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Difference between revisions of "Mormon urban legends or folklore"
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|link=Urban legends or folklore/Cain as Bigfoot | |link=Urban legends or folklore/Cain as Bigfoot | ||
|subject=Cain as Bigfoot? | |subject=Cain as Bigfoot? | ||
| − | |summary= | + | |summary=It is claimed that Cain—son of Adam and Eve and the first murderer—still walks the earth today. |
}} | }} | ||
{{SummaryItem | {{SummaryItem | ||
|link=Urban legends or folklore/Einstein and James E. Talmage | |link=Urban legends or folklore/Einstein and James E. Talmage | ||
|subject=Einstein and James E. Talmage | |subject=Einstein and James E. Talmage | ||
| − | |summary= | + | |summary=Some claim that Elder James E. Talmage (a geologist and author of Jesus the Christ) knew Albert Einstein, who called him the smartest man he had ever met. |
}} | }} | ||
{{SummaryItem | {{SummaryItem | ||
|link=Urban legends or folklore/Frank Graham and hurricane relief | |link=Urban legends or folklore/Frank Graham and hurricane relief | ||
|subject=Frank Graham and hurricane relief | |subject=Frank Graham and hurricane relief | ||
| − | |summary= | + | |summary=It is claimed that the Rev. Frank Graham, son of Billy Graham, told the media that the members of The LDS church are "truly amazing" for their efforts after Hurricane Katrina. |
}} | }} | ||
{{SummaryItem | {{SummaryItem | ||
| − | |link=Sami Hanna on the Book of Mormon | + | |link=Book of Mormon/Evidences/Hebraisms/Sami Hanna on the Book of Mormon |
| − | |summary= | + | |subject=Book of Mormon translated "back" into Arabic |
| + | |summary=I have read a talk written by Elder Russell M. Nelson in which he discusses a friend of his who translated the Book of Mormon back into Arabic. What are the facts behind this story and the talk? | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{SummaryItem | {{SummaryItem | ||
|link=Urban legends or folklore/Boyd K. Packer: supposed transcript from 12 Oct 2008 | |link=Urban legends or folklore/Boyd K. Packer: supposed transcript from 12 Oct 2008 | ||
|subject=President Packer: 12 October 2008 talk? | |subject=President Packer: 12 October 2008 talk? | ||
| − | |summary= | + | |summary=A common e-mail circulated by some members claims to be a transcript of remarks given by President Packer in the Forest Bend Ward in Salt Lake City, Utah, on 12 October 2008. Reportedly, Pres. Packer is quoted as saying that a catastrophic event was looming in the immediate future and that we must get used to making do with what we have or doing without. He is also quoted as saying the world was too dangerous for us to let our children play outside alone. |
}} | }} | ||
{{SummaryItem | {{SummaryItem | ||
|link=Urban legends or folklore/Boyd K. Packer: youth generals in war in heaven | |link=Urban legends or folklore/Boyd K. Packer: youth generals in war in heaven | ||
|subject=Boyd K. Packer: Youth generals in war in heaven? | |subject=Boyd K. Packer: Youth generals in war in heaven? | ||
| − | |summary= | + | |summary=One persistent rumor has Elder Packer claiming that today's youth were "generals" during the pre-mortal "war in heaven." |
}} | }} | ||
{{SummaryItem | {{SummaryItem | ||
|link=Urban legends or folklore/Pandemic warning | |link=Urban legends or folklore/Pandemic warning | ||
| − | |subject=Pandemic warning e-mail from Susan Puls | + | |subject=Pandemic warning e-mail from Susan Puls |
| − | + | |summary=A frequently-forwarded e-mail purporting to describe a conference given by Dr. Susan Puls, medical coordinator for the Church's Humanitarian Emergency Response has been circulating. The e-mail purports to describe an impending flu pandemic and the anticipated problems associated with it. | |
}} | }} | ||
{{SummaryItem | {{SummaryItem | ||
|link=Urban legends or folklore/Bow to those living in Pres Hinckley's time | |link=Urban legends or folklore/Bow to those living in Pres Hinckley's time | ||
|subject=Those living in President Hinckley's time will be bowed to? | |subject=Those living in President Hinckley's time will be bowed to? | ||
| − | |summary= | + | |summary=Boyd K. Packer and other Church leaders are quoted in a persistent chain email as having said to a group of LDS youth: "You were in the War in Heaven and one day when you are in the spirit world you will be enthralled with those who you are associated with. You will ask someone in which time period he lived in and you might hear, "I was with Moses when he parted the Red Sea," or "I helped build the pyramids," or "I fought with Captain Moroni." And as you are standing there in amazement, someone will turn to you and ask, "Which prophet time did you live in?" And when you say "Gordon B. Hinckley," a hush will fall over every hall, every corridor in heaven and all in attendance will bow at your presence." |
}} | }} | ||
{{SummaryItem | {{SummaryItem | ||
|link=Urban legends or folklore/Prophecy of Catholic priest | |link=Urban legends or folklore/Prophecy of Catholic priest | ||
|subject=Prophecy of Catholic Priest? | |subject=Prophecy of Catholic Priest? | ||
| − | |summary= | + | |summary=A persistent rumor claims that Lutus Gratus, a Catholic priest, wrote the following in 1739 in his book Hope of Zion, which was purportedly discovered in the library in Bayd, Switzerland: "The old, true Gospel and its truths thereat are lost..." |
}} | }} | ||
{{SummaryItem | {{SummaryItem | ||
|link=Urban legends or folklore/Paul Allen of Microsoft on Mormons | |link=Urban legends or folklore/Paul Allen of Microsoft on Mormons | ||
|subject=Paul Allen of Microsoft on the "Mormons"? | |subject=Paul Allen of Microsoft on the "Mormons"? | ||
| − | |summary= | + | |summary=It is claimed that Paul Allen — co-founder of Microsoft and owner of the Seattle Seahawks and Portland Trail Blazers — wrote a letter praising Mormons that was published in a Santa Clarita, California newspaper. |
}} | }} | ||
{{SummaryItem | {{SummaryItem | ||
|link=Urban legends or folklore/Brigham Young's hearse used in Disneyland | |link=Urban legends or folklore/Brigham Young's hearse used in Disneyland | ||
|subject=Brigham Young's hearse used in Disneyland? | |subject=Brigham Young's hearse used in Disneyland? | ||
| − | |summary= | + | |summary=A rumor has been spread that the hearse displayed in front of Disneyland's Haunted Mansion was the hearse used in Brigham Young's funeral. |
}} | }} | ||
{{SummaryItem | {{SummaryItem | ||
|link=Urban legends or folklore/Rome Italy Temple and California Prop 8 | |link=Urban legends or folklore/Rome Italy Temple and California Prop 8 | ||
|subject=Rome Italy Temple and California Prop 8 | |subject=Rome Italy Temple and California Prop 8 | ||
| − | |summary= | + | |summary=An e-mail circulating has claimed that Catholic support for a Rome Italy temple is very high because of LDS efforts around California Prop 8. |
}} | }} | ||
</onlyinclude> | </onlyinclude> | ||
Revision as of 20:33, 16 February 2011
- REDIRECTTemplate:Test3
Contents
- 1 Mormon urban legends and folklore
- 1.1 Topics
- 1.1.1 Cain as Bigfoot?
- 1.1.2 Einstein and James E. Talmage
- 1.1.3 Frank Graham and hurricane relief
- 1.1.4 Book of Mormon translated "back" into Arabic
- 1.1.5 President Packer: 12 October 2008 talk?
- 1.1.6 Boyd K. Packer: Youth generals in war in heaven?
- 1.1.7 Pandemic warning e-mail from Susan Puls
- 1.1.8 Those living in President Hinckley's time will be bowed to?
- 1.1.9 Prophecy of Catholic Priest?
- 1.1.10 Paul Allen of Microsoft on the "Mormons"?
- 1.1.11 Brigham Young's hearse used in Disneyland?
- 1.1.12 Rome Italy Temple and California Prop 8
- 1.2 Answer
- 1.3 Further reading
- 1.1 Topics
Mormon urban legends and folklore
Frequently Latter-day Saints receive email messages with faith-promoting stories that are difficult or impossible to verify. This article includes examples of these "urban legends," or other bits of LDS historical folklore that are difficult or impossible to verify.
==Topics
==
Cain as Bigfoot?
Summary: It is claimed that Cain—son of Adam and Eve and the first murderer—still walks the earth today.Einstein and James E. Talmage
Summary: Some claim that Elder James E. Talmage (a geologist and author of Jesus the Christ) knew Albert Einstein, who called him the smartest man he had ever met.Frank Graham and hurricane relief
Summary: It is claimed that the Rev. Frank Graham, son of Billy Graham, told the media that the members of The LDS church are "truly amazing" for their efforts after Hurricane Katrina.Book of Mormon translated "back" into Arabic
Summary: I have read a talk written by Elder Russell M. Nelson in which he discusses a friend of his who translated the Book of Mormon back into Arabic. What are the facts behind this story and the talk?President Packer: 12 October 2008 talk?
Summary: A common e-mail circulated by some members claims to be a transcript of remarks given by President Packer in the Forest Bend Ward in Salt Lake City, Utah, on 12 October 2008. Reportedly, Pres. Packer is quoted as saying that a catastrophic event was looming in the immediate future and that we must get used to making do with what we have or doing without. He is also quoted as saying the world was too dangerous for us to let our children play outside alone.Boyd K. Packer: Youth generals in war in heaven?
Summary: One persistent rumor has Elder Packer claiming that today's youth were "generals" during the pre-mortal "war in heaven."Pandemic warning e-mail from Susan Puls
Summary: A frequently-forwarded e-mail purporting to describe a conference given by Dr. Susan Puls, medical coordinator for the Church's Humanitarian Emergency Response has been circulating. The e-mail purports to describe an impending flu pandemic and the anticipated problems associated with it.Those living in President Hinckley's time will be bowed to?
Summary: Boyd K. Packer and other Church leaders are quoted in a persistent chain email as having said to a group of LDS youth: "You were in the War in Heaven and one day when you are in the spirit world you will be enthralled with those who you are associated with. You will ask someone in which time period he lived in and you might hear, "I was with Moses when he parted the Red Sea," or "I helped build the pyramids," or "I fought with Captain Moroni." And as you are standing there in amazement, someone will turn to you and ask, "Which prophet time did you live in?" And when you say "Gordon B. Hinckley," a hush will fall over every hall, every corridor in heaven and all in attendance will bow at your presence."Prophecy of Catholic Priest?
Summary: A persistent rumor claims that Lutus Gratus, a Catholic priest, wrote the following in 1739 in his book Hope of Zion, which was purportedly discovered in the library in Bayd, Switzerland: "The old, true Gospel and its truths thereat are lost..."Paul Allen of Microsoft on the "Mormons"?
Summary: It is claimed that Paul Allen — co-founder of Microsoft and owner of the Seattle Seahawks and Portland Trail Blazers — wrote a letter praising Mormons that was published in a Santa Clarita, California newspaper.Brigham Young's hearse used in Disneyland?
Summary: A rumor has been spread that the hearse displayed in front of Disneyland's Haunted Mansion was the hearse used in Brigham Young's funeral.Rome Italy Temple and California Prop 8
Summary: An e-mail circulating has claimed that Catholic support for a Rome Italy temple is very high because of LDS efforts around California Prop 8.
Answer
==
Never take faith-promoting stories circulated in chain email messages at face value. Check the sources carefully.
- “I would earnestly urge that no such idle gossip be spread abroad without making certain as to whether or not it is true....As I say, it never ceases to amaze me how gullible some of our Church members are in broadcasting these sensational stories, or dreams, or visions, some alleged to have been given to Church leaders, past or present, supposedly from some person's private diary, without first verifying the report with proper Church authorities.” - Harold B. Lee [1]
As early Church historian and member of the Seventy B.H. Roberts noted:
- I find my own heart strengthened in the truth by getting rid of the untruth, the spectacular, the bizarre, as soon as I learn that it is based upon worthless testimony.[2]
== Notes ==
- [note] Harold B. Lee, "Admonitions for the Priesthood of God," Ensign (January 1973): 105. off-site
- [note] B.H. Roberts, original letter in Church Archives; see Deseret Evening News (26 June 1926); cited by Truman G. Madsen, Defender of the Faith: The B. H. Roberts Story (Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft, 1980), 363. GL direct link