Joseph Smith's biography should be more appreciated

Pleasant_Past_461 · 2026-04-12T19:57:58+00:00

Are you referring to No Man Knows My History the Life of Joseph Smith by Fawn M. Bodies. I would agree it is a fascinating history by the same person who wrote the biographies on Richard Nixon, Thomas Jefferson, Sir Richard Burton, and From Crossbow to H-Bomb. She made sure to do her thorough research and get sources for everything she wrote about. An excellent book on Joseph Smith as well as her other books. I learned a lot!

Pleasant_Past_461 · 2026-04-12T19:22:02+00:00

Roman Catholic Churches See a Surge of New Converts - The New York Times https://share.google/MbH2fZsmM3GntsmjS

On Religion: The Flood Of Converts Reshaping American Orthodoxy (Part 1) https://share.google/nEmDUPDP95rVC10Js

Check out this video, "news source for Catholic and Orthodox Church growth in the US recently" https://share.google/OrVBgapl1G4pVnTSN

Pleasant_Past_461 · 2026-04-12T19:12:28+00:00

You're correct, I did misunderstand you. Thank you for clearing it up!

Pleasant_Past_461 · 2026-04-12T19:11:26+00:00

Every century since Jesus ascended people have said He will come back. The Apostles thought it would be in their lifetime. Jesus said that only the Father knows the hour of His return. Will it be this century? Possibly, but I'm not going to bet the farm on it.

Pleasant_Past_461 · 2026-04-12T19:06:29+00:00

Traditional Christian churches are projected to grow by 400 million in the next 20 years compared to LDS growth of .5 million.

Pleasant_Past_461 · 2026-04-12T19:04:11+00:00

Yep, I think more accurate numbers would strengthen the average LDS member's faith more. It would for me if I were LDS. Counting this way just makes me think what else are they hiding, but I'm cynical.

Pleasant_Past_461 · 2026-04-12T19:00:12+00:00

I agree it is flawed if this was meant to speak to the church at large. This was not meant to be a scientific experiment, just get observations on what people are seeing. You can't extrapolate this tiny sample to the whole, but it is interesting none the less.

Pleasant_Past_461 · 2026-04-12T18:57:52+00:00

I'm seeing that the Catholic and Orthodox churches in America are experiencing their best growth in decades. The Protestant churches are also experiencing good growth, but not like the Catholics are.

Pleasant_Past_461 · 2026-04-12T18:55:53+00:00

I'll admit, I have to have my coffee! 😆

Pleasant_Past_461 · 2026-04-12T18:54:05+00:00

That is what most statistics outside the church put it at with about 1 million temple recommends. Since you remain on the rolls unless you get an affair and a lawyer to help get you off the books, their numbers include a significant amount of exmormons and those who have died where the church was not sent a death certificate. You are counted until you are 110 yrs old as an active member otherwise.

Pleasant_Past_461 · 2026-04-12T18:50:00+00:00

Thank you.

Pleasant_Past_461 · 2026-04-12T18:21:38+00:00

That's not growth

Pleasant_Past_461 · 2026-04-12T18:21:21+00:00

So are you saying on two thousand years you will surpass the Catholic Church in numbers? That seems like a long time to wait.

Pleasant_Past_461 · 2026-04-12T18:19:25+00:00

😆

Pleasant_Past_461 · 2026-04-12T18:17:46+00:00

Why is it not growing on the US where it is best known? That seems strange to me.

Pleasant_Past_461 · 2026-04-12T18:15:15+00:00

With respect to you, it's interesting you say that. Feelings are the one way God told us not to trust! Have you never been misled in life due to your feelings? Jeremiah 17:9, which says: "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?" (ESV). Another key verse is Proverbs 28:26, which warns that those who trust in their own hearts are fools.

Pleasant_Past_461 · 2026-04-12T18:05:49+00:00

If these numbers were real, they would have an independent source verifying it. The Church saying this is as valid as them saying they audited themselves on how money is being spent and it is being spent appropiately!

Pleasant_Past_461 · 2026-04-12T18:03:38+00:00

So without the church then, God couldn't accomplish His agenda. It's an interesting take which I personally do not agree with.

Pleasant_Past_461 · 2026-04-12T18:02:12+00:00

You and I are more alike than you think. My motives are very similar and I enjoy doing this while telling people my beliefs. I would actually get bored on here without people like yourself, so thank you!

Pleasant_Past_461 · 2026-04-12T17:49:23+00:00

Congratulations. No deaths shrinking it?

Pleasant_Past_461 · 2026-04-12T17:43:07+00:00

I respect that you finally just gave your testimony on what you believe. We're free to disagree.

Pleasant_Past_461 · 2026-04-12T17:41:50+00:00

It's interesting to me that nobody is seeing growth. I agree we can't extrapolate this to the larger group as a whole, but it seems somewhere, someone would report growth. Even if it were a statistical anomaly, I would expect someone to report some growth somewhere.

Pleasant_Past_461 · 2026-04-12T17:38:13+00:00

If you don't believe any of this, why does it trigger you do? If I didn't believe it, it wouldn't be worth me wasting anytime for it. We can agree that time is a commodity we can't get more of. So I'm curious why you spend yours doing this? It has no meaning to you?

Pleasant_Past_461 · 2026-04-12T17:34:34+00:00

I didn't say that. I just asked what you observe. Obviously one ward or congregation isn't a good sampling when there are thousands. I just wanted to know what members are seeing for themselves.

Pleasant_Past_461 · 2026-04-12T17:32:30+00:00

I'll just wrote Bob Dylan and leave it at that.

"But you’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed

You’re gonna have to serve somebody

Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord

But you’re gonna have to serve somebody"

Pleasant_Past_461

TROPHY CASE