besides, all of
these arguments have been answered in print; anyone who
sincerely wants to know what the LDS really believe should
consult:

Stephen Robison, _Are Mormons Christian_ (Bookcraft, 1991)

Daniel C. Peterson and Stephen D. Ricks, _Offenders for a Word:
How Anti-Mormons Play Word Games to Attack the Latter-day
Saints_ (Aspen, 1992).  (I have this book on disk, by the way,
and could have posted it page by page on the network.  Like I say, I almost did
.)

The second book is available through:

FARMS
PO Box 7113
University Station
Provo, UT, 84602

from which interested people can also receive a catalog of
hundreds of LDS scholarly writings.

If the anti-Mormons would: 1- Stick to one issue at a time
until that issue is resolved, and 2- Respond to the LDS answers
instead of endlessly repeating their same attacks over and
over, I might consider continuing the discussion.  As things
stand, however, I am wasting my time.  (I am also in the
process of finishing a book manuscript, and have no spare time
whatsoever.)

But no matter what the anti-Mormons say, I know that I am a
Christian, and so does God.  I do not understand everything
about the nature of Christ and God, and I no doubt have
numerous erroneous ideas about scripture and doctrine.
Nonetheless, I sincerely believe in Christ and try to follow
him.  If that's not good enough for the anti-Mormons, that's
their problem.