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Richard Bushman did a recent “Ask Me Anything” on the exmormon sub-reddit. I won’t link direct out of respect for forum rules but if you google “”Richard Bushman AMA” you’ll find it. In answer to a question about his beliefs in the foundational events, the following jumped out at me (emphasis mine):
Quote:
I have read through the imposing array of questions posed over the past week and hardly know how to begin. They are pointed, relevant, sincere, and deserve more of a reply than I can possibly manage. I will do what I can during our open chat hour on Monday, but for now I would like to say something about my beliefs as I have been currently voicing them.A few weeks ago during one of the seminars that Terryl and Fiona Givens and I have been offering for people working through their doubts and questions, an old friend sat me down during the lunch break, looked me in the eye and asked, “Richard, do you believe Joseph Smith saw the Father and the Son in the grove?” I said of course and the moment passed, but his question lingered on and moved me to think again about what I do believe about the founding stories.I am very much impressed by Joseph Smith’s 1832 History account of his early visions. This is the one partially written in his own hand and the rest dictated to Frederick G. Williams. I think
it is more revealing than the official account presumably written in 1838and contained in the Pearl of Great Price. We don’t know who wrote the 1838 account. Joseph’s journal indicates that he, Sidney Rigdon, and George Robinson collaborated on beginning the history in late April, but we don’t know who actually drafted the history. It is a polished narrative but unlike anything Joseph ever wrote himself. The 1832 historywe know is his because of the handwriting. It comes rushing forth from Joseph’s mind in a gush of words that seem artless and uncalculated, a flood of raw experience. I think this account has the marks of an authentic visionary experience.There is the distance from God, the perplexity and yearning for answers, the perplexity, and then the experience itself which brings intense joy, followed by fear and anxiety. Can he deal with the powerful force he has encountered? Is he worthy and able? It is a classic announcement of a prophet’s call, and I find it entirely believable. … (snip section on his belief in Gold Plates etc)…
So what it comes down to is that I believe in the founding events. I think of them as the foundation of my faith. But they are the foundation, and I do not live in the cellar. I live in the rooms built on these events, the way of life, the attitudes, the institutions, the relationships, the experiences they support. This is what I meant when I spoke to Anselm Min, the Catholic theologian at Claremont Graduate School where Claudia and I taught for three years. Anselm took me to lunch soon after we arrived at Claremont and bluntly asked me how I could believe in Joseph Smith. My immediate response was that when I lived in the Mormon way I became the kind of man I wanted to be. Those words summed up a lot—my sense of having God’s spirit when I needed it, the salutary discipline of Mormon life, the friendships and commonalities of a Mormon ward, the requirement of unselfish service, the valuation of family, the tempering of pride and fear—a host of things. Like many people, I wrestle with demons. I frequently feel inadequate to my responsibilities. At the same time, I know I can be better, and when I live the Mormon way, I am lifted up. I see things more clearly. I can figure out how I really feel. I know how to relate to my wife and children and colleagues. I am temperate, incisive, generous, and focused. On bad days, Claudia and I often say we are out of sync with the universe. Over the many years I have been in the Church, I find that following the Mormon path puts me back in sync. I don’t use the word “know” a lot, but I do know I am a better person for being a Mormon.
The 1838 version was not canonised in Joseph’s lifetime. It was published elsewhere in his lifetime and a similar version was repeated in the Wentworth letter, so I’m not saying Joseph was unaware of it.
Maybe one day the church will change the version we tell our children and investigators to the more “authentic” version that is known to have actually been written by Joseph. Do you think the 1832 version will eventually gain greater currency as the default version?
I really appreciate his attitude of not living in the basement and “true because it makes me a better person.” I hold onto that principle. In the turmoil of uncertainty it’s what keeps me going.
Thank you for sharing this. I would not have looked there and what he says speaks to me. With all the new releases this last few weeks has made me feel so overwhelmed. I am glad that they are doing it but it comes across to me as more half truths or so one sided and a lot of spin. I know others feel different and I am happy for them but to me I would like there to be some releases that say” President U. said that past leader made mistakes and here is the list of those mistakes and our understanding of how they came about and here is what we intent to do to make things right and that we are sorry for the hurt and confusion it has caused.” I could get behind what Bushman said but he couldn’t say those things at a BYU devotional, he can only do that at an exmo gathering. church0333 wrote:Thank you for sharing this. I would not have looked there and what he says speaks to me. With all the new releases this last few weeks has made me feel so overwhelmed. I am glad that they are doing it but it comes across to me as more half truths or so one sided and a lot of spin. I know others feel different and I am happy for them but to me I would like there to be some releases that say” President U. said that past leader made mistakes and here is the list of those mistakes and our understanding of how they came about and here is what we intent to do to make things right and that we are sorry for the hurt and confusion it has caused.” I could get behind what Bushman said but he couldn’t say those things at a BYU devotional, he can only do that at an exmo gathering.
I think these are exactly the kinds of things he is saying in firesides around the world with Givens. They were in UK sharing messages like these in Stake Centres. It gives me hope.
In a way, Bro. Bushman is like an unofficial spokesperson for the new way the Church is approaching its history. Compare that to what might / would have happened 20-40 years ago to someone who said the exact same thing publicly – at a gathering of ex-Mormons, no less, and also in firesides for active members. That’s not a small thing at all, and I think it ought to be celebrated in its own right.
And, yes, I really like the 1832 version, for the same reasons he gives.
It was a really good subreddit, well worth a look. hawkgrrrl wrote:It was a really good subreddit, well worth a look.
I just read the whole thing and agree it was worth the time.My brother became disillusioned with the church not too long after returning home from his mission. (He’s someone I can be honest with; my crisis is providing brother/sister bonding time. Funny how that all works.) He didn’t know about the 1832 account, and I could see that it interested him. Not publishing it sooner was very unfortunate because, for me, it is faith-building. What a magnanimous person Richard Bushman is. “I wish you well in all your pursuits. I hope you appreciate the benefits of having to struggle to know what you believe.”
On an entirely different question, he doesn’t seem much interested in polygamy. He regrets the RSR omission of information about JS’s young wives, and says, “It was inadvertent.” I believe him.
He’s got other projects on his front burner now, but I thought it was interesting that someone raised the issue of a 2nd edition of RSR.
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