But for Joseph...

[SteelBlue]

An article in the BYU Alumni magazine with this title got me thinking about my own life. Here is a short list of things that "but for Joseph" I would not have in my life. They are not in order of importance.

1) My existence: This one is true on a couple of levels. First, my ancestors on both sides came to America because they had joined the church in various countries in Europe. So, if that doesn't happen, my parents never get the chance to meet as they'd not exist and well, you see what I mean. On another level I am from a second wife in a polygamous marriage on both sides of my family. So, if Joseph doesn't institute polygamy I don't exist. Now, obviously I would have existed on this earth somewhere eventually, but not as I currently do.

2) My American Citizenship: See level #1 above.

3) My career: I entered my current field because of people that I met while working in Provo while attending BYU. No Joseph, no BYU, I'd never have been in Provo because there would have been no Provo and oh yeah, there wouldn't have been a me to go to Provo anyway.

4) My spouse: On about 5 different levels beyond my existing.

5) My kids: See #1

It's pretty amazing to think that I enjoy all of these things because of what he did. To indirectly owe your very existence to somebody's actions 200 years ago; it makes my brain hurt just thinking about it.

[fusnik11]

Originally Posted by SteelBlue

An article in the BYU Alumni magazine with this title got me thinking about my own life. Here is a short list of things that "but for Joseph" I would not have in my life. They are not in order of importance.

1) My existence: This one is true on a couple of levels. First, my ancestors on both sides came to America because they had joined the church in various countries in Europe. So, if that doesn't happen, my parents never get the chance to meet as they'd not exist and well, you see what I mean. On another level I am from a second wife in a polygamous marriage on both sides of my family. So, if Joseph doesn't institute polygamy I don't exist. Now, obviously I would have existed on this earth somewhere eventually, but not as I currently do.

2) My American Citizenship: See level #1 above.

3) My career: I entered my current field because of people that I met while working in Provo while attending BYU. No Joseph, no BYU, I'd never have been in Provo because there would have been no Provo and oh yeah, there wouldn't have been a me to go to Provo anyway.

4) My spouse: On about 5 different levels beyond my existing.

5) My kids: See #1

It's pretty amazing to think that I enjoy all of these things because of what he did. To indirectly owe your very existence to somebody's actions 200 years ago; it makes my brain hurt just thinking about it.

lets not get carried away with the smithmas spirit as its already passed....

im sure you could do the same thing with a number of your family members regardless if they joined the church or not.

like for example. my great, great, great, great grandpa...

if he hadnt decided to become an alcoholic and beat the hell out of my great, great, great, great, grandma, she wouldnt have left him and started a new family that decided to escape his antics leave england and come to america.....

if that hadnt had happened i wouldnt have been adopted like i was and i would have grown up an orphan....but for arliss the abusing sob that beat lester 225 years ago! :wink:

[ute4ever]

But for Harry Truman, you'd all be speaking German

[Indy Coug]

But for Noah, you'd be on a different planet.

[SteelBlue]

Originally Posted by fusnik11

lets not get carried away with the smithmas spirit as its already passed....

It just blows me away when I think about it that's all. Even if the guy was a total fraud, I am what I am today because of what he did. That's all I'm saying.

Originally Posted by fusink11

im sure you could do the same thing with a number of your family members regardless if they joined the church or not.

like for example. my great, great, great, great grandpa...

if he hadnt decided to become an alcoholic and beat the hell out of my great, great, great, great, grandma, she wouldnt have left him and started a new family that decided to escape his antics leave england and come to america.....

See above.