Thank you for your interest, however, as my blog indicates, “I am nobody of consequence”. I simply Watch.

It isn’t about me, it is about the holy and infallible word of God.

The only thing worth considering is what God and his anointed servants have to say and the events of the 3rd Watch as they unfold around us according to the prophecies that have been hidden in plain site in the D&C and the Book of Mormon.

I am Watching…

I hope you are!

Looking at the title, one can easily suspect the author to be critical of Sdney, and probably the church. The beginning of the book seemed pretty neutral, and I have to say that the description of the beating, tar & feathering Rigdon received was quite a brutal attack. I didn’t realize Rigdon was beaten unconscious, and was laid up in bed for weeks.

But I will agree, it does seem to be taking a critical and even somewhat antagonistic tone. I’m under a deadline for the book club, and am about half way through the book, but when I’m done, I’ll have to check out your information better.

I know that Signature Books has a reputation for producing books that are not necessarily faith promoting. I tried to learn more about the author, and discovered this.

Richard S. Van Wagoner, M.S., Brigham Young University, is a clinical audiologist and Lehi city historian. He is the author of Lehi: Portraits of a Utah Town, Mormon Polygamy: A History, and Sidney Rigdon: A Portrait of Religious Excess; and the co-author of A Book of Mormons. He has been published in Brigham Young University Studies, Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, Sunstone, Utah Historical Quarterly, and Utah Holiday, and has won awards from the Dialogue Foundation, John Whitmer Historical Association, and the Mormon History Association. He is a contributor to The Prophet Puzzle: Interpretive Essays on Joseph Smith.

For instance, he says Joseph was not happy with Sidney’s description of the land of Zion hence Joseph produces the revelation where the Lord chastises Sidney. (the implication being that Joseph is the author of the fraudulent revelations)

My point is that the context of the Book is that Joseph Smith and the restoration movement was a fraud.

The paper I directed you to, also has a context and an agenda.

The context is that Joseph Smith did see God and Joseph Smith was exactly who he claimed to be.

The paper, which is even longer than you mentioned, since it is part four, of the article, takes the 12 primary revelations that are directed towards Sidney Rigdon and then provides supporting historical and scriptural context to support the holy and infallible word of God concerning Sidney Rigdon.

Bottom-line…

When it is all said and done, and Sidney has completed the future calling the Lord has given him, it will be seen that he was-is one of the greatest prophets that has ever lived.. and that is, I suppose, why God compares him to John the Baptist.

http://onewhoiswatching.wordpress.com/2009/01/19/the-return-of-sidney-rigdon-gods-spokesman/