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Anti-Mormon Sources

I consider myself: I'm Active
Years a Member: 16

The Church had counsel all members of the Church to stay away from anti-mormon material/sources. We should not be involved with it or read it. Now I am wondering one thing. I have read anti-mormon material as part of my research about plurality of wives for instance or about the Word of Wisdom at the time of Joseph Smith and if I have not checked a couple of this anti-mormon sources I would not know that Joseph Smith was sealed to already married women for instance....The Church do not want us to read this material but at the same time, they don't provide this kind of information for us to research about. What I'm saying is that sometimes this kind of sites label as 'anti-mormon' have a lot of good material on it and if we know how to use it and if we research more about it rather than stick on one source for instance we will find a lot of great historical information that we can go and study deeper. Now, I'm not trying to say that check anti-mormon sources is right, what I'm saying is that I feel that in order to research about historical events in the early history of the Church in issues like I mentioned before we always fall checking some anti-mormon source....you know what I mean? What are your thoughts?

Sources Anti-Mormon

Here is what I believe about it...

The enemy will give 1000 truths to bring about one lie, so if we get engrossed in information from the wrong source you may soon find yourself believing a lie for the sake of finding some truth?

Also...

There is so much ligit information around that I can hardly see it necessary to use anti-mormon data for research. In fact I think what limits us (and I'm speaking about us on an island far from the 'mormon' sources) is the fact that we do not have the right material. There are books and leaflets published that are in archives, etc. They contain great information and are even published by the Church. I have some of them hidden away actually. To find them would require 'digging' but they are around.

So from my persepctive... no need for anti stuff. because that is just what it is... 'anti'.

Anti-Mormon Sources Studies Doctrine Mormon

I think the greatest danger in reading anti-Mormon literature is that you give satan a foothold.  These anti sites often takes truths and twist them or leave out important explanatary information.  Then you read a slanted negative interpretation about what happened.  This leaves a little question or doubt in your mind and then, satan uses this to build upon.

My salvation does not depend upon my knowing this information, but my finding it via an anti-Mormon site could jeopardize my salvation ultimatetly, if I am not careful.  I have found myself reading stuff at anti sites, so I am not suggesting I am better than anyone else.  

In fact, my curiousity recently had me reading what is supposedly the old, longer version of the temple endowment ceremony, which was supposed to show how bad our Church is really and how they have changed to appeal to more people.  It didn't bother me, because of my firm understanding and belief in the truthfulness of the Temple covenants, but now I wonder if I didn't do something wrong by reading this once I came across the site.

I am Temple worthy so, if I had been an active member before the change in ceremony, I would have had this information, but since we aren't supposed to discuss this stuff outside of the Temple, perhaps I shouldn't have read it either.  I mention this just a possible example of how going to anti sites could be a problem.

Anyway, I generally, refrain from reading what I find, when I discover the site is set up to tear down the Church.  I consider it almost a betrayal of the Church to participate in this.  More importantly, though, I recognize that no one is totally free of temptation and I don't wish to give satan any advantage over me, by allowing him this foothold.

Not that I am afraid of the truth, but I don't believe I will find complete truth at an anti-Mormon site.

Sources Anti-Mormon

Actually, we are encouraged not to read this information because it can be dangerous, and it is seductive.

Over the years, I have, at various times, read quite a bit of this.  I have several anti-anti-mormon books.  Some of them are actually very good.  But they are very seductive.

I have heard someone say that anti-mormon literature is essentially "spiritual pornography."

Once in a while, I still drop by the FAIR website.  But I avoid getting into apologetics too much.

I am familiar with some of these sites.  I have also spent some time reading through the endowments.  I have even read a bit of the 1880(?) endowment and the 1930 version.  However, those are from extremely anti-mormon sources, and are very twisted.

I am not sure about the propriety of reading them.  I find it helpful for myself, but don't suggest it to anyone else.  If someone else wants to study it, they are welcome to find it the same way I did.

I will also say that I know of at least one book written by an active member of the church, that goes into great detail about the temple and its ordinances.  The book is well researched and looks closely at the symbolism involved.  Although I have an e-copy, I don't read it.  I think it is better for me to receive the symbolism a different way, from the Spirit.

My point?  Be careful about your sources.  I have read a lot of different types of sources.  Some I go back to, others I don't.  I haven't found any need to actually read anything explicitly anti-mormon for quite some time.

NightHawk

Sources Anti-Mormon

Thanks for the replies so far. I wanted to make a point more clear (yeah...having english as a second language is not always easy ;D ) My point was not about specifically going to look for anti-mormon sources, my point was that in research of different topics you may find yourself falling in reading anti-mormon material because the ones that are pro LDS do not handle that information but I agree with all the views so far. Like JB mentioned, living in a tiny island makes the research even more difficult! I wish I could be in the USA at least to access all those great books and documents...
I think the description that Nighthawlk said of 'spiritual ponography' about anti-mormon sites is a very good description. Personally, I don't read anything related to the Temple Ceremony...my research is more about history facts than Temple and stuff like Polygamy, Joseph Smith life, etc. But I'm also a journalist so I know when the source is twisting the whole thing and I also agree that we need to be very careful in the material we read and study.

Anti-Mormon Sources

Just for perspective, I'm working on my doctorate and due to the nature of the research for my dissertation, I am finding that I need to "learn about" a wide variety of viewpoints, some contrary (perhaps even"anti") to LDS beliefs. Nevertheless, when one approaches scholarly investigation by "study" AND by "faith", I think that makes all the difference....It can be a very slippery road if one is not careful in this regard--as we know, even the very elect can be deceived. A spirit of discernment is essential in anything we read IMHO....

On the other hand, I certainly concur with many of the thoughts expressed as to the inadvisable practice of seeking out anti literature simply for the sake of doing so or out of naive curiosity....Life is short, and there is so much more literature of high calibre and quality to read--I think we should be actively engaged in seeking out the very best....just some thoughts....

Anti-Mormon Sources

I'm brand new here and haven't spend anytime reading everything in all of the topics, but I have read this one. I agree with what has been said earlier, that this stuff is available from better sources. A book I just finished reading, ""Joseph Smith, Rough Stone Rolling" by Richard Lyman Bushman, talks a lot about the subjects you have earlier mentioned, such as polygamy, the word of wisdom, etc. It is by far the best biography I have read on Joseph Smith.

Anti-Mormon Sources Mormon Doctrine Studies

The church does provide very good source material, but you will have to make your own index to it. In other words you will have to dig it up, its not the church's job to make you aware of every little doctrinal delight, that's how I see it.