SUNSTONE
YEA, YEA NAY, NAY
phisticated and nuanced definitions of intel- Founded in 1974 BLUE-RIBBON FEAST SCOTT KENNEY 1974–1978 lectualism, apologetics, and orthodoxy, pro- ALLEN D. ROBERTS 1978–1980 THINK I HAVE ALMOST EVERY ISSUE viding greater clarity in what has too often PEGGY FLETCHER 1978–1986 DANIEL H. RECTOR 1986–1991 I of SUNSTONE. I have not read every arti- been presented as uncomplicated but brutal LINDA JEAN STEPHENSON 1991–1992 ELBERT EUGENE PECK 1986–2001 cle, but of all that I have read, John-Charles polarization. An even greater contribution is Editor Duffy’s “Defending the Kingdom, Rethinking how eloquently and consistently it models DAN WOTHERSPOON Publisher the Faith” takes the blue ribbon. It is hard to courtesy and respect, even when dealing WILLIAM STANFORD believe that the author is just starting his with sensitive and emotional topics. I hope Associate Editor CAROL B. QUIST doctoral work. If I were on his committee, I that this same tone can be maintained as the Managing Editor might suggest that he add a bibliography as dialogue continues. JOHN HATCH long as his notes, and turn the article in as his LAVINA FIELDING ANDERSON Section Editors PHYLLIS BAKER, fiction contest dissertation. Salt Lake City, Utah SCOT DENHALTER, Cybersaints ALAN AND VICKIE EASTMAN, Righteous Dominion Duffy exhaustively covers the intellectual HUGO OLAIZ, News/Update landscape with a very balanced assessment. DIXIE PARTRIDGE, poetry FORCED TYPOLOGY MARY ELLEN ROBERTSON, women’s studies All the players are there: anti-intellectuals MICHAEL SCHOENFELD, Sunstone Gallery DARRON SMITH, The Long-Promised Day? like Joseph Fielding McConkie, Robert READ WITH INTEREST JOHN-CHARLES ALISON TAKENAKA, Margin Notes Millet, and Monte Nyman at BYU; orthodox Duffy’s recent article on the intellectual in- BRAD WOODWORTH, book reviews I Editorial Assistants scholars like Jack Welch, John Sorenson, and fluence of FARMS and FARMS-related scholars. NATHAN BANG, JOHN-CHARLES DUFFY UNSTONE ERIC JONES, HUGO OLAIZ, WILLIAM B. QUIST Noel Reynolds of the widely respected (S , May, 2004). I am flattered, puz- Contributing Columnists FARMS; all the pro-intellectual but con- zled, and amused, however, to find that MICHAEL AUSTIN, D. JEFF BURTON MICHAEL NIELSEN, JANA RIESS tentious apologists, like Louis Midgley and something I wrote is quoted along with state- Photographer and Taping Engineer Daniel Peterson; and many of the revision- ments from Joseph Fielding McConkie as an STEVE MAYFIELD Cartoonists ists, those who opt for natural rather than example of “orthodox anti-intellectualism” KYLE ANDERSON, JEANETTE ATWOOD, JEFF HALE, MACADE spiritual explanations. After carefully reading (page 30, note 80). I can certainly under- Much-Appreciated Volunteers ADRIANE ANDERSEN, SUSAN ANDERSEN, DEVERY ANDERSON the article, any interested reader has to know stand Duffy’s need to produce footnotes to fill PHYLLIS BAKER, DEBRA DICKAMORE, DON GUSTAVSON there has been a feast. out his chosen typology, but I find his cita- BARBARA HAUGSOEN, LEANN HILLAM, BEVERLY HOPPE CHRIS KEMP, STEVE MAYFIELD, KATHY WILSON But from this reader’s point of view, Duffy tion to my article a little forced. While I point makes his greatest contribution when he out that scholarly activity can pose spiritual cites Thomas Kuhn’s The Structure of Scientific dangers, I then go out of my way to insist THE SUNSTONE EDUCATION Revolutions. Kuhn makes the convincing that this is not a good reason for abandoning FOUNDATION point that all scholars, of whatever bent, are scholarly tools, and the remainder of my arti- The mission of The Sunstone Education Foundation is to driven by paradigms in their quest for the cle criticizes Mormon scholars for being in- sponsor open forums of Mormon thought and experience. Under the motto, “Faith Seeking Understanding,” we ex- holy Grail. It’s never a simple choice between sufficiently intellectual in their use of amine and express the rich spiritual, intellectual, social, and artistic qualities of Mormon history and contempo- “methods leading to conclusions” or “conclu- Mormonism. rary life. We encourage humanitarian service, honest in- quiry, and responsible interchange of ideas that is sions leading to methods.” In short, Duffy’s citation was an a-contex- respectful of all people and what they hold sacred. I heartily commend Duffy for his compre- tual proof text worthy of . . . orthodox anti- Executive Director DAN WOTHERSPOON hensive and thoughtful portrayal of the range intellectualism. Board of Directors of Mormon apologetics and for his prefer- NATHAN OMAN J. FREDERICK (TOBY) PINGREE, chair BILL BRADSHAW, D. JEFF BURTON, JULIE K. CURTIS ence for non-contentious scholarship. Little Rock, Arkansas DOE DAUGHTREY, CHARLOTTE H. ENGLAND UNSTONE NADINE R. HANSEN, JORDAN KIMBALL, ROBERT KIRBY S should also be commended for its KIM MCCALL, J. BONNER RITCHIE, MARY ELLEN ROBERTSON good judgment. MICHAEL J. STEVENS, EARL M. WUNDERLI CLIMBING TOGETHER Publisher/Business Manager STANFORD CAZIER WILLIAM STANFORD Logan, Utah HANK YOU FOR PUBLISHING THE Sunstone Mercantile Director/Office Manager CAROL B. QUIST T “Braving The Borderlands” columns by Symposium Organizers D. Jeff Burton. I believe Jeff’s insight serves as MOLLY BENNION, Northwest MODEL SCHOLARSHIP MARY ELLEN ROBERTSON, JULIE K. CURTIS, a valuable guide for those who desire to MICHELE OLESON, Symposium West RAVO TO JOHN-CHARLES DUFFY move into new levels of spiritual develop- STEVE ECCLES, Dallas JOHN HATCH, Salt Lake City B and to SUNSTONE for the outstanding ment. A good example is Jeff’s wise and sen- National Advisory Board ALAN ACKROYD, IRENE BATES, MOLLY BENNION article, “Defending the Kingdom, Rethinking sitive council to “Jessica” (SUNSTONE, March CARLAN BRADSHAW, BELLAMY BROWN, RENEE CARLSON the Faith: How Apologetics Is Reshaping 2004), helping her move smoothly through BLAINE CARLTON, PAUL CARPENTER, DOUGLAS CONDIE JOHN COX, D. JAMES CROFT, ROBERT FILLERUP Mormon Orthodoxy” (May 2004). It is sim- some very turbulent spots in her strained KENT FROGLEY, SHELDON GREAVES, MARK GUSTAVSON ply splendid: carefully researched, meticu- marriage. LIONEL GRADY, NANCY HARWARD, DIETRICH KEMPSKI GREG KOFFORD, SHUNICHI KUWAHATA, GLEN LAMBERT lously documented, thoughtfully and Based on the descriptions at the begin- PATRICK MCKENZIE, CARRIE MILES, RONALD L. MOLEN MARY ANN MORGAN, MARJORIE NEWTON insightfully organized, a wonderful example ning of each Borderlands column, I believe I ALICE ALLRED POTTMYER, MARGARET REISER of out-of-the-box thinking that helped me would be considered a “core” Church mem- CHRIS SEXTON, RICHARD SHERLOCK, GEORGE D. SMITH, JR. NICHOLAS SMITH, RICHARD SOUTHWICK understand some of the perplexing and trou- ber, although I believe I would have been MARSHA S. STEWART, LORIE WINDER STROMBERG JOHN TARJAN, JANET TARJAN, NOLA W. WALLACE bling trends of the last fifteen years. considered a “borderlander” during much of HARTMUT WEISSMANN, MARK J. WILLIAMS A great contribution is Duffy’s more so- the time I spent in the Vietnam conflict and
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shortly after. With this in mind, may I offer you may even feel like you’re falling down tive: “David, the deal is this—it’s not that the some observations and ideas from a “core” the mountain. But remember that the pres- brethren don’t want gay men to marry. It’s perspective that may be of help to those who ence of more light will help you place your just that they want them to marry me, and consider themselves “borderlanders”? feet onto greater paths of safety. You will no- they want them to marry my daughter, and Imagine a mountain. One side is darker tice you have more courage than ever before, that’s not okay with me.” because it is on the side away from the sun- more understanding about yourself and your It ought not to be okay with any of us. light; the climb is gradual. The other side is fellow climbers. We all have unique positions Seldom does one of these marriages “work” in the sunlight, and the climb is steep with in this wonderful earthly climb we’re mak- with any amount of satisfaction, and most of jagged rocks. There are a number of climbers ing. them end in enormous pain. who attempt it from the gradual, shaded May all of us reach the top together. Scott, would you really want one of your side, and a number who venture toward and JON BURTON own daughters to be persuaded into mar- sometimes into the lighter side, led by cho- Salt Lake City, Utah riage by one of our sweet, earnest, kind, tal- sen guides. All are climbers; all are moving ented, devoted but homosexual returned toward the top. IT’S ME, IT’S MY DAUGHTER missionary men? All fellow climbers have challenges in CAROL LYNN PEARSON their journey, and all have unique positions VEN TWO MONTHS AFTER READING Walnut Creek, California on the mountain. Here are a few: E it, I find myself still reflecting on the sad • Committed Climber: Those who have statement of Orson Scott Card in the article LOOK CLOSER chosen to move toward the lighted side of on the debate over gay marriage (SUNSTONE, the climb, who try to reach out with love, pa- March 2004): “Any homosexual man who N “A MALAY SITE FOR BOOK OF tience, and understanding to other climbers can persuade a woman to take him as her I Mormon Events,” (SUNSTONE, March who are in need of help. husband can avail himself of all the rights of 2003), Dr. Ralph Olsen, in his search “for a • Guide Climber: Those who have had husbandhood under the law.” And I must re- more suitable location” for the Book of some experience in climbing, who have been spond on behalf of the many thousands of Mormon’s geographic setting, identifies the fol- specifically chosen to lovingly help the others LDS women, including myself and my daugh- lowing possible correlations to Book of safely up the mountain. ter, who have been the willing, naive sacri- Mormon sites from the Malay Peninsula (pos- • Cautious Climber: Those who are also fices laid on the altar of false hope built by our sible Book of Mormon site in parenthesis): reaching out to help with love but stay in the church teachings, policies, and the encour- Tenasserim (Teancum), Manoron (Moron), Hill shade of the mountain, moving with caution agement and even promises of well-meaning Maw (Hill Ramah), Lenya (Lemuel), Marang toward the lighted side of the climb. but misguided LDS therapists, bishops, stake (Moroni), Raman (Laman), Baharu (Bountiful), In my view, most of those who fit Jeff’s presidents, and even General Authorities. Puteh (Mulek), Tanah Merah (Zarahemla), “borderlander” description would fit the As I said to my good friend and neighbor Marang (Moroni), Tahan (Manti), Kuantan “cautious climber” in my analogy. They and home teacher and former bishop, as he (Morianton), Tapeh (Antiparah), Maran sometimes feel they are a burden to those came around a few years ago canvassing for (Moroni), Malim (Mormon), Pilah (Nephi). ahead in the climb, and often feel persecuted, California’s “Protection of Marriage” initia- Now consider another set of geographic unimportant, disadvantaged, unheard, un- seen, lonely, a threat, separate, and unaccept- able. This is truly a difficult position in the climb. Also, from their position in the shade, they often view those in “committed climber” and “guide climber” positions as insensitive toward their efforts. May I offer a few suggestions for those who feel this way? • Begin to acknowledge yourself as a valu- able fellow climber in a courageous place on the path to the top. • Begin to believe that you are a fellow climber with the others, someone who is loved and cared about and greatly needed by all the other climbers for the success of everyone in the journey to the top. • Most important, begin to develop a new perspective of yourself as a fellow follower of Christ, moving ever closer and closer to his light, regardless of any past failings or any temporary alternative viewpoints. This new perspective of yourself may re-
quire you to leave old and seemingly secure JEANETTE ATWOOD ideas behind in the climb. As you let go of the branches you’re used to holding onto, I’m sorry, but the Handbook is very clear about brass instruments!
JULY 2004 PAGE 3 SUNSTONE locations with similarities to Book of Mormon OUT OF THE QUESTION South America were constructed anciently by sites: St. Agathe (Ogath), Alma (Alma), Angola a single race of white-skinned, Christian agri- (Angola), Antrim (Antum), Antioch (Anti- In his response to my critique of his culturalists who were destroyed by the Anti), Boaz (Boaz), Conner (Comner), St. SUNSTONE essay on DNA and the Book of Indians in the Great Lakes Region prior to Ephrem (Ephraim, Hill), Hellam (Helam), Mormon (letters, SUNSTONE, May 2004), discovery by Europeans. Apologists who ig- Jacobsburg (Jacobugath), Jordan (Jordan), Trent Stephens revisits his discussion of the nore this nineteenth-century setting and at- Jerusalem (Jerusalem), Kish-kiminetas four possible approaches to the problem of tempt to update the Book of Mormon by (Kishkumen), Lehigh (Lehi), Mantua (Manti), DNA and the Book of Mormon: (1) reject the espousing a limited geography and limited Monroe (Moroni), Minoa (Minon), Book of Mormon because of the data; (2) re- population are guilty of presentism. Moraviantown (Morianton), Morin (Moron), ject the data; (3) wait for more data; and (4) As for testimony: spiritual experience is Noah (Land of Noah), Oneida (Onidah), reinterpret the Book of Mormon in light of subjective and therefore cannot resolve his- Oneida Castle (Onidah Hill), Omer (Omner), the data. Casting himself as a reasonable torical questions. Nor can it override the Rama (Ramah), Ripple Lake (Waters of compromiser, he portrays me as intolerant Book of Mormon’s anachronisms, compen- Ripliancum), Sodom (Sidom), Shiloh (Shilom), and close-minded. Stephens grouses, “My sate for the lack of physical evidence, or lands of the Minonion (Land of Minon), options three and four are apparently out of cause us to uncritically accept ad hoc apolo- Tenecum/Tecumsah (Teancum). the question [for Vogel].” Yes, and let me ex- getic hypotheses. Regarding the degree to The location for these others? The greater plain why. which Stephens says he is confident about Palmyra area (see Vernal Holley, Book of Proposition Three. There is nothing wrong his “testimony,” I’ll take “very,” as opposed to Mormon Authorship, 3rd ed. [Roy, Utah: self- with a “wait-and-see attitude” as long as you the usual “absolute” or “without doubt,” as a published, 1992], 54–64; available online at are a skeptic on the outside waiting for proof sign of progress. http://www.solomonspalding.com/docs2/20 of the Book of Mormon’s historicity; but if a DAN VOGEL 01vern.htm). The narrow neck of land lies believer adopts a “wait-and-see attitude,” he Westerville, Ohio between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie and the is certain never to lose his faith since science above sites, within a five-hundred-mile ra- cannot prove a negative. Ultimately, the dius of Palmyra. The sites in Canada corre- burden of proof is on believers. WORDS OF MORMONS spond with those in “the land northward,” But what kind of proof? Discovery of and U.S. sites correspond with those in “the Jewish DNA would not exonerate the Book of land southward.” Mormon, as Stephens postulates, since Can’t Find a Book? Perhaps Olsen and others looking for the Joseph Smith could have gotten the answer elusive Book of Mormon setting could con- right for the wrong reasons. (He could have sider the the area in which the Book of borrowed the idea of the Hebrew origin of These stores specialize in out-of- Mormon was translated. the Indians from contemporaries such as print and hard-to-find LDS books CLAIR BARRUS Ethan Smith.) What is needed is the dis- Draper, Utah covery of something specific to the Book of BENCHMARK BOOKS Mormon. Stephens doubts that this will ever 3269 S. Main, Ste. 250 ANOTHER WITNESS happen, arguing that “had the Book of Salt Lake City, UT 84115. Mormon story been verified by scientific 801/486-3111; 800/486-3112 toll free for orders
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