tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226127102593234524.post3210178739444425874..comments2023-05-23T07:40:49.972-07:00Comments on Woman At the Well: Questions for Devout LDS Members: That 14 Year Old GirlAnna Maria Junushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14589846694967185982noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226127102593234524.post-10618158017515099152015-05-23T22:42:31.943-07:002015-05-23T22:42:31.943-07:00I have all the same questions as you do. I'm a...I have all the same questions as you do. I'm a lifelong member of the church and am going through a journey similar to yours. I recently asked to be released from my calling in the stake RS presidency, partly because of these questions that I have and that I am no longer "all in" with the doctrine. Surprisingly, my stake president said that my questions wouldn't cause him to release me from the calling. And he actually is encouraging me to find truth and answers instead of lecturing me and making me feel like an apostate. I found his response refreshing...and rare. He also admitted that he doesn't understand polygamy, and that JS will, in fact, be known for good and for evil.<br /><br />Now that I know more about Joseph Smith instead of only what we have been taught in the church curriculum, I don't believe for one minute that God commanded Joseph to practice polygamy. JS was either deceived, or he was a narcissist and womanizer and master manipulator. However, even with all the evidence and written histories, and even after the church published essays acknowledging much of this horrendous behavior, the church is still unwilling to throw JS under the bus. Instead, the church is more willing to throw God under the bus. The reason for this, I think, is because the church has always taught that everything depends on whether JS was a prophet or not. If the church admits that JS was WRONG, then a lot of people will completely lose their testimony and leave the church.<br /><br />It has taken me many, many months, but I'm getting to a place where I can believe that JS was called of God to do some things but completely screwed up other things. The whole "his name will be known for good and evil" thing. And you're absolutely right...the FLDS and Warren Jeffs are based off of JS. If JS hadn't started polygamy, then the FLDS and other groups would not be abusing young women as they are now. They use JS as their example.<br /><br />The disturbing church history is one thing, but the church continues to spin the stories and is still not being honest.<br /><br />This is such a long and painful journey. It's really, really difficult. On one hand, I've seen the power of the priesthood in action. I've had many, many good experiences in the church. But my soul is ready to know more so that my testimony of God, or of the gospel (the gospel is NOT the church) is based on truth instead of lies and coverups.<br /><br />I appreciate your blog very much and would love to meet you someday. You are able to put into words what I feel and think. Thank you so much.<br /><br />ChristieChristiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07960485748269453175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226127102593234524.post-18131358322771911022015-04-30T13:50:04.762-07:002015-04-30T13:50:04.762-07:00She wasn't a supporter at first. Stockholm syn...She wasn't a supporter at first. Stockholm syndrome. Why didn't Elizabeth smart just walk away sooner? The longer someone lives in that kind of life they begin to believe it, and identify with it. Even women and children that have been kidnapped or abused. I believe God loves me and <br />I believe section 132 is of Joseph Smith and not God. Other wise God hates women and believes their only purpose is to please men and have babies. Why would God give us brains. There is no purpose for plural marriage other than as a reward to man. Sort of like the terrorist that get their 12 virgins in the here after.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226127102593234524.post-28743121254290190342015-04-30T08:46:22.982-07:002015-04-30T08:46:22.982-07:00I think it's very risky that the church won... I think it's very risky that the church won't disavow this or say that JS should not have married Helen. I think it's a great cause for worry if there are any members who think there's some justifiable reason for men marrying 14 year olds, or there ever has been. I don't think anyone defending this should be allowed to have primary or youth callings in the church.sirpahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06457756548629698943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226127102593234524.post-941535372468409232015-04-30T07:53:26.881-07:002015-04-30T07:53:26.881-07:00Amen Lindsay. The Mormon God is a perv. See ya in ...Amen Lindsay. The Mormon God is a perv. See ya in Outer Darkness.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09516846367440922938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226127102593234524.post-63176107241602877772015-04-30T06:55:59.354-07:002015-04-30T06:55:59.354-07:00Ben, just because a person believes what they were...Ben, just because a person believes what they were involved in was right, does not mean it actually is right. There are jihadists all around the world who defend and support what happened on 9/11 and I am sure they will go to their graves defending those beliefs. Because they defend and support this position, using your logic, that would make what they did okay? <br /><br />Back to Joseph and the Lord who "told him to do it," I have to ask myself, even if this was all true, and really happened the way Joseph said he did, do I really want to serve and worship a God as sadistic as this? One who says families are forever, and then commands Joseph to marry women while their husbands are away serving missions? A God who felt free agency was so important that he let 1/3 of his children be damned for eternity, but who then tells Joseph and young girls that they will be killed by an angel with a flaming sword if they are not married. I am sorry, but even if Joseph was just following Gods orders and all of this is true, I think I would rather live in one of the lower kingdoms our even out darkness then have to dwell in the presence of such a manipulative and fickle God.Lookirbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05903482252255745375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226127102593234524.post-64954468931625069612015-04-30T00:44:45.542-07:002015-04-30T00:44:45.542-07:00Hmm, not sure how that argument supports forced ma...Hmm, not sure how that argument supports forced marriages to young teenage girls. Can you explain?Anna Maria Junushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14589846694967185982noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226127102593234524.post-36693690065651793972015-04-29T23:43:10.882-07:002015-04-29T23:43:10.882-07:00Hi, you don't have to ask me or anyone else. Y...Hi, you don't have to ask me or anyone else. You can read from Helen. She was a strong defender of plural marriage throughout her life.Benhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06842522625220436678noreply@blogger.com