Search found 208 matches

by Yobispo
Tue Sep 20, 2022 3:34 pm
Forum: Doctrinal Discussion
Topic: Oaks vows BYU will not be part of "the World"
Replies: 24
Views: 2510

Re: Oaks vows BYU will not be part of "the World"

I know 2 BYU professors who were terminated in the last couple of weeks, both were getting ready to teach their classes when they were called in. I know one very well and the other just a little bit. I can't get into specifics, but what is clear to me is that they are cleaning house of any prof's wh...
by Yobispo
Mon Apr 25, 2022 2:14 pm
Forum: Doctrinal Discussion
Topic: Steven Hassan's survey on controlling groups
Replies: 12
Views: 5999

Re: Steven Hassan's survey on controlling groups

Re-opening this old thread. Has anyone here read Hassan's book "combating cult mind control"? What did you think of it? Any better resources out there? I'm starting to realize my parents are in a ... different cult. They do read, study, etc. What is the best resource on cults everyone has found? It...
by Yobispo
Wed Apr 20, 2022 3:23 pm
Forum: Doctrinal Discussion
Topic: End game - the great rebrand
Replies: 16
Views: 3408

Re: End game - the great rebrand

RMN's ego as the impetus for changes is an easy take, but I actually think it is the correct take. I can't shake the example of Hinck conference-slapping him 20+ years ago, then him making such a huge statement about the name Mormon being "a major victory for Satan". Has he made any statements about...
by Yobispo
Wed Mar 30, 2022 11:37 am
Forum: Doctrinal Discussion
Topic: Under the Banner of Heaven TV show
Replies: 41
Views: 7756

Re: Under the Banner of Heaven TV show

I am quite surprised by the temple garb being shown in the trailer. Of course, temple oaths are important context for blood atonement so I'm glad it looks like they're trying to be accurate. I just can't believe that the LDS church didn't successfully throw the kitchen sink at this production to get...
by Yobispo
Fri Feb 11, 2022 4:55 pm
Forum: Doctrinal Discussion
Topic: Different take on Brad Wilcox
Replies: 14
Views: 3005

Re: Different take on Brad Wilcox

The racism and sexism was blatant and is rightfully being called out. What isn't getting as much attention, but should be, is the very dangerous threatening language he used to induce thought-stopping techniques ("maybe we should ask a different question") and fear ("you will lose everything"). I kn...
by Yobispo
Thu Feb 10, 2022 9:53 am
Forum: Support
Topic: Why are we not discussing the Brad Wilcox fireside?
Replies: 66
Views: 12401

Re: Why are we not discussing the Brad Wilcox fireside?

Well, Wilcox will most likely never speak in General Conference again at least (he spoke at a session in October, 2021).
Elder Ponderize gave his talk in 2015, and he spokse again 3 years later at GC. Granted, Brad's blunder is far worse, but the church does like to show it is in charge.
by Yobispo
Wed Feb 09, 2022 4:06 pm
Forum: Doctrinal Discussion
Topic: Brad Wilcox
Replies: 6
Views: 1954

Re: Brad Wilcox

This particular PR flub for the church has been very difficult for me. The racist stuff was obviously bad, but the many ways he threatened the youth with what they will lose if they leave is hitting all kinds of sensors in my Mormon-damaged-brain. This was actually evil. His take on the One True Chu...
by Yobispo
Mon Feb 07, 2022 12:53 pm
Forum: Doctrinal Discussion
Topic: Battleground Africa
Replies: 20
Views: 4854

Re: Battleground Africa

As a missionary in Norway I had plenty of experience teaching African refugees. I have no doubt that the church views Africa as a goldmine of converts because they are remarkably receptive to the message. They seem to be a fairly superstitious people and believing in angels delivering golden plates...
by Yobispo
Mon Dec 27, 2021 11:38 am
Forum: Doctrinal Discussion
Topic: Fraudulent Baptisms
Replies: 6
Views: 1861

Re: Fraudulent Baptisms

I never saw pre-8's being baptized, but we saw plenty of 9 year old's. Usually it was an inactive, poor family. We'd see a 9 on the records and we would show up. The families always loved the attention from nice young missionaries and the parent(s) tended to have residual guilt so they encouraged it...
by Yobispo
Mon Dec 20, 2021 10:37 am
Forum: Doctrinal Discussion
Topic: New Gospel Topic on BOM Geography.
Replies: 18
Views: 4323

Re: New Gospel Topic on BOM Geography.

So the church takes no formal position, but here's a quote from Joseph that shows he absolutely believed that the Nephites were in North America. Oh, and he also published a newspaper with an article saying the Aztecs were Nephites, even though the Aztecs lived around 1500 AD. But here's a Russell N...
by Yobispo
Fri Dec 10, 2021 10:24 am
Forum: Doctrinal Discussion
Topic: Unwillingness to Apologize
Replies: 15
Views: 4290

Re: Unwillingness to Apologize

Actual Christianity: No borrowed light, no leaning on arms of flesh, faith in God not pharisees - apostles in the NT all messed up, could not heal, could not walk on water, could not stay awake one hour, denied Christ - and they recorded their mistakes in the Bible for all to see, and we all love t...
by Yobispo
Mon Dec 06, 2021 11:40 am
Forum: Doctrinal Discussion
Topic: HOW did Joseph Smith write the BOM?
Replies: 20
Views: 5563

Re: HOW did Joseph Smith write the BOM?

Did Joseph ever actually write any part of to book? Didn't he dictate while others did the writing? (Yes, I know I'm being pedantic, but it is honestly "easier" to dictate a story while someone else writes...) Quite sure Joseph actually wrote none of the BoM. I think part of making the con believab...
by Yobispo
Fri Dec 03, 2021 3:17 pm
Forum: Doctrinal Discussion
Topic: Prayer Circles
Replies: 16
Views: 4522

Re: Prayer Circles

I recall when I was a young man in the 80'sthat some of the old-timers in my ward talked about how they used to enjoy the prayer circles in priesthood, and they even mentioned that some buildings in Utah (where they do everything right) had an alter in the priesthood room. My dad confirmed this to m...
by Yobispo
Mon Nov 01, 2021 11:58 am
Forum: Doctrinal Discussion
Topic: Is there any way to find out who the last living polygamist church leader was?
Replies: 13
Views: 4449

Re: Is there any way to find out who the last living polygamist church leader was?

Technically Oaks, RMN, Hunter and another are as they have married again after first wife has passed. There is a great mormon stories podcast on Proc 1, Proc 2 and the secret 1886 revelation/letter that FLDS and others (and people like Matthias Cowley) justified their living the principle under. ht...
by Yobispo
Wed Oct 20, 2021 2:46 pm
Forum: Doctrinal Discussion
Topic: Not historical?
Replies: 15
Views: 5663

Re: Not historical?

This isn't really new, "not a textbook" has been said before. He also went on to talk about Jesus personally ministering to the people in the Americas, so he's still leaving room for it being historical, just not a "textbook". The bigger takeaway (I actually watched the whole talk) was his comment t...
by Yobispo
Mon Sep 27, 2021 4:05 pm
Forum: Doctrinal Discussion
Topic: General Konference Predictions
Replies: 33
Views: 9968

Re: General Konference Predictions

Someone in the 70 will give a hard-hitting, do-or-die type of talk because he knows this may be his one chance to have all 15 listening to his awesomeness. This talk will use the phrase "covenant path" at least 3 times.
by Yobispo
Mon Sep 20, 2021 1:39 pm
Forum: Doctrinal Discussion
Topic: Missing Gospel Topics Essays
Replies: 32
Views: 9487

Re: Missing Gospel Topics Essays

It's been interesting, this has happened a bunch of times with website changes, some exmo's lose their minds and the essays inevitably show upa few days later. This time, the exmo community is yawning and the essays are slower to return. Maybe they've played this out and this time the essays will di...
by Yobispo
Wed Sep 15, 2021 12:28 pm
Forum: Doctrinal Discussion
Topic: How many would drink the poison?
Replies: 19
Views: 5942

Re: How many would drink the poison?

Wow this is a scary thought and I will be using this later because it's a really great but jarring question. I think my in-laws would... i think my wife might. I'll never forget when I was talking to her early after finding everything out about the church and I was explaining why polygamy bothered ...
by Yobispo
Fri Sep 10, 2021 3:55 pm
Forum: Doctrinal Discussion
Topic: Introducing "Obscure Mormon Doctrine" - My New Book
Replies: 8
Views: 2901

Re: Introducing "Obscure Mormon Doctrine" - My New Book

I just bought it, look forward to it. My wife will see the amazon order and roll her eyes at my millionth mormon book.
by Yobispo
Wed Sep 08, 2021 2:07 pm
Forum: Doctrinal Discussion
Topic: Mormon Leaders and "Hate Speech"
Replies: 9
Views: 3036

Re: Mormon Leaders and "Hate Speech"

JFro - your stuff is awesome! That video of the US Senator talking needs more exposure!