Overview project I've been working on going through church topics one by one...

[jfro18]

I started this a long time ago and then just had no time to work on it, but in the last few months I've gotten a bunch of overview topics up on church history and doctrinal issues.

If anyone is interested, I'll put the topics here as I get them done... hoping to get at least 1 up per week because I honestly just want to get this done and over with.

Landing page that has links to all of the below pages: https://www.ldsdiscussions.com/overview

Book of Mormon overview topics:
Joseph Smith's Treasure Digging - https://www.ldsdiscussions.com/treasure-digging
The Gold Plates of the BoM - https://www.ldsdiscussions.com/plates
Book of Mormon Translation - https://www.ldsdiscussions.com/translation
The Lost 116 Pages - https://www.ldsdiscussions.com/116pages-summary
Adam and Eve and the BoM/Mormon Doctrine - https://www.ldsdiscussions.com/adam
The Global Flood and the BoM/MD - https://www.ldsdiscussions.com/flood
The Tower of Babel and the BoM/MD - https://www.ldsdiscussions.com/babel
The King James Bible and the BoM - https://www.ldsdiscussions.com/kjv
Sermon on the Mount and the BoM - https://www.ldsdiscussions.com/mount
Long Ending of Mark and the BoM - https://www.ldsdiscussions.com/mark
Deutero-Isaiah and the BoM - https://www.ldsdiscussions.com/deuteroisaiah
DNA and the Book of Mormon: https://www.ldsdiscussions.com/dna
Surrounding Influences in the BoM: https://www.ldsdiscussions.com/influences
Anachronisms and Dating the BoM: https://www.ldsdiscussions.com/anachronisms
Tight vs Loose Translation Theories: https://www.ldsdiscussions.com/tight-loose
How the Book of Mormon was Composed: https://www.ldsdiscussions.com/authorship

Book of Abraham overview:
Part 1, The Translation: https://www.ldsdiscussions.com/abraham-translation
Part 2, Issues with the Text itself: https://www.ldsdiscussions.com/abraham-text

Joseph Smith/Misc:
First Vision Overview: https://www.ldsdiscussions.com/firstvision-overview
Priesthood Restoration Overview: https://www.ldsdiscussions.com/priesthood
Word of Wisdom Overview: https://www.ldsdiscussions.com/wow
Changes to Revelations Overview: https://www.ldsdiscussions.com/changes-to-revelations
Kinderhook Plates Overview: https://www.ldsdiscussions.com/kinderhook-plates
Overview of Joseph Smith's translations: https://www.ldsdiscussions.com/translations
Overview of Race and the Scriptures of Mormonism: https://www.ldsdiscussions.com/race
Overview of the Temple Endowment and Masonry: https://www.ldsdiscussions.com/temple

Polygamy Overview, Part 1 (Overview of polygamy timeline, 1831 revelation, D&C 132): https://www.ldsdiscussions.com/polygamy
Polygamy Overview, Part 2 (Looking at some of Joseph's proposals, Happiness Letter): https://www.ldsdiscussions.com/polygamy-proposals
Polygamy Overview, Part 3 (Looking at some of Apologetics, Spiritual Wifery, etc): https://www.ldsdiscussions.com/polygamy-final

Overview of Spiritual Witnesses and Testimonies: https://www.ldsdiscussions.com/testimonies
Overview on How the Church Handles Doubts: https://www.ldsdiscussions.com/doubts
Overview of Revelation/Prophecy, Part 1: Backdating Prophecy: https://www.ldsdiscussions.com/backdating
Overview of Revelation/Prophecy, Part 2: Joseph Smith: https://www.ldsdiscussions.com/revelations-joseph-smith
Overview of Revelation/Prophecy, Part 3: Revelation After Joseph Smith: https://www.ldsdiscussions.com/revelations-after-joseph

I have a Google doc with some outlines if anyone wants to put any notes/suggestions/etc on there - just PM me if you are interested. Once I get these done I also need a name for the overview selection as a whole, so if you have any ideas either shoot them here or toss them on the Google doc.

Didn't want to spam these as I go, but figured I'd toss a generic thread up and if anyone has feedback on corrections, things I could make better, or things I should cover please let me know.... trying to be thorough but I have a feeling this might be too thorough for casual readers with questions yet not deep enough for those who are knowledgeable on the topics.

Anyway... there it is.

[Wonderment]

Excellent work, jfro ! It takes a lot of time to pull together all these resources. This is a handy, quick-reference guide. It will save hours of searching, which can be exhausting and stressful. Thanks for this very comprehensive and organized guide. It will be very useful to those who are researching these issues. - Wndr.

[Red Ryder]

Uh....

Semon on the Mount and the BOM?

What kind of site are you running over there at LDS discussions?

[jfro18]

Uh....

Semon on the Mount and the BOM?

What kind of site are you running over there at LDS discussions?

Oh no - I accidentally put the link to my OnlyFans account there on accident.

[Hagoth]

I admire your ambition, Jfro. That's a lot of good work!

[Cnsl1]

Well done!

[Arcturus]

This is great work, and very well written. Nice job jfro!

I don't know why, but the potential Dartmouth Armenianism connection that Richard Behrens connects with the Smith family fascinates me. In short, Behrens provides pretty solid evidence that Joseph lifted most of his deeper theological ideas from the theology school at Dartmouth, via Hyrum attending school there and likely picking up the information himself. This would suggest Hyrum/Joseph, and others, being partners somewhat in the church's formation. The Dartmouth connection also relates to Joseph's leg surgery as a boy - if you recall a team of doctors from Dartmouth came and operated him with some cutting edge approach for the time.

[græy]

This is good stuff! You, jfro18, are absolutely an asset to our organization!

[Red Ryder]

This is good stuff! You, jfro18, are absolutely an asset to our organization!

I agree and secretly get jealous when I see his posts on reddit before he posts them here. But then I realize he still attends the “Church of Jesus Christ!! My Spouse Still Wont Leave the Latter Day Saints” with the rest of us.

Keep up the great effort Jfro!!

[jfro18]

This is good stuff! You, jfro18, are absolutely an asset to our organization!

I agree and secretly get jealous when I see his posts on reddit before he posts them here. But then I realize he still attends the “Church of Jesus Christ!! My Spouse Still Wont Leave the Latter Day Saints” with the rest of us.

Keep up the great effort Jfro!!

To be fair I just don't want to spam here with every separate overview.

But I'll add them here as I go... I have just 3 more BoM ones planned and then probably 1 on Book of Moses and then it's off to the races on the fun Joseph Smith stuff (polygamy, priesthood restoration, changes to revelation, masonry and the temple, etc, etc).

We'll see how long the motivation holds up... my wife said she wanted mt to put it together, and while I doubt she'll ever read them, it's been a fun project to do although I think it's too long to help casual people with questions.

[Red Ryder]

We'll see how long the motivation holds up... my wife said she wanted mt to put it together, and while I doubt she'll ever read them, it's been a fun project to do although I think it's too long to help casual people with questions.

You must have never read Bob McCues’s stuff.

[jfro18]

You must have never read Bob McCues’s stuff.

I definitely have not - I've never heard of Bob McCue, but now I'm interested!

[deacon blues]

I liked Bob McCue's stuff. It was on a site called Mormon Curtain that I can't find anymore. JFro, thanks for your contributions to the cause of Truth.

Wow, I just googled Bob McCue and found the old "Mormon Curtain" site. It's back online.

[Corsair]

I started this a long time ago and then just had no time to work on it, but in the last few months I've gotten a bunch of overview topics up on church history and doctrinal issues.

This is great stuff, jfro18. I was wondering if the new year with Come Follow Me Into Church History would pique your interest. Most believers around me just don't engage on church history topics. I have one relative who has read me completely wrong and keeps trying to convince me that the Second Coming is nigh. I only give her cursory replies on the motivated reasoning she keeps shoveling towards me.

[Red Ryder]

Here’s a link to Bob’s blog archive.

https://bobmccue.ca/

Essays:

https://bobmccue.ca/essays/

Bob is a canadian tax attorney thus his fine way with many words.

He lost his faith in 2002 so look through the older posts. Bob got it right. He processed the loss of his faith, left the church and moved on to live life.

Leave Now, Live Now!

[jfro18]

This is great stuff, jfro18. I was wondering if the new year with Come Follow Me Into Church History would pique your interest. Most believers around me just don't engage on church history topics. I have one relative who has read me completely wrong and keeps trying to convince me that the Second Coming is nigh. I only give her cursory replies on the motivated reasoning she keeps shoveling towards me.

For some reason I feel like once I can complete this I can just set it all aside for a long while... I don't know if it's terribly helpful to others, but it at least will be a resource that will hopefully by tied together and really just go through a good 20-30 topics.

On that note, next section on anachronisms is up @ https://www.ldsdiscussions.com/anachronisms

Probably two more sections on the BoM and then onto Joseph Smith stuff... I feel like I'm over half way done overall at least!

[Corsair]

Probably two more sections on the BoM and then onto Joseph Smith stuff... I feel like I'm over half way done overall at least!

I can only imagine the staff meetings in FairMormon when they see you new topics. They sigh and complain that "this all the same old arguments! There are good answers!" But if they were actually good and compelling and persuasive answers that there would be little reason to worry about jfro18's latest collection of excellent articles.

[Hagoth]

For some reason I feel like once I can complete this I can just set it all aside for a long while... I don't know if it's terribly helpful to others...

I'm sure it is, but you can't discount the personal value. A project like this really helps you organize your thoughts and gain better perspective on the big picture.

[jfro18]

I'm sure it is, but you can't discount the personal value. A project like this really helps you organize your thoughts and gain better perspective on the big picture.

That's true too - I find this stuff fascinating now. It's like trying to put a puzzle together and the more you learn, the more pieces are put together.

Just put up one on the tight and loose translation theories (https://www.ldsdiscussions.com/tight-loose), and have one more Book of Mormon overview and then it's onto the Joseph Smith stuff.

Getting closer and closer to done!

[Hagoth]

This was a great addition. At some point I need to go back and read them all. You should become the new CES letter.