Thursday, August 4, 2011

Why My Favorite Book at Deseret Book Store is Joseph Smith, Rough Stone Rolling

http://deseretbook.com/Joseph-Smith-Rough-Stone-Rolling-Richard-L-Bushman/i/4983110 

I wish this book had been written years ago; it would've saved me a lot of wasted time and money.  But this post isn't about my journey out of Mormonism; it's about why i like this book so much. 

The reason is that it allows some Mormons a graceful dismount from their high horses.  The information revealed about Joseph Smith in this book is more than the vast majority of LDS church members have ever heard, since it's potentially damning, and the church has always swept it under the rug, made excuses for it, or glossed it over in a way that causes members to not question.  (It's a dangerous thing, not questioning). 

Why are Mormons on the high horse in the first place?  Because they truly believe they're led by a prophet, that Joseph Smith saw god and Jesus (and in the book they'll find out there were various versions of the "First Vision" story until the most dramatic and impacting was settled on), and that they are RIGHT.  (They JUST BELIEVE...love that song, by the way).  What some of them don't really seem to believe, observing their actions, is their own 11th article of faith which states that everyone should be free to believe what they want, worship how they may, etc. 

And that leads me to my love of the book affectionately nicknamed "RSR" in some circles.  I had the great fortune of being part of a discussion group for the book.  The group included true, believing Mormons who are active in church and hold temple recommends; Mormons who no longer believe the doctrine but choose to remain members for the social or service aspects or family tradition or habit; and ex-Mormons who believe Mormonism to be fabricated. 

I found, at first to my surprise (although i understood it later), that some Mormons continue to believe their church is "true" even after learning much of the disturbing history of JS and his church's beginnings.  And among that group, many were truly humbled and far less self-righteous than before they knew more of the truth.  That is what i would hope for; that they will stop shoving their beliefs down the throat of the rest of the world.  Stop doing things like illegally funding campaigns for laws that breed hatred, fear and inequality (Prop 8, etc.).

I wish Mormons would pause for ONE minute and think, "Okay, what if it ISN'T true?  Would i vote differently?  Would i behave differently?  Would i believe gays have the right to marry (basic human rights?!)?  Would i keep my faith and practices to myself and my own family and let others live their lives as they see fit?"

I would hope there would be a graceful dismount from the high horse and a motion toward true humility.  Because going about with the mindset that WE ARE RIGHT BECAUSE GOD SAID SO and EVERYONE ELSE IS WRONG is REALLY MESSED UP and it CAUSES A LOT OF DAMAGE IN THE WORLD. 

11 holla'd back:

Donna Banta said...

I learned about the lies after reading the first edition of The Joseph Smith Papers from DB. Who needs "anti-mormon" literature, their own materials are damning enough.

sandi said...

Exactly! And i'm beginning to think (and i'm probably late to the game here) that they make up their own anti-mormon sentiments to throw off the trail of the real and heinous truths. Prime example: "mormons have horns." I NEVER heard a non-mormon say that. Heard Mormons accuse "anti-mormon" of saying it all the time, however.

sky0138 said...

I am definitely going to check this book out Sandi...very interesting. The guy I was with for about 6 years before I met my husband, was a Mormon. I went to church with his family a few times and was a bit overwhelmed (to say the least) at some of the behaviours I saw. I apparently didn't (and still don't!) "fit" the look of someone who belonged there...what with my tattoos and hippie style. I am very interested in learning about all religions and am somewhat of a free-spirit hippie at heart...knowledge is most definitely power in my opinion. Truthful open-minded knowledge.

sandi said...

It's a very long book, and tells the unpleasant bits in a pro-mormon way (of course; it's written by a member), but it's a good start. There are far more in-depth books. I'll try to remember to post them later. My brain is still waking up :)

Amy said...

Just bought the book yesterday. I am excited to read it! But, it is dauntingly long as one in a very tall stack. Too many good books and not enough people who want to pay my bills so I can sit around reading them. How did you get into the discussion group?

sandi said...

I was put into the group by another member; I'm not sure it's still active; it's been a while. Would you like me to add you anyway? You can read the previous posts, and it could even start up again :)

Amy said...

A facebook group?

sandi said...

Yup! There's a local in-person exmo book group, but we do different books (waaaaay past the morg).

Diane Tingen said...

I read this book after my exit from Mormonism because I wanted to see how Bushman dealt with all the sordid details. Since reading it, I have had some discussions with some TBMs who hang their hats on this book. It's like their new catch-phrase, that yes, Joseph Smith was a flawed human being but he was still a Prophet of God. After all, nobody's perfect, right? Of course, IMO, the commissioning of this book by the LDS higher-ups was a last-ditch attempt to explain away the many horrible details that have come to light about JS and what really went on in the beginnings of Mormonism. Mainly because of the internet, everything is out there now and not as easily swept under the rug as before.

As much as I would like to think that it is helping some TBMs to get off their high horses, from what I have seen that is not the case. This book has given them a way to explain away the sordid history of the Mormon Church in a way that helps them maintain their dignity. Not a good thing, IMO. But very clever of those Mormon leaders to deal with all the horrible details in this way. Very, very clever... and also very devious.

sandi said...

I agree, Diane. A family member said that exact phrase: "Joseph Smith wasn't perfect, but he was still a prophet of God." OMG! The brainwashing is powerful. It's actually pretty scary. To think that we were once in it...it sends chills down my spine.

Diane Tingen said...

Yes, I used to parrot the Mormon Party Line completely - but that was based on the fact that I was born and raised Mormon and just went along for so many years (much longer than I should have). That is something of which I am not proud, but I also know it was a product of the brainwashing, which runs very deep. But once I discovered the real truth behind the history, and all the extremely questionable things that Joseph Smith did and said, I was so completely shocked that it led to my leaving the church. How people can actually learn all of the sordid details and be able to rationalize their way out of it is completely beyond me. That requires more mind tricks than what I am capable of.

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