Category: Church
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To peek behind the curtain: weighing the decision to investigate LDS truth-claims
Why not investigate? From the perspective of a believing member, there are many valid reasons to avoid critically1 investigating the truth-claims of the Church.2 Lack the time, energy, interest, or capability To investigate requires time and effort. Most members are busy raising a family and have many demands on their…
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Five Key Facts
This is a very short summary of what I view as the 5 most important facts in understanding alternative models for LDS truth claims. To the best of my knowledge, every point made in this document is accepted as factual by both LDS and non-LDS scholars (please correct me if…
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The 1832 First Vision account was suppressed between 11 and ~30 years.
The 1832 First Vision account was suppressed between 11 and ~30 years The evidence LaMar Petersen, an amateur Mormon historian, met with Levi Young (senior President of the First Council of the Seventy) on February 3, 1953, and took these notes: His curiosity was excited when reading in Roberts’ Doc. History reference…
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The three-fold nature of the LDS Church: corporate, totalistic, and individual-growth
The three-fold nature of the church: corporate, totalistic, and individual-growth bwv549 last updated 2016-06-06 Teachings and actions of the Church, its leaders, and its members may be categorized into three prominent mindsets: corporate, totalistic, and individual-growth (aka “growth-mindset”): There is certainly overlap and interplay between these mindsets, but many of…
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I Desire to Understand
Years ago when my son left the church, I chose to dig deep and find the answers to the difficult questions about church history and its doctrine. I went into this venture with full confidence that I would find the faith affirming answers that would help save my son’s eternal…
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Riding the Wake of 60 Years of the Good Ship Zion
It’s Christmastime 2015. I’m 61 years old, a loving husband, father of four, grandfather of nine and — eight months into the Post-Mormon portion of my life. The past two years of transition have been painful, terrifying, embarrassing, disorienting but ultimately liberating. I am an active, faithful, lifetime member of the…
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An Evening with Zhenya
For the LDS Ventura California stake Relief Society on 17 March 1992 In commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Relief Society Written and performed by Eugene Kovalenko - Listen to the recording of the event using the play button below - https://mormonbandwagon.com/wp-content/uploads/mp3/AnEveningwithZhenya.mp3 Program notes for: A journey home to Liahonagrad In song, verse, and story [2015…
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Meeting with Maxwell, the Special Witness
In 1993 I personally asked Neal Maxwell a question: “As an apostle of the lord Jesus Christ, have you seen the savior?” He was embarrassed and could not answer that question, he finally told me to read an article about someone else’s dream. Many in high positions feign authority from…
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Four Alternatives to Church Policy in Handbook 1, Section 16.13 with “Clarifications”
Over the last two weeks, the LDS church has had their new policy on LGBT and LGBT children leaked, provided an explanation by Christofferson, then finally “clarified” through a statement from the first presidency and commentary from Church Public Affairs. The church stated that the “questions” regarding the policy change was…
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Bogus Justifications Behind Church’s New Policies
The LDS Church released changes to its Handbook on November 5, 2015 in relation to same-sex couples and children raised by same-sex couples. Specifically, the Church now prohibits children of same-sex couples from being baptized until they are 18 – and only if they move out of their parents’ homes, disavow…
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Leaving the Church, Part 12 — Miscellaneous Concerns
There are many aspects of Mormon theology that can be scientifically disproven. Moreover, some LDS teachings lack plausibility while others are simply bizarre. The following are several examples. 1. Death Prior to the Fall: 2 Nephi 2:22 and Alma 12:23–24 state there was no death of any kind (humans, animals,…
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Leaving the Church, Part 11 — Temples & Freemasonry
1. Introduction: Out of respect to believing members, I will not lay out all of my concerns with the LDS temple ceremony. However, there are certain aspects of the temple that are spoken about publically by Church leaders that are worth discussing in more detail. 2. Similarities between LDS Temple Ceremonies…