All essays and chapters
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Series: My Search for Truth - Wes TWhy 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…
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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…
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Series: Leaving the Church - Eric NelsonLeaving 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…
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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…
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Series: My Search for Truth - Wes TBook of Mormon Issue 5: Hebrew DNA
I will go into this in more depth at some time, but until just recently (2006), the introduction page in the Book of Mormon said all of the people chronicled in the…
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Series: My Search for Truth - Wes TBook of Mormon Issue 4: Language
The text of the Book of Mormon indicates that the peoples within the narrative took great care to preserve their language from evolving or fracturing into different dialects. They wrote in Reformed…
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Series: My Search for Truth - Wes TBook of Mormon Issue 3: Technology
We already discussed the chariots which I think is a huge problem. Several additional technology advances are completely out of place. I’ll go through these more briefly than the previous sections, but…
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Series: My Search for Truth - Wes TBook of Mormon Issue 2: Agriculture
Zeniff records some of the Book of Mormon seeds: Mosiah 9:9 And we began to till the ground, yea, even with all manner of seeds, with seeds of corn, and of wheat, and…
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Series: My Search for Truth - Wes TBook of Mormon Issue 1: Animals
The Book of Mormon is very clear that there were particular animals among the Nephites and Lamanites. Thanks to paleontologists and other researchers, we now know which animals actually did live in the Americas…
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Series: My Search for Truth - Wes TThe Book of Mormon: Keystone
I will be presenting and explaining what issues have most troubled me as I investigated the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. Interestingly enough, most of the issues that follow may not…
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Series: My Search for Truth - Wes TNature of Spiritual Confirmation
I would first also address hopefully briefly why I don’t just rely on a spiritual inspiration as the confirmation of the trueness of Book of Mormon or any other church teaching, as…
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Series: My Search for Truth - Wes TShould We Avoid Doubts and Questions?
There is a real fear among the some faithful that questioning the veracity of the church or the Book of Mormon is a sure way to lose your soul to the devil.…
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How I Lost my Faith by Defending it
I followed the faithful path outlined for every young man: baptism, priesthood, Eagle Scout, missionary, BYU graduate, and eternal husband, sealed in the Salt Lake Temple. I was on my way to…