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Interesting article, with some issues relevant to us: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/lifestyle/54790798-80/bradley-mormon-faith-smith.html.csp Fascinating story. Thanks for sharing the link. My summary:
People are complex,and viewing them simplistically never can produce deep answers.
“The questions we ask largely determine the kinds of answers we find,” I thought that was a very interesting perspective on seeking truth. This historian asked cynical questions and got cynical answers, and then asked faith-promoting questions (presumably) and got faith-promoting answers.
Interesting how we are seeing more intellectuals being welcomed back to the fold. There was another article here about one of the September 6th who was rebaptized….is this a quiet or not so-quiet indication of a more accepting leadership?
The other question I have is on what timeline the historian in the article above recieved all his priesthood and temple blessings back. In my former experience, it would be a very long, arduous process to get them back eventually. In the article it sounds like someone flipped a switch (which I doubt) but I find this an interesting question.
This is the part of the Tribune story I liked the best: Quote:Though approaching the experience as a kind of anthropologist [taking the missionary lessons from 19 year old missionaries], Bradley said, “I experienced something my own investigators had described, that during the discussions and after, there was a light with me.”
Very interesting. I remember teaching my first discussion as a young missionary, and feeling this “light”, and also knowing that the people I was teaching sensed it also, that certain undeniable something that I’d never felt before, even though I’d grown up in the church.
I was able to attend Don’s presentation. It was fantastic, and I’ve wanted to write about it, but haven’t. I should also mention that following Don’s presentation, Maxine Hanks spoke. She is one of the September Six excommunicated in 1993, and was baptized into the LDS Church within the past year. Her presentation was excellent as well. Great article and good news that these individuals mentioned have returned. what has helped me hang on to believing Mormon theology has been attending church at other denominations because i can fill the gaps that they teach with what i know/learned from Mormonmism. helpful too has been my study of ufo/alien phenomena. one ufologist i follow has referred to “the veil” and just reinforces my lds beliefs. it helps too that the p of gp supports the truth about life on other planets. lastly – my spiritual experiences have also served as a beliefs anchor. His article about the grand fundamental principles of Mormonism, and his assertion that Joseph Smith was in the process of a reformation of Mormonism right before he was killed, that is one of my all-time favorite articles. It very much influenced my thinking when I was sorting out my personal beliefs and my connection to the church. Thanks for this! I love this part:
Quote:I’d been trying to solve spiritual questions with the tools of history.
To me that is one of the grand keys to unlock it all. If you get stuck on physical “reality” and have no sense of authentic spirituality there really is nowhere to go with it. On the other hand if you recognize the value of physical science, but separate it from the value of spiritual seeking, then you can begin to see in both spheres.
I would also point out that I do not try to solve historical questions with spiritual methods.
Brian Johnston wrote:His article about the grand fundamental principles of Mormonism, and his assertion that Joseph Smith was in the process of a reformation of Mormonism right before he was killed, that is one of my all-time favorite articles. It very much influenced my thinking when I was sorting out my personal beliefs and my connection to the church.
Brian–Do you have a link to that article?
TT
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