Difference between revisions of "Mormonism and Wikipedia/Golden plates/Background"

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{{Main|Early life of Joseph Smith, Jr.}}
 
{{Main|Early life of Joseph Smith, Jr.}}
  
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*During the [[Second Great Awakening]], [[Joseph Smith, Jr.]] lived on his parents' farm near [[Palmyra (village), New York|Palmyra, New York]]. At the time churches in the region contended so vigorously for souls that western New York became known as the "[[burned-over district]]" because the fires of religious revivals had burned over it so often.
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During the [[Second Great Awakening]], [[Joseph Smith, Jr.]] lived on his parents' farm near [[Palmyra (village), New York|Palmyra, New York]]. At the time churches in the region contended so vigorously for souls that western New York became known as the "[[burned-over district]]" because the fires of religious revivals had burned over it so often.
 +
|authorsources=
 
*Jan Shipps, "Mormonism: The Story of a New Religious Tradition," University of Illinois Press, pp. 7
 
*Jan Shipps, "Mormonism: The Story of a New Religious Tradition," University of Illinois Press, pp. 7
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*{{WikipediaCorrect}}
 
*{{WikipediaCorrect}}
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{{WikipediaPassage
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* Western New York was also noted for its participation in a "craze for treasure hunting."
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Western New York was also noted for its participation in a "craze for treasure hunting."
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*{{Harvtxt|Bennett|1893}}. The treasure-seeking culture in early 19th century [[New England]] is described in {{Harvtxt|Quinn|1998|pp=25–26}}.
 
*{{Harvtxt|Bennett|1893}}. The treasure-seeking culture in early 19th century [[New England]] is described in {{Harvtxt|Quinn|1998|pp=25–26}}.
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*{{WikipediaCorrect}}
 
*{{WikipediaCorrect}}
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{{WikipediaPassage
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* Beginning as a youth in the early 1820s, Smith was periodically hired, for about $14 per month, as a [[scrying|scryer]], using what were termed [[Seer stone (Latter Day Saints)|"seer stones"]] in attempts to locate lost items and buried treasure.
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Beginning as a youth in the early 1820s, Smith was periodically hired, for about $14 per month, as a [[scrying|scryer]], using what were termed [[Seer stone (Latter Day Saints)|"seer stones"]] in attempts to locate lost items and buried treasure.
 +
|authorsources=
 
*{{Harvtxt|Smith|1838b|pp=42–43}} (stating that he was what he called a "money digger", but saying that it "was never a very profitable job to him, as he only got fourteen dollars a month for it").
 
*{{Harvtxt|Smith|1838b|pp=42–43}} (stating that he was what he called a "money digger", but saying that it "was never a very profitable job to him, as he only got fourteen dollars a month for it").
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*{{WikipediaCorrect}}
 
*{{WikipediaCorrect}}
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{{WikipediaPassage
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* Smith's contemporaries described his method for seeking treasure as putting the stone in a white [[stovepipe hat]], putting his face over the hat to block the light, and then "seeing" the information in the reflections of the stone.
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Smith's contemporaries described his method for seeking treasure as putting the stone in a white [[stovepipe hat]], putting his face over the hat to block the light, and then "seeing" the information in the reflections of the stone.
 +
|authorsources=
 
*{{Harvtxt|Harris|1833|pp=253-54}}; {{Harvtxt|Hale|1834|p=265}}; {{Harvtxt|Clark|1842|p=225}}; {{Harvtxt|Turner|1851|p=216}}; {{Harvtxt|Harris|1859|p=164}}; {{Harvtxt|Tucker|1867|pp=20–21}}; {{Harvtxt|Lapham|1870|p=305}}; {{Harvtxt|Lewis|Lewis|1879|p=1}}; {{Harvtxt|Mather|1880|p=199}}; {{Harvtxt|Bushman|2005|pp=50–51, 54–55}}.
 
*{{Harvtxt|Harris|1833|pp=253-54}}; {{Harvtxt|Hale|1834|p=265}}; {{Harvtxt|Clark|1842|p=225}}; {{Harvtxt|Turner|1851|p=216}}; {{Harvtxt|Harris|1859|p=164}}; {{Harvtxt|Tucker|1867|pp=20–21}}; {{Harvtxt|Lapham|1870|p=305}}; {{Harvtxt|Lewis|Lewis|1879|p=1}}; {{Harvtxt|Mather|1880|p=199}}; {{Harvtxt|Bushman|2005|pp=50–51, 54–55}}.
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*{{WikipediaCorrect}}
 
*{{WikipediaCorrect}}
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{{WikipediaPassage
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*Smith did not consider himself to be a common "peeper" or [[crystal gazing|"glass-looker,"]] a practice he called "nonsense."
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Smith did not consider himself to be a common "peeper" or [[crystal gazing|"glass-looker,"]] a practice he called "nonsense."
 +
|authorsources=
 
*{{Harvtxt|Bushman|2005|pp=50–51}},
 
*{{Harvtxt|Bushman|2005|pp=50–51}},
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*{{WikipediaCitationAbuse|editor=COgden|wikipedialink=http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Golden_plates&diff=276165915&oldid=276090534}} The intent of the author of the cited source has been lost. Bushman is quoting a secondary source for Joseph's words (Alva Hale), and is demonstrating that Joseph no longer considered himself to be a "peeper" at all.  
 
*{{WikipediaCitationAbuse|editor=COgden|wikipedialink=http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Golden_plates&diff=276165915&oldid=276090534}} The intent of the author of the cited source has been lost. Bushman is quoting a secondary source for Joseph's words (Alva Hale), and is demonstrating that Joseph no longer considered himself to be a "peeper" at all.  
 
*The wiki editor has presented this as Joseph not believing that he was a ''common'' peeper, but a peeper nonetheless. In order to support this, the reference in the cited source Bushman (and the source that Bushman is citing, Alva Hale) to Joseph stating that his ability to use the stone was a "gift from God" has been omitted by the wiki editor.  
 
*The wiki editor has presented this as Joseph not believing that he was a ''common'' peeper, but a peeper nonetheless. In order to support this, the reference in the cited source Bushman (and the source that Bushman is citing, Alva Hale) to Joseph stating that his ability to use the stone was a "gift from God" has been omitted by the wiki editor.  
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Alva Hale, a son in the household where the Smiths stayed in Harmony while digging for Stowell, said Joseph Jr. told him that the "give in seeing with a stone" was "a gift from God" but that "' ''peeping'' ' was all d–d nonsense"; he had been deceived in his treasure seeking, but he did not intend to deceive anyone else....By this time, Joseph apparently felt that "seeing" with a stone was the work of a "seer," a religious term, while "peeping" or "glass-looking" was fraudulent.
 
Alva Hale, a son in the household where the Smiths stayed in Harmony while digging for Stowell, said Joseph Jr. told him that the "give in seeing with a stone" was "a gift from God" but that "' ''peeping'' ' was all d–d nonsense"; he had been deceived in his treasure seeking, but he did not intend to deceive anyone else....By this time, Joseph apparently felt that "seeing" with a stone was the work of a "seer," a religious term, while "peeping" or "glass-looking" was fraudulent.
 
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</blockquote>
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* Rather, Smith and his family viewed their folk magical practices as [[spiritual gift]]s.
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Rather, Smith and his family viewed their folk magical practices as [[spiritual gift]]s.
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*{{Harvtxt|Bushman|2005|pp=50–51}}.  
 
*{{Harvtxt|Bushman|2005|pp=50–51}}.  
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|response=
 
*Bushman, quoting Lucy Mack Smith (p. 51):
 
*Bushman, quoting Lucy Mack Smith (p. 51):
 
<blockquote>
 
<blockquote>
 
Lucy...showed her knowledge of formulas and rituals and associated them with "the welfare of our souls." Magic and religion melded in Smith family culture."
 
Lucy...showed her knowledge of formulas and rituals and associated them with "the welfare of our souls." Magic and religion melded in Smith family culture."
 
</blockquote>
 
</blockquote>
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{{WikipediaPassage
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*[[Lucy Mack Smith]] later remembered that the family did abandon its labor "to win the faculty of Abrac, drawing magic circles, or sooth saying to the neglect of all kinds of business.  We never during our lives suffered one important interest to swallow up every other obligation but whilst we worked with our hands we endeavored to remember the service of & the welfare of our souls."
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[[Lucy Mack Smith]] later remembered that the family did abandon its labor "to win the faculty of Abrac, drawing magic circles, or sooth saying to the neglect of all kinds of business.  We never during our lives suffered one important interest to swallow up every other obligation but whilst we worked with our hands we endeavored to remember the service of & the welfare of our souls."
 +
|authorsources=
 
*No citation provided.
 
*No citation provided.
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|response=
 
*{{WikipediaCitationAbuse|editor=John Foxe|wikipedialink=http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Golden_plates&diff=276173180&oldid=276171021}} Wiki editor John Foxe has taken Lucy's statement, which is specifically noting that the family did ''not'' stop their labor in order to try to "win the faculty of Abrac...to the neglect of all kinds of business," and instead converted it to  
 
*{{WikipediaCitationAbuse|editor=John Foxe|wikipedialink=http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Golden_plates&diff=276173180&oldid=276171021}} Wiki editor John Foxe has taken Lucy's statement, which is specifically noting that the family did ''not'' stop their labor in order to try to "win the faculty of Abrac...to the neglect of all kinds of business," and instead converted it to  
 
<blockquote>
 
<blockquote>
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Lucy recognized the crossover in prefacing her narrative of the plates with a caution against thinking "that we stopt our labor and went at trying to win the faculty of Abrac..."
 
Lucy recognized the crossover in prefacing her narrative of the plates with a caution against thinking "that we stopt our labor and went at trying to win the faculty of Abrac..."
 
</blockquote>
 
</blockquote>
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{{WikipediaPassage
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* Later, Smith would view the power of [[Seer stones (Latter Day Saints)|"seeing"]] as the greatest of all divine gifts, greater even than that of a [[prophet]].
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Later, Smith would view the power of [[Seer stones (Latter Day Saints)|"seeing"]] as the greatest of all divine gifts, greater even than that of a [[prophet]].
 +
|authorsources=
 
*Book of Mormon, Mosiah 8:15-17.
 
*Book of Mormon, Mosiah 8:15-17.
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|response=
 
*{{WikipediaOR|editor=COgden|wikipedialink=http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Golden_plates&diff=276178504&oldid=276176417}} The wiki editor is synthesizing a conclusion based upon a primary source (The Book of Mormon) regarding Joseph Smith's belief with respect to seers and prophets.
 
*{{WikipediaOR|editor=COgden|wikipedialink=http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Golden_plates&diff=276178504&oldid=276176417}} The wiki editor is synthesizing a conclusion based upon a primary source (The Book of Mormon) regarding Joseph Smith's belief with respect to seers and prophets.
 
*{{s||Mosiah|8|15-17}}:
 
*{{s||Mosiah|8|15-17}}:
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17 But a seer can know of things which are past, and also of things which are to come, and by them shall all things be revealed, or, rather, shall secret things be made manifest, and hidden things shall come to light, and things which are not known shall be made known by them, and also things shall be made known by them which otherwise could not be known.
 
17 But a seer can know of things which are past, and also of things which are to come, and by them shall all things be revealed, or, rather, shall secret things be made manifest, and hidden things shall come to light, and things which are not known shall be made known by them, and also things shall be made known by them which otherwise could not be known.
 
</blockquote>
 
</blockquote>
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{{WikipediaPassage
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* Although Smith later rejected his youthful treasure-hunting activities as frivolous and immaterial, he never repudiated the stones themselves nor denied their presumed power to find treasure; nor did he ever relinquish the magic culture in which he was raised.
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Although Smith later rejected his youthful treasure-hunting activities as frivolous and immaterial, he never repudiated the stones themselves nor denied their presumed power to find treasure; nor did he ever relinquish the magic culture in which he was raised.
 +
|authorsources=
 
*{{Harvtxt|Bushman|2005|pp=50–51}} Smith "never repudiated the stones or denied their power to find treasure. Remnants of the magical culture stayed with him to the end."; Jan Shipps, ''Mormonism: The Story of a New Religious Tradition,'' University of Illinois Press, 11.
 
*{{Harvtxt|Bushman|2005|pp=50–51}} Smith "never repudiated the stones or denied their power to find treasure. Remnants of the magical culture stayed with him to the end."; Jan Shipps, ''Mormonism: The Story of a New Religious Tradition,'' University of Illinois Press, 11.
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|response=
 
*{{WikipediaCitationAbuse|editor=COgden|wikipedialink=http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Golden_plates&diff=276165915&oldid=276090534}} The wiki editor has taken "remnants of the magical culture" from the footnote and solidified them into the culture never having been relinquished in the main text.
 
*{{WikipediaCitationAbuse|editor=COgden|wikipedialink=http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Golden_plates&diff=276165915&oldid=276090534}} The wiki editor has taken "remnants of the magical culture" from the footnote and solidified them into the culture never having been relinquished in the main text.
 
*Bushman, p. 51:
 
*Bushman, p. 51:
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Joseph Jr. never repudiated the stones or denied their power to find treasure. Remnants of the magical culture stayed with him to then end. But after 1823, he began to orient himself away from treasure and toward translation.
 
Joseph Jr. never repudiated the stones or denied their power to find treasure. Remnants of the magical culture stayed with him to then end. But after 1823, he began to orient himself away from treasure and toward translation.
 
</blockquote>
 
</blockquote>
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{{WikipediaPassage
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* Joseph Smith's first stone, apparently the same one he used at least part of the time to translate the golden plates, was chocolate-colored and about the size of an egg,
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Joseph Smith's first stone, apparently the same one he used at least part of the time to translate the golden plates, was chocolate-colored and about the size of an egg,
 +
|authorsources=
 
*{{Harvtxt|Roberts|1930|p=129}}. Roberts was at the time the official historian of [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]], and his opinion has considerable weight, given that the LDS Church attempted to downplay any influence of magic in early Latter Day Saint history.{{Citation needed|date=March 2009}}
 
*{{Harvtxt|Roberts|1930|p=129}}. Roberts was at the time the official historian of [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]], and his opinion has considerable weight, given that the LDS Church attempted to downplay any influence of magic in early Latter Day Saint history.{{Citation needed|date=March 2009}}
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*{{WikipediaAuthorIgnored}} Note the reference to the stone in the official Church children's magazine, the ''Friend'':
 
*{{WikipediaAuthorIgnored}} Note the reference to the stone in the official Church children's magazine, the ''Friend'':
 
<blockquote>
 
<blockquote>
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</blockquote>
 
</blockquote>
 
* {{Detail|Church_history/Censorship_and_revision/Hiding_the_facts|l1=Hiding folk magic or stone in official Church publications?}}
 
* {{Detail|Church_history/Censorship_and_revision/Hiding_the_facts|l1=Hiding folk magic or stone in official Church publications?}}
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* found in a deep well he helped dig for one of his neighbors.
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found in a deep well he helped dig for one of his neighbors.
 +
|authorsources=
 
*{{Harvtxt|Harris|1859|p=163}}; {{Harvtxt|Lapham|1870|pp=305–306}}. The stone was found in either 1819 ({{Harvnb|Tucker|1867|pp=19–20}} {{Harvnb|Bennett|1893}}) or 1822 {{Harv|Chase|1833|p=240}}.
 
*{{Harvtxt|Harris|1859|p=163}}; {{Harvtxt|Lapham|1870|pp=305–306}}. The stone was found in either 1819 ({{Harvnb|Tucker|1867|pp=19–20}} {{Harvnb|Bennett|1893}}) or 1822 {{Harv|Chase|1833|p=240}}.
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*{{WikipediaCorrect}}
 
*{{WikipediaCorrect}}
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{{WikipediaPassage
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* This stone may still be in the possession of [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]].
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This stone may still be in the possession of [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]].
 +
|authorsources=
 
*[[Joseph Fielding Smith]] (a former president of [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]]): "The statement has been made that the Urim and Thummim was on the altar in the [[Manti Utah Temple|Manti Temple]] when that building was dedicated. The Urim and Thummim so spoken of, however, was the seer stone which was in the possession of the Prophet Joseph Smith in early days. This seer stone is currently in the possession of the Church." ''Doctrines of Salvation'' 3: 225.
 
*[[Joseph Fielding Smith]] (a former president of [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]]): "The statement has been made that the Urim and Thummim was on the altar in the [[Manti Utah Temple|Manti Temple]] when that building was dedicated. The Urim and Thummim so spoken of, however, was the seer stone which was in the possession of the Prophet Joseph Smith in early days. This seer stone is currently in the possession of the Church." ''Doctrines of Salvation'' 3: 225.
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*{{WikipediaCorrect}}
 
*{{WikipediaCorrect}}
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==References==
 
==References==

Revision as of 21:11, 7 February 2010


Story
A FairMormon Analysis of Wikipedia: Mormonism and Wikipedia/Golden plates
 A work by a collaboration of authors (Link to Wikipedia article here) 		Finding the plates
The name Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.. Wikipedia content is copied and made available under the GNU Free Documentation License.

An analysis of the Wikipedia article "Golden plates" (Version December 10, 2009)

Background

Main article: Early life of Joseph Smith, Jr.

From the Wikipedia article:
During the Second Great Awakening, Joseph Smith, Jr. lived on his parents' farm near Palmyra, New York. At the time churches in the region contended so vigorously for souls that western New York became known as the "burned-over district" because the fires of religious revivals had burned over it so often.

Wikipedia footnotes:

  • Jan Shipps, "Mormonism: The Story of a New Religious Tradition," University of Illinois Press, pp. 7

FAIR's analysis:


From the Wikipedia article:
Western New York was also noted for its participation in a "craze for treasure hunting."

Wikipedia footnotes:

  • Bennett (1893) . The treasure-seeking culture in early 19th century New England is described in Quinn (1998) , pp. 25–26.

FAIR's analysis:


From the Wikipedia article:
Beginning as a youth in the early 1820s, Smith was periodically hired, for about $14 per month, as a scryer, using what were termed "seer stones" in attempts to locate lost items and buried treasure.

Wikipedia footnotes:

  • Smith (1838b) , pp. 42–43 (stating that he was what he called a "money digger", but saying that it "was never a very profitable job to him, as he only got fourteen dollars a month for it").

FAIR's analysis:


From the Wikipedia article:
Smith's contemporaries described his method for seeking treasure as putting the stone in a white stovepipe hat, putting his face over the hat to block the light, and then "seeing" the information in the reflections of the stone.

Wikipedia footnotes:

  • Harris (1833) , pp. 253-54; Hale (1834) , p. 265; Clark (1842) , p. 225; Turner (1851) , p. 216; Harris (1859) , p. 164; Tucker (1867) , pp. 20–21; Lapham (1870) , p. 305; Lewis (Lewis) , p. 1; Mather (1880) , p. 199; Bushman (2005) , pp. 50–51, 54–55.

FAIR's analysis:


From the Wikipedia article:
Smith did not consider himself to be a common "peeper" or "glass-looker," a practice he called "nonsense."

Wikipedia footnotes:

  • Bushman (2005) , pp. 50–51,

FAIR's analysis:


From the Wikipedia article:
Rather, Smith and his family viewed their folk magical practices as spiritual gifts.

Wikipedia footnotes:

  • Bushman (2005) , pp. 50–51.

FAIR's analysis:


From the Wikipedia article:
Lucy Mack Smith later remembered that the family did abandon its labor "to win the faculty of Abrac, drawing magic circles, or sooth saying to the neglect of all kinds of business. We never during our lives suffered one important interest to swallow up every other obligation but whilst we worked with our hands we endeavored to remember the service of & the welfare of our souls."

Wikipedia footnotes:

  • No citation provided.

FAIR's analysis:


From the Wikipedia article:
Later, Smith would view the power of "seeing" as the greatest of all divine gifts, greater even than that of a prophet.

Wikipedia footnotes:

  • Book of Mormon, Mosiah 8:15-17.

FAIR's analysis:


From the Wikipedia article:
Although Smith later rejected his youthful treasure-hunting activities as frivolous and immaterial, he never repudiated the stones themselves nor denied their presumed power to find treasure; nor did he ever relinquish the magic culture in which he was raised.

Wikipedia footnotes:

  • Bushman (2005) , pp. 50–51 Smith "never repudiated the stones or denied their power to find treasure. Remnants of the magical culture stayed with him to the end."; Jan Shipps, Mormonism: The Story of a New Religious Tradition, University of Illinois Press, 11.

FAIR's analysis:


From the Wikipedia article:
Joseph Smith's first stone, apparently the same one he used at least part of the time to translate the golden plates, was chocolate-colored and about the size of an egg,

Wikipedia footnotes:

  • Roberts (1930) , p. 129. Roberts was at the time the official historian of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and his opinion has considerable weight, given that the LDS Church attempted to downplay any influence of magic in early Latter Day Saint history.[Citation needed}

FAIR's analysis:


From the Wikipedia article:
found in a deep well he helped dig for one of his neighbors.

Wikipedia footnotes:

  • Harris (1859) , p. 163; Lapham (1870) , pp. 305–306. The stone was found in either 1819 (Tucker (1867) , pp. 19–20 Bennett (1893) ) or 1822 Chase (1833) , p. 240.

FAIR's analysis:


From the Wikipedia article:
This stone may still be in the possession of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Wikipedia footnotes:

  • Joseph Fielding Smith (a former president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints): "The statement has been made that the Urim and Thummim was on the altar in the Manti Temple when that building was dedicated. The Urim and Thummim so spoken of, however, was the seer stone which was in the possession of the Prophet Joseph Smith in early days. This seer stone is currently in the possession of the Church." Doctrines of Salvation 3: 225.

FAIR's analysis:


References

Wikipedia references for "Golden Plates"

Further reading

Contents

Mormonism and Wikipedia



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FairMormon's approach to Wikipedia articles

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Who can edit Wikipedia articles?

Editors who wish to participate in editing LDS-themed Wikipedia articles can access the project page here: Wikipedia:WikiProject Latter Day Saint movement. You are not required to be LDS in order to participate—there are a number of good non-LDS editors who have made valuable contributions to these articles.

Recommendations when editing Wikipedia articles

FAIR does not advocate removing any references from Wikipedia articles. The best approach to editing Wikipedia is to locate solid references to back up your position and add them rather than attempting to remove information. Individuals who intend to edit should be aware that posting information related to the real-world identities of Wikipedia editors will result in their being banned from editing Wikipedia. Attacking editors and attempting to "out" them on Wikipedia is considered very bad form. The best approach is to treat all Wikipedia editors, whether or not you agree or disagree with their approach, with respect and civility. An argumentative approach is not constructive to achieving a positive result, and will simply result in what is called an "edit war." Unfortunately, not all Wikipedia editors exhibit good faith toward other editors (see, for example, the comment above from "Duke53" or comments within these reviews made by John Foxe's sockpuppet "Hi540," both of whom repeatedly mocked LDS beliefs and LDS editors prior to their being banned.)

Do LDS editors control Wikipedia?

Although there exist editors on Wikipedia who openly declare their affiliation with the Church, they do not control Wikipedia. Ironically, some critics of the Church periodically falsely accuse Wikipedia editors of being LDS simply because they do not accept the critics' desired spin on a particular article.

Do "anti-Mormons" control Wikipedia?

Again, the answer is no. The truth is that Wikipedia is generally self-policing. Highly contentious articles do tend to draw the most passionate supporters and critics.

Why do certain LDS articles seem to be so negative?

Although some LDS-related Wikipedia articles may appear to have a negative tone, they are in reality quite a bit more balanced than certain critical works such as One Nation Under Gods. Although many critical editors often accuse LDS-related Wikipedia articles of being "faith promoting" or claim that they are just an extension of the Sunday School manual, this is rarely the case. Few, if any, Latter-day Saints would find Wikipedia articles to be "faith promoting." Generally, the believers think that the articles are too negative and the critics believe that the articles are too positive. LDS Wikipedia articles should be informative without being overtly faith promoting. However, most of the primary sources, including the words of Joseph Smith himself, are "faith promoting." This presents a dilemma for Wikipedia editors who want to remain neutral. The unfortunate consequence is that Joseph's words are rewritten and intermixed with contradictory sources, resulting in boring and confusing prose.

FairMormon's analysis of LDS-related Wikipedia articles

We examine selected Wikipedia articles and examine them on a "claim-by-claim" basis, with links to responses in the FairMormon Answers Wiki. Wikipedia articles are constantly evolving. As a result, the analysis of each article will be updated periodically in order to bring it more into line with the current version of the article. The latest revision date may be viewed at the top of each individual section. The process by which Wikipedia articles are reviewed is the following:

  1. Update each Wikipedia passage and its associated footnotes.
  2. Examine the use of sources and determine whether or not the passage accurately represents the source used.
  3. Provide links to response articles within the FairMormon Answers Wiki.
  4. If violation of Wikipedia rules is discovered, identify which Wikipedia editor (by pseudonym) made the edit, provide a description of the rule violated and a link to the Wikipedia "diff" showing the actual edit.
  5. If a violated rule is later corrected in a subsequent revision, the violation is removed and a notation is added that the passage is correct per cited sources. This doesn't mean that FAIR necessarily agrees with the passage—only that it is correct based upon the source used.

Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship, "Mormonism and Wikipedia: The Church History That “Anyone Can Edit”"

Roger Nicholson,  Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship, (2012)
The ability to quickly and easily access literature critical of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been made significantly easier through the advent of the Internet. One of the primary sites that dominates search engine results is Wikipedia, an online encyclopedia that “anyone can edit.” Wikipedia contains a large number of articles related to Mormonism that are edited by believers, critics, and neutral parties. The reliability of information regarding the Church and its history is subject to the biases of the editors who choose to modify those articles. Even if a wiki article is thoroughly sourced, editors sometimes employ source material in a manner that supports their bias. This essay explores the dynamics behind the creation of Wikipedia articles about the Church, the role that believers and critics play in that process, and the reliability of the information produced in the resulting wiki articles.

Click here to view the complete article

Wikipedia and anti-Mormon literature
Key sources
  • Roger Nicholson, "Mormonism and Wikipedia: The Church History That 'Anyone Can Edit'," Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture 1/8 (14 September 2012). [151–190] link
Wiki links
Online
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