Excerpt from a 1977 General Conference address by Gordon B. Hinckley: 1 “The so-called Mormon code of health, widely praised in these days of cancer and heart research, is in reality a revelation given to Joseph Smith in 1833 as a “Word of Wisdom” from the Lord. (D&C 89:1.) In no conceivable way could it … Read more
In 2016 researchers at the University of Utah conducted tests with 19 returned missionaries, recording fMRI scans of their brains as they evoked spiritual feelings. Excerpt from the UofU article, This is your brain on God: 1 “Based on fMRI scans, the researchers found that powerful spiritual feelings were reproducibly associated with activation in the … Read more
September 11th marks the anniversary of the Mountain Meadows Massacre. A five day siege that culminated in the slaughter of some 120 California-bound immigrants in 1857, at the hands of Mormon militiamen (reinstated Nauvoo Legion) from Parowan, Utah.1 A month before the emigrants departed Arkansas on their journey west, Parley P. Pratt (LDS Apostle) was … Read more
Excerpt from a 2006 interview with Elder Dallin H. Oaks and Elder Lance B. Wickman: “Same-Gender Attraction”:1 PUBLIC AFFAIRS: At what point does showing that love cross the line into inadvertently endorsing behavior? If the son says, ‘Well, if you love me, can I bring my partner to our home to visit? Can we come for … Read more
Image: Video of 12 year old gay Mormon youth sharing her testimony, told to ‘sit down’ after coming out to her congregation (Mormon Leaks). Savannah’s testimony: My name is Savannah and I want to share my testimony with you. I believe I am a child of heavenly parents. I don’t know if they talk to … Read more
Image: Joseph Smith Jr. ‘Address of the Prophet [Joseph Smith Jr.] — His Testimony Against the Dissenters at Nauvoo.’, History of the Church1 President Joseph Smith read the 11th Chap. 2 Corinthians. My object is to let you know that I am right here on the spot where I intend to stay. I, like Paul, … Read more
Image: President Dieter F. Uchtdorf – April 2017 General Conference From the Book of Mormon, 1 Nephi 10-13, 18:1 10 And it came to pass that I was constrained by the Spirit that I should kill Laban; but I said in my heart: Never at any time have I shed the blood of man. … Read more
Image: 2017 April General Conference, view from inside the LDS Conference Center A 2015 Time article (citing a ARIS Study) shows for every 100 male members there are 150 female members (in the state of Utah) of the LDS church:1 One of my web searches turned up a study from Trinity College’s American Religious Identification … Read more
Image: Artists portrayal of Jesus Christ. Mae West (August 17, 1893 – November 22, 1980) was an American actress, singer, playwright, screenwriter, comedian, and sex symbol:1 ‘I never said it would be easy, I only said it would be worth it. I never said there wouldn’t be tears, I just promised to be there if … Read more
Image: Salt Lake City LDS Temple To anyone who has knowledge of both the LDS Temple Ceremony (especially the pre-1990 temple ceremony) and Mason Rites it is very apparent that they have many similarities. Many things are exactly the same. Even knowledgeable Mormons admit that the endowment ceremony (especially in its earlier versions) contains many … Read more
From the first account of the first vision in 1932, 12 years after the experience: At about the age of twelve years, my mind become seriously impressed with regard to the all-important concerns for the welfare of my immortal soul, which led me to searching the scriptures—believing, as I was taught, that they contained the … Read more
From the first account of the first vision in 1932, 12 years after the experience: At about the age of twelve years, my mind become seriously impressed with regard to the all-important concerns for the welfare of my immortal soul, which led me to searching the scriptures—believing, as I was taught, that they contained the … Read more
Elisa Sterns visionary account published in 1815: “At length, as I lay apparently upon the brink of eternal woe, seeing nothing but death before me, suddenly there came a sweet flow of the love of God to my soul, which gradually increased. At the same time, there appeared a small gleam of light in the … Read more
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 … Read more