Posted on 03/31/2012 6:35:20 PM PDT by Colofornian
...notes from...Utah Valley University’s Mormonism and the Internet conference.
...Joanna Brooks, “The Challenge of Mormon Studies for the Digital Age”
...Charge of modern Mormon duplicity: behind...public image of friendly clean-cut family types...are dark secrets and a sinister agenda. Brooks cites Daymon Smith’s ideas on Mormon discursive practices: trustworthy (official LDS) versus untrustworthy (other) sources; insider versus outsider narratives; guarded public speech to avoid open discussion of private LDS knowledge. Do Mormons have a divided sense of self? Do LDS scholars write to different (insider and outsider) audiences?
Traditional theocratic control of LDS history and sources contrasted with...open source world of modern digital media...
SNIP
...Q&A session with Joanna Brooks: ...lingering fears of LDS scholars publishing critical research on controversial LDS topics...What’s...next controversial issue? She thinks baptism for the dead will continue to circulate...dearth of official statements or commentary contributes to...persistence and circularity of public discussion...Young LDS get inconsistent messages from parents, church, media on what LDS culture and identity are!...Lots of older pamphlets and talks available online but not at LDS.org, how do we assess...validity or accuracy?...illustrates...difficulty raised by...correlated presentation...from official channels versus conflicting information and accounts...now broadly available from online sites and sources.
SNIP
...Journeys of Faith on the Internet
John Dehlin: “Why Mormons Leave, and How the Internet is Helping” – Dehlin referenced Elder Jensen’s comments acknowledging...effect of Internet information on LDS exit (aka leaving the Church) as...lead-in to his presentation of results from his own Mormon Stories survey of...reasons for LDS exits...Reasons given by survey respondents don’t match...standard LDS menu of reasons for exit (they were offended, they sinned...). Common issues...include LDS history, loss of faith in leaders...Has...Internet helped Mormons who struggle with doubt? Yes, they know they’re not alone; ...Internet accelerates...learning process for those who embrace their doubts and are moving out of the Church...
(Excerpt) Read more at timesandseasons.org ...
What a fine person you are.
I don’t know how you fight everything, and everyone for Christ, but you do.
You are really something.
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