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Mormonism & American Politics: Early Encounters

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niatek Avatar
niatek
Posts: 5
Posted: 01.10.09, 03:09 AM
noah feldman ROCKS!
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anselmiano Avatar
anselmiano
Posts: 6
Posted: 09.22.09, 08:27 PM
Bushman, more precisely Smith realized that he needed "political power" not "government."He neglects to mention Mormon "block voting" and their claims to the land they were new to as the land promised them by God as their inheritance. Also Smith had a very expansive view of freedom of religion which included the secret practice of polygamy and the right to the violent suppression of any dissent. Smith's platform was "theo-democracy" which would have amounted to theocracy like the one he implemented in Nauvoo or what his successor Brigham Young implemented in Utah. The Expositor was not just closed down, but its print destroyed and its publishers threatened in their life and limb and ran out of Nauvoo. Legal prior-restraint on free press?? Bushman knows Smith was not "defamed", by Sharp or the Expositor, as the Expositor told the truth by "exposing" with overwhelming evidence Smith's and his elite's polygamy, which was not only a crime but also denied by Smith to the membership of his own church, to the press, the government and the public at large. Bushman continues a long tradition of Mormon apologetics, spinning and distortion.
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anselmiano Avatar
anselmiano
Posts: 6
Posted: 09.22.09, 08:56 PM
True Smith detested "states rights", yet, paradoxically, his succcessor, Brigham Young touted them in the interest of being left alone to do his own thing in Utah. The territory of Utah was a true theocracy, much a la Taliban. Thank God uncle Sam put the Mormons in their place. Read "In Sacred Loneliness: The Plural Wives of Joseph Smith" by Todd Compton, winner of the book of the year award by the Mormon History Association, and your doubts on whether polygamy was abusive of women will be dispelled. Women only "purported" victims? I think not.
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niatek Avatar
niatek
Posts: 5
Posted: 09.22.09, 10:42 PM
hey anselmiano,

I tried to see if I could contact you more privately instead of through this thread but yeah, was not able to find contact info. Anyway, from reading your posts, I would have to say that it seems you know much about mormon history and therefore, I was wondering if I could pick your brain about some stuff. I don't have a good grasp on the mormon church's history and would like some pointers as to good books, articles, etc. that would help me sort out some of my questions and/or concerns. I would greatly appreciate it!

thanks!!!
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