Category: Memes

  • Mild Barley Drink

    Mild Barley Drink

    From the Doctrine and Covenants 89:17

    17 Nevertheless, wheat for man, and corn for the ox, and oats for the horse, and rye for the fowls and for swine, and for all beasts of the field, and barley for all useful animals, and for mild drinks, as also other grain.

    Doctrine and Covenants 89

    From Wikipedia:

    The production of beer is called brewing, which involves the fermentation of starches, mainly derived from cereal grains—most commonly malted barley.

    Beer – Wikipedia

    Crash Course:

    Word of Wisdom – Wikipedia
    Word of Wisdom – Mormon Think
    Doctrine and Covenants 89
    Evolution of the Word of Wisdom – The Origin Story – wasmormon.org
    Evolution of the Word of Wisdom – Stories we Tell – wasmormon.org
    Evolution of the Word of Wisdom – Barley Drinks – wasmormon.org

    Evolution of the Word of Wisdom – The Origin Story
    Evolution of the Word of Wisdom – Stories We Tell
    Evolution of the Word of Wisdom – Barley Drinks and Imbibing Pioneers
  • No Paid Ministry

    No Paid Ministry

    Image: Thomas S. Monson, LDS Church President. 

    From the April 2006 General Conference address ‘Our Sacred Priesthood Trust’:[footnote]Our Sacred Priesthood Trust – LDS April 2006 General Conference[/footnote]

    I have experienced many opportunities. One occurred 21 years ago, prior to the time when the German Democratic Republic—or East Germany, as it was more commonly known—was freed from Communist rule. I was visiting with the East German state secretary, Minister Gysi. At that time our temple at Freiberg, in East Germany, was under construction, along with two or three meetinghouses. Minister Gysi and I visited on a number of subjects, including our worldwide building program. He then asked, “Why is your church so wealthy that you can afford to build buildings in our country and throughout the world? How do you get your money?”

    I answered that the Church is not wealthy but that we follow the ancient biblical principle of tithing, which principle is reemphasized in our modern scripture. I explained also that our Church has no paid ministry and indicated that these were two reasons why we were able to build the buildings then under way, including the beautiful temple at Freiberg.

    From a 2014 letter to First Quorum of the 70 addressing living allowance increase:[footnote]First Q70 Living Allowance – Mormon Leaks[/footnote]

    In Accordance with approved procedures, the annual General Authority base allowance has been increased from $116,400 to $120,000. This will begin with your paycheck issued on January 10, 2014 (pay period 1).

    Detailed information on the t2014 medical benefits and related premiums was sent to you earlier by Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators.

     

     

     

     

    Crash Course:

    How the Mormons Make Money – Bloomberg

    LDS Church Finances – Wikipedia

    Mormon Leaks

    Church Finances, 1947-Style – By Common Consent

    What does “unpaid ministry” look like? – Eric Johnson

  • National Equalization

    National Equalization

    Image: Joseph Smith Jr. – Mormon Prophet

    Views of Joseph Smith Jr. regarding race, from The History of the Church:[footnote]History of the Church, Volume 5, pages 218-219 [/footnote]

    The Prophet’s View of the Negro Race.

    At five went to Mr. Sollars’ with Elders Hyde and Richards. Elder Hyde inquired the situation of the negro. I replied, they came into the world slaves mentally and physically. Change their situation with the whites, and they would be like them. They have souls, and are subjects of salvation. Go into Cincinnati or any city, and find an educated negro, who rides in his carriage, and you will see a man who has risen by the powers of his own mind to his exalted state of respectability. The slaves in Washington are more refined than many in high places, and the black boys will take the shine of many of those they brush and wait on.

    Elder Hyde remarked, “Put them on the level, and they will rise above me.” I replied, if I raised you to be my equal, and then attempted to oppress you, would you not be indignant and try to rise above me, as did Oliver Cowdery, Peter Whitmer, and many others, who said I was a fallen Prophet, and they were capable of leading the people, although I never attempted to oppress them, but had always been lifting them up? Had I anything to do with the negro, I would confine them by strict law to their own species, and put them on a national equalization.


    Crash Course:

  • Darkies

    Darkies

    Image: Joseph Fielding Smith

    Excerpt from a 1963 Look Magazine interview with Joseph Fielding Smith:[footnote]Look Magazine, Oct 22, 1963, p. 79 [/footnote]

    “I would not want you to believe that we bear any animosity toward the Negro. ‘Darkies’ are a wonderful people, and they have their place in our church.”


    Crash Course:

    Blacks and the Priesthood – Mormon Think
  • Pure Blood

    Pure Blood

    Image: Rosa Parks, Civil Rights Activist

    Excerpt from Historian D. Michael Quinn’s article on ‘Utah Mormon discrimination against the Blacks’:

    [footnote]Prelude to the National “Defense of Marriage” Campaign: Civil Discrimination Against Feared or Despised Minorities – D. Michael Quinn [/footnote]

    ‘In 1953, a First Presidency secretary also informed a white Mormon about the less-obvious extent of Utah’s racial segregation: “The L.D.S. Hospital here in Salt Lake City has a blood bank which does not contain any colored blood.” According to presidency counselor J. Reuben Clark, this policy of segregating African-American blood from the blood donated by so-called “white people” was intended “to protect the purity of the blood streams of the people of this Church.”’


    Crash Course:

    Race and the Priesthood Essay – LDS.org
    Statements about race in the Book of Mormon – Religious Tolerance
    Black people in Mormon doctrine – Wikipedia
    Blacks and the Priesthood – Mormon Think
    Prelude to the National “Defenseof Marriage” Campaign: Civil Discrimination Against Feared or Despised Minorities – D. Michael Quinn
    Mormons and the NAACP – Blacks and the Priesthood – wasmormon.org

    Mormons and the NAACP – Blacks and the Priesthood
  • Utah Segregation

    Utah Segregation

    Excerpt from Historian D. Michael Quinn’s article on ‘Utah Mormon discrimination against the Blacks’:[footnote]Prelude to the National “Defense of Marriage” Campaign: Civil Discrimination Against Feared or Despised Minorities – D. Michael Quinn [/footnote]

    “Even after federal emancipation of America’s slaves in the 1860s, LDS church president Brigham Young referred to African-American slavery as a religious necessity. Earlier, as both church president and governor, he had instructed the Utah legislature in 1852 to legalize the slavery of African-Americans. This directly contradicted Joseph Smith’s proposal in 1844 “to abolish slavery by the year 1850″ by financially compensating Southern slave-owners through the sale of federal lands in the West.90 Utah Mormonism’s reversal of Joseph Smith’s social policy toward Negroes was mirrored by the refusal of LDS presidents after 1844 to follow the founding prophet’s example of giving the priesthood to blacks who were not slaves.

    For more than a century, Utah restricted African-Americans from patronizing white restaurants and hotels, prohibited them from public swimming pools, and required them to sit in the balconies of theaters During World War II, African-Americans wearing their nation’s uniform had to sit in the balcony of Utah theaters, while German prisoners-of war sat on the main floor with white servicemen and civilians. Utah law also prohibited marriage between a white person and a black (including persons only one-eighth Negro).”

     


    Crash Course:

  • Civil Rights

    Civil Rights

    Image: Martin Luther King Jr., Civil Rights Activist

    From an address by Ezra Taft Benson in the April 1965 General Conference:[footnote]Not commanded in all things – Ezra Taft Benson, April 1965 [/footnote]

    What are we doing to fight it? Before I left for Europe I warned how the communists were using the civil rights movement to promote revolution and eventual takeover of this country. When are we going to wake up? What do you know about the dangerous civil rights agitation in Mississippi! do you fear the destruction of all vestiges of state government?

    Now brethren, the Lord never promised there would not be traitors in the Church. We have the ignorant, the sleepy and the deceived who provide temptations and avenues of apostasy for the unwary and the unfaithful, but we have a prophet at our head and he has spoken. Now what are we going to do about it?

    Do Homework

    Brethren, if we had done our homework and were faithful we could step forward at this time and help save this country.

     


    Crash Course:

    Not commanded in all things – Ezra Taft Benson, April 1965
    Blacks and the Priesthood – Mormon Think
    Mormon racism in perspective – Elder Mark E. Peterson
  • Confirmed Racist

    Confirmed Racist

    Image: Martin Luther King Jr., Civil Rights Activist

    Excerpts from an address by Apostle Mark E. Peterson given at the Convention of Teachers of Religion on the College Level
    Brigham Young University Provo, Utah – August 27, 1954[footnote]Race Problems—As They Affect The Church – Mark E. Petersen, 1954 [/footnote]

    “God has commanded Israel not to intermarry. To go against this commandment of God would be in sin. Those who willfully sin with their eyes open to this wrong will not be surprised to find that they will be separated from the presence of God in the world to come. This is spiritual death….

    The reason that one would lose his blessings by marrying a Negro is due to the restriction placed upon them. “No person having the least particle of Negro blood can hold the Priesthood” (Brigham Young). It does not matter if they are one-sixth Negro or one-hundred and sixth, the curse of no Priesthood is the same. If an individual who is entitled to the Priesthood marries a Negro, the Lord has decreed that only spirits who are not eligible for the Priesthood will come to that marriage as children. To intermarry with a Negro is to forfeit a “Nation of Priesthood holders”….

    The discussion on civil rights, especially over the last 20 years, has drawn some very sharp lines. It has blinded the thinking of some of our own people, I believe. They have allowed their political affiliations to color their thinking to some extent, and then, of course, they have been persuaded by some of the arguments that have been put forth….We who teach in the Church certainly must have our feet on the ground and not to be led astray by the philosophies of men on this subject….

    I think I have read enough to give you an idea of what the Negro is after. He is not just seeking the opportunity of sitting down in a cafe where white people eat. He isn’t just trying to ride on the same streetcar or the same Pullman car with white people. It isn’t that he just desires to go to the same theater as the white people. From this, and other interviews I have read, it appears that the Negro seeks absorption with the white race. He will not be satisfied until he achieves it by intermarriage. That is his objective and we must face it. We must not allow our feelings to carry us away, nor must we feel so sorry for Negroes that we will open our arms and embrace them with everything we have. Remember the little statement that we used to say about sin, “First we pity, then endure, then embrace”….

    Now let’s talk about segregation again for a few moments. Was segregation a wrong principle? When the Lord chose the nations to which the spirits were to come, determining that some would be Japanese and some would be Chinese and some Negroes and some Americans, He engaged in an act of segregation….

    When he told Enoch not preach the gospel to the descendants of Cain who were black, the Lord engaged in segregation. When He cursed the descendants of Cain as to the Priesthood, He engaged in segregation….

    Who placed the Negroes originally in darkest Africa? Was it some man, or was it God? And when He placed them there, He segregated them….

    The Lord segregated the people both as to blood and place of residence. At least in the cases of the Lamanites and the Negro we have the definite word of the Lord Himself that he placed a dark skin upon them as a curse — as a punishment and as a sign to all others. He forbade intermarriage with them under threat of extension of the curse. And He certainly segregated the descendants of Cain when He cursed the Negro as to the Priesthood, and drew an absolute line. You may even say He dropped an Iron curtain there….

    Now we are generous with the Negro. We are willing that the Negro have the highest education. I would be willing to let every Negro drive a Cadillac if they could afford it. I would be willing that they have all the advantages they can get out of life in the world. But let them enjoy these things among themselves. I think the Lord segregated the Negro and who is man to change that segregation? It reminds me of the scripture on marriage, “what God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” Only here we have the reverse of the thing — what God hath separated, let not man bring together again.”

    Think of the Negro, cursed as to the priesthood…. This Negro, who, in the pre-existence lived the type of life which justified the Lord in sending him to the earth in their lineage of Cain with a black skin, and possibly being born in darkest Africa–if that Negro is willing when he hears the gospel to accept it, he may have many of the blessings of the gospel. In spite of all he did in the pre-existent life, the Lord is willing, if the Negro accepts the gospel with real, sincere faith, and is really converted, to give him the blessings of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost. If that Negro is faithful all his days, he can and will enter the celestial kingdom. He will go there as a servant, but he will get celestial glory.”

     


    Crash Course:

    Race Problems—As They Affect The Church – Mark E. Petersen, 1954
    Blacks and the Priesthood – Mormon Think
    Mormon racism in perspective – Elder Mark E. Peterson
  • Loathsome

    Loathsome

    The Book of Mormon (2 Nephi 5:21-25), in describing the ‘curse of dark skin’ that afflicted the Lamanites (American Indian), reads:[footnote]2 Nephi 5 – The Book of Mormon [/footnote]

    21 And he had caused the cursing to come upon them, yea, even a sore cursing, because of their iniquity. For behold, they had hardened their hearts against him, that they had become like unto a flint; wherefore, as they were white, and exceedingly fair and delightsome, that they might not be enticing unto my people the Lord God did cause a skin of blackness to come upon them.

    22 And thus saith the Lord God: I will cause that they shall be loathsome unto thy people, save they shall repent of their iniquities.

    23 And cursed shall be the seed of him that mixeth with their seed; for they shall be cursed even with the same cursing. And the Lord spake it, and it was done.

    24 And because of their cursing which was upon them they did become an idle people, full of mischief and subtlety, and did seek in the wilderness for beasts of prey.

    25 And the Lord God said unto me: They shall be a scourge unto thy seed, to stir them up in remembrance of me; and inasmuch as they will not remember me, and hearken unto my words, they shall scourge them even unto destruction.

     


    Crash Course:

    2 Nephi 5 – The Book of Mormon
    Blacks and the Priesthood – Mormon Think
    Mormon racism in perspective – Elder Mark E. Peterson
  • Scales of Darkness

    Scales of Darkness

    Until 1981 2 Nephi 30:6 in the Book of Mormon taught that dark-skinned Lamanites (Indians) would eventually experience a change in the color of their skin should they embrace the Book of Mormon. This passage read:

    “And then shall they rejoice; for they shall know that it is a blessing unto them from the hand of God; and their scales of darkness shall begin to fall from their eyes; and many generations shall not pass away among them, save they shall be a white and a delightsome people.”

    In 1981 the Church changed the text of The Book of Mormon to read:

    “And then shall they rejoice; for they shall know that it is a blessing unto them from the hand of God; and their scales of darkness shall begin to fall from their eyes; and many generations shall not pass away among them, save they shall be a pure and a delightsome people.”

     


    Crash Course:

    Blacks and the Priesthood – Mormon Think
    Mormon racism in perspective – Elder Mark E. Peterson
  • Shades Lighter

    Shades Lighter

    Image: Spencer W. Kimball

    From the October 1960 LDS General Conference, Spencer W. Kimball:[footnote]The Day of the Lamanites -1960 General Conference, Spencer W. Kimball [/footnote]

    “At one meeting a father and mother and their sixteen-year-old daughter were present, the little member girl—sixteen—sitting between the dark father and mother, and it was evident she was several shades lighter than her parents—on the same reservation, in the same hogan, subject to the same sun and wind and weather. There was the doctor in a Utah city who for two years had had an Indian boy in his home who stated that he was some shades lighter than the younger brother just coming into the program from the reservation. These young members of the Church are changing to whiteness and to delightsomeness. One white elder jokingly said that he and his companion were donating blood regularly to the hospital in the hope that the process might be accelerated.”

     


    Crash Course:

    The Day of the Lamanites -1960 General Conference, Spencer W. Kimball
    Blacks and the Priesthood – Mormon Think
    Mormon racism in perspective – Elder Mark E. Peterson
  • White and Delightsome

    White and Delightsome

    Image: Apostle LeGrand Richards

    In a 1978 interview Apostle LeGrand Richards spoke on the topic of  ‘giving the priesthood to the Negro’:[footnote]Interview with Apostle LeGrand Richards -16th August 1978, Church office Building [/footnote]

    WALTERS (Interviewer): Is there still a tendency to feel that people are born with black skin because of some previous situation, or do we consider that black skin is no sign anymore of anything inferior in any sense of the word?

    RICHARDS: Well, we don’t want to get that as a doctrine. Think of it as you will. You know, Paul said “Now we see in part and we know in part; we see through a glass darkly. When that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away, then we will see as we are seen, and know as we are known.” Now the Church’s attitude today is to prefer to leave it until we know. The Lord has never indicated that black skin came because of being less faithful. Now, the Indian; we know why he was changed, don’t we? The Book of Mormon tells us that; and he has a dark skin, but he has a promise there that through faithfulness, that they all again become a white and delightsome people. So we haven’t anything like that on the colored thing.

     


    Crash Course:

    Interview with Apostle LeGrand Richards – 16th August 1978, Church office Building
    Blacks and the Priesthood – Mormon Think
    Mormon racism in perspective – Elder Mark E. Peterson
  • Becoming White

    Becoming White

    Lesson 19, A white and Blessed People:[footnote]Manual for the Priests’ Quorum, Nephi Jensen – Deseret News Press, 1927 [/footnote]

    LESSON NINETEEN

    A WHITE AND BLESSED PEOPLE

    (a) Activity Period: (About 15 minutes.) Prayer.—Roll Call—Consider ways of getting attendance of absent members.—Report of assignments performed.—Assignments for ensuing week.—Social and fraternal activities.—Instructions by Bishop.

    (b) Lesson Period: (15 to 30 minutes.) Report of number who have read lesson.

    Statement of Facts.

    1. The Lamanites, because of the iniquity of their fathers, were cursed with a skin of darkness.
    2. They became an idle and a loathsome people, shut off largely from the blessings of the Lord.
    3. Prayers have been offered by servants of the Lord for their restoration.
    4. It has been prophesied that they shall one day become a white and delightsome and blessed people.
    5. Whenever they have obeyed the Gospel in the past, their dark skin has been removed, and they have become fair and beautiful and civilized.

    Argument.

    When the Indians or Lamanites receive and obey the Gospel in our day and from henceforth, they shall become as white and blessed a people as any in the Church today. This will take place before many generations have passed.

    A WHITE AND BLESSED PEOPLE

    For their rebellion and iniquity in hardening their hearts against the Lord and his chosen spokesmen, the Lord caused a curse to come upon the Lamanites, and those who intermarried with them. Before thy had…

     

     


    Crash Course:

    Blacks and the Priesthood – Mormon Think
    Mormon racism in perspective – Elder Mark E. Peterson
  • Tithing First

    Tithing First

    2012 December Ensign – Sacred Transformations: ““If paying tithing means that you can’t pay for water or electricity, pay tithing. If paying tithing means that you can’t pay your rent, pay tithing. Even if paying tithing means that you don’t have enough money to feed your family, pay tithing. “[footnote]Sacred Transformations, Aaron L. West – 2012 December Ensign [/footnote]

    “…a recent investigation by Reuters in collaboration with sociology professor Cragun estimates that the LDS Church is likely worth $40 billion today and collects up to $8 billion in tithing each year.”[footnote]How the Mormons Make Money – Bloomberg, July 2012 [/footnote]

     


    Crash Course:

    How the Mormons Make Money – Bloomberg, July 2012
    LDS Church Finances – Wikipedia
  • Weren’t Not Racist

    Weren’t Not Racist

    Image: Brigham Young

    In 1855 Brigham Young said: “You must not think, from what I say, that I am opposed to slavery. No! The negro is damned, and is to serve his master till God chooses to remove the curse of Ham…”[footnote]New York Herald, May 4, 1855, as cited in Dialogue, Spring 1973, p. 56 [/footnote]


    Crash Course:

    Blacks and the Priesthood – Mormon Think
    Mormon racism in perspective – Elder Mark E. Peterson
    The Way to Perfection – Curse of Cain
    The Improvement Era – December 1960
  • Homosexual Addiction

    Homosexual Addiction

    In 1981 Elder Hartman Rector, Jr. Of the First Quorum of the Seventy gave an address titled ‘Turning the Hearts'[footnote] Turning the Hearts, Elder Hartman Rector, Jr. – LDS.org [/footnote].

    The more controversial elements such as birth control and homosexuality were later censored from the textual version of the address on LDS.org, though the audio version remains complete. Some of the discrepancies include:

    “I consider it a great honor and a privilege to greet you this afternoon *in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.*” The *part* was edited out.

    At 1:21 (after the words “very serious attack today all over the world”), he talks about birth control and the destruction of families. About 53 seconds of the talk was cut out of the text.

    At 2:24 (after the words “the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee”), another 24 seconds is missing from the text. He remarks on the destruction of families by “those who represent the so-called ‘alternate lifestyle’” and decries vasectomies.

    At 4:58 (after the words “keep it from being ‘wasted’ when the Lord comes”), 28 seconds was edited out of the text. He said: ‘I have often wondered how or why the earth would be wasted if children’s hearts are not turned to their fathers. Today, it’s very clear for all to see. When the Lord comes, if He finds nothing but birth control, abortions, sterilizations, and homosexuals, the Earth is wasted.’

    At 6:46 (after the words “when they see what a great blessing they were to you,” which are different in the text for some reason), another 28 seconds was edited out of the text. He said: ‘If children have a happy family experience, they will not want to be homosexuals, which I am sure is an acquired addiction, just as drugs, alcohol, and pornography are. The promoters of homosexuality say they were born that way, but I do not believe this is true. There are no female spirits trapped in male bodies and vice versa. He who made them made them male and female. Every form of homosexuality is sin, said the living prophet Spencer W. Kimball.’

    Crash Course:

    Turning the Hearts, Elder Hartman Rector, Jr. – LDS.org

    Mormon and Gay – Official LDS Website

    MamaDragons – We are a supportive group of mothers. We are shelter for their children. We are champions of faith, family, and LGBTQIA communities.

    Homosexuality and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – Wikipedia

  • Choose the Rights

    Choose the Rights

    Excerpt from the 2013 BYU devotional, by Elaine S. Dalton – General President of the Young Women’s organization[footnote] “Prophetic Priorities and Dedicated Disciples” BYU Devotional – Elaine S. Dalton, January 15, 2013 [/footnote]

    “Young women, you will be the ones who will provide the example of virtuous womanhood and motherhood. You will continue to be virtuous, lovely, praiseworthy and of good report. You will also be the ones to provide an example of family life in a time when families are under attack, being redefined and disintegrating. You will understand your roles and your responsibilities and thus will see no need to lobby for rights.”


    Crash Course:

    “Prophetic Priorities and Dedicated Disciples” BYU Devotional – Elaine S. Dalton

    Joseph Smith’s Teachings about Priesthood, Temple, and Women  – LDS Gospel Topic Essay

    How the temple is sexist (and the church is, too) – Young Mormon Feminist

    The Church and the Proposed Equal Rights Amendment: A Moral Issue – LDS.org

  • Educated Women

    Educated Women

    Excerpt from the 2006 general conference address Rise Up, O Men of God, by Gordon B Hinckley[footnote] Rise Up, O Men of God – Gordon B. Hinckley, 2006 [/footnote]

    “It is plainly evident from these statistics that young women are exceeding young men in pursuing educational programs. And so I say to you young men, rise up and discipline yourself to take advantage of educational opportunities. Do you wish to marry a girl whose education has been far superior to your own? We speak of being “equally yoked.” That applies, I think, to the matter of education.”


    Crash Course:

    Joseph Smith’s Teachings about Priesthood, Temple, and Women  – LDS Gospel Topic Essay

    How the temple is sexist (and the church is, too) – Young Mormon Feminist

    The Church and the Proposed Equal Rights Amendment: A Moral Issue – LDS.org

     

  • Jeffs and Joseph

    Jeffs and Joseph

    Image: Polygamist FLDS Prophet Warren Jeffs.

    From the LDS church’s Gospel Topic Essay ‘Plural Marriage in Kirtland and Nauvoo’ [footnote]Plural Marriage in Kirtland and Nauvoo – LDS.org [/footnote]

    ‘Careful estimates put the number {of wives} between 30 and 40.’

    ‘The youngest was Helen Mar Kimball, daughter of Joseph’s close friends Heber C. and Vilate Murray Kimball, who was sealed to Joseph several months before her 15th birthday.’

    ‘Joseph Smith was sealed to a number of women who were already married.’

    ‘Several Latter-day Saints who had lived in Kirtland reported decades later that Joseph Smith had married Alger, who lived and worked in the Smith household…’ (Fanny Alger was ~16 at the time)

    Joseph Smith’s plural marriages:

    Wife Date Age Husband
    Emma Hale Jan 1827 22 –
    Fanny Alger 1833 16 –
    Lucinda Morgan Harris 1838 37 George W. Harris
    Louisa Beaman Apr 1841 26 –
    Zina Huntington Jacobs Oct 1841 20 Henry Jacobs
    Presendia Huntington Buell Dec 1841 31 Norman Buell
    Agnes Coolbrith Jan 1842 33 –
    Sylvia Sessions Lyon Feb 1842 23 Windsor Lyon
    Mary Rollins Lightner Feb 1842 23 Adam Lightner
    Patty Bartlett Sessions Mar 1842 47 David Sessions
    Marinda Johnson Hyde Apr 1842 27 Orson Hyde
    Elizabeth Davis Durfee Jun 1842 50 Jabez Durfee
    Sarah Kingsley Cleveland Jun 1842 53 John Cleveland
    Delcena Johnson Jul 1842 37 –
    Eliza R. Snow Jun 1842 38 –
    Sarah Ann Whitney Jul 1842 17 –
    Martha McBride Knight Aug 1842 37 –
    Ruth Vose Sayers Feb 1843 33 Edward Sayers
    Flora Ann Woodworth Spring 1843 16 –
    Emily Dow Partridge Mar 1843 19 –
    Eliza Maria Partridge Mar 1843 22 –
    Almera Johnson Apr 1843 30 –
    Lucy Walker May 1843 17 –
    Sarah Lawrence May 1843 17 –
    Maria Lawrence May 1843 19 –
    Helen Mar Kimball May 1843 14 –
    Hanna Ells Mid 1843 29 –
    Elvira Cowles Holmes Jun 1843 29 Jonathan Holmes
    Rhoda Richards Jun 1843 58 –
    Desdemona Fullmer Jul 1843 32 –
    Olive Frost Mid 1843 27 –
    Melissa Lott Sep 1843 19 –
    Nancy Winchester 1843 14 –
    Fanny Young Nov 1843 56 –

    Crash Course:

    Year of Polygamy Podcast – The series follows the Mormon faith through the lens of “The Principle of Plural Marriage”.

    Joseph Smith’s Polygamy – Discusses Joseph Smith’s introduction of polygamy into early Mormon Church.

    Plural Marriage and Mormon Fundamentalism – D. Michael Quinn

    The Wives of Joseph Smith

  • Charity

    Charity

    It is estimated the LDS church pulls in between 5 billion dollars annually in tithing revenue alone, sans additional for-profit enterprises. [footnote]Mormons Inc. – Time Magazine [/footnote]

    From a Dallin Oak (LDS Apostle) 2016 address on religious freedom at the University of Oxford:[footnote]Transcript: Elder Dallin H. Oaks at University of Oxford [/footnote]

    “Care for the poor and needy is not optional or incidental in our Church. We do this worldwide. For example, in the year 2015 we had 177 emergency response projects in 56 countries. In addition, we had hundreds of projects that impacted more than a million people in seven other categories of assistance, such as clean water, immunization, and vision care. For more than 30 years the magnitude of these efforts has averaged about 40 million dollars a year.”

    The Deseret Morning News LDS Church Almanac gives information on historical membership records of the LDS church. The church’s reported membership as of December 31, 2015 was 15,634,199.[footnote]2015 Statistical Report for April 2016 General Conference [/footnote] The growth of 1.7% in 2015 is the lowest percentage growth since 1937.[footnote]LDS Church Growth Slows to Its Lowest Level Since 1937, But Here’s the Good News in That [/footnote]

    Though the LDS church has a robust welfare program, funded through fast offerings, the percentage of tithing funds that go towards external humanitarian causes is fairly low considerings it substantial resources. Even adjusting the estimated numbers to lean more conservative, the per-member donation would still fall under $10 annually.

    Contrast this with the recent estimated $2 billion cost of the City Creek mega-mall in downtown Salt Lake City. [footnote]The money behind the mormon message – Salt Lake Tribune [/footnote]

    Since 1959 the LDS church has not publicly disclosed its financial statements… even to its tithe payers.

     

    Crash Course:

    How the Mormons Make Money – Bloomberg

    LDS Church Finances – Wikipedia

    Mormon Leaks

  • Filthy Affair

    Filthy Affair

    Frances Ward (“Fanny”) Alger Custer (September 30, 1816 – November 29, 1889) is generally considered as Joseph Smiths first plural wife. Although undocumented, the marriage of Fanny and Joseph most likely took place in Kirtland, Ohio sometime in 1833 (before sealing authority had been restored). She would have been sixteen years old at the time.

    Joseph kept his marriage to Fanny out of the view of the public, and his wife Emma. Chauncey Webb recounted Emma’s later discovery of the relationship: “Emma was furious, and drove the girl, who was unable to conceal the consequences of her celestial relation with the prophet, out of her house”. Ann Eliza again recalled: “…it was felt that [Emma] certainly must have had some very good reason for her action. By degrees it became whispered about that Joseph’s love for his adopted daughter was by no means a paternal affection, and his wife, discovering the fact, at once took measures to place the girl beyond his reach…Since Emma refused decidedly to allow her to remain in her house…my mother offered to take her until she could be sent to her relatives…” [footnote] Fanny Alger – Wives of Joseph Smith  [/footnote]

    In January 1838, some months after the Algers had left Kirtland, Oliver Cowdery wrote his brother concerning his indignation at Smith’s relationship with Alger. Cowdery said he had discussed with Smith the “dirty, nasty, filthy affair of his and Fanny Alger’s … in which I strictly declared that I had never deserted from the truth in the matter, and as I supposed was admitted by himself.” [footnote] Oliver Cowdery, Letter to Warren A. Cowdery (Oliver’s brother), January 21, 1838  [/footnote]

     

    Crash Course:

    Year of Polygamy Podcast – The series follows the Mormon faith through the lens of “The Principle of Plural Marriage”.

    Joseph Smith’s Polygamy – Discusses Joseph Smith’s introduction of polygamy into early Mormon Church.

    Plural Marriage and Mormon Fundamentalism – D. Michael Quinn

    Fanny Alger – The Wives of Joseph Smith

  • Fair Shake

    Fair Shake

    Image: Image of Polygamist FLDS Prophet Warren Jeffs and his wives [footnote] Warren Jeffs – Wikipedia   [/footnote]

    From an April 17, 1860 New York Times article, ‘Polygamy and its Fruits'[footnote] The New York Times, April 17, 1860   [/footnote]and later published in Stanley P. Hirshson’s, The Lion of the Lord[footnote] The Lion of the Lord: A Biography of Brigham Young – Amazon   [/footnote]:

    ‘Some time ago HEBER KIMBALL was lecturing some missionaries who were preparing to start out on foreign missions, in the Tabernacle, and said to them: “Brethren, I want you to understand that it is not to be as it has been heretofore. The brother Missionaries have been in the habit of picking out the prettiest women for themselves before they get here, and bringing on the ugly ones for us; hereafter you have to bring them all here before taking any of them, and let us all have a fair shake.” The old reprobate then had at least a score of women whom he called wives.’

    Additional quotes by Heber C. Kimball regarding polygamy:

    “Here we are brother Joseph; we are here ourselves are we not, with none of the property we possessed in our probationary state…He will say to us, “Come along, my boys, we will give you a good suit of clothes. Where are your wives?” “They are back yonder; they would not follow us.” “Never mind,” says Joseph, “here are thousands, have all you want.” [footnote] Heber C. Kimball, Journal of Discourses 4:209   [/footnote]

    “It is believed in the world that our females are all common women. Well, in one sense, they are common- that is, they are like all other women, I suppose; but they are not unclean, for we wipe all the unclean ones from our midst: we do not only wipe them from our streets, but we wipe them out of existence.” [footnote] Heber C. Kimball, Journal of Discourses vol 7 talk on sanctification.   [/footnote]

    “It is the duty of a woman to be obedient to her husband, and unless she is, I would not give a damn for all her queenly right and authority” [footnote] Heber C. Kimball, Journal of Discourses 4:8   [/footnote]

    “Plurality of wives is a law established by God forever. It would be easier for the United States to build a tower to remove the sun as to remove polygamy.” [footnote] Heber C. Kimball, Millennial Star, vol. 28, p. 190   [/footnote]

    Crash Course:

    Year of Polygamy Podcast – The series follows the Mormon faith through the lens of “The Principle of Plural Marriage”.
    Joseph Smith’s Polygamy – Discusses Joseph Smith’s introduction of polygamy into early Mormon Church.
    Plural Marriage and Mormon Fundamentalism – D. Michael Quinn

  • Glasslooker

    Glasslooker

    Image: 1826 court bill for $2.68 in the trial of Joseph Smith Jr., identified as a ‘glasslooker’

    In the late winter of 1826, according to an early account, Peter Bridgeman, a nephew of the wife of Josiah Stowell, presented a written complaint against Joseph Smith at South Bainbridge, New York, which led to his arrest and trial as a “disorderly person and an imposter.” An anonymous writer claimed to have been given access to an account of court proceedings, which was published in Fraser’s Magazine during 1873. In it, Joseph Smith described his divination methods.[footnote] Fraser’s magazine, 1873   [/footnote]

    [Smith said] he had a certain stone which he had occasionally looked at to determine where hidden treasures in the bowels of the earth were; that he professed to tell in this manner where gold mines were a distance under ground, and had looked for Mr. Stowel several times, and had informed him where he could find these treasures, and Mr. Stowel had been engaged in digging for them. That at Palmyra he pretended to tell by looking at this stone where coined money was buried in Pennsylvania, and while at Palmyra had frequently ascertained in that way where lost property was of various kinds; that he had occasionally been in the habit of looking through this stone to find lost property for three years, but of late had pretty much given it up on account of its injuring his health, especially his eyes, making them sore; that he did not solicit business of this kind, and had always rather declined having anything to do with this business. […] And therefore the Court find the Defendant guilty. Costs: Warrant, 19c. Complaint upon oath, 25 1/2c. Seven witnesses, 87 1/2c. Recognisances, 25c. Mittimus, 19c. Recognisances of witnesses, 75c. Subpoena, 18c. – $2.68.

    This account has been corroborated by later discoveries, such as Justice Neely’s bill of costs which refers to Joseph Smith as “The Glass Looker,” (i.e. a diviner), discovered in 1971 by Wesley P. Walters.[footnote] Hill, Marvin S. (1972), “Joseph Smith and the 1826 Trial: New Evidence and New Difficulties”, BYU Studies, 12: 2  [/footnote] The total costs exactly matched the amount in Fraser’s Magazine.

    Crash Course:

    Joseph Smith and the criminal justice system – Wikipedia

    1826 Trial Testimonies – Rich Kelsey

    Locations of Joseph Smiths treasure hunting quests (Video) – Dan Vogel

  • 2012 Tithing Slip Change

    2012 Tithing Slip Change

    In 2012 there was an disclaimer added to the LDS tithing slip which reads “Though reasonable efforts will be made globally to use donations as designated, all donations become the Church’s property and will be used at the Church’s sole discretion to further the Church’s overall mission.”

    Since 1959 the LDS church has not publicly disclosed its financial statements… even to its tithe payers.

  • Honestly?

    Honestly?

    Image: Facsimile #3 from the modern printing of the Pearl of Great price with corrective translations by Egyptologists handwritten in. 

    From Gospel Principles, Chapter 31, Honesty:[footnote] Gospel Principles, 2011, 179–83 [/footnote]

    “There are many other forms of lying. When we speak untruths, we are guilty of lying. We can also intentionally deceive others by a gesture or a look, by silence, or by telling only part of the truth. Whenever we lead people in any way to believe something that is not true, we are not being honest.”

    Published in the Times and Seasons in 1842, the Book of Abraham, were said to be “written by his [Abrahams] own hand, upon papyrus.” [footnote] The Book of Abraham, LDS.org [/footnote] In 1880 the church canonized the Book of Abraham along with three hypocephalus known as Facimilies 1, 2 and 3. Thought to be lost in the great Chicago Fire (1871) the papyri were later discovered in New York and returned with great excitement to the church in 1967. Soon however both LDS and non-LDS scholars determined the papyri bore no semblance to the translation provided by Joseph Smith, verifying instead that they were common Egyptian funerary documents post-dating Abraham by centuries. For over 45 years this information was concealed from the general membership until 2014 with the publication of the ‘Translation and the Historicity of the Book of Abraham’ Gospel Topic Essay, in which the church admitted “None of the characters on the papyrus fragments mentioned Abraham’s name or any of the events recorded in the book of Abraham” [footnote]Translation and Historicity of the Book of Abraham, Gospel Topic Essay [/footnote]

    Compare below the translation provided by Joseph Smith and that of Egyptologists:

    Joseph’s Translation

    Modern Egyptological Translation
    1. Abraham sitting upon Pharaoh’s throne, by the politeness of the king, with a crown upon his head, representing the Priesthood, as emblematical of the grand Presidency in Heaven; with the scepter of justice and judgment in his hand.
    1. “Label for Osiris (text to the right of figure 1 of facsimile 3): Recitation by Osiris, Foremost of the Westerners, Lord of Abydos(?), the great god forever and ever(?).”
    1. King Pharaoh, whose name is given in the characters above his head.
    1. “Label for Isis (text to the right of figure 2 of facsimile 3): Isis the great, the god’s mother.”
    1. Signifies Abraham in Egypt as given also in Figure 10 of Facsimile No. 1.
    1. “Altar, with the offering of the deceased, surrounded with lotus flowers, signifying the offering of the defunct.” –Theodule Deveria
    1. Prince of Pharaoh, King of Egypt, as written above the hand.
    1. “Label for Maat (text to the left of figure 4 of facsimile 3): Maat, mistress of the gods.”
    1. Shulem, one of the king’s principal waiters, as represented by the characters above his hand.
    1. “Label for Hor the deceased (text in front of figure 5 of facsimile 3): The Osiris Hor, justified forever.”
    1. Olimlah, a slave belonging to the prince.
    1. “Label for Anubis (text in front of figure 6 of facsimile 3): Recitation by Anubis, who makes protection(?), foremost of the embalming booth,…”

    Crash Course:

    Translation and Historicity of the Book of Abraham – LDS Gospel Topic Essay

    Response to the Translation and Historicity of the Book of Abraham  – Robert K. Ritner

    The Joseph Smith Papyri (Video) – An explanation and overview of the Joseph Smith Papyri and their connection with Mormon scripture.

  • The Book of Abraham

    The Book of Abraham

    Image: Museum Walls Proclaim Fraud of Mormon Prophet, New York Times, December 29, 1912 [footnote] New York Times Article – Link [/footnote]

    From the introduction to the Book of Abraham as published in the Pearl of Great Price:  [footnote] The Book of Abraham – LDS.org  [/footnote]

    “A Translation of some ancient Records that have fallen into our hands from the catacombs of Egypt. The writings of Abraham while he was in Egypt, called the Book of Abraham, written by his own hand, upon papyrus.”

    From the 2014 Gospel Topic essay published on LDS.org: [footnote] Translation and the Historicity of the Book of Abraham – LDS.org  [/footnote]

    “None of the characters on the papyrus fragments mentioned Abraham’s name or any of the events recorded in the book of Abraham. Mormon and non-Mormon Egyptologists agree that the characters on the fragments do not match the translation given in the book of Abraham.”

    Crash Course:

    Translation and Historicity of the Book of Abraham – LDS Gospel Topic Essay

    Response to the Translation and Historicity of the Book of Abraham  – Robert K. Ritner

    The Joseph Smith Papyri (Video) – An explanation and overview of the Joseph Smith Papyri and their connection with Mormon scripture.

     

  • Closed Books

    Closed Books

    When asked about the Church’s lack of financial reporting by a reporter in 2002, then LDS Prophet, Gordon Hinkley responded as follows:

    REPORTER: In my country the…we say the people’s churches, the Protestants, the Catholics, they publish all their budgets, to all the public.
    HINCKLEY: Yeah. Yeah.
    REPORTER: Why is it impossible for your church?
    HINCKLEY: Well, we simply think that the…that information belongs to those who made the contribution, and not to the world. That’s the only thing. Yes.

    The LDS Church has not publicly disclosed its financial statements in the United States since 1959… even to its tithe payers.

    [footnote] Finances of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – Wikipedia [/footnote]

    Audio of the interview:

    Crash Course: