I of course grabbed the book and started reading it before Derik had a chance. I have always had a simple view of my faith.
I admittedly haven't pursued deep into the church's history or that of Joseph Smith's because there have been things I have heard and read in which I can't explain or make sense of.
I simply don't pursue things in which I am helpless to understand. "God's ways are not our ways"....
I think that as long as I'm focused on getting the things I know and understand "right", that the rest will fall into place.
This book gave me a very real feel for the love and hate that existed for Joseph Smith, there were many who knew the prophet and loved him deeply, and there were many who hated him and believed him to be an evil man.
Despite the title of the book only a few pages are actually written about the fate of the persecutors, it is mostly a composition of different opinions and stories that took place surrounding the prophet Joseph.
Seeing things in black and white has always been difficult for me, I usually get stuck in the gray areas. Which is where I found myself with this book. I saw both sides of the story and I found a bit of myself in both of them.
As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints,
I believe in God
I believe in His Son, Jesus Christ
I believe in the Holy Ghost
I believe that I lived before this life and that I will continue to live after this life.
I believe in right and wrong, and rules and consequences
I believe in prophets
I believe in Love Eternal
I believe families can be an eternal unit, and are ordained by God to be so
I believe in forgivness and in the Saviors infinite Atonement
I believe that everyone has their "right" to believe as their conscious dictates, and that no one should be persecuted or harmed because of their belief.
I would like to think that many of the followers of prophet Joseph carried in their heart, belief's such as these.
I cannot imagine losing my home and my rights and my dignity because I held such tender belief's. I was given a greater appreciation for my Mormon ancestors and the constant harassment that was theirs as they moved forward in their faith.
As a Human Being
I understand that Joseph was human and therefor imperfect
I understand that people were threatened by him
I understand that Joseph taught things that aren't easily understood, and which frankly I don't understand, but hope to some day
I know that many people always have to be "right" no matter the cost
I know that people behave irrationally when threatened
I know that the human perception of reality is always tainted by their own personal view of things
I know that what is truth to one man isn't always to another
I tend to discount the things I don't understand
I let my feelings override good judgment
I couldn't help but wonder where I would have stood, if I were not of the Mormon Faith.
I would like to think of myself as a valiant and faithful daughter. Believing as I do, has been easy for me (so to speak). But I have never been asked to sacrifice anything that was of worth to me, in the name of my religion, I have never been given guidance by our prophet to do something that has seemed contrary to what I already hold dear.
So I wonder when the time comes, as it does for all of us, if I will be as devoted as I think I am.
1 comment:
When I saw this title on your Goodreads list I was a little curious. I don't read a lot of church books (although I did give Peacegiver a try because you recommended it). I agreed with a lot of most of what you said. I felt like I truly didn't know Joseph Smith until I visited Nauvoo earlier this year. It gave me a whole new perspective on the early days of the church. I personally have come to terms with the question, "Would I have been a believer?" I think I would have, but I understand that everyone goes through those questions themselves. It's all part of being a present day (or latter day) Mormon!
But I'm still curious - what is the fate of the prosecutors???
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