Mormon Urban Legends

Posted by: Andee / Category: , ,

I found this list compiled on the Recovery From Mormonism short topics page. I found the list entertaining, simply because I have heard some of these things many times throughout my lifetime. I can't take credit for this, the author's name is Captain Entenille.

Mormons are fond of spreading "faith-promoting rumors." Members so badly want for the church to be true, in the absence of any evidence they are prone to grab on to anything that might help promote that belief. Then that rumor gets repeated and embellished to the point where most actually believe it to be true. Here are my top ten, yours may differ.


The Smithsonian Institute uses the Book of Mormon in its research.

This one started over a hundred years ago and just won't die. Periodically the Smithsonian Institute (and the National Geographical Society) sends notices to the church saying "please, please tell your people to stop calling us. We have never found any connection with your book and any archeology discovered in the Americas."

Polygamy was needed in the early church because there was an overabundance of single women who needed husbands.

Not so! A check of every census record of Illinois and Utah, from 1840 through 1900 reveals that (like all western frontier locations) men outnumbered the women by a good margin.

The LDS church has no paid ministry.

This in true only at the local level through the stake presidency. The top 85 or 90 leaders (General Authorities) do quite well. They receive a salary, allowances, and also are paid as board members for the vast number of church-owned corporations. In the early history of the church, Joseph had a revelation that God desired "he should not labor" and in an act of nepotism, he named his dad the "patriarch," authorizing him to charge a dollar a blessing. (today's patriarchs receive no compensation)

The LDS church is the fastest growing church in the world.

It's certainly fast growing, but if you are talking raw numbers, the Catholic church is probably growing fifty times as fast, simply from the birth rate alone. If you are talking percentages, the Assembly of God in Brazil went from almost zero to ten million in only four years! It took the LDS over 160 years to reach that level.

The reason the original LDS temple ceremony and the Masonic ritual were virtually identical was that they were both the original ceremonies of Solomon's Temple.

Completely untrue! Secret ceremonies weren't practiced in Solomon's Temple, it was open. Masonic leaders will explain that when Masonry originated in the 16th century, few people could read or write, so it designed a ritual of skits and symbolism to convey its message, as was done in Solomon's time. Within a few days after he became a Master Mason, Joseph simply copied the same ceremony for the Mormon Church.

The church name, "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints," is divinely inspired.

If it is, God sure fumbled around a good while before doling out a little inspiration. The original church name in 1830 was "Church of Christ." In 1834 it was changed to "Church of the Latter Day Saints." Then four years later, in 1838 it was again changed to its present name.

Joseph Smith made a great prophecy in 1842, the Rocky Mountain prophecy, by predicting the Mormons would come to the Rocky Mountains and become a mighty people.

Church historian Dean Jessee produced the original manuscript from History of the Church showing the authorship was in 1845, after Smith's death. Then years later, after the Saints were in Utah, someone penciled "Rocky Mountains" into the document. Jessee was chastised for revealing this historical tidbit.

After Joseph Smith was killed, the apostles knew Brigham Young was the successor by his "transformation" into the image of Joseph.

All the apostles were requested to keep diaries, which are now historical documents. On this Aug. 8, 1844 meeting not a single one recorded it. It didn't pop up as a folk legend until about twenty years later.

In the first year of the Mormon settlement in Utah, a plague of locusts (Mormon crickets) threatened to wipe out their crops. God responded with a "miracle", sending an army of seagulls to devour the insects.

This one is true -- however the miracle part is somewhat embellished. The locusts have a seven-year hibernation cycle, and unfortunately the early settlers hit it on the end of the seventh year. For mutual protection, they had made the mistake of planting all their fields together. Therefore, the locust attack was concentrated in one spot in the valley. And the seagulls, which by their fossil remains have been at the Great Salt Lake for over 2,000 years, simply enjoyed their every-seven-year feast. They still do -- only now it's spread over thousands of square miles. (2001 was a bad year, 2008 is next).

And for the last one, I want to collectively group thousands of "magic underwear" tales. You've got to hear some of these! When any TBM survives any accident, calamity, or near miss, the reason is always attributed to his/her wearing the holy drawers.

The reality is that safety records, medical records, and the observations of safety experts, paramedics and hospital emergency room personnel all show that Mormons have the same percentages of accidents per capita, and the same injury/death ratios as anybody else in the general population. But the imagined protection continues to make good fodder for monthly Testimony Meetings.

Here are more random Urban Legends found online...

A tornado went through an area and wrecked many homes but a ward building was left standing. (by Percy)

Two missionaries were killed and shortly afterwards (1950's I think) twin tornadoes came through the town and destroyed many buildings and killed alot of people. It was God's revenge. (by Percy)

The Three Nephites (the following 7 legends by Deconstructor)
Lots of stories about these guys roaming around like Highlander.

Jesus Visits the Temple Regularly to Talk with the Prophet
All the "temple lights were on last night" stories go under here.

Priesthood Blessings
There's at least as many stories about blessings as garments. Mormons use the same selective memory trick with blessings. If they live, it's the priesthood, if they die, it was meant to be so you should be happy.

The Spirit Helped My Find My Lost Keys/Purse/Wallet/Credit Card/ etc..
'nuf said.

We Met Each Other/Were a Family Before We Were Born
Remember the old "My Turn On Earth" and "Saturday's Warrior" roadshow crap? Lots of urban legends about this.

Indian Skin Turning White After Joining the Church
There were lots of stories about this during the 1950s and 60s. Even Kimball spread these stories around.

America's Founding Fathers are Mormons
There's the story of the founding fathers all appearing to a prophet in the St. George temple and demanding thier temple work be done. There's the Mormon leaders saying the Constitution was "inspired" and is "scripture." Then there's the new huge statue in Provo of Jefferson, Washington and Franklin all kneeling in prayer Mormon-style.

Here's one I heard a few years ago (by wonderman)

In one of the temples, a temple worker became aware of a large crowd gathering in the foyer. She assumed it was a busload of people just arriving to go through and went about her business. Then she observed two very large men dressed in armor and carrying swords who positioned themselves in the entryway so as not to allow the people inside the temple. The temple worker realized that the men were angels protecting the temple from a horde of demons.

I wondered, since both angels and demons are immortal, why would the angels bother to wear armor or carry swords?

Missionary Training Center, Provo, Utah

Missionary Training Center (by al-marek)

A mercenary at the Empty Sea had had a dream that there were Nephite warriors guarding every door and window at the Empty Sea. Also, he saw legions of angels descending from above to guard the Clubhouse from hordes of demons. The demons were trying to destroy the Celestial Triangle (MTC-BYU-temple), but the legions of Nephite warriors kept them at bay. This mercenary related this dream to a visiting GA who "confirmed" that it was true.

Rumor is that the pres of the Provo Clubhouse lived near the Clubhouse. One night, at about 2 am, he got up for a drink of water. (There must have been a monster outside his room.) He noticed that the lights inside the Clubhouse were on. As he made preparations to dress and investigate, the phone rang. It was the profit of the cult, telling the Clubhouse pres that "the Lord" was in "His House", you know, just looking around, and that the Clubhouse pres should just go back to bed.

The Holy Ghost will stop you from divulging temple secrets. (By Sobriquet)

My TBM mom was really big on this one. It cracks me up when I look back on how melodramatic she'd get when she'd catch herself starting to say too much.

We'd be sitting there talking about the temple, and she'd suddenly stop talking and put her hand over her mouth. When I'd ask her what's wrong, she'd say, "The Spirit stopped me from talking," or "The Holy Ghost made me mute because I was starting to tell you too much." She was very dramatic about it.

I guess I shouldn't think it's funny because she was probably terrified that someone or something would soon be coming to slit her throat.

Actually, I'm pissed! Damn cult doing that to my mom!

Did you hear the legend of the unworthy temple attendees? (All Ears)

There was the rumor of a group going into the temple to get their endowments. Allegedly, one of the workers stopped the procession and said, "There are two people here engaged in adultery. Please leave now." No one moved. The worker repeated what he said. Finally, when no one would leave, he made a THREAT and said "There are two people here engaged in adultery and if they do not leave now I will call out their names!"

Then, quietly, two of the members in the procession left.


7 comments:

  1. Unknown Says:

    ARGH! I have heard every one of these from my mother at some point. EVERY ONE OF THEM. It makes me so angry at the Church that they don't bother to set the rumors straight, they know these things are being said but because it works for them they don't care.

    Whatever happened to dealing honestly in all dealings with fellow men?!

    Ever heard the one about a guys being burned in a horrible accident? He burned to death, completely charred except for where his garments were. That's my mom's favorite.

  1. Andee Says:

    Oh yeah... I have heard that one!

    There are also the rumors that UFO and Alien reports are proof the church is true because these beings could be from Kolob! I read that one but didn't put it on my page because it was just plain dumb.

    These legends are silly, but people believe them!!

  1. Nicko Says:

    Ahhh no come on, not all people do...only the Mormons who love a good yarn yeah...

    Can I set two things straight though?

    The 'Brigham Young speech' did happen and is recorded in more than one diaries of 'individuals' within the church. Sydney Rigdon also spoke.

    The second thing is the paid ministry one. The Apostles and First Presidency receive a living allowance and travel expenses but I dare say many don't use it. I find it hard to believe that Nelson (a very successful heart surgeon) needs income now...nor some of the others. IT is there though, and I don't think that the church has ever declared it not to be. However, the no paid ministry thing coincides more with the missionaries more than anything.

    There are of course people who work for the church through various institutions and so on. CES folk are an obvious selection there. Its there jobs...

    Ohhh one final thing, the fastest growing religion is something tagged by the media more than us. I think you might find it quite ambiguous about the Catholic faith. But certainly the church has one of the fastest growing 'conversion' rates in the world. JWs would be up there too...and Islam would in my opinion top the list.


    Oh and my personal favourite that accentuated the Mormon myth factor was after Sept 11 when it was alleged that 'missionaries' were going to have a Zone conference in the first hit tower. I laughed when a missionary announced this over one of my own zone conference testimony meetings (not audibly thankfully) and then felt quite bad when my mission president got up and declared that was false and that we should be very careful about what 'stories' we agree to and start preaching.

    OOOhhh I just thought of another one, when James E. Talmage wrote Jesus the Christ in the Temple, he came back one night after it was finished to find it 'signed' by Jesus himself. A member told me that when I was on my mission and again I laughed, 'this time audibly....' That one...exemplifies what is wrong with 'faith promoting rumours'...its not doctrinal sound.

    Thankfully, I don't see it mmuch here...

  1. Elder Joseph Says:

    Nicko

    No one knows for sure how Tithing expenditure is distributed/invested or what the Apostles recieve in , Stipends,expenses etc .

    The church is secretive about its accounts .

    Its well known though that Apostles would sit on many Directorships within church companies and be paid.

    Thomas Monson sat on lots of Boards as a director .

    Russel Nelson also took a directorship in Zions First National bank.

    If they hadn't taken up their Apostleships would they have been given them directorship jobs ? probably not.

    Its still remuneration indirectly and probably looked upon and justified as blessings for obedience.

  1. Anonymous Says:

    In my opinion I think secretive is the wrong choice of words. I have never asked any church leaders out right, "So...who will be enjoying that ten percent I just handed you?" I can tell you that my family has been helped along the way when my hard work wasn't paying off thanks to outside factors not in my control. For that I am grateful.

    Any religion, or anything, can be viewed as a cult. The way I see it, who is anyone to judge? Honestly? If you are truthful with yourself there is likely something you yourself believe strongly in that someone else could easily find fault with and consider "sinister". Worry about your own life journey, where it will take you, and what it means. Love your Mormon loved ones because you do and let them be what they want to be...hopefully they do the same for you.

  1. Andee Says:

    IrishEyes,

    I respectfully disagree. What do you think they would respond with if you DID ask them? They would raise their eyebrows and tell you that the brethren make decisions on where the money goes.

    I know fully well the church does use some of the money for good, and I have never stated otherwise. I, along with many others, feel that more could be done with tithing funds. Why are we spending 2 billion dollars on a shopping mall when there are people going hungry in the world?

    It doesn't add up.

    I do love my Mormon loved ones... the only problem I have lies with the leadership. I do let them be what they want to be. Thanks for your "concern."

  1. Elder Joseph Says:

    IrishEyes
    you said...
    "In my opinion I think secretive is the wrong choice of words. "

    The Mormon church is actually very secretive right from the beginning of indoctrinating an investigator.We are never told the real deal,even when we ask.

    I was brushed off for many months with factually false answers to my questions until I found the true answers on the Internet.I did not appreciate this at all.I found it very sinister and I'm sure some of them KNEW they were lying to me, though many in church did not have a clue themselves.

    I even asked about accounts prior to tithing and met dead ends all along.The only answer I got was 'we trust the church leaders more with our tithe than we trust the government with our taxes '.

    Well I trust myself more than both of them.I've no doubt there is some good done from the money,however I think church members deserve to be treated like adults and not kids and should be regularly briefed on the accounts and amounts paid to GA's and how much they earn from church businesses as directors.


    "Any religion, or anything, can be viewed as a cult. The way I see it, who is anyone to judge? Honestly? .

    Mormons get labelled as a cult because of the deception and misinformation when converting a prospective member.

    The there is the history of lying from the beginning of the church and the way the church hides its polygamous prophets lives throughout its websites, books, DVD's etc, yet Polygamy is a FUNDAMENTAL KEY doctrine of the church , so why hide it ??

    Its because of LDS Theology that the church is in this pickle.

    "Love your Mormon loved ones because you do and let them be what they want to be...hopefully they do the same for you."

    The best way to love a Mormon loved one is to be honest with them about what you know and not keep them in the dark or believing things which are factually false.There are lots in that church who would leave if they knew the real facts.Those who know the real facts and want to stay can do by choice and not fear.Its those who are being continually deceived which deserve to know the real truth about Joseph Smith and the past LDS leaders lives.
    The trouble is the damage can be huge to them mentally .Thats what happens as a result of lying to them in the first place just to get them into the cult and retain them.

    Why do you think so many members are quitting and organisations such as exmormon.org , postmormon , sunstone mormon etc are growing.

    Its time to open the books and be upfront.The church is not what it claims to be and we know it.