First, the position iplaudius attributes to Joseph Smith on race is incorrect. Smith was a colonizationist (like Abraham Lincoln); he wanted to send the slaves back to Africa. However, he also ordained African American men to the priesthood and treated them as full equals in his church, a position later reversed by Brigham Young. The particular notions iplaudius attributes to Smith - about righteousness in the war in heaven - seems to have been developed by Orson Pratt, an early theologian who often sparred with Young. And indeed, Smith's thoughts on 'the war in heaven' are somewhat nebulous, and most were fleshed out after he died. The related notion of 'a curse of Cain' was widely shared among American Christians at the time; everybody here who had American Christian ancestors in the nineteenth century had people who believed in that. The Methodists and Baptists underwent schism over this.
Secondly, Tracy Hall's link is informative and important for a discussion like this. However, Tracy Hall's snide and unpleasant dismissal and characterization of Xarissa's post marks Tracy Hall as an ass and poisons Tracy Hall's own well. Carina and Austin are much better representatives of their faith.
On Prop 8: Mormon Persecution, Marriage and the Refuge of Patriotism
Two things -
First, the position iplaudius attributes to Joseph Smith on race is incorrect. Smith was a colonizationist (like Abraham Lincoln); he wanted to send the slaves back to Africa. However, he also ordained African American men to the priesthood and treated them as full equals in his church, a position later reversed by Brigham Young. The particular notions iplaudius attributes to Smith - about righteousness in the war in heaven - seems to have been developed by Orson Pratt, an early theologian who often sparred with Young. And indeed, Smith's thoughts on 'the war in heaven' are somewhat nebulous, and most were fleshed out after he died. The related notion of 'a curse of Cain' was widely shared among American Christians at the time; everybody here who had American Christian ancestors in the nineteenth century had people who believed in that. The Methodists and Baptists underwent schism over this.
Secondly, Tracy Hall's link is informative and important for a discussion like this. However, Tracy Hall's snide and unpleasant dismissal and characterization of Xarissa's post marks Tracy Hall as an ass and poisons Tracy Hall's own well. Carina and Austin are much better representatives of their faith.