- Stephen Fleming on The Book of Mormon’s Anti-colonialism: “I discovered this around the time of my mission and thought it was a very big deal (still think it’s important). And as I’ve said a lot, I’ve never heard it taught in church. It was a very controversial teaching from the beginning. Ezra Booth said the Mormons were talking about it during their Lamanite mission in 1831 and the Missourians listed that teaching as one of their complaints against the Mormons in 1833. Parley Pratt made a big deal of the teaching in the first ed of Voice of Warning, but then took it out. The claim that the Mormons wanted to collude with the Indians against the Whites was around a lot in the 19th century, but did seem to get suppressed. I don’t know that process. But yeah, it’s one of the main Book of Mormon prophecies, but not something the church teaches. So, no need to apologize, Kendall. Good points. This first post is a bit of an overview. Thanks, RLD. More to come. I’m wondering about the implications Book of Mormon’s anti-colonial statements on the US’s foreign policy.” Apr 25, 17:32
- on “Modar” is a Thing: “Interesting…file this under “things that are different in ‘the mission field’.” If I have a vague sense that someone might be a member, it’s because I’m about to recognize them as a member of my stake. My stake is big enough that I only leave it 5-6 times a year, mostly for temple trips. So the probability of me running into someone who is a member without me knowing it is so low, they’d probably have to be wearing BYU apparel before it would be reasonable to guess they’re a member. My Modar is sadly undeveloped. I’m curious if Modar would hold up (i.e. recognition still better than chance) if the people to be recognized were 1) members with no Utah ancestors, 2) converts, or 3) members outside the US. That would tell us something about what gives us away.” Apr 25, 13:51
- on The Book of Mormon’s Anti-colonialism: “I think it’s worth highlighting that the colonial project gets reversed no matter what. You’ve quoted from the bad ending, where the Gentiles refuse to repent, but the good ending (3 Nephi 16:13) is that they are “numbered among” the covenant people, who get their land back. We Gentiles (white descendants of Europeans in this context) will not be the dominant people in the promised land for long. I look forward to the series. There seems to be a tension in the scriptures between a notion that peoples are entitled to a “land of their inheritance” that comes down to them from their ancestors, and the idea that race and ethnicity don’t matter to the Lord. Of course colonialism is condemned by both.” Apr 25, 13:34
- on The Book of Mormon’s Anti-colonialism: “When I was young, realizing what this prophecy meant—that American Mormons were given not only a warning, but a blueprint for our demise—I felt that I’d discovered a mystery hiding in plain sight. That the prophecy occupied so much surface area of the Book of Mormon, and we virtually never discussed its literal application in church settings, constantly puzzled me. I’m willing to bet select church leaders have addressed the prophecy; but it is a wonder why it’s not an emphasis. I suppose “racism” and “nationalism” are tools some folks will reach for, but I suspect particularism—placing ourselves in the center of history—and determinism—belief that our fate is secured by God—is why we don’t engage seriously with the topic. Steve, apologies, you’re applying the prophecy to anti-colonialism, and I’m sort of reflecting on its obscurity, so a bit off topic.” Apr 25, 11:24
- on 19th-21st Century Mathematician and Logician Disciple Scholars: “I’m late to the party, but Thank you, Stephen! This was a delightful diversion into nerd-dom.” Apr 24, 20:09
- on “Modar” is a Thing: “I asked ChatGPT to create some art for my blog. I asked it to create a painting in the style of realism of an LDS man, no symbols. No white shirt. I prompted it with several descriptions of LDS countenances and asked AI to also extract its knowledge of LDS faces, descriptions from text of LDS countenances, as well from photos of the Tabernacle choir, general authorities, famous saints, etc. to create a compilation. I told it to try and capture the countenance and unique LDS spirit in the eyes. I did specify a middle aged male for the purposes of this project. It drew a white male with hazel greenish eyes and dark blonde/brownish hair and a receding hairline who wasn’t fat, but not thin, with somewhat of a full face-maybe a little overweight but not much. (Have you ever noticed how we’re never depicted as tall/thin people? People look at us as the chubby nerdy Elder or the overweight, but jovial ward clerk or bishop with a pot belly. Never the lanky President Eyring.) He had an innocent gaze with somewhat of a wide-eyed, perplexed/hopeful look. I noticed that the eyebrows were raised near the furrow and lower on the outsides, like a “worried” emoji”. When I kept telling AI “more” the eyebrows became more “worried” and the eyes larger- more doe-eyed and innocent/concerned looking. There wasn’t a smile, nor was there a frown. Serious. Hopeful/concerned. My painting looked like every young dad you’d ever meet in Elder’s Quorum. I suppose we have a lot to be innocent about (no R rated movies or wild drunken parties). We are often naive about a lot of things. We’re also hopeful in our interactions with people. And we’re also worried. We’re supposed to mourn with others, to be sober and serious, be concerned with welfare and charitable issues etc. It was an interesting experiment. I’d link the url, but it would put my comment in moderation.” Apr 24, 14:22
- on “Modar” is a Thing: “A decade ago, before self-scanning took over, if I went to Safeway after 9 PM on a Saturday night, I would often find myself in line for the cashier with someone else from my ward. Once three of us in a row. Another time the DC North mission president picking up a few things on his way back to the mission home. Dividing the count on the ward list by census tract totals I once came up with 1.1% latter-day saint. If I wanted to find random latter-day saints, I might try looking around a grocery store on a Saturday night.” Apr 23, 17:33
