Excerpt from the February 8, 2020 Wall Street Journal article, ’The Mormon Church Amassed $100 Billion. It Was the Best-Kept Secret in the Investment World.’: 1 For more than half a century, the Mormon Church quietly built one of the world’s largest investment funds. Almost no one outside the church knew about it. Some of … Read more
The Wentworth Letter, by Joseph Smith Jr. 1 March 1, 1842.—At the request of Mr. John Wentworth, editor and proprietor of the Chicago Democrat, I have written the following sketch of the rise, progress, persecution, and faith of the Latter-day Saints, of which I have the honor, under God, of being the founder. Mr. Wentworth … Read more
Excerpt from the June 2018 Ensign, ‘The Long-Promised Day’: 1 President David O. McKay (1873–1970) “1947: “Sometime in God’s eternal plan, the Negro will be given the right to hold the priesthood. In the meantime, those of that race who receive the testimony of the restored gospel may have their family ties protected and other … Read more
Ether 8:8-12, the Book of Mormon: 1 8 Now the daughter of Jared being exceedingly expert, and seeing the sorrows of her father, thought to devise a plan whereby she could redeem the kingdom unto her father. 9 Now the daughter of Jared was exceedingly fair. And it came to pass that she did talk … Read more
Affidavit by seventeen year old Martha Brotherton published in the newspaper, ‘Quincy Whig’ August 06 1842, Pg 2: 1 Martha H. Brotherton’s Sworn Testimony ST. LOUIS, July 13th, A. D. 1842. Gen. John C. Bennett. DEAR SIR: — I left Warsaw a short time since for this city, and having been called upon by you, … Read more
Affidavit by seventeen year old Martha Brotherton published in the newspaper, ‘Quincy Whig’ August 06 1842, Pg 2: 1 Martha H. Brotherton’s Sworn Testimony ST. LOUIS, July 13th, A. D. 1842. Gen. John C. Bennett. DEAR SIR: — I left Warsaw a short time since for this city, and having been called upon by you, … Read more
Child Sexual Abuse: 6 Stages of Grooming, Dr. Michael Welner: Child Sexual Abuse: 1 Grooming is the process by which an offender draws a victim into a sexual relationship and maintains that relationship in secrecy. The shrouding of the relationship is an essential feature of grooming. Forensic psychiatrist Dr. Michael Welner explains the six stages that can … Read more
Helaman 6:22, the Book of Mormon: 1 “22 And it came to pass that they did have their signs, yea, their secret signs, and their secret words; and this that they might distinguish a brother who had entered into the covenant, that whatsoever wickedness his brother should do he should not be injured by his … Read more
Excerpt from the Illustrated History of Architecture, James Fergusson (1855): 1 “At a time when writing was unknown among the laity, and not one Mason in a thousand could either read or write, it was evidently essential that some expedient should be hit upon, by which a Mason travelling to his work might claim the … Read more
Footnote 31, ‘Translation and Historicity of the Book of Abraham’, LDS Gospel Topic Essay: 1 “31. John Whitmer, History, 1831–ca. 1837, 76, in Karen Lynn Davidson, Richard L. Jensen, and David J. Whittaker, eds., Histories, Volume 2: Assigned Historical Writings, 1831–1847, vol. 2 of the Histories series of The Joseph Smith Papers, edited by Dean … Read more
Excerpts from 3 Nephi, Christ is speaking to the remnant survivors in America, describing the destruction he’s caused: 1 1 And it came to pass that there was a voice heard among all the inhabitants of the earth, upon all the face of this land, crying: 2 Wo, wo, wo unto this people; wo unto … Read more
Image: Nauvoo Illinois, LDS Temple. Masonic First Degree, Duegard of a fellow craft mason:[footnote]DUNCAN’S RITUAL AND MONITOR OF FREEMASONRY.[/footnote] The left arm, as far as the elbow, should be held in a horizontal position, and the rest of the arm in a vertical position, forming a square. The right hand detached from the stomach, fingers extending … 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
Excerpt from the pre-1930 endowment ceremony:[footnote]Why the need for secret death oaths in the LDS Temple Endowment Ceremony? [/footnote] ADAM : “We, and each of us, covenant and promise that we will not reveal any of the secrets of this, the first token of the Aaronic priesthood, with its accompanying name, sign or penalty. Should … Read more
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 … Read more
Image: Rosa Parks, Civil Rights Activist Excerpt from Historian D. Michael Quinn’s article on ‘Utah Mormon discrimination against the Blacks’: ‘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 … 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