My Mission in Life… (AKA, More Mormon Hatemail)
My friend Ryan writes:
elipses are a neat literary tool. They are used by writers of all kinds to leave information out of a quote, that the writer chooses not to repeat. They can be used to leave out important contextual material, or they can be used to shorten a speach by leaving out irrelevant points. It isn’t who does the editing that leaves out information tht is important, its the information that gets left out, and the purpose for leaving it out. What is your purpose? From what i can see your purpose appears to be nothing more or less than an attack on a group of people who try to live the way they believe is right. None are perfect, Members of the LDS church know they are not perfect, but they try. As for the days of unpaid clergy called by God being gone, I dissagree. Trained people are needed, but churches are not the only possible source for that help. There was a day when the only place a person can turn for protection, like the police who have weapons and the authority to remove children from a home, unlike a biship or a priest, regardless of how they make their living.
Your rant about unpaid clergy is also obviously unfounded especially in light of the erious problems tha other churches have had with abuse of children. Not problems with a lack of training in how to deal with it or what must be reported to civil authorities, but problems of professional clergy performing abusive acts upon children themselves. Churches arent the only institutions with problems of this type. Schools and even government agencies have them to. The bishop not protecting children is a tragic and horrible occurence, and I would never try to excuse it. Still there is a difference between a failure to do enough to protect someone, and intentionally attacking them.
As for covering up unplesant facts like the Muntain Meadows Massacre, I would like to cite (without the use of ellipses to remove inconvienient data) a piece by the Archaeological Institute of America titled “Mountain Meadows Massacre” dated November 30, 1999:
The archaeologists, from church-run Brigham Young University, attribute these bodies to the massacre because of their location along the Spanish Trail, the route the pioneers were taking, and because of the skeletal evidence. “The remains themselves are a general confirmation of past reports,” said Baker. “These people were brought out and gunned down at close range.”
Is tis what someone says about an incident they are trying to hide? I think not.
I understand that it might be your mission in life to defame the LDS church, but if you want toretain any small amount of crediblilty, you might want in the future to research a little before writing about things, and then when you have learned a little, maybe a little more truth could find their way into your writing.
First of all, Ryan, you have the definition of ellipses wrong. This does not surprise me, though. I find it interesting that you are lecturing me on literary terms and writing, since your COMMENT is filled with typos, misspelled words, and starts out WITHOUT a capital letter on the FIRST word of the FIRST sentence. You’re killing me here.
el·lip·sis (-lpss) Pronunciation Key
n. pl. el·lip·ses (-sz)The omission of a word or phrase necessary for a complete syntactical construction but not necessary for understanding.
An example of such omission.
A mark or series of marks (… or * * *, for example) used in writing or printing to indicate an omission, especially of letters or words.
I do not leave things out, or use ellipses, to try to CHANGE what something says, but rather to SHORTEN it. I am perfectly happy to have ANYONE read the whole thing, but should I post the ENTIRE thing on my blog I would get slammed with hatemail from people who suffered brain injuries after pounding their heads against their keyboards, walls, or desktops, after being forced to listen to people drone on and on and on….
Well, you get the picture. Your tactic is one I hear often. Accuse me of taking things out of “context” or using ellipses to alter text, but I don’t. You can read the whole thing. Anyone can read the whole thing. Where possible, I LINK to the whole thing. I do that A LOT. Whether it’s the Church Web site, or the newspaper, or just someone else’s blog. In other words, I GIVE SOURCES.
Your argument does not hold water. But thanks for trying.
And you aren’t saying ANYTHING I have not said myself many, many times. Mormons are not perfect. Mormons are human. Yada yada yada. I say that a lot. There are good Mormons and bad Mormons. Yada yada yada.
All in all, nothing much unique about your comment, but I did want to address this.
I understand that it might be your mission in life to defame the LDS church, but if you want toretain any small amount of crediblilty, you might want in the future to research a little before writing about things, and then when you have learned a little, maybe a little more truth could find their way into your writing.
Muuwaahhhhaaa. I suspect I know MORE about the Mormon Church, and its teaching, than you will EVER know. That is obvious. You don’t really address my comments about the Mountain Meadows Massacre, other than one cititation, but just take the “attack’ route, again, a common tactic. Usually used by someone who has NO argument, so MUST ATTACK THE WRITER. It’s the only way to try to make me look bad. You can’t argue my facts, so you try to make me look stupid.
If you want to actually DISCUSS what happened, and DISCUSS the history, without slinging insults, please take a course in basic English grammar, punctuation, and spelling and then come back to visit. Until then, keep your finger pointing and accusations to yourself.
There is more truth in ONE PAGE or ONE POST of my writing then you have ever allowed yourself to see in your ENTIRE LIFE.
Ask yourself this, Ryan. Why, oh why, would God’s ONLY TRUE CHURCH have to resort to deception and lying to convert people? If it’s TRUE, it had better stand up to scrutiny. And if it DOESN’T stand up to that scrutiny, than you BEST be asking yourself why.
Time for a dose of reality.
As for my mission in life, it’s to FREE KATIE HOLMES from the clutches of EVIL FRANKENTOM Cruise. It used to be to see Weenie Rat Face aka Warren Jeffs behind bars, but since he is now BEHIND said bars, I had to find another cause.
KATIE, don’t marry him! You’re only his beard! They believe in MEN FROM OUTER SPACE. I PROMISE. RUN, KATIE, RUN!
Er, anyway, I only WRITE about Mormonism, because I am deeply enmeshed in this culture. It’s my right to do so, much as it is YOUR right to do whatever it is YOU do. Sorry you don’t like my take, but that’s okay. I don’t much like yours either. It’s what makes the world go around.
October 5th, 2006 at 7:53 pm
If Ryan believes that the church is very open about the Mountain Meadows Massacre, can he explain why non of this was presented with the church history before I was baptized? I heard all about how Joseph Smith was persecuted and killed for his religious conviction, which convenietly didn’t mention his wives.
October 5th, 2006 at 11:30 pm
I want to know where you supposedy left out information… Oh, you probably edited the video too, so that we were mislead by the Elder what’s his name too. You’re so devious Natalie, putting words in that man’s mouth…er, I mean taking them out…er wow, you’re powerful, talented, and educated. Oh wait, the last ones were the truth.
October 6th, 2006 at 6:51 am
“The bishop not protecting children is a tragic and horrible occurence, and I would never try to excuse it. Still there is a difference between a failure to do enough to protect someone, and intentionally attacking them.”
That looks rather like an excuse to me.
October 6th, 2006 at 12:05 pm
The church doesn’t mislead. It’s called milk before meat. I am a member of the True Church and I know all about Joseph’s wives. I hope to be one someday.
Ramiumptum
Molly the Mormon
October 6th, 2006 at 3:41 pm
Milk before meat?! The only reason to have milk before meat is to fill the stomach so you won’t be hungry. That’s it! We can put people on a strict religious diet of half-truths and generalizations. After enough time, they will no longer hunger to have their questions answered, right?
I guess that some people can stomach the idea that they were led by deception to make the decision to join, but it is really beginning to nauseate me.
Molly, I really hope that you get your wish and become wife number…25 is it? Personally, I think I will continue to occupy my husband’s full attention.
October 6th, 2006 at 8:07 pm
I may not be Mormon myself, but Molly’s website looks an awful lot like parody to me. I think Molly is pulling your leg. And what on earth does “ramiumptum” mean? Inquiring minds want to know.
October 7th, 2006 at 11:14 am
I wish I had known about the Mountain Meadows Massacre, and other issues before I joined. If the church had nothing to hide, why, then, do they insist we not visit “anti” LDS websites, and avoid reading books critical of the church. Frankly, the attempts to hide and conceal only made me more suspicious. And, Mary, speaking of polygamy, be aware that it almost always invovled underaged girls.
October 7th, 2006 at 11:35 am
Wow.. save KATIE Holmes…
Oh yea, and you can’t save the ones who don’t want to be saved.
October 7th, 2006 at 11:38 am
Another note: I was raised in the Mormon church and the first time I heard about the Mountain Meadows Massacre was in 7th grade in my Utah history class. I was shocked and horrified. Certainly, Brigham Young had NOT authorized this travesty. Well, to my discomfiture, I found that he had.
It was my first break with the church.
October 7th, 2006 at 9:46 pm
When I was eleven I realized that the Mormon church was false and I stopped attending any services. (This is my disclaimer.)
Until today I had never heard of the massacre at Mountain Meadows. Woefully uninformed or just so disinterested in the church that I was totally removed from it and its history? I’ll pick the latter just to save a little face.
Sadly, my family line leads directly to Brigham Young. Well, it is Utah and that probably rings true for half of the population.
October 8th, 2006 at 1:54 am
Mary, ML Bowwow,
I assure you that my website is not a parody. All true members of the the true church believe the way that I do.
The Mountain Meadows Massacre was performed by LDS haters and blamed on Mormons.
I think Ramiumptum means, “Til we meet again, in the name of the Lord”
Ramiumptum,
Molly the Mormon
October 8th, 2006 at 4:48 pm
All that I can say Molly is OUCH! Are you stll upset about the Molly the Moron thing? Since you had signed the post that way yourself, I would have thought you wouldn’t hold it against me to use your title.
After reading some of the newer posts, I choose not to be offended by your comment. Maybe I should just freshen my makeup and go shopping.
I do have a question for you Molly….In a previous post you said that you were happily married. On this post, you said that you hope to be a wife of Joseph Smith some day. Has the church changed its doctrine to allow women to be married to more than one man? (Maybe I should go find myself another husband. After all, there is a huge pile of wood in my back yard that needs chopping.)
For those who haven’t visited her site, Molly has some excellent advise about how makeup, shopping, and chopping wood can assist in defining a person’s sexuality.
October 9th, 2006 at 12:15 am
MLBower,
You must excuse my lack of spelling. I inadvetently mispelled your name as I did my own in a previous post.
Now, concerning being married to more than 1 man. If you study both Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, you will know that it is perfectly acceptable to increase your standing in the hear after by marrying up. Many previously married women got married to Joseph or Brigham, or Heber, etc. to insure loftier heights in the eternities.
Nothing against my current husband, but I get the chance to latch onto Joseph’s coat tails, I’m jumping.
I’m sure any other woman would as well.
Ramiumptum,
Molly the Mormon.
October 9th, 2006 at 5:06 am
Marrying up?? You sound as if God would have a caste system in heaven and rank his people…and what about marrying for love? You actually would ditch a man who would stand by you at your lowest points; who would hold your hand while you are in pain; a man who dedicates his entire life to you? You would give up such a man for a person that you read about? Maybe I won’t be married to my husband in heaven because I was not sealed in the temple, but if I can’t be married to the man who is loyal to me on earth, I won’t be married to anyone. Also, I wouldn’t stoop to telling him that he’s not good enough and it may be necessary to “marry up”.
October 9th, 2006 at 11:00 am
Molly the Mormon & MLBower can I interest you two in a . . . uh, a little get together? We can get in my hot tub and discuss Momoism and lots of other uplifting things in a nice relaxing atmosphere.
Howy
October 9th, 2006 at 11:55 am
Howy, you’re so funny. I love hot tubs and stimulating discussion. I don’t like women, though, so we would have to make sure that Molly is appropriate. Ha!
October 9th, 2006 at 11:32 pm
MLBower,
My husband knows all about moving up in the Celestial realm, and he supports me 100% as any true Mormon would. After all, he will have plenty of wives in the Celestial kingdom to keep him company. He understands that this life is but a probationaary period.
Even if I get lucky enough to be tied to Brother Joseph in the hear after, I will still have ties to my earthly husband and all of his wives. Remember, families are forever and have eternal increase.
MLBower,
Unless your name is Peter Murphy or Joseph Smith, I don’t think I will be hot tubbing with you anytime soon. Thanks for asking though. You get a Sunbeam Point.
Ramiumptum,
Molly the Mormon
October 9th, 2006 at 11:33 pm
That last comment should have been addressed to Howy, not MLbower.
Liahona,
Molly the Mormon
October 10th, 2006 at 4:56 am
Molly, I am glad that your husband is satisfied with not being good enough. I am sure that if things are as you say, you will in fact one day be married to Joseph Smith because he seemed to enjoy marrying every other woman that he met.
I’m sure one of the big differences in our plans for the here after is that I did not marry a good Mormon; I married a good man. I found myself a man who loved and cherished me above all others. He doesn’t think about a day when he would have more or different wives.
Another thing Molly, I have to think that not all people who were bred Mormon think the way that you do. Having been a convert myself, I was never informed about this spouse swapping business and the thought of it really bothers me. If I really thought that your opinions were shared by all, I would never let another Mormon in my house. I think I am going to go for the gold and ask my visiting teacher this week how her family feels about this issue.
October 10th, 2006 at 8:53 am
MLbower,
Ask her how she feels about hot tubbing? I’m very close to mass transit.
Molly,
I’m beginning to think you have an Adam’s apple.
Howy
October 10th, 2006 at 10:28 am
Howy,
Just because I don’t want to get into your hot tub, doesn’t give me an adam’s apple. That statement is very hurtful.
You lose your Sunbeam point.
Molly
October 10th, 2006 at 10:36 am
Molly,
For the life of me I can’t see any other reason why you’d refuse my offer.
You’re hurt . . . what about ME! If I can’t sway a lil’ momo housewife into my tub then what does that say about me as a player. You are hurting me more than you know. I have a quota! I have a rep! GET IN MAH TUBBY!
Howy
October 10th, 2006 at 1:42 pm
Howy,
Now your just being silly.
The only way I would get in your tub is if we were discussing spiritual topics that lead to Celestial Glory, or if Joseph were in there too. Then the spiritual part would be a given.
No monkey business in either case.
Ramiumptum,
Molly the Mormon
October 10th, 2006 at 3:04 pm
Molly,
There won’t be a Joseph in there but I can guarantee there would be a Johnson (that is my mother’s maiden name). This Johnson is always trying to raise to a higher spiritual plane. Celestial Glory being only one facet of the spirit you’d receive in the tub.
No monkeys allowed.
Rub-A-Dub-Dub,
Howy
October 10th, 2006 at 7:47 pm
All right, you guys are having WWWAAAAAAYYYY too much fun in here. LOL.
October 10th, 2006 at 8:04 pm
It’s a big tub!
October 11th, 2006 at 9:59 am
Howy,
Who is this Johnson fella? I would like to meet him. Perhaps he could talk some cents into you.
Ramiuptum,
Molly the Mormon
October 11th, 2006 at 11:31 am
Molly,
Johnson is a life long friend of mine. We’ve known each other our entire lives. You could say we’re joined at the hip. If don’t have an Adams apple he’s very eager to meet with you.
Howy
October 11th, 2006 at 7:22 pm
Molly, you can’t possibly be this naive.
Howy, I love your responses.
October 11th, 2006 at 9:11 pm
mlbower,
I most certainly am not that naive. I know exactly what Howy is up to now, and I am disgusted. He wants to have a 3-fer with me and his friend Johnson in his hot tub. You can rest assured that I will have no part of that. Besides, I am quite tall, and both Howy and his friend Johnson seem short to me.
Keep the faith, or go get some,
Molly the Mormon
October 12th, 2006 at 9:28 am
Molly,
I measure in at 6′ tall. Granted Johnson isn’t nearly that tall. For some reason he has these growth spurts so a definite measurement is very difficult to achieve. If you’d like I’ll remain outside of the tub while you and Johnson can get acquainted inside. Now, you can’t get any safer than that. As an added bonus we can have MLBower stand outside with me and be an impartial observer.
Howy
October 13th, 2006 at 7:22 pm
You people have way too much time on your hands. Go out and do something useful.
October 13th, 2006 at 7:24 pm
Molly, you’re full of crap. I bet you’re not even a girl. Probably some middle aged baptist minister dude.
October 14th, 2006 at 8:50 pm
Matt,
Were you reared without a father, or anyone else, that would slap the shit out of you if you spoke to a woman that way?! What a tool!
Disgusted,
Howy
October 14th, 2006 at 9:17 pm
Howy, your’e a schmuck
October 14th, 2006 at 9:48 pm
By the way, I would be very careful about who I choose to pick fights with if I were you. And as for the way I talked with Molly, I would treat her like a lady if she acted like one. (Assuming Molly is a woman.) As for your your so called being disgusted, what do you think people think about the trash you’ve been writing on this site? You really are pathetic.
October 14th, 2006 at 10:45 pm
Go to bed, Matt. You’re grounded.
October 15th, 2006 at 10:00 am
Whoa, Matt, take a chill pill, please! (Note, please, there are TWO Matts that have commented on this post. So make sure to differentiate.)
We’s just playing, here, Matt. Why do you have your panties in a bunch? Can anyone say TROLL?
October 16th, 2006 at 7:56 am
To the crabby Matt, Howy is just having some fun with some harmless flirting. He hasn’t said anything vulgar or graphic.
I also think that Molly is being a good sport and having a little bit of fun herself. Let’s give her two MOON Beam points for playing along.
October 16th, 2006 at 8:24 am
Thank you, ML. Yes, I was flirting a little. Mainly, I was just trying to promote good will and a refreshing soak. Dirty little minds will always find a way to insert their own muck up the water.
Nat, which Matt was the nice one? Did they both try to harpoon me in my own hot tub? Say it ain’t so.
October 16th, 2006 at 4:31 pm
That should have read “. . . find a way to muck-up the water. . . ”
Had water in my ears, just a little dizzy. I am blonde but I don’t think that counts on a guy.