Excerpt from an October 2020 General conference talk by Quentin L. Cook:1 This was a time of tension on several fronts. Many Missourians considered Native Americans a relentless enemy and wanted them removed from the land. In addition many of the Missouri settlers were slave owners. And felt threatened by those who were opposed to … Read more
Excerpt from an October 2020 General conference talk by Quentin L. Cook:1 This was a time of tension on several fronts. Many Missourians considered Native Americans a relentless enemy and wanted them removed from the land. In addition many of the Missouri settlers were slave owners. And felt threatened by those who were opposed to … Read more
Excerpt from an April 2020 General Conference address by Russell M. Nelson: 1 Little did I know when I promised you at the October 2019 General Conference that this April conference would be memorable and unforgettable—that speaking to a visible congregation of fewer than 10 people would make this conference so memorable and unforgettable for … Read more
Excerpt from an April 2013 Salt Lake Tribune article by Peggy Fletcher Stack, ‘First prayer by woman offered at Mormon conference’: 1 The benediction to the first session of LDS General Conference on Saturday didn’t even last two minutes, but it made history: Jean A. Stevens became the first woman to offer a public prayer … Read more
From ‘A Facsimile from the Book of Abraham No. 3’ explained by Joseph Smith Jr.: 1 Explanation Fig. 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 … Read more
Excerpt from a video invitation to a ‘Face to Face’ event, featuring Apostles Dallin Oaks and Russell Ballard: 1 Elder Ballard: “I think we’d also have to be honest, there may be some of these questions that there is no answer to. Those’ll be the ones we avoid. Elder Oaks: “I gave a talk on … Read more
Excerpt from a 2015 BYU Idaho address Millions Shall Know Brother Joseph Again, by Professor Jayson Kunzler: 1 “As we humbly search the scriptures, we will come to know both Jesus Christ and his servant, Joseph Smith. In this connection, may I offer a suggestion to all of us? If we truly desire to know … 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
Image: Kerry Muhlestein is an associate professor of ancient scripture at Brigham Young University.[footnote]Kerry Muhlestein – Fair Mormon[/footnote] Defending Exclusive Truth Claims: LDS Apologetics video. [footnote]Defending Exclusive Truth Claims: LDS Apologetics (video) – Examining Religious Claims[/footnote] The Book of Abraham and Unnoticed Assumptions, 2014 Fair Mormon Conference:[footnote]The Book of Abraham and Unnoticed Assumptions, 2014 Fair Mormon … Read more
Image: Portrayal of a traditional LDS testimony meeting. Testimony excerpt of a member of The True and Living Church of Jesus Christ of Saints of the Last Days:[footnote]Spiritual Witnesses, 10:00-10:52 (video) – Youtube[/footnote] “I’ve been searching for a witness of this work and of this church and just tonight I got my witness and it’s … 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: Screenshot from It’s a Miracle (1984). Gary B. Lundberg’s video adaptation of Douglas and Janice Kapp Perry’s 1981 stage musical about a young man’s tough decision to go to on a mission. Truth is most often used to mean being in accord with fact or reality, or fidelity to an original or standard. Truth … 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
Image: Richard Lyman Bushman (born June 20, 1931) is an American historian and Gouverneur Morris Professor of History emeritus at Columbia University. He was the Howard W. Hunter Visiting Professor in Mormon Studies at Claremont Graduate University from 2008 to 2011. He also serves as one of three general editors of the Joseph Smith Papers. … Read more
Image: Title page of The Late War Between the United States and Great Britain, by Gilbert J. Hunt A single example out of hundreds between The Late War (published 1816) and The Book of Mormon (Published 1830). The Late War Between the United States and Great Britain, by Gilbert J. Hunt – 34:10 But it … 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.[footnote]The Relief Society – WikiPedia[/footnote] Crash Course: The Relief Society – WikiPedia Nauvoo Women: An Overlooked … 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:[footnote]What Two Religions Tell Us About The Modern Dating Crisis, 2015 – Time[/footnote] One of my … Read more
Image: Elder Valeri V. Cordón, Quorum of the Seventy. Excerpt from the April 2017 General Conference, Valeri V. Cordón: [footnote]Full Conference Address (video) – LDS.org[/footnote] “One day, during those difficult times, I heard my parents discussing whether they should pay tithing or buy food for the children. On Sunday, I followed my father to see what he … Read more
Image: Elder Lance Wickman – LDS General Authority Elder Lance Wickman in a 2012 interview speaking about the LDS churches involvement in the California Proposition 8 amendment against marriage equality: [footnote]Elder Wickman – Thoughts on Proposition 8[/footnote] “The first thought that comes to my mind is the shear heroism of our members in California, and others who stood … Read more
From Elder Ezra Taft Benson Of the Council of the Twelve Apostles, 1967:[footnote]Ezra Taft Benson, Conference Report, October 1967, pp. 34-39[/footnote] False solicitude for the unfortunate “Such timely counsel could help save our country from Communism, as the same masters of deceit are showing the same false solicitude for the unfortunate in the name of … Read more
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 … Read more
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 … Read more
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 … Read more