Recent Posts
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Tribe of Manasseh — North American Nephite Model
I have always loved apologetics. I enjoy discussing doctrine, scriptural versus and evidence that support or are seen as evidence against the Book of Mormon or LDS church. For that reason I have studied the most common complaints and evidence for and against the church.
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Leaving the Church: A Compilation of the Evidence Against the LDS Church
I hope those of you who read this document do not get the wrong idea: I am not leaving the Church out of anger, sin, or laziness. I am not leaving due to anti-Mormon literature or to pursue different lifestyle choices. And I am not leaving in hopes of bringing…
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Introduction to Examining Church Claims
The Church was organized in Manchester, New York, on April 6, 1830. The original name used on that date was actually the “Church of Christ.” This was changed in 1834 to “The Church of the Latter Day Saints,” and then changed again in 1838 to “The Church of Jesus Christ…
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Why I No Longer Believe
I have always appreciated that LDS members are taught to value intelligence and truth. I want the church to be true. It has generally been a positive force in my life. I would appreciate discussing this with anyone who reads through this document.
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LDS Indoctrination and Retentive Socialization
LDS Indoctrination and Retentive Socialization Introduction In A Message To The Most Ardent Critic Of The Mormon Church, Ben Arkell quotes a nameless member of the church who had recently dropped off their daughter and son at the Missionary Training Center (MTC) of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day…
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TRUTH RESTORED
Former LDS Church historian D Michael Quinn has quoted the following remarks given to him during the course of an interview with Elder Boyd K Packer, then an Apostle of the LDS Church; “I have a hard time with historians… because they idolize the truth. The truth is not uplifting;…
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Book of Mormon parallels to 1800s thought
Book of Mormon parallels to 1800s thought Richard Bushman, well-known Mormon historian, recently stated: … there is phrasing everywhere–long phrases that if you google them you will find them in 19th century writings. The theology of the Book of Mormon is very much 19th century theology, and it reads like…
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Questions to Ask
Introduction These questions are designed to probe various aspects of the LDS Church’s history and truth-claims.1 The list was made for 1) investigators to ask the missionaries, 2) active members to ask themselves, or 3) those experiencing a faith transition to ask their parents or ecclesiastical leaders. The majority of…
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Swords and Spears
Swords and Spears For over a decade I’ve been hung up on the dearth of physical evidence, particularly Iron Age artifacts, supporting the Book of Mormon. Recently I had a mini-enlightenment in this regard: swords and spears do not grow on trees; they do nor fall as manna from Heaven. They are…
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Issues and Questions Regarding LDS Doctrine and History
Fourteen years down the road, the questions and issues raised in this letter remain substantially unanswered, to my knowledge unaddressed, by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. August 30, 2003 153 Canemah Way Oregon City, OR 97045 President Gordon B. Hinckley The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day…
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Too Big to Fail
I considered titling this “Too Big to Fail?” But no, with billions in assets, millions of Saints tithing ten percent, and catastrophic cultural implications, like Chase Manhattan and Goldman Sacks, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is too big to fail. While fiscal failure of the Mormon church portends…
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Before the facts, it didn’t make sense
I’m new to this site and happy to share my experience. Five years ago my wife and I were very active, both holding callings and trying to get out to activities often. Even share the gospel a little. But one day just suddenly at the same time we both felt…
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It’s all about trust
There are hundreds of reasons to believe or not believe that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true. For me I no longer believe it is true in the way it teaches it is true. How did I come to this conclusion? I could give a list of issues…
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Finding Truth: Response to “8 Anti-Mormon Tactics That Satan Uses To Attack The Latter-day Saints”
In March of 2017, MyLifeByGogoGoff published a piece entitled 8 Anti-Mormon Tactics That Satan Uses To Attack The Latter-day Saints. The piece was then reblogged by LDS Living. I am certainly no expert logician, but I have taken a couple philosophy courses, and I spent many years in the sciences…
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The Shunning Key
The Shunning Key: Whom Mormons shun and why Introduction The leaders and manuals of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints frequently emphasize brotherly love and charity to all. Consider this statement by Elder M. Russell Ballard: Let us reach out in friendship and love to our neighbors, including…
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Problem Summaries: resources discussing LDS-truth claims
Problems with LDS truth-claims Before reading about the problems, you may want to first consider the pros and cons of investigating the truth-claim data. Very short summaries Five Key Facts (~ 1 page) 50 Problems with the Mormon Church (~10 minute youtube video) More significant summaries Mormon Primer (multiple perspectives: mainstream, critical,…
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