This kind of bs was a staple of the ward I grew up in.
People said they spoke to dead people, saw demons, 1 bishop said he saw Satan, & others said that they witnessed demonic possession.
The craziest story I ever heard though, wasn't from my ward, but was told at a multi-stake fireside. Someone tried to say that someone they knew was translated into the spirit world because they were so righteous.
Tristan Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I have said this before, & I'll say it again. > > The cult is not Satanic. It is just a fucking scam > that uses cult tactics to steal money & time. > > These people weren't Satanic. They were just > extremely stupid & susceptible to suggestion. > > All this talk of the cult being Satanic takes away > from the fact of what the cult really is, & the > truth of how it harms people.
Sure it's a scam, and false, etc, but there's no disputing that the many influences woven together into Joseph's Myth included the occult. And it should be no surprise that these elements--whether they are false or not--appeal to certain people.
I don't think these elements are legimately occultic. Just made up bullshit that just looks vaguely occultic, but actually isn't.
The people I knew in the cult were deeply afraid of demons & Satan, & so they were susceptible to suggestion. The suggestion that Satan & demons were truly out to get them.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/03/2016 02:44PM by Tristan.
Tristan Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I don't think these elements are legimately > occultic. Just made up bullshit that just looks > vaguely occultic, but actually isn't.
Legitimately occultic? The occult is NOT legitimate. It too is "just made up bullshit." The entirety of TSCC is made up bullshit that looks vaguely religious. Not just some of it, all of it. The whole toxic stew. So why be worried about which component of it is legitimate or not? None of it is legit.
Some people like the "reorganized church," or "we're speshul," or "families are forever," and some like "baptizing the dead," or "seeing dead people at the temple." Whatever their heart desires.
TSCC doesn't care what you believe--doctrine, culture, etc--as long as you pay.
Tristan Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > The people I knew in the cult were deeply afraid > of demons & Satan, & so they were susceptible to > suggestion. The suggestion that Satan & demons > were truly out to get them.
I would suggest that to these people, the occult components of the church are very real. Things don't have to be true to inspire fear or creepy warm fuzzies in those who believe it to be true. And, again, TSCC doesn't care what you believe as long as you pay.
TSCC is made up bullshit from start to finish, and top to bottom. There is no part of it that's more or less "legitimately" bullshit than all the other parts. Joseph's Myth is brain vomit of every quasi-spritual thing he ever encountered, woven together with his imaginary tweaks and twists, and a lot of his personal perversion thrown in for good measure.
I used the word "legitimately" meaning things that from recognized occultic beliefs. Not that it is real or anything like that.
Of course it is all made up & fake. Also, I have known people from other "churches" that also think Satan & Demons are out to get them. This fear is not exclusive to the cult. They don't believe in occultic elements or beliefs either.
Correct, early Mormonism had many occult influences. D. Michael Quinn wrote a book about this topic several years ago. You can find a short review of his book, "Early Mormonism and the Magic World View," here:
I have heard about this. I took it as JS not really knowing anything about what was considered to be recognized occultic beliefs, but just making up new things for symbols & such.
Also, I do not believe the occult is real. It is made up completely.
Conveniently, Nelson stated that he didn't see or hear them with his physical senses... But it was with his "spiritual" senses... (sound familiar?)... Then he proceeded to repeat the "message" the two dead little girls had for him...
"spiritual senses" = license to make up an inspiring story that TBMs can mount on their walls
"Nielson talks to Dead People!" Why is he not talking to God and Jesus and telling us what they are telling him? That is what he is sustained and called to do!
I was talking about "The Shining" by Stephen King, published in 1977. The young boy Danny has psychic abilities, & can see dead people. & of course, Kubrick adapted it, but missed the main point of the book & changed things. The direct, more literal miniseries adaptation in 1998 sucked, even though it was 98% faithful.
It seems "the brethren" are doubling down on stupid. I was predicting less "one true church" talk, no revelation/vision talk, more talk on doubt like the last several conferences, etc... It's been the opposite of everything I was expecting...except for the double dose of boring and that lady's annoying primary voice.
Nelson didn't see or hear anything, but he "sensed" their presence and message about not being sealed? That was enough for him to go manipulate an 88 year old man into wasting his last days getting to the temple?
Oh!...wait... I'm sensing something! I don't see or hear anything, but...yep...the message is short and clear..."You're full of shit!". Tommy?...Russell?...Does that mean anything to either of you?
I heard lots of stories too. It used to be considered "faith promoting" to tell tales of seeing dead relatives in the temple. I think the talk may be a green light to bring back all the stories. Now they'll be "sensing" with their spiritual sensing powers instead of seeing or hearing, but whatever...