Purported miracle art
Will this silliness assume a place as
a miracle in Mormon history?
| GIVEN AS THIS blog is to sarcasm, there is nothing funny about an elderly person’s frailty. Which, we think, makes the story at hand something of a travesty. Regardless of whether one accepts Thomas S. Monson as a prophet, not even the coldest heart could have resisted experiencing a pang on seeing the 88-year-old Mormon church leader falter toward the end of his remarks at the church’s general conference last week. Touchingly, his counselor Dieter F. Uchtdorf, by comparison robust at 74, hovered discreetly behind at the ready to catch him if need be. This picture of pathos has been followed by farcical events. |  Moment of pathos: Thomas S. Monson falters. For Standard Examiner article and video, click here. |
A 5-year-old girl drew a picture (above) of Monson flanked by, in her words, “two guys.” A day later at her mother’s prompting, the girl said, “They were covered with sprinkles.” It was and would have remained cute had it not been for what ensued, namely, Mormons cluttering the social media with reports of the “miracle” that a child saw angels bearing up their beloved prophet.
It is an easy thing, albeit unwittingly, to find meaning where it is not and to put words in a child’s mouth that were not. Not even professionals are immune. To this day, innocent adults are in jail because a social worker unwittingly elicited manufactured, damning tales of abuse from children.
It is an easy thing, albeit unwittingly, to find meaning where it is not and to put words in a child’s mouth that were not. Not even professionals are immune. To this day, innocent adults are in jail because a social worker unwittingly elicited manufactured, damning tales of abuse from children.
 We couldn’t resist. | It is an equally easy thing for faith-promoting rumors to grow out of control. Years after Mormon church founder Joseph Smith’s death, a rumor began that Young had transfigured into Smith for a few moments during the ensuing, ugly succession contest. It wasn’t long before 101 people attested to the event in writing. No matter that at the time not one newspaper or personal journal entry mentioned it; the so-called Transfiguration of Brigham Young is long ensconced as a miracle in Mormon lore. It is more than possible that a continuing parade of parents will likewise elicit a vision of Monson’s angels from their own children. Soon, what should have remained an unremarkable scribble may well become equally ensconced. |
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