Cryptids: Real, or real foolish?

[capctr]

...and does any of it have any place in the gospel?
Born in '69, I grew up during the 70's and '80's and while I never cared much for scouts, I was always ready for the campouts, alternately hoping and dreading a run in with a sasquatch; even though I lived in Graham county in Az, near different indian reservations, I'd never heard of skinwalkers until my thirties. I have heard of all kind of weirdness on Mt Graham, and wasn't surprised when the Vatican put their super telescope/observatory up there.
I found notions of such things(as well as UFO's) interesting, and spent countless summer nights sleeping outside with friends on our trampoline, scanning the skies, HOPING for ET to land in my backyard(hoping to interest them in trading my stepmother into slavery for a small spaceship of my own).
As a grown man, I have found the shine of childhood has grown dim, and roll my eyes at what I percieve to be foolish traditions; however, I can't help but question if I have simply lost my sense of wonder, despite some of the experiences I did have.
What about all of you? Any thoughts or stories you want to share?

[Lexew1899]

Here is something I wrote about "Bigfoot and Cain"...

Another very interesting bit of Mormon folklore, comes from David W. Patten, one of the original apostles of the restoration, and one of the first martyred Apostles as well. He was killed in the Battle of Crooked River, in Missouri. This happened just before the infamous executive order 44, also known as the “extermination order”, in which Governor Lilburn Boggs, ordered for all Mormons to be executed, or driven from the state by force.

Wanting to give David W. Patten best regards, for his hard work and dedication to the gospel he deserves, I thought it important to include that bit of information. Also, as to not simply discount anything he says as foolishly out of hand. He was an original member of the quorum of the twelve apostles after all. Yet, getting back to the bit of folklore, here is what is recorded about this event, regarding Bigfoot and Cain.

“It was probably not long after his arrival in Tennessee in the spring of 1836, that David had one of the most remarkable experiences of his life. He was making his home with Levi Taylor, the step-father of Abraham O. Smoot, at the time and had been to Paris, some sixteen miles away, holding a meeting. Riding home in the evening, just where his road lay through a dense growth of brush, called in those parts a “barren,” he suddenly became aware that a person on foot by his side was keeping pace with the mule on which he rode.

But the subjoined letter, dated at Provo, Utah, will explain the matter: President Joseph F. Smith, Salt Lake City:

Dear Brother: - In relation to the subject of the visit, of Cain to Brother David W. Patten in the State of Tennessee, about which you wrote to me, I will say that according to the best of my recollection it was in the month of September, 1835.

It was the evening, just twilight, when Brother Patten rode up to my father’s house, alighted from his mule and came into the house. The family immediately observed that his countenance was quite changed. My mother having first noticed his changed appearance said: “Brother Patten, are you sick?” He replied that he was not, but had just met with a very remarkable personage who had represented himself as being Cain, who murdered his brother, Abel. He went on to tell the circumstances as near as I can recall in the following language:

“As I was riding along the road on my mule, I suddenly noticed a very strange personnage walking beside me. He walked along beside me for about two miles. His head about even with my shoulders as I sat in my saddle. He wore no clothing, but was covered with hair. His skin was very dark. I asked him where he dwelt and he replied that he had no home, that he was a wandering in the earth and traveled to and fro. He said he was a very miserable creature, that he had earnestly sought death during his sojourn upon the earth, but that he could not die, and his mission was to destroy the souls of men. About the time he expressed himself this, I rebuked him in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by virtue of the Holy Priesthood, and commanded him to go hence, and he immediately departed out of my sight. When he left me I found myself near your house.”

There was much conversation about the circumstances between Brother Patten and my family which I don’t recall, but the above is in substance his statement to us at the time… A.O. Smoot” Lycurgus A. Wilson, Life of David W. Patten, The First Apostolic Martyr 45-47

This original tale, which probably became known to the early Latter-day Saints, likely gave rise to the notoriety that Cain, as some kind of archetypical Bigfoot creature still roamed the Earth. This story was also published in a book by Spencer W. Kimball, “The Miracle of Forgiveness”. Couple that with the fact that other church leaders have made some statements somewhat similar to the fact that Cain, still torments mankind somehow. Joseph F. Smith indicated that his brother, E. Wesley Smith, was attacked during the dedication of the Laie Hawaii Temple by Cain.

So is Cain dead or alive? Is he bigfoot? Who knows, but they are interesting stories. I’ll leave it up to the reader to decide whatever that want on this story.

[Teancum]

Here are a couple of threads discussing this topic:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=36663&sid=090682950 ... 239972159f

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=43510&sid=090682950 ... 239972159f

EDIT: oops, I see you are familiar with one thread at least already.

Also there was some discussion in outer darkness from Passionflower on this topic, but she deleted most of her posts / threads.

[EmmaLee]

I believe there are all kinds of creatures that we are (mostly ?) unaware of (or not aware of at all yet), and that it can't be 'proven' one way or the other whether they exist or not. Different people have varying definitions of what proof even is in this regard. Especially in the ocean which, comparatively speaking, we've only explored a very tiny amount of - I think there may be all manner of creatures swimming around (one reason to stay on terra firma ).

I've seen a couple of animals myself that I legit wasn't sure what they were. One of my sons was with me each time and saw the creatures, as well. We joked that they were chupacabras, but we were only 3/4 joking, ha. I expect they were some kind of cross-breed of coyotes and dogs, but in 5 decades upon this glorious earth, and being an avid animal lover (especially of dogs), I sure haven't seen any coyote or dog that looked remotely like these two animals. In fairness though, both sightings were at night (although there were ample street lights, plus the car headlights shone right on them - and both were very close, trotted right in front of our car - which was also strange, as neither seemed to be in any hurry, or acted afraid of our car coming down the road) - so maybe in the daylight, I would have felt more sure of what they were. We didn't feel afraid at all, more just curious and surprised. These strange animal sightings happened a few years ago, and to this day, when I drive in those areas where we saw them, I still look around hoping to spot one again, lol.

[ElizaRSkousen]

I don’t know about cryptids but I certainly believe there are aliens in this expansive universe

[Teancum]

Word of strong warning, the following is all second, third and fourth-hand accounts, so any or all of it could be a bit of undigested beef, a morsel of cheese. etc..

In my area, one of my paranormal researcher friends, just told me of two sightings of a half man, half horse creature. I cannot remember if there were any other details other than man from head to waist and horse from there down.

Also there was a severed big-foot hand recovered that when analyzed for size, (I was told you can tell how tall someone is by the length of their fingers) the owner of the hand would have been 8 foot tall. This hand was sent to the F.B.I. so all we have are the pictures of it now.

Of course there are the skin-walkers: Bear-like in resemblance or very large wolf, shape-shifting, very fast moving and impossible to kill, and then the wolf-like creature that walks upright and has red eyes. There is one other thing that has bat-like wings, but I am not sure what all else.

Here is a thought to ponder: If 1/3 of the pre-mortal spirits chose to rebel and follow satan, and we know that all living things have spirits, Whats to say that some of these sightings aren't UN-embodied non human spirits of creatures that chose to follow the devil? It would make sense that if those who have received bodies in this life (not just Father's children, but all living beings), followed Father's plan, then there would be some creations that chose poorly too, and didn't get to receive a body. I am sure there is some speculation from some leader at some time about this topic, but I don't want to try to look for it.