Windy Sydney

I have touched on this in the past, but I thought a complete article on this topic was overdue due to the trouble I am having with some of my neighbors and church leaders. My bishop, a man I have never met, stopped by many times last month. 3 times to be exact. Did he call beforehand to see if it was a good time? No. Did he leave a message telling me what his visits were in reference to? No. It's frustrating to say the least, and it makes me feel like he doesn't value my time very much.

To most Mormons, non-Mormons are just potential converts. It sounds bad, but it's true.

I know he is only doing what he has been taught to do. Every Member a Missionary is a phrase I was taught over and over again. You should talk to your school chums, co-workers, neighbors, and people you do business with about the church because you could lead them to the Mormon gospel and make their lives "better."

I always had a hard time doing it. Most of the friends I had were not Mormon. They thought their church was just fine and who I was I to question that? If it works for them, I should be happy for them... and I was. I wish I could say the same for the people who now won't leave me alone. I mean really... take no for an answer.

Over the years of my inactivity in the Mormon Church, I have learned there are many different ways church members have tried to get my attention...

First, was what someone calls a "Hit and Run." It's an email or phone message with a quick note of how much the gospel means to you.

It's a little card left on your doorstep with a photo of Jesus or Joseph Smith (I always had more photos of Joseph Smith than Jesus... why is that?) with a couple Book of Mormon passages. It's notes left in your locker at high school telling you how much they missed you at Young Women's on Wednesday night.

Hit and runs don't give you time or opportunity to respond. They often left me angry because the same people leaving those messages for me wouldn't like it if I did the same thing to them... would they? Can you imagine the horror a true-believing Mormon would feel if I left them PostMormon.org notes on their doorstep? I wouldn't do it because it's not right... I just wish my Mormon pals would realize that.

Secondly, we have the sharing of a testimony. I usually got these from my Grandfather who promised over and over again that the church was true and that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. Lets face it, when this happens to a non-believer, it's a no-win situation. If you nod and say thank you, you are ungrateful. If you counter with what you believe followed up with facts, you are an apostate and an anti-Mormon. If you ignore it, you didn't feel the spirit and you never did.

Could you imagine me walking up to a group of LDS people in their church parking lot and sharing my "testimony" that the church wasn't true? They would call the cops. I guarantee it.

Lastly, we have love bombing. This has happened to me countless times. Usually every time I moved to a new ward I would be contacted by either the Young Women or Relief Society president. They would want to know ALL about me. Where did I grow up? What do I do in my free time? Do I have a boyfriend?

Once, in high school, I was loved bombed to the point that it drove me to hate a girl. She left notes in my locker about Joseph Smith, she stopped by my house every Wednesday night before Young Women's to offer me a ride... she even stopped by again on the way home to bring me copies of everything they learned in the lesson.

I know she meant well, she wanted me to be active again... but it drove me to near insanity. Why can't people just take a hint? Stop bothering people so much... it honestly pushes them away faster if you won't leave them alone. Give 'em some time to freakin' think! In Mormonism, thinking is the enemy...

Once I read a thread online by a woman whose husband was going to Iraq. The local Bishop and Relief Society President stopped by the night before he shipped out... without calling first. He and his wife were both inactive and wanted to spend the night together. After all, it could have been their last night together considering he was going off to war. Why didn't these people call ahead of time? Because they knew they would be turned down. I think the timing is awful too, they were both probably afraid of what might happen when he left the country, and the bishop saw that as an opportunity to get them to return to church.

From now on, when church members stop by without calling ahead of time, I am going to speak my mind. I have a full time job, I have hobbies, I have friends and family. If you want to talk to me bad enough, and get to know me, it might be helpful to call ahead.

Just a thought.

I guess it's just frustration getting the best of me here. All Mormons are taught that they are the only true church and that they have a responsibility to save others. Other religions are guilty of this as well. What they don't understand is that they could be wrong. They don't even take it into consideration. They think they have all the answers and they are superior in some way.

I think it's arrogant to approach someone over and over again if they have asked you to leave them alone about religious issues. People can only be polite for so long. I am getting fed up.

It's also a little fake in the way it's handled, too. My bishop is probably trying to reach me due to the meeting I had with my Mom's ex-bishop. He wants to know what questions I have about the church, and if he can help me with my testimony. He will show up and pretend to be a really good friend, someone I can trust. I promise you one thing, if I say or mention anything about this blog, he will turn on me in a heartbeat. I guess I am only a good person if I keep my mouth shut.

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I went to one of my favorite places to be entertained, Perpetual Kid, and found these things to share with you. Enjoy.

STICKY SET: PSYCHO
Psycho!

Since the 1980s Post-it revolution, theres been no such thing as too many stickies. With our Stickies Sets, this indispensable commodity now comes with wit and a desk-friendly tray for a true marriage of form and function. With six sticky pads of varying sizes, these sets will have you noting, tagging, and flagging in style. Tray: 7.375 x 3.8125 x 1.125 inches. 6 sticky pads, 100 sheets each; paper-wrapped chipboard tray. Sayings: "Complete Narcissist", " In Total Denial", "Passive Aggressive", "Obsessed","Depressed", "Addicted".

$12.99

COAT TREE- COAT CHECK

Our Tree Coat Check is a clever range of coat hooks formed from flat sheets of 1.5 mm brushed stainless steel. Handsome, heavyweight, and durable, perfect for guarding your lucky hat, Fifi's leash, or even your winter coat!

The Tree Coat Rack is 15" tall by nearly a foot across. Each Tree Coat Check is packed in a protective plastic bag inside a corrugated gift box.

We've included wall anchors and a handy printed template. Why even the Perpetual Kid was able to hang it perfectly straight! $24.99

BARCODE DOORMAT
Feet First!

You are just as unique as the next guy. What a perfect doormat for your unique house, in your unique neighborhood. Sarcasm. Why shouldn't your doorway, bathroom, or office cubical have its own UPC barcode?

Made from 100% recycled truck tires with durable nylon flocking, usable indoors or out, washable, durable, and totally endearing.

Measures 30" x 18" $23.99

CHROME CLOCKY

The limited edition chrome colored alarm clock that runs away and hides to get you out of bed. Clocky gives you one chance to get up. But if you hit snooze... Clocky will jump off your nightstand and wheel around your room looking for a place to hide, beeping all the while. $59.99

You'll have to get out of bed to silence his alarm!

• Set your snooze time, 0-9 minutes
• Snooze once before he runs away
• Requires 4 AAA Batteries, not included
• Can jump from up to 3 feet
• Moves on wood and carpet
• Press snooze to view time at night
• Screen flashes when beeping/running
• Alarm Beeps in random pattern
• Want him to stay put? You can disable his wheels
• Early low battery warning
• Clocky is cute & compact measuring: 5.25" x 3.5" x 3.5"

ATOMIC FOOD CONTAINERS

They'll never steal your lunch again! Atomic Food Containers scream "Keep Out! This tasty lunch is mine." There will be no more mix ups because these food containers are instantly recognizable.

One set includes three different sized bowls (400ml, 600ml and 1,000ml), each having a different attention-getting message. Bowls are dishwasher and microwave safe and come in three hot translucent colors. Bowls include built-in air vent and date timer. $8.99

ROMEO & JULIENNE CUTTING BOARD
the all-time classic cutting board

Shakespeare was certainly on the cutting edge of theater, and now you can be, too. Use this fine quality wooden book for slicing and dicing and then store it on the shelf with your cookbooks! It's 6" x 9.5", constructed from solid hard beechwood, pre- seasoned with a light dressing of mineral oil. $8.99

A perfect hostess gift! Just read what the critics are saying!...

“Tis better to have chopped and tossed than never to have chopped at all”.

“Sharp witted and cutting edge”

“A true slice-of-life adventure”

“I laughed, I cried, I diced”

POP SECRET LIP BALM
What's Your Pop Secret?

You remember the days when Pop Secret turned popcorn making into a new microwaveable revolution! Now you can relive those memories while licking your lips with the Pop Secret Lip Balm!

Contains 0.15 Ounces of Popcorn Flavored Lip Balm. $4.99 each

Also listed are Boo Berry Lip Balm, Cocoa Puffs Lip Balm, Count Chocula Lip Balm, Franken Berry Lip Balm, Lucky Charms Lip Balm, and Pillsbury Cinnamon Sweet Rolls Lip Balm. So much for chap stick!

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People who have never been in or around the Mormon Church will have no idea what a patriarchal blessing is... so bear with me for a moment or two while I explain it.

Patriarchal Blessings are given by the stake patriarch, usually an older white man who has been in the church his entire life. He must be very faithful and able to receive "revelation" about the youngsters in his care. He is supposedly able to place his hands on a teenagers head, and pray out loud and tell the child about their life before they were born, as well as what to expect for the rest of their lives. It's part fortune telling in my opinion. There is always a tape recorder there so the patriarch can type up his "inspired" blessing and give it to the kid to keep for the rest of their life.

Kids are usually 13-17 when they get their patriarchal blessing, and they are told to fast for 24 hours in order to help the patriarch with his prayer for you. Also, you are told that your blessing is very sacred, which is Mormon-speak for secret, and you shouldn't share it with anyone but your parents in some cases. People are human, and they do end up sharing the blessings on occasion... and when they do, they are usually shocked that their blessing is almost identical to everyone else's. Here are a couple of examples of patriarchal blessings... the people who received these blessings agreed to share them online.

Brother Garry,

I lay my hands on your head and with the authority of the holy Melchizedek Priesthood I hold, I give you a patriarchal blessing. Garry, your blessing is to stay with you for the remainder of your days here on earth.

Your Heavenly Father is pleased that you hold His holy priesthood and that you are a member in good standing in church. You are an Israelite descended from Ephraim, the son of Joseph. This is the patriarchal line which has brought you to earth.

I bless you in your church callings, Garry, for you will be called to many different positions from time to time, to set an example and lead people in the work of your Heavenly Father here on earth. The calls you receive in the church are intended to give you practise and exercise in the knowledge of the gospel you have.

The time will come when you will be called to serve a mission for your Heavenly Father to seek out the honest in heart from this world of unbelief and trouble we are placed in. It will be a time of learning for you, a time to learn to rely on the arm of your Heavenly Father. You will come from it a strong and mature person, well able to cope with anything the world may present to you. Above all you will have an amazing testimony of the gospel that approaches knowledge and wisdom.

You will be called to positions of responsibility to direct the lives of the saints of God, to keep them on the path of truth and righteousness, as a judge in Israel. I bless you in your working day, Garry. As you meet the obligations and trials of your working day with a clear conscience and a prayer to your Heavenly Father you will overcome the obstacles before you. You will be able to progress in your work and find opportunities to study your real interests, the creative constructive work you desire in righteousness. There are many people who can help you if you but seek them out, they will direct you in a manner to fulfil those things you desire.

Garry, the time will come when you will meet a young lady who loves you dearly, someone you are able to take to the Temple of the Lord. She will be sealed to you for all eternity. The love between you will be your choicest possession and your greatest responsibility in this life for it is intended to last throughout the eternities and is a gift from your Heavenly Father. A family will be added to you to grace your days and give you experience. There will be wonderful spirits amongst them to bring you joy with their accomplishments.

Garry, the Lord is aware of you and you are numbered among His chosen sons. He has a busy and eventful future ahead of you. There will be times when you feel overworked, borne down by the pressures of responsibility. You must realize this is part of mortality, if you ask your Heavenly Father He will bring assurance to your heart that He knows of you and your problem and it will seem of small moment, for the future He has ahead of you is wonderful beyond your comprehension at this time.

His promise to you is sure and will not fail while ever you are keeping the commandments and doing what you know is pleasing to Him. You will be among those brought forth with the just at the first resurrection to greet your Saviour. I seal this blessing upon your head with the authority vested in me and in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

Now, notice how close this blessing is to the others who shared them... it's almost like there is a form letter the patriarch fills out and puts in a new name... also, the blessing pretty much spells out how the church wants people to live. "You will serve a mission, you will get married and have children, you will raise those children in the church, and you will serve honorable callings and work hard for the church." Every. Time.

Brother ***********, by the authority of the Holy Melchizedek Priesthood, I lay my hands upon your head and give you a Patriarchal blessing which will be as the Spirit shall direct.

Bryce, you are of a choice lineage, even that of Joseph, who was sold into Egypt, through his son Ephraim. This choice lineage entitles you to all blessings of the new and everlasting covenant if you are true and faithful in keeping the laws and ordinances of the gospel.

You are privileged to have been born in a family who have taught you the gospel and correct principles. Continue to follow their counsel and admonitions and they will bless you as you put these principles into practice. You will be able to teach the things which your parents have taught you to others.

You have been born through a long line of noble ancestry and goodly parents. Always honor your heritage and do that which is expected of you. Never let peer pressure lead you into paths which would be wrong in the sight of the Lord.

Bryce, you were one of the choice, faithful, loyal sons of your Heavenly Father in your pre-earth life. So your spirit was reserved to come to earth at this time when the fullness of the gospel was upon the earth and in the dispensation of the fullness of time to perform a special mission which you were foreordained to do. You have been given gifts and talents in order for you to accomplish this mission. So continue to develope [sic] them and they will be a great blessing to you, to your family, and your associates.

You have been blessed to be a member of the only true and living church upon the earth and to have received the Aaronic priesthood. You have been faithful in this calling. As you continue to be worthy you will be blessed to receive the Melchizedek priesthood. As you magnify your calling in this priesthood you will eventually become a joint heir with Jesus Christ and receive all that the Father hath.

As you honor your priesthood you will be called to many important and responsible positions in the Church. As you teach by the Spirit and follow the counsel of those who have a right to guide and direct you, you will be a great influence for good and be able to set a proper example to those around you. You will enjoy your work and callings in the Church.

You have prepared and are preparing to be a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You will be blessed, as you go into the mission field, to be well prepared and be able to preach the gospel with power and authority to those you labor among. Your tongue will be loosed and you will be able to bring some of your contacts, with the help of the Lord, into the Church. This will bring much joy and happiness to you. You will be guided and directed on this mission and again be able to return to your family and loved ones in peace and in safety.

In due time of the Lord you will have a desire to seek for a choice companion. Such a one will be raised up for you. Seek for the guidance of the Lord in making this important decision of who you should marry. You and your chosen companion will go to the House of the Lord and there be sealed for time and all eternity. You will become a father in Israel and you will have the desire to raise up your children with a knowledge of the gospel. They will be a great blessing to you and to their associates. They will have a love of home and appreciate the things you have done for them.

You will have a desire to continue your education after your mission and time in the service. This knowledge will give you a vocation so that you will never lack for the necessities of life.

Continue to go to the Lord daily in prayer and to read the scriptures on a regular basis, particularly the Book of Mormon. Your knowledge, understanding, and comprehension of the gospel will continue to grow throughout your life.

You will see many of the prophecies fulfilled pertaining to the second coming of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As you follow the guidance of the living prophets you will be protected from the trials and tribulations which are going to occur prior to this great event. One of your responsibilities is to help build up the Kingdom of God here upon the earth in preparation for His coming.

You will be an influence for good, not only during the time of your mission and afterwards, but also during the time you spend in the service of your country.

Strive to establish a home where peace, love, and harmony abide. Hold your family home evenings. Sustain and support your beloved eternal companion in her responsibilities that she might do likewise for you.

Bryce, as you go through life be of good cheer. the Lord will bless you with peace of mind, and hope. If adversity should come He will bless you to overcome these things through the faith which you will have.

As you keep the commandments and follow the prompting of the Holy Ghost you will be blessed to receive some of the gifts of the Spirit. Among these gifts will be faith, understanding, wisdom, and knowledge. These great gifts will greatly bless you in the responsibilities which will be yours.

Bryce, you are one of Heavenly Fathers [sic] special, loyal, [sic] sons and he loves you very much.

I seal these blessings upon you, Bryce, together with all former blessings which have been pronounced upon your head. I seal you up against the power of the destroyer that you might come forth on the morning of the first resurrection clothed with glory, immortality, and eternal life, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Again, the kid was told that he would be a missionary and that he would marry and have a family. What if the kid didn't want that? Too bad, it says right here that is what is going to happen... after all, the man giving the blessing is inspired by God himself, right?

Wrong again.

The people who shared these blessings were examples of people who have left the church. So much for the fortune telling aspect of it, huh?

My Mom loved her patriarchal blessing. She read it over and over again as a teenager and was proud that she would be a wife and mother one day. Her blessing was correct, because that is what she wanted for herself... not what someone else wanted for her. She was really surprised reading other blessings online and noticing how close they were to hers. Some were nearly identical.

In my opinion, these blessings are another way to brainwash kids into thinking that they have to do certain things. Making the kids feel like God was inspiring this man to say things is another way to hold onto them and make them do what you want them to. It's sad.

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Here is something I found from The Church News, January 4 1997:

"An inspired Joseph Smith further explained: 'Cursed are all those that shall lift up the heel against mine anointed, saith the Lord, and cry they have sinned when they have not sinned before me, saith the Lord, but have done that which was meet in mine eyes, and which I commanded them. But those who cry transgression do it because they are the servants of sin, and are the children of disobedience themselves.' (D&C 121:16-17.) Why is it, then, that the apostates will not leave the Church alone? Because they are the servants of sin and have another master whose bidding they now do."

Ahem.

The reason we continue to talk and speak out about the church is because we have been lied to. We are angry, and we have every right to be. One day you might come to the same conclusions we did, and if you do, be prepared to be called a servant of sin yourself.

I also find it unreal that we are lumped into a role of supposedly following Satan simply because we leave the LDS Church. Seems more than a little harsh, don't you think? Why would something like this be published in a church news article if the church didn't want to promote it?

"People who lose their testimonies and renounce the Church or drop out of it, if they are convinced of their position, should be totally indifferent to the folly of their deluded one-time brethren and sisters: if they want to make fools of themselves, that is up to them, but we are intellectually and socially above all that. Well and good, that is how it is in other churches; but here it does not work that way." "Apostates usually become sometimes feverishly active, determined to prove to the world and themselves that it is a fraud after all. What is that to them? Apparently it is everything--it will not let them alone. At the other end of the scale are those who hold no rancor and even retain a sentimental affection for the Church--they just don't believe the gospel. I know quite a few of them. But how many of them can leave it alone? It haunts them all the days of their life. No one who has ever had a testimony ever forgets or denies that he once did have it--that it was something that really happened to him. Even for such people who do not have it anymore, a testimony cannot be reduced to an illusion. -Hugh Nibley, "Approaching Zion", page 155

Wow. I mean, just... wow.

It's not the fact that I have to prove I am correct or prove any other Post Mormon is correct. It's getting over the shock and sadness of losing a way of life, a way of thinking and believing all while realizing that it was all a load of Bull Sh*t.

We left and disagree, but assuming we did so because of Satan tempting us is outrageous. Awful, and immoral. The people who say these things need to check themselves.

An anonymous poster shared part of an email she received by accident written by her father:

"Disassociating herself from the church was a big mistake. The church is the only refuge from this kind of activity and biggest enemy Satan has. It is the only organization that will be able to ultimately destroy Satan's work hear on the earth and will rule during the millennium. We all need to support it and follow it's teachings now more than ever. When we abandon it because some of it's members are bad we are only letting Satan win. He will then have us too."

Can you say brainwashed? Whew!

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When I was little I remember hearing a lot about Mark Hofmann on the television news. I even think I was home sick one day from school when he almost accidentally blew himself to bits and pieces in his own car. For those who don't know much about Mark Hofmann and his forgeries, here is a quick flashback...

Mark Hofmann was a dealer of historical documents. For the longest time he had a great and honest reputation with those who did business with him. Unfortunately, his spending habits got out of control and he decided he would sell forgeries in order to curb his debts.

It's pretty much common knowledge to everyone in Utah and faithful Mormons everywhere that the church has all sensitive documents locked away in a vault. These documents can not be seen by the general public, nor can faithful temple-going Mormons see the items in the vault. These are things that the church only views through select Church historians.

Hofmann had the opinion that if he were to "find" documents that would hurt the church in some way, like put down the character of Joseph Smith, or talk of his occult practices with the same type of seer stone he used to "translate" the Book of Mormon. He knew the church would want these documents for themselves, so they could lock them away somewhere... so they could hide them. He was right.

Hofmann leaked to the media that he had found historical Mormon documents both to inflate the price of the documents and to somewhat force the church into admitting parts of his history that had been whitewashed for the longest time.... for instance, the fact that Joseph Smith used a seer stone at all wasn't known and talked about openly until recently.

He had many meetings with Gordon B. Hinkley, who would later become a prophet, and deals were negotiated through private buyers as to not make it obvious that the church was buying these documents itself. If I remember correctly, the church would give money to someone, that person would buy the document, and then the person would donate the document to the church. That way the paper trail seemed clean and it didn't look like the church was covering anything up.

Mark Hofmann created "The Salamander Letter," to sell to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The letter was a complete forgery, but made to look like a letter written by Martin Harris to W. W. Phelps. Rather than being led to the plates by an angel, however, Joseph Smith discovered the location of the plates through use of a seer stone (the same stone he used to locate buried treasure on various farmers' lands during his "money-digging" days, and which he later used to translate the golden plates), and upon reaching the place, there was a white salamander in the bottom of the box in which the plates lay. This salamander transformed itself into an 'old spirit,' struck Joseph three times, and made him unable to retrieve the plates at that time.

Believe it or not, the Mormon Church thought this letter was 100% authentic and bought it in the round about way listed above. They were concerned that the general public would learn these things about Joseph, and wanted to keep them hidden.

Mark Hofmann's lies eventually caught up with him when he didn't have "the McLellin Collection" ready. The McLellin Collection supposedly had papers, letters and journals written by William McLellin, a former apostle under Joseph Smith Jr. McLellin knew Joseph Smith's character very well, and it seems as if the church was concerned of some of the things McLellin said about dear old Joe.

Since the forgery wasn't ready, and in October of 1985, Hofmann placed a homemade bomb in the way of Steve Christensen and Kathleen Sheets. They were both killed. Christensen was a bishop at the time, and was the liaison between Hofmann and the church leaders. Sheets actually had nothing at all to do with the forgeries, but Hofmann wanted it to look like an ex-employee murdered the two as some sort of revenge. It might have worked up until he accidentally set of another homemade bomb in his own car. So much for that plan, huh?


Here is the kicker--gets me every time. The McLellin Collection was already owned by the church. They bought it in 1908 and had been in the archives the entire time.

Hofmann was a bad man who murdered innocent people for money. Yes, he is the true enemy here and I am not saying any different.


However...

What gets me every time is how the church talks about the general authorities and prophets having the power of discernment. The photo above shows Hofmann on the left, Spencer Kimball, the prophet at the time, and Gordon B. Hinkley, a future prophet on the right. How is it that the many, many leaders of the church who were involved in this never saw this for what it was? A giant forgery? Why wasn't God notifying the prophet at the time? His general authorities? Why? Why wouldn't God have wanted to stop Hofmann before he murdered two innocent people who had nothing to do with the forgeries?

Because God doesn't speak to them. They don't have any super powers of any priesthood. If they did, wouldn't their powers be telling them something was up? Yes, it would.

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Now this is cute...

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I grew up believing that the Church was perfect. The people were not. How many times have you heard that little phrase in Mormon culture? A million at least. That phrase is used almost as much as "He was acting as a man, not as a prophet," or "The temple is sacred, not secret." Bull S*it on all of it. The church is very, very far from perfect. The 2 billion dollar mega-mall project in Salt Lake City is proof of that, along with the apology the African-American community is still waiting for for when the church wouldn't allow black men to hold the priesthood.

I would LOVE to ask all the faithful Mormons reading my blog right now if they believe the Mormon Church owes certain groups apologies? Do you think it's right that the church never said they were sorry about the whole "Curse of Cain" thing? It's one of the reasons the Mormon church will always be looked at like a racist organization. The least they could do for their own good is apologize and admit they were wrong... damn wrong.

There was never a curse of Cain. Black people were not cursed with darker skin because they were less than good in the pre-existance. They are human beings just like we are. They are just as smart, witty, kind, and sincere. They didn't deserve what happened to them in the past, both in and out of the church. The very, very least the church could do is say, "I'm Sorry."

Every time I read an article quoting a prophet or general authority regarding racism, they usually say something like, "That is all behind us," or "That was in the past." It's nice that the church finally decided that their racist claims were not in their best interests. I say it that way because I sincerely doubt they allowed African-Americans and other minorities to hold the priesthood because they felt it was what God wanted. Nope. They knew that they had to do something or they were going to lose their tax-exempt status. They knew it had to be done... not because it was the right thing to do, but because it was good for them.

Lets take some time to consider what was going on in the church right before the decision was made to allow blacks the priesthood...

• Under President Jimmy Carter, Brigham Young University and possibly the LDS Church itself was in danger of losing their tax exempt status if they continued to discriminate against blacks.
• Colleges were boycotting athletic games against BYU. The mood in the country at the time was decidedly against the Mormons.
• The Boy Scouts of America was putting a lot of pressure on the Church since only priesthood holders could be boy scout troop leaders in LDS scout troops this was denying black scouts the same opportunities that white scouts had.
• Members and missionaries the world over were embarrassed and ashamed at what the church taught in Sunday School about blacks. The members were not racist and did not like believing in and teaching racist doctrine.
• The 1978 "revelation" was just prior to the temple opening in Sao Paulo Brazil. They had built an area office, distribution center and temple. The population has intermarried to an extent that it could not be determined if the people have any black lineage. The Church had publicly stated that people could not enter the temple if they "had even a drop of negro blood." Who was going to use the temple in Brazil? This was creating a public image nightmare in Brazil.
• The Church was becoming a global church. How could they possibly succeed in Africa and countries with large black populations?

I was taught that spirits come to the world completely innocent. They had no sin. How then, does the assumption that dark skin is a punishment fit into that?

Lets not forget the horrific comments made by past leaders of the Church...

“Think of the Negro, CURSED AS TO THE PRIESTHOOD.... This negro, who, in the pre-existence lived the type of life which justified the Lord in sending him to the earth in the lineage of Cain with a BLACK SKIN, and possibly being born in darkest Africa—if that negro is willing when he hears the gospel to accept it, he may have many of the blessings of the gospel. IN SPITE OF ALL HE DID IN THE PRE-EXISTENT LIFE, the Lord is willing, if the Negro accepts the gospel with real, sincere faith, and is really converted, to give him the blessings of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost. If that Negro is faithful all his days, he can and will enter the celestial kingdom. He will go there AS A SERVANT, but he will get celestial glory.” -Mark Peterson, 1954 BYU

Oh, so no matter what good a person with dark skin does, the best he or she can be in the after life is a servant to white people?

“And after the flood we are told that the curse that had been pronounced upon Cain was continued through Ham's wife, as he had married a wife of that seed. And why did it pass through the flood? because it was necessary that the devil should have a representation upon the earth as well as God;...” John Taylor, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 22, page 304

Oh, so black skin is evidence that the devil has representation on the earth? No apology for that comment either...

"And if any man mingle his seed with the seed of Cain the only way he could get rid of it or have Salvation would be to come forward and have his head cut off and spill his blood upon the ground- it would also take the life of his children." (Wilford Woodruff Journal) 4th prophet of the LDS Church

Wow. So, if you mix your seed with a black person, the church would cut off your head, kill your wife, as well as your innocent children... nice. Sounds like God was really speaking through that man, doesn't it? It should be so obvious to people that these men were not prophets when they read these things. They should see it. Why don't they see it?

Comments like this are not only morally and ethically wrong, but they have never been dealt with. No one has made an apology for that comment. No one. Someone should.

I can't tell you how many times someone has mentioned that God wanted it that way at that time. That there was some reason that people with dark skin couldn't hold the priesthood. My Mom's ex-bishop even told me that he thought God wanted it that way because Joseph Smith was too persecuted as it was, and allowing blacks the priesthood would have been too hard on him. I can't tell you how bad I wanted to flip him off or shake him senseless for thinking that.

I will never, ever... accept that racism is justified by God. Anyone who knows what a truly loving God is, would agree with me.

Anyone reading these comments or the hundreds of others on the internet should be absolutely furious with the leaders for not apologizing sooner.

The very least the church could do right now is issue an apology to those it hurt in the past. I won't hold my breath.

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I have been more than vocal about my issues regarding the translation of the Book of Mormon and how I wasn't taught the truth when I was growing up in the church. Many times I was told that Joseph Smith had the golden plates in front of him. There was a sheet or blanket of some kind put between him and the scribe, and Joseph would speak word after word as he translated the ancient writing.

Little did I know that the golden plates weren't even in the room. Joseph Smith had his head in a hat, covered the hat with his hands to keep out the light, and read word after word that supposedly glowed from a magical stone. Why wasn't I taught the truth? Well, it might have something to do with this...

Joseph Smith had more than one seer stone in his lifetime. Joseph Capron testified that Joseph Smith could see things like, "ghosts, infernal spirits, mountains of gold and silver." Joseph Smith was known for using these seer stones to help locals look for buried treasure on their properties.

In a court record dated on March 18, 1826, Joseph Smith was on trial for being "a disorderly person and an impostor." Lets not forget that this happened in BainBridge, New York, six years after Joseph Smith had his first vision.

There is much disagreement over the details of the court trial. Most Mormons argue that Joseph Smith wasn't actually convicted of these crimes, and that it's still unclear who brought the charges against Joseph Smith in the first place. One thing everyone does agree on is that Joseph Smith used a seer stone, and the seer stone was a part of the court proceedings. Another term used in the trial was "glass-looker."

Here is a quote from A.W. Benton in 1831 about Joseph Smith:

"…was about the country in the character of a glass-looker: pretending, by means of a certain stone, or glass, which he put in a hat, to be able to discover lost goods, hidden treasures, mines of gold and silver, &c.... At length the public,... had him arrested as a disorderly person, tried and condemned before a court of Justice." (Evangelical Magazine and Gospel Advocate, April 9, 1831, p. 120)

So my question is this:

Why would a prophet of God be out looking for buried treasure?

If he was a prophet of God, shouldn't he have been able to find the buried treasure?

Why isn't this whole story shared with members of the church?

There are no more excuses. Lying by omission is still lying.

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Many wonder how I can believe that Joseph Smith wrote the Book of Mormon himself, or possibly had help writing it. I often get comments from people saying things like, “He was just a poor uneducated farm boy!” and they go on and on about how complex the Book of Mormon is. I disagree.

First of all, we need to remember that the first edition of the Book of Mormon (published in 1830) was written in paragraph form, like a novel is today. It wasn’t anything close to what we see now in our scriptures. There were no numbered chapters and verses… no cross referencing or footnotes. The first edition was also full of grammatical errors, and there have been those who claim that the Book of Mormon has been changed 3,913 times. So much for the “Most correct book on earth.”

Many authors of Joseph Smith’s time read the Book of Mormon and were not impressed. Mark Twain even claimed that the Book of Mormon was “chloroform in print.” Here is a piece from his review of the Mormon Scripture:

The book seems to be merely a prosy detail of imaginary history, with the Old Testament for a model; followed by a tedious plagiarism of the New Testament. The author labored to give his words and phrases the quaint, old-fashioned sound and structure of our King James's translation of the Scriptures; and the result is a mongrel -- half modern glibness, and half ancient simplicity and gravity. The latter is awkward and constrained; the former natural, but grotesque by the contrast. Whenever he found his speech growing too modern -- which was about every sentence or two -- he ladled in a few such Scriptural phrases as "exceeding sore," "and it came to pass," etc., and made things satisfactory again. "And it came to pass" was his pet. If he had left that out, his Bible would have been only a pamphlet. Mark Twain, Roughing It.

There are plenty more reviews just like that one, but I won’t go on and on about them. Lets just say that the complete work of the Book of Mormon isn’t exactly the complex, flawless book that most Mormon’s insist… it’s more up to personal opinion.

Joseph Smith was born in 1805. The Book of Mormon was published in 1830. Why is it that people believe Joseph Smith was 14 when we talk about his age at the time of the translation? It simply isn’t so. He was a grown man, married. Many authors have written amazing works younger than Joseph Smith was when he supposedly translated the Book of Mormon, like Earnest Hemmingway.

Joseph Smith was also home taught by his mother, Lucy Mack Smith, and to quote her he was extensively home schooled in “reading, writing, and the ground rules of arithmetic.” So much for the uneducated farm boy, huh? Most historians believe he was creative, articulate, and well read. While his formal education was limited, most people don’t realize that his father, Joseph Smith Sr., worked as a school teacher during the off season, his brother Hyrum also worked as a teacher. This wasn’t a family of illiterates. There is also proof that Joseph Smith was going to high school when he was 20 years old in Harmony, Pennsylvania with the Stowell children.

View of the Hebrews by Ethan Smith was a very popular book that was published in New England in the late 1820’s which he said that the American Indians are really descended from Hebrews, and that they came to America separated into two groups, one good, one wild and bloodthirsty. They had wars, until finally one wiped out the other. Sound familiar? Here are some more things that are a little too familiar between these two books…

• Origin of the inhabitants of the American continents
• Destruction Of Jerusalem
• Stories of a “Lost Book”
• Breastplate and the Urim and Thummin
• Egyptian Hieroglyphics
• Barbarous and civilized people
• Isaiah and the scattering of Isreal
• Quetzalcoatl
• The future gathering of Israel and restoration of the Ten Lost Tribes
• The peopling of the New World from the Old via a long journey northward which encountered “seas” of “many waters”
• A religious motive for the migration
• The description of extensive military fortifications with military observatories or “watch towers” overlooking them.
• A change from monarchy to republican forms of government
• The preaching of the gospel in ancient America
• Both tell of prophets in ancient America
• Both Maintain that the purpose of America in the last days is to gather up the remnants of Israel, bringing them into Christianity, and bringing forth the millennium.

Many other people claim that Joseph Smith was simply the person chosen to deliver the Book of Mormon to the world, and that another person had written the actual text. Oliver Cowdery, Sidney Rigdon, and Solomon Spalding have all been thrown around as original authors of the Book of Mormon.

There are plenty more reasons why I don’t believe the Book of Mormon to be directly from God, and I will probably post more about it another day. Until then, have a good night.

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As a quick update to my baptism for the dead article, I wanted to point something out.

It seems the Mormon Church is now keeping the genealogy lists of people who were baptized before or after their deaths on a new private website. This means that only members of the church can access these records.

Why is this? If their work is so important, and they are truly helping people who have died, why must this list stay secret? Is it because there has been so much uproar over people finding their deceased loved ones were baptized into the Mormon faith without their permission? Does the church think that they can do things quietly this way?

If you are going to baptize people after they are dead, those records should be available to everyone. Not only is baptism for the dead arrogant and immoral, keeping that from living family members is even worse.

I read something that stuck out to me and I would like to share it.

Since it is impossible to dunk all dead people, would God really be so unfeeling as to reject a soul because they didn't end up on an earthly list? Give me a break!

I couldn't agree more.

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