NOM

I've been listening to the podcast and it's fascinating and frightening. 30 minutes in the idea comes up that the church is so aggressive in it's defense against litigation is because it is legally vulnerable because of its standing as a "Corporation Sole." With much power comes much vulnerability. ...

This strategy would work for anything from Muslims to flat earth believers. These are the kind of ill-conceived talks one would expect when criticism of leaders is considered a sin.

It has occurred to me that one possibility is that God wants us each to find or create our own religion. It makes as much sense as anything else that I've heard. So I look at the evidence, and use my own reason to try to understand what God/Creator/Reality is like. I've learned that nobody (or at le...

I read this quote last night and it has me thinking. Anyone else have any thoughts?

The trouble with religion is that we seldom get the opportunity to form our own beliefs. If we are religious then most of our views are shaped for us by our parents, school, or by society.-- Sig Sawyer

I'm often tempted to visit other wards (I live in Salt Lake Valley) in the MorCor to see if I could get a picture of how much the internet & bloggernacle have influenced views generally. I suspect there are a lot of people who get their view of Church history from "The Work and the Glory" series. :...

2bizE wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 16, 2018 7:53 pm

The habits, addictions, and desires we have at the time of death will continue in the next life...

Yeah I'll bet 80% or more believe that. Has it been disavowed officially or unofficially by any leaders?

I'm often tempted to visit other wards (I live in Salt Lake Valley) in the MorCor to see if I could get a picture of how much the internet & bloggernacle have influenced views generally. I suspect there are a lot of people who get their view of Church history from "The Work and the Glory" series.

Do apostles see Jesus? I think Apostles have hedged on this, and even prevaricated about seeing the Savior. I would estimate that 50% to 60% of active members still believe that most or all of our current Q15 have seen Jesus.

Mormonism's fascination with "worthiness" has it's roots in the folk magic that Joseph Smith practiced with his family and those around him. That ability to have power flow through you was based on saying exactly the right things, with exactly the right items, and the exactly right mind set; if the...

I'm glad you brought this up, NBI. When I first began to investigate critical claims of the Church and apologetic responses I notice both sides showed their biases. Both sides, whether or not it was intentional, would use selective quotes and edit them to show their side of the argument. I think the...

That is a wild story! You said your SP IS new, so I'd be willing to bet he had a fair amount of people in his office saying they were struggling with their faith. He realized they really need someone like you. Good job, hope you can make a difference. Good point. If anybody could talk me back into ...

I know that LDS leaders still play the "sacrifice brings the blessings of heaven" card. I remember how confused my brother sounded when he asked me why his crops failed and his wife got cancer after he sent his oldest son on a mission.

He noted that in preparation for this evening, he and Sis. Cook visited many of the historical landmarks of the restoration, including "Carthage jail where the SAVIOR was martyred." I think that says it all for me... :shock: :oops: Let me give the thinnest benefit of the doubt that Elder Cook simpl...

It's interesting what happens when the Church (TBM) culture bumps up against reality. I admire you for your clear thought and action. We do believe differently from each other. Also, I'm glad my name isn't being considered for High Council.

Elder Cook let the historians do a little heavy lifting. But there was a lot of "We don't have enough time to go into this subject in depth: So go read the essay, but let's not talk about 14 year olds in polygamy, or the First Account of the First Vision." Again, they are avoiding the specifics. Do ...

I felt strong negative emotions when I read the letter (Non-disclosure) that Sam's stake president sent.


These folks are pretty brazen about their 'Courts.'

https://invisiblescubit.wordpress.com/2 ... -response/

For example: Blood atonement would be about a 2 because few LDS still believe it. Black people being less faithful in the Pre-existence might be a 4 because more people still believe it. Faithful LDS will get their own planet would be a 9 or even 9.9 This has not been disavowed but has been called a...

It's four o'clock in the morning. Do you know where your beliefs are? I've got them right here, laboriously extracted from For the Strength of Youth and made accurate. ***** Friends We believe that true friends help us live the gospel of Jesus Christ, which is Mormonism, and never ask us hurtful qu...

One of my wife's good friends divorced her husband of @40 years shortly after they returned from their mission. A friend of mine had a shaky shelf break on his senior mission. Just a couple of anecdotes. I could share more, but you get the idea. One thing I have heard bad things about. Old single gu...

My 15 year old son said it best: “the Church has about as much power over you as you let it have”. Their punishments only have meaning to the extent you let them mean something to you - with one crucial exception, and that is their power to bar you from family events in the temple, and performing b...