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Out of Liberty

Out of Liberty

Last updated on: June 18, 2025 at 8:22 pm by Dan Peterson

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Out of Liberty 2025-06-18T20:22:06-06:00 Dan Peterson

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From left to right, in a still photograph by James Jordan from the set of the Interpreter Foundation’s 2021 film “Witnesses”: Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Joseph Smith (who has the plates in a box)

Here’s a little interview with me (not quite forty-two minutes long) on Keystone that some at least might find of interest: “LDS scholar: The Book of Mormon witnesses are DANGEROUS”

The witnesses of the Book of Mormon “golden plates” either lied, were tricked, or were telling the truth. In this episode, David sits down with long-time scholar Daniel C. Peterson to talk about the different theories, and whether or not they align with the available evidence.

C. C. A. Christensen’s depiction of Joseph Smith being introduced to Liberty Jail in Missouri, where he’ll spend nearly six months, through the winter of 1838-1839.
(Wikimedia Commons public domain image)

We began the morning very early, filming at Liberty Jail. (What an ironic name, Liberty Jail.) The folks who are responsible for the site kindly opened it up to us at about 7:00 AM, well before the usual opening time, so that we could complete our work before the first tourists began to show up.

After we were done there, we enjoyed a really good breakfast or brunch not far away, at a place that was recommended to us by the senior missionaries: Ginger Sue’s.

Incidentally, we skipped lunch today, but some of us went out for dinner tonight at Phở Lan, in Kansas City. It was very good, although I could eat only about half of my beef phở. And, last night, a group of us ate at Waldo Thai, which was also very good (but which likewise contributed an offering to my hotel room refrigerator). It helps considerably that one of our number appears to be a “foodie,” who searches through local restaurant ratings and offers recommendations to us.

I occasionally put very brief restaurant reports into my entries here, for three reasons: First, as a memo to myself for reference during possible future return visits. Second, I think that some might be interested in my recommendations in the event that they themselves are ever in the area. And, third, for some reason my doing so drives a few of my critics absolutely nuts. It apparently reminds them that, in crass distinction to their ascetic and abstemious ways, I typically eat meals just about every day, even while I’m on the road.

A monument at the temple site in Far West, Missouri
(Wikimedia Commons)

From brunch in Liberty, we drove out to the site of the Far West Temple, where the four cornerstones that were laid in 1838 are still clearly visible and where we filmed in two distinct locations. It’s a beautiful place, very serene. Although the countryside around it is basically flat, the temple site proper occupies a well-chosen, relatively elevated location. A small chapel of the Community of Christ (formerly the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) stands across the street.

To our relief, the temperatures and the humidity thus far have been quite pleasant. The rain held off for most of today and didn’t disrupt our work. We enjoyed gentle breezes. Unfortunately, though, such good fortune seems likely to abandon us by tomorrow. We anticipate considerably higher temperatures and higher humidity. Alas.

Community of Christ Temple, Independence, Missouri (Wikimedia Commons public domain image)

After Far West, we went to the Latter-day Saint visitor center in Independence, which stands very near to the headquarters of the Community of Christ (including its striking temple, its Auditorium, and the landmark Old Stone Church), as well as to the headquarters of the Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, which is a split-off from the former RLDS Church (and which, thus, from my perspective, is doubly schismatic) and to the Church of Christ (Temple Lot). But the rain really began to pour down, so that we finally decided to conclude our filming for the day

Nonetheless, I feel confident that we acquired some good and quite useable footage today. Our Becoming Brigham series is beginning to take real shape.

Long thought to be a fresco of the Last Judgment, this image by Michelangelo, located in the Sistine Chapel, actually represents Daniel Peterson’s judgmental view of the world. He is depicted in the upper center of the painting with his right arm raised. His wrath falls upon those of whom he disapproves, who are shown on his left. (Wikimedia Commons public domain image)

A few days ago, for roughly the eighteen hundred and twenty-seventh time, I read a confident declaration from an online critic who, I’m fairly confident, has never met me, to the effect that I believe that departure from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints always and invariably results from an unwillingness to live according to the standards of said church. So I think that it might be useful to address that claim directly, head on — albeit without much real confidence in the prospect of success and for approximately the eighteen hundred and twenty-seventh time.

Is it your position, Evil Buffoon Peterson, that people who leave the Church inevitably do so in order to sin, for the simple reason that they can’t or won’t live the commandments?

There can be no reasonable doubt, in my opinion, that some people leave the Church because they prefer a lifestyle that is incompatible with its teachings. Is this true of all people who leave? Certainly not. Is it true of a majority of those who leave? Possibly, but I doubt it. Perceptions of who leaves and of why people leave, however, will be seriously skewed if they’re based solely or largely on internet polemics. The “chattering classes” are, I would guess, much more likely to cite historical, doctrinal, cultural, or political issues among the reasons for their apostasy than are people whose lives largely don’t revolve around books and academic discussions and online arguments. Among the latter, I suspect that many simply drift away into inactivity rather than denouncing the Church and adopting explicit unbelief. That, anyway, has been my experience with such folks — and I have a considerable amount of experience with and among them.

Posted from Independence, Missouri

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