Several comments have been made about the Morg seeming to downplay JS recently. Is that because they're trying to appear mainstream Christian or because more and more people are discovering what a scumbag he was? Or both.

Good observation jan. In the pre-internet days Mormons had a much easier time of staying in their bubble and ignoring criticism from the outside world. The internet is forcing them to respond to these criticisms as a means of damage control.

One of those observations is that Mormons worship or venerate Joseph Smith (even more so than Jesus). So in an attempt to appease the critics and get them off their backs, Mormons are doing whatever they can to convince the world that they are are Christian, and that they are not a cult.

I don't think it's as much as case as hiding Smith's scumbag activities because in their minds he was a wonderful young man in search of the truth -- he could do no wrong. There's a logical explanation for everything he did.

So that's my take on it but I would be interested to hear from others.

I think that is exactly why they are changing. I remember making fun of the Reogs when they went all mainstream christian. Well guess what? The Utah church is doing the exact same thing.

It is a matter of survival. The only viable move they have is to distance themselves from JS, BOM, BoA. Sometimes it seems slow and other times shockingly fast. The fascinating part is how much mainstream mormons deny that it is happening at all. I can't figure out how they can live in that orwellian universe and not suspect something.

Indians aren't lamanites anymore
God wasn't once a man
We don't know if we become a god
Polygamy was a long time ago, quit asking us about that. Gosh!
Us racist? No. Not us, not now, not ever.

There are so many others. Of course when you talk to a current mormon they are like: 'oh you just didn't understand before, we always thought this, God never changes, it was only an opinion held by dummies, blah, blah"

Okay. Wow. "Choco ration up to 20 ounces this week, double plus good, eh Winston?"