Excerpt from an address given in the October 2017 LDS General Conference, by Apostle M. Russell Ballard: 1 “Among those first Saints to arrive in Utah was Jane Manning James—the daughter of a freed slave, a convert to the restored Church, and a most remarkable disciple who faced difficult challenges. Sister James remained a faithful … 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 the BBC television program This World, ‘The Mormon Candidate’ interview with LDS Apostle Jeffrey R. Holland: 1 Interviewer: As a Mormon, in the temple, I’ve been told. He [Mitt Romney] would have sworn an oath to say that he would not pass on what happens in the temple, lest he slit his throat. … Read more
Excerpt from the LDS temple ceremony (pre-1990). Voice of Elohim, God:1 “Eve, because thou hast hearkened to the voice of Satan and hast partaken of the forbidden fruit, and given unto Adam, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow shalt thou bring forth children. Nevertheless, thou mayest be preserved in child-bearing. … Read more
Excerpt from the LDS temple ceremony, ‘Five Points of Fellowship’ (pre-1990):1 LORD: You shall receive it upon the Five Points of Fellowship, through the Veil.(The officiator demonstrates the Five Points of Fellowship through the Veil with the temple worker who represents the Lord, as each point is mentioned.)PETER: The Five Points of Fellowship are “inside … Read more
Excerpt from the pre-1990 LDS Temple Endowment ceremony:1 ELOHIM: Eve, because thou hast hearkened to the voice of Satan and hast partaken of the forbidden fruit, and given unto Adam, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow shalt thou bring forth children. Nevertheless, thou mayest be preserved in child-bearing. Thy desire … Read more
Excerpt from the pre-1990 LDS Temple Endowment ceremony:1 ELOHIM: We will put the sisters under covenant to obey the law of their husbands. Sisters, arise. (Female patrons stand as instructed.) ELOHIM: Each of you bring your right arm to the square. You and each of you solemnly covenant and promise before God, angels, and these … Read more
Excerpt from From an April 2016 LDS Living article:1 “Temple Grounds Flood After Major Storms in Texas, Temple Remains Miraculously Untouched” Excerpt from From an April 2016 LDS Living article:2 “Houston Temple Flooding, According to New Church Update” Confirmation Bias – is the tendency to search for, interpret, favor, and recall information in a way … Read more
Image: LDS Temple sealing room Excerpt from the LDS temple marriage ceremony (sealing of spouses). 1 [The sealer sits at the head of the altar with two witnesses, one seated at his right and the other at his left. The bride and groom kneel at opposite sides of the altar, facing one another, clothed in … Read more
Excerpt from Utah Layton Priesthood Leadership Conference, February 15, 2014:1 Q. How do you handle a temple recommend interview with individuals who claim to support the brethren but the individual is clearly supportive of issues that are against the teachings of the prophet such as same-sex marriage? A. Elder Perry: This is difficult for many people, … Read more
Image: Screen capture from a production note of The Days of Harmony LDS church videoScreen Caps of the editing of The Days of Harmony In a 2015 LDS church production, titled The Days of Harmony, the editors were instructed to ‘paint out the hat’ from the scenes depicting the translation. The video, currently showing in … Read more
From the current (2017) LDS Handbook 2: Administering the Church: 21.4.15Surgical Sterilization (Including Vasectomy) The Church strongly discourages surgical sterilization as an elective form of birth control. Surgical sterilization should be considered only if (1) medical conditions seriously jeopardize life or health or (2) birth defects or serious trauma have rendered a person mentally incompetent … Read more
Image: Artists portrayal of Joseph Smith Jr. addressing the Relief Society The LDS Relief Society is lauded as one of the oldest and largest women’s organizations in the world. Yet it is an organization that is presided over, budgeted and organized by men.1 Crash Course: The Relief Society – WikiPedia Nauvoo Women: An Overlooked History of the … Read more
Image: Prohibition era (1920 to 1933) image showing the disposal of alcohol. From Doctrine and Covenants 89:2,3, the revelation giving the Word of Wisdom1 2 To be sent greeting; not by commandment or constraint, but by revelation and the word of wisdom, showing forth the order and will of God in the temporal salvation of … 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: President Thomas S. Monson and President Dieter F. Uchtdorf – April 2017 General Conference Excerpt from President Thomas S. Monson’s April 2017 General Conference address:1 “We live in a time of great trouble and wickedness. What will protect us from the sin and evil so prevalent in the world today? I maintain that a strong … 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: Nauvoo Illinois, LDS Temple. Masonic First Degree, Duegard of a fellow craft mason:1 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 outward. PENALTY Draw the right … 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
Image: Apostle Bruce R. McConkie, LDS Prophet Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine:1 ‘Negroes in this life are denied the Priesthood; under no circumstances can they hold this delegation of authority from the Almighty. (Abra. 1:20-27.) The gospel message of salvation is not carried affirmatively to them . . . negroes are not equal with other … Read more
Excerpt from the pre-1930 endowment ceremony:1 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 we do so, we agree that our throats be cut from ear to … Read more
Image: Thomas S. Monson, LDS Church President. From the April 2006 General Conference address ‘Our Sacred Priesthood Trust’:1 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 … Read more
Excerpt from the 2013 BYU devotional, by Elaine S. Dalton – General President of the Young Women’s organization1 “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 … Read more
Excerpt from the 2006 general conference address Rise Up, O Men of God, by Gordon B Hinckley1 “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 … Read more