Martin Harris in sunday school

[FiveFingerMnemonic]

Today in GD class it was a lesson on Martin Harris and the lost 116 pages. The teacher was asking what we knew about him. After a lengthy back and forth I decided to mention that he fell away during the Kirtland Safety Society crisis and that after the succession crisis he went on a mission to England for the Strangites and then joined several other break off branches before returning to the Utah group in 1870 broke and destitute. My comment was followed by many people immediately getting on their phones to look up my claims. Also, a recent convert came up to me and said to my surprise that he had a relative in the Strangites in Wisconsin. He mentioned that it was the first time anyone in the church had ever mentioned the Strangites. I told him that nobody knows about them unless they are well read in history. Good result.

[w2mz]

Glad you had at least a few people take notice. In my EQ I'm convinced more than ever that no one cares about information outside of the correlated pablum from the manuals and church magazines. I taught the lesson in EQ today and I mentioned the multiple versions of the first vision, rock in hat translation, JS polygamy, AND the essays. Before class I was wondering if I would be ran out on a rail, or reported to the BIshop, or if I'd ruffle any feathers.

It was a complete non-event.

Crickets. Literally. It's like no one cared one smidgen. I got a couple of "enjoyed your lesson" comments but that was it. Honestly I think EQ is just an endurance test to make it through the whole 45 min.

Back to regurgitating the same ten answers I guess.

[Korihor]

FiveFinger - that is awesome, the minions of darkness applaud your efforts to Bring forth further light and knowledge.

w2mz - I'm convinced this precisely describes my EQ as well. Just get through it.

[nibbler]

Honestly I think EQ is just an endurance test to make it through the whole 45 min.

Ha. This.

Whelp, church doesn't let out for another 35 minutes (announcements in my ward go on for forever) let's take turns reading from this manual until the clock runs out.

I lost all hope in Sunday School for this year when it became clear that the new material added to the lessons is only going to be used to attack "critics."

[AllieOop]

Today in GD class it was a lesson on Martin Harris and the lost 116 pages. The teacher was asking what we knew about him. After a lengthy back and forth I decided to mention that he fell away during the Kirtland Safety Society crisis and that after the succession crisis he went on a mission to England for the Strangites and then joined several other break off branches before returning to the Utah group in 1870 broke and destitute. My comment was followed by many people immediately getting on their phones to look up my claims. Also, a recent convert came up to me and said to my surprise that he had a relative in the Strangites in Wisconsin. He mentioned that it was the first time anyone in the church had ever mentioned the Strangites. I told him that nobody knows about them unless they are well read in history. Good result.

Good for you (that took guts)!

You could have also mentioned that Emma Smith and Lucy Mack Smith (and Joseph's other family members) joined the Strangites after Joseph's death too:

Strang was supported by all of the family of Joseph Smith. He was joined by the mother, wife, and three sisters of Joseph Smith. He was sustained by the only surviving brother of Joseph Smith, and his brothers-in-law. He was believed by all of the living Book of Mormon witnesses, except one who was no longer a member of the church.

It was Hyrum's family that followed Brigham Young out to Utah, not Joseph's (other than his Uncle John).



*******************

[FiveFingerMnemonic]

Today in GD class it was a lesson on Martin Harris and the lost 116 pages. The teacher was asking what we knew about him. After a lengthy back and forth I decided to mention that he fell away during the Kirtland Safety Society crisis and that after the succession crisis he went on a mission to England for the Strangites and then joined several other break off branches before returning to the Utah group in 1870 broke and destitute. My comment was followed by many people immediately getting on their phones to look up my claims. Also, a recent convert came up to me and said to my surprise that he had a relative in the Strangites in Wisconsin. He mentioned that it was the first time anyone in the church had ever mentioned the Strangites. I told him that nobody knows about them unless they are well read in history. Good result.

Good for you (that took guts)!

You could have also mentioned that Emma Smith and Lucy Mack Smith (and Joseph's other family members) joined the Strangites after Joseph's death too:

Strang was supported by all of the family of Joseph Smith. He was joined by the mother, wife, and three sisters of Joseph Smith. He was sustained by the only surviving brother of Joseph Smith, and his brothers-in-law. He was believed by all of the living Book of Mormon witnesses, except one who was no longer a member of the church.

It was Hyrum's family that followed Brigham Young out to Utah, not Joseph's (other than his Uncle John).



*******************

Great point! I didn't feel gutsy enough to push it that far. I am under Pariah status while still trying to have my cake and eat it too. It's a balance. I find that simply mentioning another obscure branch of mormonism by name is enough of a mental oddity in SS to get the desired effect.

[dareka]

We also had this lesson. But at one point in the lesson the instructor read something that said Josiah Stowell had hired Joseph Smith as a gold digger. I'm not sure why that came up, but it woke me up. One of the class members then said how gold digging was the big scam at that time, and lots of people were conned into it. Then the instructor said Joseph Smith must have been conned into doing it. I was thinking, "Really?? WTF??" I wish I'd been brave enough to point out that it was actually Joseph who was the con man.

[AllieOop]

We also had this lesson. But at one point in the lesson the instructor read something that said Josiah Stowell had hired Joseph Smith as a gold digger. I'm not sure why that came up, but it woke me up. One of the class members then said how gold digging was the big scam at that time, and lots of people were conned into it. Then the instructor said Joseph Smith must have been conned into doing it. I was thinking, "Really?? WTF??" I wish I'd been brave enough to point out that it was actually Joseph who was the con man.

Or that Joseph used the same seer stones to translate the gold plates that he'd used for treasure seeking and gold digging

[dareka]

Or that Joseph used the same seer stones to translate the gold plates that he'd used for treasure seeking and gold digging

Yes, that would have been even better. I wish I was braver.