Do Mormons consider the library a dangerous place?

Question

There are many Christians that want to ban books and stuff. I wonder if Mormons have expressed any desires to ban books. Here are some example that I would expect to have banned:

anything that demonstrates the validity of egyption hyroglyphic translation
reason: Joseph Smith gave obvious and erronius translations of hyroglyphics that have been published. Actually diagraming the papyrus like a scolar would. The discovery and latter translation of the Rosetta Stone verified that he was mistaken on every guess. The first english translation of the rosetta stone came after Joseph Smiths death. Nothing was found to be correct. The reason that would be important is because most of the strange Morman doctrine comes from that.

banning any encyclopedias that discuss the absence of horses in North and South America, the absence of the wheel, the absence of any civilization that is remotely similar to anything discussed in the book of Mormon.

I guess those would be the big ones

all religions are challenged. Jesus defied physics? Joseph Smith just happened to document his deception for everyone willing to spend a couple of hours in the library.
The bible has scholarly value even though most of it is over 2000 years old. Joseph Smith's 180 year old document has not faired as well. Sorry.

falisrm, your IQ must be the highest, but your eyesight could be the weakest.
you would be well served by looking up the meaning of the word "conventional reality"

mormon for jesus,.... read this mormon article talking about horses found prior to the establishment of a mission, then read a timeline of Coronados travels. Horses were out of the picture for 10000 years. That's a long time. These people found a little bit older horse and went bananas.
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2005/07/17/news/coastal/21_32_057_16_05.txt
I can't believe that you can pick at parts of the old testament when Mormon's don't even know if they should look in North or South America.

I'm finding that many of you are under age. Consult your parents before responding please.

rynok, thank you.

guys, the reply function on yahoo answers has never been reliable. Can't reply.

on the questions I have been emailed.

I qualify as a sincere person asking this.

for the other guy, email me again with your email in the text. We can email a little I guess.

divinity, thanks! go ahead and read. I can't change someones mind on yahoo answers about something so important, but I can shake the cob webs off of the objective thinking part of someone's brain.

Answer 1

We welcome the use of knowldege and any challange to our faith. How else can we prove its surity if not challanged?

Reformed egyption had been found in anchient Myan and Inca temple foundations. Similar to that found in the middle east but unique in sevral aspects. this is what we believe our holy text was written in.

As for horses not being in northern america until spain. That is such an old wives tale. If you believe that the natives taveld over the russia/alaska bridge then they had horses. There are also traces of animals being used as pack animals, that are best describe to us as "horses"

I've never seen a book banned. But I've investigated and read many books that challange and use weak and somewhat skecthy sources...

Anything else?

Answer 2

Nope...not a bit.

The LDS church has never had a black list of books, burned them, etc.

The Book of Mormon was originally written in a language known as reformed Egyption. There are many ancient american languages that we have not yet decyphered. There may be others that have been either lost or have not yet been found. It seems, however, that reformed egyption was not the written language of the masses of that time period.

The hyroglyphics are not translated, but rather some of the symbols are explained. Hence the discrepancy that you're pointing out, however it doesn't prove or disprove anything.

Had Joseph Smith been writing the Book of Mormon using contemporary knowledge, he wouldn't have mentioned horses. However, well after his death, Horse skeletal remains have been found in the Americas dating to Book of Mormon times. More evidence that he didn't write it, but rather translated it.

We have no problem defending our faith or the Book of Mormon. We encourage being open minded and learning. We encourage people to develop faith and knowledge.

Mind explaining how Joseph Smith included various lengthy chiasmuses in the Book of Mormon when at the time people didn't even know what they were???? Please explain as you seem to have all the answers.

Answer 3

The Bible is not as easy to "prove" as most Christians want to believe.

Besides, what archaeological evidence is tere that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God? Where was Moses' burning bush? I've heard that we really don't know where Mt. Sinai is. And that way less than half of the places mentioned in the Bible can be verified.

The Bible also says things like bats are birds, and rabbits chew their cud. This was written by a PROPHET of GOD! How could a PROPHET get things wrong like that?

As for things like what you asked, we are taught that the Glory of God is Intelligence. We are to learn as much as we can. Nothing is said to learn this, but avoid that. One can't learn if one has no books from which to learn.

And if you read more than what you have, you will see that not all scholars agree that there were no horses, or that Joseph Smith mis-translated any Egyptian.

Answer 4

I am Mormon and have never been banned from going to a library. In fact, as a graduate of Brigham Young University, (owned by the Mormon Church), I spent much time in a large library there doing research. A lot of paleo-America research resources are on campus, as well as inter-library loan access. I never was told or prevented from researching anything I wanted to. Nothing was banned.

With an open mind, one can find all kinds of evidence about the things you are refuting yourself.

With regard to your Rosetta Stone information and Joseph Smith's interpretation of the papyrus scrolls, there is nothing "certain" in the academic world regarding this. There are still controversies, differing opinions, and different interpretations. In the end, it comes down to a "matter of opinion" anyway, and you are still left to believe what you choose to believe. I choose to believe that Joseph was accurate.

Answer 5

I'm Mormon and believe that the more books in libraries the better. truth can be found anywhere, it isn't only in our religion and we should go and find the truth everywhere. and even though we find some books can be incorrect doesn't mean they should be banned. everyone has the right to learn anything and determine for themselves what is true and what is not. even if it goes against our beliefs. the church, i don't believe, have ever banned a book or text work in it's history.

Answer 6

For starters, Mormons themselves say that they are different than the rest of the Christians (they teach that all other Christins but them have abandoned the faith). So we take their word for it that we are not like them. They also differ from mainstream Christian denominations on many points. For example, they reject the doctrine of the trinity, and believe in multiple gods instead. And they believe that men can evolve into a god. And they think that God was once a man from another planet. And so on. And they have their own holy books that mainsteam Christians do not accept.

Answer 7

No, Mormons don't consider libraries to be bad at all.

And interesting that you should try to cite examples of the Mormon Church being false that have actually been verified by archaeologists - pre-Columbus toys bearing wheels have been found in digs in and around Mexico City, while pre-Columbus drawings of horses have been found in the Yucatan (sp?) Peninsula.

Answer 8

You're not funny. I trust Joseph Smith hundreds of times more than I trust the French soldiers and scholars who found and translated the Rosetta Stone.

Answer 9

Mormons are not to read anything thing that might prove the religion wrong.Beibg afraid of libraries? I doubt that, but what books would they choose? The books that are ok with the 'Pophet'

Answer 10

Christians want to ban books?
oh no wonder... they believe in the bible