Posted by:
Jesus Smith
(
)
Date: May 24, 2012 07:52AM
I was an utterly convinced, kool-aid snorting TBM for a time. Probably some of the things that convinced me the most solidly (besides my belief the holy ghast had confirmed to me by chest-swelling convulsions) were little bits of info that were supposedly evidence of the BoM.
For example, chiasmus. Another was a verse in Moroni 9:8 about the women being fed the flesh of their husbands. Well, there is a vase in Tikal, which I saw as a missionary there, that depicted a bound "fair skinned" woman being offered something red in the hand of a tanned man of Mayan royalty. Supposedly it dated to the era in question. I believe it was absolute proof of that verse.
Another weird one was the article written by an astronomer that appeared in the 1985 June/July Ensign relating astronomy dates to the crucifixion, resurrection and the "restoration" of penishood to Joseph Smith. The author showed that by using the BoM calendar dates in 3 Ne, NT factoids, and the april 3 1836 date for restoration of sealing keys, he could link the dates to exactly 100 lunar eclipse periods (18.03 years I believe). It was an amazing square coincidence, which hit fit into the round hole of LDS theology. It was a miracle and proof again.
These kind of silly coincidences and factoids kept me a TBM far longer than I should have. I almost got out at 18 when I came into contact with my first anti-mo pamphlet (I think produced by the Tanners).
What interesting "facts" kept you in longer than you shoulda?
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/24/2012 07:54AM by Jesus Smith.