Happy Father's Day, Dan.

I cringed last week when I saw the fun people were having with your socialcam, uhhhh, experience. I saw no reason whatsoever to reject your explanation, but more, I saw no reason why, whatever the explanation, anyone would think it was relevant to your overall person (to the extent anyone suggested it was).

Now I am cringing at what is occurring regarding certain aspects of your dedicated work with FARMS/NAMIR. I cringe because I would not want my worst called out over and over and over again when it is a relative fraction of who I am (I hope). I guess I should say up front that I am one who was harmed by LDS apologetic writings in the sense that the arguments therein had the reverse effect on my testimony when considering the effect they were intended to have by their authors. Regardless, I saw much of this work as work that comes from the hearts and minds of believers who, like you have so often done, sought mostly to help people without remuneration of any consequence (seriously, people, you really think its about the $$$?).

You have offered and given innumerable hours to help those who have found themselves in a faith crisis. The help you offered, you offered because, I think, of your sincere belief that the LDS believer is advantaged in this world. You have occasionally sought to protect the believer by attacking the critic. Most recently, I believe, you did so in your Deseret News piece that to many (including me) was aimed at John Dehlin and was unwarranted and truly sad, I think. But even then, I understand, perhaps, where you were coming from, and although I think you should have kept that column to yourself, stuff happens.

So just as I am thankful for the apostate who lends a hand to the "new apostate" who is suffering in the difficulties that can surround losing belief in Mormonism, I am thankful to you for your generosity in seeking to assist the believer looking for help to hang on to all that which he or she sees as good--and that generosity, I think, defines you because it and its good motivations make up the core of who you are, in my view. I think the rest is the periphery. I don't like or agree with some of it, but boy do I have some disagreeable and unlikable aspects of who I am--I just don't want to be defined by them.

Happy Father's Day, Dan. Hang in there.

mms

I am glad to see at least one person saying something kind about Dan during all of this.

I would like to add my Happy Father's Day wishes. I hope that his travels are going well.

I am sorry that this all had to come to a head while he was out of the country.

Love you, Dan! Have a wonderful Father's Day, and an even better week in Jerusalem!

In my interactions with that gentleman he has always
been polite and cordial. I can only assume that he acts
in much the same way with others -- in person -- despite
the occasional caustic remark that might slip into the
on-line postings that any one of us make these days.

I'd be most happy to be spending my Father's Day along
the banks of the Jordan River (the original one, that is)
instead of here on the sandy beach, under the palm trees
in the midst of the vast Pacific.

May the historic scenes encountered in your travels leave
an equally pacific feeling in your heart, Doc.

UD

Is this a joke? Poor dan. This board just can't leave him alone. Wishing Dan a happy father's day on this board is not a good thing to do. It rings of mocking, especially when there are a couple of negative threads running.

Seriously? No, it's not a joke. But you on the other hand...

Perhaps you have discovered some other on-line forum where
positive messages can be posted on this special day.

If so, there are those of us who would be interested to read
whatever words of support you were moved to write -- other
than a nondescript "poor..."

And -- if you are a father yourself -- have a good day.

UD

LMAO!

I am sure Dan is happy to see the likes of why-me taking heat for him.

NOT.

I hope Dr. Peterson did have a happy Fathers' Day. I am sure he has a lovely family that is lucky to have him as the pater.

I didn't want to diminish that happiness in any way by adding to this thread on that day, though.