Who's the trickster?

[Reuben]

In a lot of belief systems, a trickster plays a central role. The character's main job seems to be subversion. Its unpredictability helps adherents toss their certainty that everything is well-ordered and understandable, often with a laugh or two.

Loki and Coyote are obvious ones. A big part of Buddhism is questioning assumptions, so the Teacher is often the trickster. Satan is a trickster in the book of Job. I think Jesus is often a trickster.

Does Mormonism have a trickster?

[2bizE]

I think the Q15 for sure. Apologists like Dan Peterson. They all seem to perpetuate the myth.
Does the coyote know what he is doing? Or is he just being a coyote?

[Corsair]

Does Mormonism have a trickster?

Joseph Smith himself? He certainly shook things up. The modern LDS church is not a fan of tricksters. You can't control a trickster. Anyone as revolutionary as Joseph Smith, or any other trickster, would simply not be welcome in the modern LDS church.

[Reuben]

Does Mormonism have a trickster?

Joseph Smith himself? He certainly shook things up. The modern LDS church is not a fan of tricksters. You can't control a trickster. Anyone as revolutionary as Joseph Smith, or any other trickster, would simply not be welcome in the modern LDS church.

That was my first thought. He certainly does defy expectations in every way, no matter what your expectations are. Think you understand heaven? Babies rule there. Think you understand judgment? Joseph is totally gonna be glorified even after all the crap he pulled. Think he was just a con artist? He's so sincere in his private thoughts...

The dude won't fit in anybody's box. He was a living koan.

FWIW, I would love to see the living koan embraced. A trickster won't let you keep your nice, tidy worldview. Some uncertainty is in order.

Any other tricksters?

[Red Ryder]

Mormonism itself is the trickster!

[blazerb]

J. Golden Kimball was the legendary trickster when I was young. I don't know that there is anyone filling that role today. The leaders don't like the thought of tricksters.

[redjay]

remember this little gem?

"The story is told of a council meeting involving the Prophet Joseph Smith and the Twelve Apostles. During the meeting, the Prophet rebuked Brigham Young from head o toe in front of the others, accusing him of something he had not done. When Joseph had finished his rebuke, the other brethren sat silently awaiting Brigham Young's response. Brigham Young rose to his feet. He was a strong man. He could have reacted and said: "Now, look here, haven't you read how you're not supposed to rebuke in public, but only in private?" Or, "Brother Joseph, doesn't it say something in the revelations about persuasion, and long-suffering, and gentleness and meekness?" Or, "Joseph, you are dead wrong. I would never do that." But Brigham Young did not react in any of those ways. He acted and said simply, "Joseph, what do you want me to do?" Joseph burst into tears, approached Brigham Young, threw his arms around him and said, "Brother Brigham, you passed [the test]" (See Truman Madsen, Joseph Smith the Prophet, p. 88).

[Random]

Passed the test of being obedient to a man?


Or is it a story created simply to create a follow the prophet mentality?

(I really don't know, but I have mistrusted this story ever since I first heard it when I was tbm.)

[Palerider]

remember this little gem?

"The story is told of a council meeting involving the Prophet Joseph Smith and the Twelve Apostles. During the meeting, the Prophet rebuked Brigham Young from head o toe in front of the others, accusing him of something he had not done. When Joseph had finished his rebuke, the other brethren sat silently awaiting Brigham Young's response. Brigham Young rose to his feet. He was a strong man. He could have reacted and said: "Now, look here, haven't you read how you're not supposed to rebuke in public, but only in private?" Or, "Brother Joseph, doesn't it say something in the revelations about persuasion, and long-suffering, and gentleness and meekness?" Or, "Joseph, you are dead wrong. I would never do that." But Brigham Young did not react in any of those ways. He acted and said simply, "Joseph, what do you want me to do?" Joseph burst into tears, approached Brigham Young, threw his arms around him and said, "Brother Brigham, you passed [the test]" (See Truman Madsen, Joseph Smith the Prophet, p. 88).

This was a set-up. These guys had this planned before the meeting took place. My opinion...

[hiding in plain sight]

God is the trickster in mormonism.

All starting in the garden of eden with the multiply and replenish the earth, but don't partake of the fruit. Two commandments which both could not be kept.

All the way to D&C 19 where he tells us that he only told us that hell was real to keep us motivated, but he only really meant eternal punishment was God's punishment and not punishment that lasted forever. But don't tell anyone right yet. They need milk before meat.

Trickster mormon God all the way.

[RubinHighlander]

J. Golden Kimball was the legendary trickster when I was young. I don't know that there is anyone filling that role today. The leaders don't like the thought of tricksters.

I think all the 15, except for Bednar, think they are beloved good humored leaders, tricksters of sorts. Look how they use laugh lines and get laughs off of serious topics that should not be laughable. A dying friend who never gets a blessing to be healed, poor sap just has to endure to the end. A public shaming of a sincere educational institution; Maxwell smarts. A taffy pull-no dodo.

[deacon blues]

Jim Bennett and the Church Essay on polygamy both emphasize that God commanded Joseph Smith to practice polygamy, but didn't tell him how. This would give Joseph the option that Shadrach, Mishak, and Abed-nego, and Daniel chose- that is- practice the doctrine without hiding, and without deception. With that view, it was Joseph's faith, like Abraham's, that was being tested. This seems a real possibility from a literal Bible perspective.