Bushman Article: JS and Losing Faith Over History

[Anonymous]

Here is the article this is from: http://www.shenpawarrior.com/2008/09/joseph-smith-and-losing-faith-over.html” class=”bbcode_url”>http://www.shenpawarrior.com/2008/09/joseph-smith-and-losing-faith-over.html

From Richard Bushman’s address:

Quote:

Here are some of the characteristics of people who have passed through this ordeal but managed to revive most of their old beliefs.

1. They often say they learned the Prophet was human. They don’t expect him to be a model of perfect deportment as they once thought. He may have taken a glass of wine from time to time, or scolded his associates, or even have made business errors. They see his virtues and believe in his revelations but don’t expect perfection.

2. They also don’t believe he was led by revelation in every detail. They see him as learning gradually to be a prophet and having to feel his way at times like most Church members. In between the revelations, he was left to himself to work out the methods of complying with the Lord’s commandments. Sometimes he had to experiment until he found the right way.

3. These newly revived Latter-day Saints also develop a more philosophical attitude toward history. They come to see (like professional historians) that facts can have many interpretations. Negative facts are not necessarily as damning as they appear at first sight. Put in another context along side other facts, they do not necessarily destroy Joseph Smith’s reputation.

4. Revived Latter-day Saints focus on the good things they derive from their faith–the community of believers, the comforts of the Holy Spirit, the orientation toward the large questions of life, contact with God, moral discipline, and many others. They don’t want to abandon these good things. Starting from that point of desired belief, they are willing to give Joseph Smith and the doctrine a favorable hearing. They may not be absolutely certain about every item, but they are inclined to see the good and the true in the Church.

At the heart of this turmoil is the question of trust. Disillusioned Latter-day Saints feel their trust has been betrayed. They don’t know whom to trust. They don’t dare trust the old feelings that once were so powerful, nor do they trust church leaders. They can only trust the new knowledge they have acquired. Those who come back to the Church are inclined to trust their old feelings. Their confidence in the good things they knew before is at least partially restored. But they sort out the goodness that seems still vital from the parts that now seem no longer tenable. Knowledge not only has given them a choice, it has compelled them to choose. They have to decide what they really believe. In the end, many are more stable and convinced than before. They feel better prepared to confront criticism openly, confident they can withstand it.

I really appreciated this insight. I often identify with Richard Bushman. Like him, I grew up knowing most of the disturbing aspects of church history, but being unable to reconcile that with the good I find within the church. IOW, the experience of the church was more valuable than its foundational claims and historical events. I don’t like it when I hear members lauding JS for things that I know were flaws of his (e.g. he was crap with money – let’s face facts; and his marriage was not exactly aspirational). I prefer silence (to praise not merited) on those points where he is not praiseworthy. But he is certainly praiseworthy on many other key points!

[Anonymous]

Great post, Hawkgrrrl. I identify with Bushman also, and think knowing more about history doesn’t have to put everything in buckets of “all revelation” or “all lies”.

This part was particularly of meaning to me…

Quote:

Knowledge not only has given them a choice, it has compelled them to choose. They have to decide what they really believe. In the end, many are more stable and convinced than before. They feel better prepared to confront criticism openly, confident they can withstand it.

This is what knowledge and growth should be about…more choices…increased free agency. If I was led blindly in ignorance…I would not have as many choices about what I really believe or how to learn to reconcile things with confidence.

I never read Bushman and think he is angry or anti- anything. I think he tries to present the materials and let the reader judge. I appreciate that.

[Anonymous]

One of the things that I have to remember about JS is just how very young he was.

Just for comparison, one of the youngest prophets of the Old Testament was David who was anointed King at age 30.

One of the youngest Prophets of the New Testament was Jesus Christ who began his ministry at age 30.

Joseph Smith was about 25 when the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints was officially organized and he became Prophet, Seer and Regulator.

JS had to struggle with the same issue we all have, faith, obedience, perseverance, diligence etc. He dealt with many of the same issues and temptations that we all do – except that these issues were compounded.

Family and marriage issues – not just one wife, several.

Money woes?, not just managing his own money, but founding an entire bank in troubled economic times.

Health problems? yeah, he had several very serious health issues and it didn’t help that some of his closest associates wanted him dead.

Political problems? Don’t even get me started, we’re talking pre-civil war America.

Legal problems? Oh well, just a few minor ones, like being thrown in jail, tried for treason and sentenced to die, all without a lawyer.

But, at the end of the day, he’s just a regular kinda guy, just like you and me.

[Anonymous]

Thanks Hawk! I love this article, it brings back memories. When I first read it I couldn’t relate so much to the “revived” viewpoint, I instead felt drawn to the “working out a new relationship to the church” comment. Today I realize I am relating more to the “revived” comments than I initially thought I would be able to, but in a way that I couldn’t have seen before.

Brick by brick. It’s an interesting process.

[Author]

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