Thoughts on Things and Stuff

[...] to others the problems that they see in the interactions that have been recorded between Joseph Smith and the early saints. I have been trying to find some way to communicate the problems I see [...]

[...] in the Expositor which require validation around this submission are the following: Did Joseph Smith keep separate his own personal finances from that of the church? The Expositor’s  [...]

[...] on to explain that women are brought from England for the sole purpose of being married to Joseph Smith against their will, combined with a lot of incendiary language. Of all the women who were [...]

[...] recalled from Part 1 that John C Bennett had previously been a close friend and confidant of Joseph Smith. He had risen to great position in both the organization of the church as well as city [...]

[...] wrongdoing because there was nothing to repent for. The ban was God’s will and the church leaders were simply acting according to God’s direction. What would it look like for our spouse [...]

[...] of man, and judge all things, and shall redeem all things…” (D&C 77:12) Church leaders have occasionally reviewed this teaching in public discourse: “According to the divine [...]

[...] their honesty on this point is refreshing (though it does reveal the deception of prior church leaders). The footnote concludes by informing the readers of how they should dismiss concerns about [...]

[...] changes. Masturbation is a common part of this pubertal experience The young man learns from church leaders that masturbation is wrong, immoral, dirty and a violation of the law of Chastity. The young [...]

[...] testimony of Jesus Christ, President Hinckley spoke of those outside the Church who say Latter-day Saints ‘do not believe in the traditional Christ.’ ‘No, I don’t. The [...]

[...] today about two individuals who are being excommunicated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. One of these members was excommunicated for actions promoting the ordination of Mormons who [...]

[...] Reserve (a subsidiary of the Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). Just as being Jewish is not simply a statement of religion, but a declaration of culture, [...]

[...] Bonnie L Oscarson, Young Women general president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. In this video, Sister Oscarson issued a scathing rebuke of the men who cut sister [...]

[...] question regarding a key event in LDS History – the publication and contents of the Nauvoo Expositor. Allow me to explain: The Faithful Assertion The LDS Primary manual 5, Lesson 37 describes [...]

[...] In part 1 of this report, an assertion that the Nauvoo Expositor had published a “vicious lie” that Joseph had made improper proposals of plural marriage to [...]

[...] can read her full account here. Here are the pertinent details related to the claim in the Nauvoo Expositor: Expositor Claim Detail From Far Away? Yes. Martha had immigrated from England after her [...]

[...] Last week I issued a challenge for people to find something in the Nauvoo Expositor which was a blatant lie about Joseph Smith. Doing so would support the claims made in a LDS [...]

[...] campaign – it even has the website address. On close inspection it turns out that the Mormon church has adopted the exact same strategy of performing service in such a way as to maximize the [...]

[...] life and be happy. I love you more than words can say.—Your son, Kip” Kip joined the Mormon church at age eleven. Upon turning twelve he entered the young men program of the church. [...]

[...] . I have written previously about issues of past racist policies and doctrines in the Mormon Church. When discussing these issues members will frequently point out that the LDS church is not the [...]

[...] not violate the commandment to love one another, but they violate the laws that the men of the Mormon church have established. In fact there are no less than 613 such laws given which Mormons are in [...]

[...] the young men program of the church. During these early years of puberty he was exposed to Mormon teachings about sexuality and morality. His story is remarkable and the resulting court case may have [...]

[...] disclose the fact of a revelation on polygamy to a few select individuals in the Mormon leadership including Wiliam Law. They would also become aware of Joseph’s own longstanding [...]

[...] sexual moral purity over life. Masturbation is anything but sexually pure according to LDS teachings. If their own parents are more understanding of the difficulties the youth has, now the youth  [...]