Pearl of Kevin Price

Do you like poetry? I wrote a poem about my journey in and out of Mormonism.

@PHall38776 It’s not even that hard to imagine, though.

@PearlKevinPrice Well, you have a prolific imagination. I’ll give you that.

Mormons refuse to acknowledge the possibility of Joseph Smith having prepares for months or years before dictating the Book of Mormon. Against Edward’s wishes I asked his own question to Gemini and I am even more convinced that Smith deeply rehearsed the BoM. Read what AI said:

@JunesLavender What year did Smith first meet with the angel Moroni?

@PearlKevinPrice translated it*

@CreedalHeretic What year did Smith first claim to have been met by an angel named Moroni? You can call that the start of Smith’s allotted time—up until dictation—to come up with his stories.

People will create these elaborate counter-theories for the origin of the Book of Mormon while knowing literally none of the facts. It’s actually amazing.

@BaronPhoenix70 According to whom? Mark Twain?

@PearlKevinPrice BTW, one of the standard criticisms of the BoM is that some passages are very much like Shakespeare.

@catcolalex @Sam_Fidler So what’s the claim for the revelations of the D&C? How were the revelations received?

@PearlKevinPrice @Sam_Fidler Nope. I am fully aware. Joseph didn’t claim translate the D&C.

@davemart30 What Gemini presented was a summary of cognitive science as presented by the authors in question. Said summary left my current theory unmodified. I don’t believe Smith could have made it up on the spot so I would conclude that it was either divine or Smith prepared the stories.

@PearlKevinPrice I suppose I wouldn't know. I may have jumped to a conclusion, I don't mind admitting that. It's just that I don't find "look what an AI said" to be particularly compelling.

@SimplyWithFaith Tell that to Marshall Applewhite.

@PearlKevinPrice Like many who profess the witnesses to the resurrection, people don't die for lies.

@BrettBreakerZ … of dictating. And?

@PearlKevinPrice 65 days homeboy.

@CreedalHeretic @Eddie1968K @stackerco The BoM is literally the philosophy of man mingled with scripture. The irony!

@PearlKevinPrice @Eddie1968K @stackerco The same people that say this will also say that Joseph “plagiarized” the Bible word-for-word. It seems like Joseph didn’t struggle to memorize vast swaths of text word-for-word in your worldview. Why should he struggle now?

After deconstruction, I just want what’s real. I don’t want maybes, could bes, and possiblies. I want what is most likely, and more concrete data and facts. More full story and less half truths. This is likely why critical scholarship matters 100x more than any other religious dogma or apologetics or any “spiritual” feel good story. It’s why Bart Ehrman and Dan McClellan is more interesting than Wes Huff. It’s why Mormon Discussions is more credible and honest than Ward Radio. I’ve already been misled by positive, faith-building whitewashing for decades. I don’t want any of that anymore.

@CreedalHeretic @Eddie1968K @stackerco Sorry that this was never covered in my tenure of learning from the CES.

lol you have this imaginary theory you made up in your head about how the Book of Mormon was translated and you don’t even know that Mosiah is the earliest dictation we have? Talk about a lazy learner. How about you actually go study the material before making wild claims online first.

@doubt_thomas729 I suppose the weight of evidence is in the eye of the beholder. None of us get to choose what convinces us one way or the other.

@PearlKevinPrice I understand what you mean, but I think you're being a bit dismissive of the favorable evidence. There is a fairly significant amount of favorable evidence

@catcolalex @Sam_Fidler Oh, so if I were to provide you with revisions to the revelations of the D&C, would you discredit the D&C as divine since Smith had to do multiple takes on them?

@PearlKevinPrice @Sam_Fidler Your forgot to mention the part where he did it in one take. Best memory ever.

@DiggTT @JEdwardsUtah And you do, do you?

@PearlKevinPrice @JEdwardsUtah Perhaps you don't know what the spirit feels like.

@davemart30 Do you think my opinion about Smith’s dictatorship of the BoM came before or after interacting with AI on the matter?

@PearlKevinPrice Dude, you can't outsource your thinking to AI. Mostly because AI doesn't actually think for itself lol.

@AmulekAtThat @benellsworth038 I appreciate you sharing that which is meaningful and passionate to you. I mean that. My wife and children are still faithful members (whole family, really) and I’m not allowed to speak in order to keep the peace. This platform serves as an outlet for me.

Wanted you to know I actually read it. I don’t really believe in the whole “shelf” concept. Either you received a witness from God or you didn’t. And from your own words, it sounds like you did. The remarkable thing is that God has not abandoned you. How do I know? Because people who never received a witness usually walk away easily and rarely give the Church another serious thought. But that doesn’t seem to be you. Something still pulls at you. That's a clue. The historical issues, the difficult questions, the things mentioned in your poem, those are secondary things and only matter to those who have already doubted the witness itself. Those who believe the witness they received from God patiently work through their misunderstandings. I don’t struggle with those things you mentioned. Not because I ignored them, but because over time I learned patience. I learned to trust the Lord, continue serving, obeying, repenting, praying, studying, and waiting on Him for answers in His own due time. As Nephi said, I didn't know the meaning of all things, nevertheless I know that he loveth his children. Again and again, things I once did not understand became clear. Questions and uncertainties are not sins. They are part of the process of growth. We are meant to seek, ask, wrestle, learn line upon line, and have our faith tried. We are not expected to know everything immediately. A puzzle piece, or multiple pieces, that don’t seem to fit aren’t enough to discard the entire picture, especially if you are assured of God of its truth. Sometimes you set it aside and continue working until more light and context come. Eventually the picture becomes clearer and confusing things make more sense. If God spoke to you, what’s the hurry? Why panic? Be patient. Wait on the Lord. You are meant to lean on Him, not solely on your own understanding. You are meant to humble yourself before Him and allow Him to teach you over time. And He does. I’ve watched doubts become understanding, confusion become clarity, fear become peace. Light after light. Truth after truth. Faith becoming more unshakable with time, not less. Christ doesn’t merely forgive us. He transforms us, strengthens us, heals us, and patiently teaches us if we continue turning toward Him. Signs, miracles and wonders follow believers, not the other way around. You’ll receive no witness until after the trial of your faith. God’s kingdom is purposely hidden from the cynic, the prideful, and the wicked. It is discovered and opened to the meek, the humble, and those genuinely seeking and willing to follow Christ wherever He leads. If that is still your desire, I have no doubt the Lord can guide you home. And if you feel far from Him, His hand is still stretched out. It is not too late. Many who once walked away have returned and found healing in Christ. Don’t spend your probation fighting against the God who still calls to you. Walk with Him. "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil." Prov 3:5-7

@benellsworth038 @AmulekAtThat Well if you tell me that not believing in Santa is a choice you’re making, then I suppose you’re right. From me perspective, belief in Santa isn’t even a choice. I’m not willing myself to not believe in Santa.

@PearlKevinPrice @AmulekAtThat Correction - you chose to no longer believe it’s true. That does not mean it’s false. It just means you disagree. You could just leave it at that and focus on other things rather than stir up contention. It’s got to be exhausting.

@BaronPhoenix70 Oh, no doubt! The BoM doesn’t read like it was written by Shakespeare. It definitely reads like it came from someone who didn’t complete their formal education.

@PearlKevinPrice He was a frontier farm boy with a 3rd grade education, not Shakespeare.

@AscendToVictory If I’m wrong, then God is a trickster and I’ll want nothing to do with him. Heaven isn’t a place. It’s a state of mind. I’d be happier not worshiping a trickster god.

@PearlKevinPrice If i'm wrong i'm wasting my life. If you're wrong you're wasting eternity. I'll take those odds.

@EmmmieG Yeah, why not? If the guy knew the stories intimately, he probably had them on his mind as he was going to bed the night before.

@PearlKevinPrice Every single day? Have you tried this?

@Z_GoJazz Oh, this is just for entertainment. And I just provided a link in case you wanted evidence for my claim but you should absolutely compare the revisions for yourself on the JSP.

@PearlKevinPrice Hmm, I wasn’t expecting someone to be so defined by the the Book of Mormon. Like if it didnt exist what purpose would you have in life? What else would you complain about? I dont “follow” keyboard warriors. It’s a waste, sorry you have fallen in this trap.