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Gale's avatar

A couple of other interesting facts: Joseph Smith's mother was a Federalist during a time when folks for states' rights and others who desired a strong central government strongly opposed each other. The family was forced out of Vermont with many others whose crops failed because of the "winter without a summer," the result of the eruption of Mt. Tambora, which caused bitter cold there and in Europe. Many people starved, especially in Europe, because of this volcano. Joseph, then a child, walked most of the way to PA/NY in June, through snow, limping because of a previous surgery on his leg.

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Kyle Beshears's avatar

So fascinating!

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Stephen Lindsay's avatar

Love it! I hadn’t realized that state taxation for religion was just then ending. Sociologist Rodney Stark claimed that religion thrives in an open market, and the enthusiasm dies under state control. Your notes here align with that thesis.

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Kyle Beshears's avatar

One small data point to back up Stark :)

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Jake Stone's avatar

Enjoyed this!

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Treyeshua's avatar

Just join. Then the Holy Ghost will reveal all to you.

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Kyle Beshears's avatar

I’m happy to say the Holy Spirit lives in me—convicting, comforting, sanctifying—just like the Lord Jesus said he would. Thank you for your concern!

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Treyeshua's avatar

And the Holy Spirit lived in me before I became a Latter Day Saint. The promise is that He will lead you into ALL truth, you are clearly not there yet, but you will be, in this life or the next.

"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come." John 16:13

Enjoy the profit and fame from your new book. Continue to fool around with your ideas about Jesus. Find out the Truth, eventually.

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Kyle Beshears's avatar

Thank you, sincerely, for your concern and willingness to press me on this. I genuinely view it as an act of charity and kindness, but your framing is distasteful and unwelcomed, so I don’t think further exchange here will be fruitful. I wish you well.

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