Just a couple of points,

a. I doubt very much that the land purchase by the LDS Church of the area commonly used by the evangelical groups during the Manti pageant will have much effect on their various "witnessing" activities. The evangelicals will simply relocate their picket stations 50 feet away. This is exactly what happened at the LDS Temple Square.

b. As a TBM, I am quite happy to see evangelicals picketing LDS events such as pageants and General Conference. The picketers with their bullhorns yelling the "Mormons will go to Hell!" and vile signs (i.e. LDS = Liars, Deceivers, Seducers etc.) are truly offensive. I really doubt that any LDS are persuaded to convert to evangelicalism by such obnoxious tactics. Rather the reverse is more likely the case. Such encounters merely reaffirms the convictions of the Latter-day Saint and underscores the spiritual hypocrisy of the evangelical protesters.

c. Over the past couple of decades I have noticed an interesting phenomenon whereby these evangelical demonstrators are becoming much more shrill (particularly at General Conference). While many of these evangelicals are relatively decent people there seems to be a growing contingent of really obnoxious individuals (Street Preachers) who are so vile and contentious that they seem to drive most of the other demonstrators away. There is undoubtably some sociological term or phrase for this phenomenon. It would appear that these obnoxious individuals are not at all interested in sharing their faith (whatever that may be) but rather deliberately seek confrontation.

d. Finally, I really cannot imagine that all of these strident efforts being made by the evangelical groups in demonstrating against the LDS Church has much effect other than to reaffirm and strengthen the faith of Mormons attending such events. This is precisely why I welcome these evangelical demonstrators.

Falcon,

It is obvious that you absolutely despise Mormons. You openly mock the violence and suffering inflicted upon innocent people.

That is so "Christian" of you

Eric,

In response to your questions:

1. B.H. Roberts' six volume "A Comprehensive History of the Church of the Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" contains an extensive account of the persecutions of Mormons during the Missouri War and the Illinois War.

2. Most of the Mormons who perished during these persecutions (Missouri and Illinois) perished from exposure and accompanying illnesses incident to being subjected to inclement weather.

In Missouri in 1838 approximately 10,000 Mormons were forced at gun point to leave their homes in western Missouri (many of these homes were ransacked and burned by the Missouri mob) and walk some 300 miles through the frontier wilderness to Nauvoo during the wintertime. These poor, innocent people were given little or no time to prepare themselves for this arduous trek. It is not surprising therefore that the mortality rate was 3 or 4 percent (i.e. meaning 300 to 400 deaths) consisting mainly of the old and very young.

Similarly, the Mormons in Illinois were facing mounting violence and persecution from the mobs and consequently fled to the west. The historical evidence is irrefutable. The Mormons were fleeing violent persecution and many perished fleeing their persecutors.

If your want physical evidence would the various grave sites along the Mormon Trail satisfy you are do you insist that these graves are a hoax as well?

Mamawrench,

Sharon's basic premise in her trite article is that the persecution of Mormons IN GENERAL is fiction. There is an absolute abundance of historical evidence which soundly disproves this piece of historical revisionism. This persecution occurred in Europe (including Iceland) as well as America.

I think that you are fully capable of carrying out your own research. I have given you some broad subject headings as the start of your research and I have also suggested that a good place to start would be to read the personal journals of individuals who were eyewitnesses to the actual historical events.

Mamawrench,

In response to your question there are plenty of specific sources regarding the persecutions of Mormons in the 19th century. As I stated, the persecution of Mormons in the 19th century was often violent, vicious, and cruel. Contrary to the blithe denials of Mormon critics, these persecutions are a well documented historical fact. If you wish to research this topic you could start your internet search with the "Missouri Mormon Wars" or the " Missouri Extermination Order". Hundreds of Mormons lost their live fleeing their persecutors.

What I find particularly galling is the insistence by Mormon critics that such historical events never took place. Such denials are simply dishonest.

Sharon,

Your little hatchet piece against Icelandic Mormons is so filled with errors, omissions, and blatant untruths that it is difficult to know where to start. If you would take the time to do some basic fact checking (i.e. read some of the personal journals of Mormon converts who left Iceland in the 19th century in large part to escape from the persecution from the Lutheran Church) your article would not be so riddled with misinformation.

You solely rely upon the opinion of one person who is obviously unaware of the specifics of Mormon / Lutheran interpersonal relationships in 19th century Iceland and who, moreover, even admits that: "in a small society it may always be difficult to be different.” . Read some of the personal journals of those Mormons who left Iceland during that time period. Although there was no official expulsion order against Mormon converts, religious intolerance and bigotry against the Mormons was rife during that time in Iceland as it was in many parts of Europe. A little effort on your part in conducting some basic research on this topic would be a good place to start.

Your basic premise that persecution of Mormons is fiction is as outlandish as it is ridiculous. The historical facts are clear and irrefutable: persecutions against Mormons and the LDS Church during the 19th century were often violent, vicious, and cruel. Many Mormons were murdered and HUNDREDS died fleeing their persecutors during the Missouri War. Even HUNDREDS more Mormons perished from exposure fleeing their persecutors after the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyram Smith. This is not fiction, this is historical fact! This historical fact is attested by the hundred of graves that mark the Mormon Trail. It is shameful that you so blithely dismiss this cruelty as fiction.

In general, your historical revisionism is as dishonest as it is misleading. Contrary to your conclusions, it is "your house" of dismissive reviling of the suffering of others that is built on a foundation of sand.

Jay K,

In reference to your link, the modern world scoffs at the very notion of the miraculous. Atheists in particular love to deride all religion as being fundamentally delusional. My response to such cynicism is: "seeing is believing".

Witnessing a broken body being mended or a cancer ridden individual being healed through the power of a priesthood blessing is compelling evidence to me of the love and compassion of the Lord. Notwithstanding the fact that such healings are beyond the comprehension and explanation of modern medical science, such miracles do occur and are readily documented.

The modern world reviles such miracles as being part of a self-induced delusion. I say it is direct evidence of God's love and the power of faith.

Sharon,

From your comments it seems that you neither understand nor appreciate the nature of priesthood blessings or the functioning of the priesthood itself. When a priesthood blessing is administered by one holding the proper authority of God (the priesthood being the power and authority delegated by God to act in His name) one is to follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost concerning what should be said. This is of course predicated upon the spiritual receptiveness of the priesthood holder giving the blessing.

Having personally administered many hundreds of such blessings I can affirm that the presence of the Holy Ghost is often very strong and almost palpable. It is during such occasions that inspiration communicated from the Lord is most direct.

The modern world scoffs at the notion of priesthood blessings and the power and authority of the priesthood. However, I have personally witnessed broken bodies being mended and diseased individuals being healed in a most miraculous manner that defies medical science. So go ahead and scoff. For my part I have witnessed the power of the Lord to heal those who have faith to be healed.