I grew up in the Chicago area and as a result our ward would take the priest to kirtland/sacred grove/palmyra/ nauvoo. My TBM parents also took us to these places.

So I have had more than my fill of whitewashed Joseph history. One of the things that always lingered was: “I teach them correct principles, and they govern themselves.” It’s used when talking about revelations, integrity, and all that faith promoting shit.

That quote always bothered me. It always seemed to have a sense of malice about it. The best way to illustrate the point is to write the quote to say what it really feels like he meant.

Interpreted as “[if] you teach people [the] correct principles, they will [convert] themselves.”

Almost as if he understood how to manipulate people. He had perfected his “treasure finding” so to speak.

Anyone else or was it the real me using anything to send a red flag?