#rlds

I wanted to explain a line from an earlier note where I remarked about the simplicity of traditional faith versus nuanced faith. I forwarded my article to my pastor, and the line jumped out at him. Furthermore, I must explain this thought briefly because the wording condescends traditional believers.

A true believer exists in a simpler moral paradigm because they value the tribal identity and comfort that comes with that identity. 

Photo by Miguel Alcântara on Unsplash

For context, this piece is about embracing the paradox between the two major human tendencies to regress into the safety of the cave and emerge from the cave as Platonic mythical philosopher-kings towards a Utopian future free of all corruption, and finding a balance between these two endemic tendencies.

Someone who is more traditional in their model of faith doesn't care what the nuance is- they are happy to accept "on faith" that their beliefs are correct and true. It's simpler on that basis that for the true believer.

When asked if a truth claim is true, meaning factually correct or at least symbolically correct, there isn't a moment's hesitation to examine the facts. Rationality is of no consequence, only the symbolic meaning granted by tribal identity.

Someone like myself cares a lot about the veracity of truth claims and cognitive dissonance. A more conservative believer doesn't care. It's just "true" to them. 

I've done a lot of thinking and listening to nuanced Brighamite Latter Day Saints (or as they are known to most people, "the Mormons"), and I see the necessity of both profiles. You kinda need both tendencies in a large body and that's okay that the tension exists because the tension is at the heart of violent untamed forces that hold galaxies, stars, and all matter together. 

True believers root the group's identity deep into the soil, but tolerance for nuance allows the faith to sway with the wind to avoid shattering like a Prince Rupert drop from its rigidity. 

If you enjoy my philosophical screeds, you should subscribe to my newsletter here.

Here are some basic differences-

Marriage- in the lds church it is only straight couples who can get married in the temple. In Community of Christ, ever since 2013, queer couples can get married at church.

Ordination- Women can’t get ordained to priesthood in the lds church. Ever since 1984, in Community Of Christ women have been able to be ordained to priesthood. (In fact, almost half of the council of twelve are women). Also queer people can be ordained too in Community Of Christ.

Temples- in the lds church, this is where you go to worship in Sundays. In the Community of Christ, there’s two temples- kirtland which is a historic site, and the one in independence which is the international headquarters of the denomination and is Where world conference is held every three years.

The LDS Doctorine & Covenants goes up to section 108. Community of Christ D&C goes up to section 164.

The LDS puts much more value and emphasis on the Book of Mormon than Community Of Christ does. The Book of Mormon is still one of the scriptures yeah, but it’s not anywhere near as important as the Bible for Community Of Christ.

The hymnals are different.

The ideas about salvation and heaven are different too. Community of Christ puts a lot more emphasis on building Zion in the here and now- in other words, less emphasis on ‘being perfect’ more emphasis on activism, helping the poor, etc.

Also, Community Of Christ people don’t usually go on missions.

That’s all the basic differences I can think of right now off the top of my head.

Oh and also LDS people tend to call Community Of Christ ‘Emma’s church’ because Emma Smith stayed behind in Nauvoo after everyone else went west, and she and her son helped found Community Of Christ.

Hey, does anyone have any questions about the LDS thing, or the RLDS/Community Of Christ church, specifically about history? (I heard that people are more interested in stuff to do with the restoration because of the Netflix documentary show) I’m a member of Community Of Christ and I’m a history geek, so yeah, ask me anything?

The Temple in Independence, Missouri, is a house of worship and education “dedicated to the pursuit of peace”.[1] It dominates the skyline of Independence, Missouri, USA, and has become the focal point of the headquarters of the Community of Christ (formerly, the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints). The temple was built by the Community of Christ in response to a revelation…

***MORE UPDATES COMING By SUNDAY

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.757659694255966.1073741838.187145274640747 Exposing The Mormon Trillion Dollar Industry of Profit & Fraud

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.973033472718586.1073741886.187145274640747 ~What is mormonism?

The fourteen fundamental articles or beliefs of Mormons

http://exmormon.org/d6/drupal/fourteen

http://www.whatismormonism.com/

What Do Mormons Believe? Ex-Mormon Shares (4 Parts)

http://www.christianpost.com/news/what-do-mormons-really-believe-part-1-58401/

http://www.christianpost.com/news/what-do-mormons-believe-ex-mormon-speaks-out-part-two-58494/

http://www.christianpost.com/news/what-do-mormons-believe-ex-mormon-shares-witnessing-tips-part-3-58722/ http://www.christianpost.com/news/ex-mormon-shares-secrets-from-the-church-of-latter-day-saints-102588/ Basic Info:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mormonism

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latter_Day_Saint_movement

~Sects of mormonism

The two major denominations tracing their origins to Joseph Smith are the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with over 11 million members, and the much smaller Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, with 250,000 members. According to the Salt Lake Tribune, as of April 6, 2001, the RLDS Church will now be known "as the Community of Christ.... The RLDS name still will be used for some legal and official work."

http://www.utlm.org/onlineresources/reorganizedldschurch.htm

Denominations in the LDS Restorationist movement - The Community of Christ

http://www.religioustolerance.org/rlds.htm

Community of Christ, known from 1872 to 2001 as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (RLDS)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_of_Christ

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sects_in_the_Latter_Day_Saint_movement

LDS AND RLDS (COMMUNITY OF CHRIST): DIFFERENCES & SIMILARITIES http://www.mrm.org/rlds

The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS Church) is one of the largest Mormon fundamentalist denominations and one of the largest organizations in the United States whose members practice polygyny.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fundamentalist_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-Day_Saints

FLDS Church Members Fined $2 Million for Alleged Child Labor Violations

http://abcnews.go.com/US/flds-church-members-fined-million-alleged-child-labor/story?id=30916213

https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/group/fundamentalist-church-jesus-christ-latter-day-saints

19 Things You Probably Don’t Know About FLDS Polygamists

http://www.buzzfeed.com/erinlarosa/19-things-you-probably-dont-know-about-flds-polygamists#.kiPL8kpE1

~Mormon Scriptures aka “Standard Works”

The standard works of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) are the four books that currently constitute its open scriptural canon. The scriptural canon is "open" due to the LDS belief in continuous revelation. Additions can be made to the scriptural canon with the "common consent" of the church's membership.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_works

~The four books of the standard works are:

1. King James Version of the Bible (KJV)

http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/

2. The Book of Mormon 

First published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith as The Book of Mormon: An Account Written by the Hand of Mormon upon Plates Taken from the Plates of Nephi.

http://wiki.ironchariots.org/index.php?title=Book_of_Mormon

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Mormon

Exposing the book of mormon:

http://skepticsannotatedbible.com/BOM/index.htm 

The Book of Mormon’s foggy origins

http://www.salon.com/2012/08/12/the_book_of_mormons_foggy_origins/

THE BOOK OF MORMON WITNESSES

http://exmormon.org/d6/drupal/file9

Book of Mormon Witnesses, we don't have their signatures

http://www.mormoninfographics.com/2013/08/book-of-mormon-witnesses-didnt-sign.html

Population Growth in the Book of Mormon

http://www.mormoninfographics.com/2012/10/population-growth-in-book-of-mormon.html

Carefully documented articles and resources for investigating and evaluating Book of Mormon teaching, historical claims, and archaeology. Includes scanned images of the entire 1830 first edition Book of Mormon and key examples of the nearly 4,000 changes that have been made to it.

http://mit.irr.org/category/book-of-mormon

17 Pages: THE BOOK OF MORMON: A BOOK OF MISTAKES, ERROR, AND FRAUD, by Jon Gary Williams 

http://www.apologeticspress.org/rr/reprints/book-of-mormon.pdf

Read the BOM online:

Title Page

Introduction

Testimony of Three Witnesses

Testimony of Eight Witnesses

Testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith

Brief Explanation

Illustrations

1 Nephi

2 Nephi

Jacob

Enos

Jarom

Omni

Words of Mormon

Mosiah

Alma

Helaman

3 Nephi

4 Nephi

Mormon

Ether

Moroni

Pronunciation Guide

3. The Doctrine and Covenants 

Sometimes abbreviated and cited as D&C or D. and C. This is a part of the open scriptural canon of several denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement. Originally published in 1835 as Doctrine and Covenants of the Church of the Latter Day Saints: Carefully Selected from the Revelations of God.

http://www.mormonthink.com/d&c.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctrine_and_Covenants

http://www.watchman.org/articles/mormonism/false-prophecy-in-the-doctrine-and-covenants/

http://www.utlm.org/onlinebooks/changingtherevelations.htm

http://mormoncurtain.com/topic_doctrineandcovenants.html

Read it online:

http://mit.irr.org/scanned-images-of-entire-1833-book-of-commandments-and-1835-doctrine-and-covenants

https://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament?lang=eng

4. The Pearl of Great Price

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pearl_of_Great_Price_(Mormonism)

http://www.mormonthink.com/book-of-abraham-issues.htm

Book of Abraham; Facsimile #1 Examined

http://www.mormoninfographics.com/2012/08/book-of-abraham-facsimile-1-examined.html

Book of Abraham; Facsimile #2 Examined

http://www.mormoninfographics.com/2012/08/book-of-abraham-facsimile-2-examined.html

Book of Abraham; Facsimile #3 Examined

http://www.mormoninfographics.com/2012/08/book-of-abraham-facsimile-3-examined.html

A rare copy of Joseph Smith's Egyptology 101 Final Examination.

http://www.mormoninfographics.com/2014/07/a-rare-copy-of-joseph-smiths-egyptology.html

None of the characters on the papyrus fragments mentioned Abraham's name

http://www.mormoninfographics.com/2014/07/none-of-characters-on-papyrus-fragments.html

http://www.mrm.org/book-of-abraham

http://www.utlm.org/onlineresources/fallofbookabraham.htm

http://20truths.info/mormon/abraham.html

http://cesletter.com/debunking-fairmormon/book-of-abraham.html

A range of articles and resources to assist the investigation of Joseph Smith's controversial claim that he discovered and translated a lost record of the biblical patriarch Abraham. Includes color photos of the surviving Joseph Smith papyri, articles by Mormon and non-Mormon Egyptologists, and free download of a 240-page book that surveys the history of the Book of Abraham controversy.

http://mit.irr.org/category/book-of-abraham

1 Contents

1.1 Book of Moses

1.2 Book of Abraham

1.3 Joseph Smith–Matthew

1.4 Joseph Smith–History

1.5 Articles of Faith

Read it online:

A Selection from the Revelations, Translations, and Narrations of Joseph Smith First Prophet, Seer, and Revelator to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Introduction

Moses

Abraham

Facsimile 1

Facsimile 2

Facsimile 3

Joseph Smith—Matthew

Joseph Smith—History

Articles of Faith

~Mormon Plagiarism

http://lifeafter.org/book-of-mormon-plagiarism/

http://www.mormonismdisproved.org/plagiarism.html

Joseph's Plagiarism in Book of Mormon and Other Revelations

http://20truths.info/mormon/plagiarism.html

Mormon Doctrine Has Been Plagiarized

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzETrdxVKwo

http://www.bookofmormonbookoflies.com/

Book of Mormon Book of Lies Paperback – by Meredith Ray Sheets

http://www.amazon.com/Book-Mormon-Lies-Meredith-Sheets/dp/1939179009

Joseph Smith and the Origins of the Book of Mormon (2nd Edition) 2nd Edition - by David Persuitte

http://www.mrm.org/origins-of-the-book-of-mormon

http://www.amazon.com/Joseph-Smith-Origins-Book-Mormon/dp/078640826X

Joseph Smith's plagiarism of the Bible Vinyl Bound – by Jerald Tanner

http://www.amazon.com/Joseph-Smiths-plagiarism-Jerald-Tanner/dp/B0006RQVSM

775 Examples of Plagiarism in the Book of Mormon

http://skepticsannotatedbible.com/bom/plag/long.html

~List of LDS Prophets

Joseph Smith Jr. - Prophet from April 6, 1830 to June 27, 1844 (14 years)

Brigham Young - Prophet from December 27, 1847 to August 29, 1877

John Taylor - Prophet from October 10, 1880 to July 25, 1887

Wilford Woodruff -  Prophet from April 7, 1889 to September 2, 1898

Lorenzo Snow - Prophet from September 13, 1898 to October 10, 1901 (3 years)

Joseph F. Smith - Prophet from October 17, 1901 to November 19, 1918 (17 years)

Heber J. Grant - Prophet from November 23, 1918 to May 14, 1945 (27 years)

George Albert Smith - Prophet from May 21, 1945 to April 4, 1951 (6 years)

David O. McKay - Prophet from April 9, 1951 to January 18, 1970 (19 years)

Joseph Fielding Smith - Prophet from January 23, 1970 to July 2, 1972 (2 years)

Harold B. Lee - Prophet from July 7, 1972 to December 26, 1973 (1 year)

Spencer W. Kimball - Prophet from December 30, 1973 to November 5, 1985 (12 years)

Ezra Taft Benson - Prophet from November 10, 1985 to May 30, 1994 (8 years)

Howard W. Hunter - Prophet from June 5, 1994 to March 3, 1995 (9 months)

Gordon B. Hinckley - Prophet from March 12, 1995 to January 27, 2008 (13 years)

Thomas S. Monson - Prophet from February 4, 2008 to present.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_presidents_of_The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints

~Quotes of mormon prophets/presidents

http://www.mormonteachings.com/images/thumbs/

Massive Collection of Quotes

http://www.mormonthink.com/QUOTES/mormonquotes.htm

LDS Modern Day Prophecy; Where is it?

http://www.mormoninfographics.com/2012/08/lds-modern-day-prophecy-where-is-it_18.html

http://www.mormonthink.com/QUOTES/polygamy.htm

http://mormonthink.com/QUOTES/native.htm

Famous Mormon Prophet's/Apostle's Quotes - The Mormon Hall Of Shame

http://mormontruth.blogspot.com/2005/09/famous-mormon-prophetsapostles-quotes.html

http://mormontruth.blogspot.com/2008/07/packer-your-objective-should-be-that.html

http://mormontruth.blogspot.com/2005/10/mormon-prophets-smoking-drinking_08.html

http://www.mormonthink.com/QUOTES/infallibility.htm

Adam Is Our God, Brigham Young, General Conf. Report, April 1852

http://www.mormoninfographics.com/2012/08/adam-is-our-god.html

~Joseph Smith

http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Joseph_Smith,_Jr.

http://wiki.ironchariots.org/index.php?title=Joseph_Smith

A Brief Chronology of Joseph Smith — 1805-1844

http://www.utlm.org/onlineresources/briefchronologyofjosephsmith1805_1844.htm

http://www.utlm.org/onlineresources/importanceofjosephsmithinmormonism.htm

http://mormoncurtain.com/topic_joesephsmith.html

http://www.mormonthink.com/josephweb.htm#child

http://www.mormonthink.com/josephweb.htm#education

http://www.mormonthink.com/josephweb.htm#imagination

http://mormoncurtain.com/topic_josephsmithprophecy.html

http://mormoncurtain.com/topic_josephsmithworship.html

http://mit.irr.org/category/joseph-smith

Joseph Smith, Magic, Masonry and the Occult

http://lifeafter.org/joseph-smith-magic-masonry-and-the-occult/

http://exmormon.org/d6/drupal/taxonomy/term/21

http://www.smithbusters.com/SmithBusters/About_Joseph.html

Joseph Smith: Praise to the Man!

http://www.mormoninfographics.com/2012/09/joseph-smith-praise-to-man_3.html

The Inhabitants of the Moon & Sun

http://www.mormoninfographics.com/2012/08/the-inhabitants-of-moon-sun.html

~The First Vision

Joseph Smith's First Vision and His Conflicting Accounts

http://www.mormoninfographics.com/2012/09/joseph-smiths-first-vision-and-his.html

No Compromise on the First Vision Story

"Our entire case as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints rests on the validity of this glorious First Vision. ... Nothing on which we base our doctrine, nothing we teach, nothing we live by is of greater importance than this initial declaration. I submit that if Joseph Smith talked with God the Father and His Beloved Son, then all else of which he spoke is true. This is the hinge on which turns the gate that leads to the path of salvation and eternal life." - Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley, Ensign Mag., Nov. 1998, pp.70-71

http://www.i4m.com/think/intro/must_believe_vision.htm

http://www.mormonthink.com/firstvisionweb.htm

Joseph Smith's Changing First Vision Accounts

http://mit.irr.org/joseph-smiths-changing-first-vision-accounts

Contradictory Versions of First Vision

http://20truths.info/mormon/vision.html

http://www.mrm.org/first-vision

http://www.str.org/articles/is-the-account-of-joseph-smith-s-first-vision-reliable#.VevTCRHBzRY

http://www.watchman.org/articles/mormonism/piecing-together-the-first-vision/

http://www.i4m.com/think/lists/mormon_questions.htm

http://cesletter.com/debunking-fairmormon/first-vision.html

The First Vision - A Look At The Problems - Multiple First Visions

http://mormoncurtain.com/topic_firstvision.html

Joseph Smith's First Vision - Rich Kelsey

http://richkelsey.org/joseph_smith's_first_vision.htm

Joseph Smith's Handwritten 1832 First Vision

http://www.utlm.org/onlineresources/firstvisionjosephsmith1832.htm

In late 2013, they published one finally accepting and acknowledging the fact that there were multiple (and conflicting) first vision accounts recorded by Joseph Smith over a number of years. The vision is claimed to have occurred in 1820. However, the only accounts Smith ever wrote or dictated were during 1832, 1835 and 1838 - and they are all very different.

The 'God and Jesus, appearing as two separate beings' account first appeared in 1838. Backdated eighteen years, it is the official version that the Church promotes today.

The carefully worded essay deliberately manipulates and even omits some vital facts - such as in the second version, by saying: "This account also notes the appearance of angels in the vision" leading people to assume that this is in addition to God and Jesus appearing, as members are so familiar with the story. They neglect to say that it ONLY notes angels, and that no forms of deity are mentioned as appearing at all. Smith didn't invent the 'God and Jesus appearing together' idea until much later - in 1838.

It is this kind of continuing manipulation of the truth that the Church relies on to keep members in the dark whilst pretending to finally come clean about lies and deceptions of the past. Make of the essay what you will, the conspiracy to deceive continues unabated. This is the link: http://www.lds.org/topics/first-vision-accounts

Compare the way the Church presents its case with the facts contained in the article below:

http://www.themormondelusion.com/page5.html

All 4 of Joseph Smith's firsthand accounts of the First Vision released in 10 languages

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865627253/Joseph-Smith-Papers-releases-First-Vision-accounts-in-10-languages.html?pg=all

Mormon Apostles Explain Away the Contradictory Versions First Vision

http://exmormon.org/d6/drupal/Mormon-Apostles-Explain-First-Vision-As-Developing

32 Pages: Of Visions and Stories - The Distinctive Problems with Joseph Smith’s First Vision

http://www.academia.edu/3265563/Of_Visions_and_Stories_The_Distinctive_Problems_with_Joseph_Smith_s_First_Vision

~Money-Digging and Treasure Hunting

Why had Joseph Smith and his family dug for treasure regularly at the Hill Cumorah years before Moroni ever appeared?

http://www.99mormonquestions.com/joseph-smith/why-had-joseph-smith-and-his-family-dug-for-treasure-regularly-at-the-hill-cumorah-years-before-moroni-ever-appeared/

Joseph Smith and Money-Digging

http://www.utlm.org/onlinebooks/changech4.htm

The Locations of Joseph Smith's Early Treasure Quests - Dan Vogel

http://undergroundnotes.com/graphics7/Dialogue_V27N03_211.pdf

~Gold Plates

Mormons on South Park - Part 3: Finding The Plates of Gold

http://www.i4m.com/think/southpark/golden_plates.htm

http://www.utlm.org/newsletters/no105.htm

Problems with the Gold Plates of the Book of Mormon

http://www.equip.org/article/problems-with-the-gold-plates-of-the-book-of-mormon-2/

Running with Gold Plates

http://www.mormonthink.com/runningweb.htm

How Heavy Were Joseph Smith's "Golden Plates"?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VV-3cUIjSkU

WHERE ARE THE GOLD PLATES NOW? http://www.mrm.org/where-are-the-gold-plates

ARCHAEOLOGISTS DISCOVER GOLDEN PLATES BELIEVED TO BE LINKED TO JOSEPH SMITH JR.

http://worldnewsdailyreport.com/archaeologists-discover-golden-plates-believed-to-be-linked-to-joseph-smith-jr/

“Joseph Smith would put the seer stone into a hat, and put his face in the hat, drawing it closely around his face to exclude the light; and in the darkness the spiritual light would shine. A piece of something resembling parchment would appear, and on that appeared the writing. One character at a time would appear, and under it was the interpretation in English. Brother Joseph would read off the English to Oliver Cowdery, who was his principal scribe, and when it was written down and repeated to Brother Joseph to see if it was correct, then it would disappear, and another character with the interpretation would appear.” David Whitmer, An Address To All Believers In Christ, Richmond, MO: N.P., 1887, p.12

http://www.mormonteachings.com/face-in-hat-david-whitmer/#

~Reformed Egyptian Hieroglyphics?

In the Book of Mormon, Joe Smith has his Nephi protagonist say, "Yea, I make a record in the language of my father, which consists of the learning of the Jews and the language of the Egyptians." (Book of Mormon, 1 Nephi 1:2).

At the end of the book, Smith calls the writing "reformed Egyptian" characters:

"And now, behold, we have written this record according to our knowledge, in the characters which are called among us the reformed Egyptian, being handed down and altered by us, according to our manner of speech. And if our plates had been sufficiently large we should have written in Hebrew; but the Hebrew hath been altered by us also; and if we could have written in Hebrew, behold, ye would have had no imperfection in our record." (Book of Mormon 9:32-33)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reformed_Egyptian

Anthon Transcript

http://www.utlm.org/onlineresources/anthon.htm

How Joseph Smith Invented Reformed Egyptian - Dan Vogel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoy_n_wwupA

http://www.conchisle.com/anthon.htm

http://www.truthnet.org/Mormon/Mormonismunveiled/18anthonaffair.htm

http://mormonskeptic.blogspot.com/2008/05/why-was-1st-century-reformed-egyptian.html

http://www.smithbusters.com/SmithBusters/Exploited_Holes.html

~Translating the Gold Plates

Mormons on South Park: - Part 4: Translating the Book of Mormon

http://www.i4m.com/think/southpark/mormon_translation.htm

Halfway through this South Park clip, they historically explain how this Conman Smith wrote the Book of mormon:

http://southpark.cc.com/clips/104257/joseph-smith-part-3

http://www.mrm.org/translation

http://www.lds-mormon.com/transltn.shtml

Translation of the Book of Mormon

http://www.mormonthink.com/transbomweb.htm

Treasure seeker

http://www.mormonthink.com/transbomweb.htm#josephwasatreasureseeker

Translation or Divination?

http://mit.irr.org/translation-or-divination

http://cesletter.com/debunking-fairmormon/book-of-mormon-translation.html

Was Joseph Smith a Magician?

http://www.utlm.org/newsletters/no95.htm

Translation time-line problems

http://www.mormonthink.com/transbomweb.htm#timeline

~Seer Stone

As a treasure seer, could Joseph Smith see in a stone?

http://user.xmission.com/~research/central/jsseestone.pdf

Joseph Smith’s Use of Seer-Stones in the Revealing of the Book of Mormon

http://rationalfaiths.com/joseph-smiths-use-of-seer-stones-in-the-revealing-of-the-book-of-mormon/

Joseph's Use of the Seer Stone to Find Treasure

http://20truths.info/mormon/treasure.html

A SEER STONE AND A HAT – "TRANSLATING" THE BOOK OF MORMON

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uD9h5ljJmHc

Mormons release photos of Joseph Smith’s magical “seer stones”

https://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/2015/08/05/mormons-release-photos-of-joseph-smiths-magical-seer-stones/

Facts Surrounding Joseph Smith, Peep Stones and Treasure Digging That Cause Some Mormons to Struggle

Supporting Facts Derived 100% from Church-Friendly Sources

http://mormonstories.org/top10toughissues/peepstones.html

Did the seer stone find the plates?

http://www.mormonthink.com/transbomweb.htm#findplates

Seer stone for revelation

http://www.mormonthink.com/transbomweb.htm#revelation

Prophets & seer stones

http://www.mormonthink.com/transbomweb.htm#stop

Urim & Thummim or Magic Stone? How Smith claimed to translate the Book of Mormon

http://postmormon.blogspot.com/2009/06/josephs-urum-thummim-aka-his-magic-seer.html

~Urim and Thummim

"The Urim ("lights") and Thummim ("perfections") were gemstones that were carried by the high priest of Israel on the ephod / priestly garments. They were used by the high priest to determine God's will in some situations. Some propose that God would cause the Urim and Thummim to light up in varying patterns to reveal His decision. Others propose that the Urim and Thummim were kept in a pouch and were engraved with symbols identifying yes / no and true / false." ~gotquestions.org

http://www.mormonthink.com/transbomweb.htm#whatexactlyis

Angel takes Urim and Thummim?

http://www.mormonthink.com/transbomweb.htm#whywouldtheangel

https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/urimthummim.html

http://eom.byu.edu/index.php/Urim_and_Thummim

https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bd/urim-and-thummim

https://www.lds.org/topics/book-of-mormon-translation?lang=eng

1 Samuel 14:41

If the fault is in me or my son Jonathan, respond with Urim, but if the men of Israel are at fault, respond with Thummim." Jonathan and Saul were taken by lot, and the men were cleared.

http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/14-41.htm

1 Samuel 28:6

And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets.

http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/28-6.htm

Nehemiah 7:65 & Ezra 2:63

The governor told them not to eat the priests' share of food from the sacrifices until a priest could consult the LORD about the matter by using the Urim and Thummim--the sacred lots.

http://biblehub.com/nehemiah/7-65.htm

Exodus 28:30

Insert the Urim and Thummim into the sacred chestpiece so they will be carried over Aaron's heart when he goes into the LORD's presence. In this way, Aaron will always carry over his heart the objects used to determine the LORD's will for his people whenever he goes in before the LORD.

http://biblehub.com/exodus/28-30.htm

Deuteronomy 33:8

Moses said this about the tribe of Levi: "O LORD, you have given your Thummim and Urim--the sacred lots--to your faithful servants the Levites.

http://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/33-8.htm

Leviticus 8:8

And he placed the breastpiece on him, and in the breastpiece he put the Urim and the Thummim.

http://biblehub.com/leviticus/8-8.htm

Numbers 27:21

When direction from the LORD is needed, Joshua will stand before Eleazar the priest, who will use the Urim--one of the sacred lots cast before the LORD--to determine his will. This is how Joshua and the rest of the community of Israel will determine everything they should do."

http://biblehub.com/numbers/27-21.htm

~Joseph Smith, Captain Kidd, Cumorah And Moroni

http://mormonthink.com/grant11.htm

Captain Kidd in the CES Letter

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31kowlp5Ta8

http://lifeafter.org/captain-kidd-camoras-buried-treasure-and-josephs-golden-plates/

http://www.exmormon.org/mormon/mormon330.htm

152 Pages: Joseph Smith, Captain Kidd, Lore, and Treasure-Seeking in New York and New England during the Early Republic - Noel A. Carmack

http://www.academia.edu/14076691/Joseph_Smith_Captain_Kidd_Lore_and_Treasure-Seeking_in_New_York_and_New_England_during_the_Early_Republic

~The 6 Arrests and Criminal Charges against Joseph Smith

1.  1826 – New York

Tried in Chenango County, New York, for the crime of pretending to find lost treasure.  It appears that he was convicted of this crime and paid a fine (and may have even been “escorted by the Sheriff” out of the county per the verdict).  For more information on this arrest and trial, please read what is contained on the BYU Law Blog at this link – as well as what FairMormon.org has to say at this link.  Of particular interest is this portion of this blog entry is this statement:  “Reverend Wesley P. Walters of the United Presbyterian church in Marissa, Illinois, discovered some records in the basement of the sheriff’s office in Norwich, New York, which he maintains demonstrate the actuality of the 1826 trial and go far to substantiate that Joseph Smith spent part of his early career in southern New York as a money digger and seer of hidden treasures. A periodical in Salt Lake City which heralded Walters’s findings said they “undermine Mormonism” and repeated a statement by Hugh Nibley in The Myth Makers, “if this court record is authentic it is the most damning evidence in existence against Joseph Smith.”

2.  1830 – New York

Smith reportedly performed an exorcism in Colesville, and he was again tried as a disorderly person but was acquitted.  The account of the exorcism is in this article about the Knight family on LDS.org.  The article on LDS.org discusses the trial as well.  (These articles have since been removed by LDS.org)

3.  1837 – Kirtland, Ohio

In May 1837, Grandison Newell accused Joseph Smith of plotting to murder him.  Joseph was eventually acquitted, but the testimony of church leaders and employees revealed how seriously the Prophet’s followers took his supposed off-hand remarks (or perhaps he meant them).  In either case, statements by two apostles and other close associates no doubt undermined Joseph Smith’s reputation.  Wilbur Denton and Sidney Rigdon both testified that the alleged conspiracy took place in April or May of 1835.   Orson Hyde testified that when rumors began circulating that Newell might sue the floundering Kirtland Safety Society, Joseph Smith “seemed much excited and declared that Newell should be put out of the way, or where the crows could not find him,” and he said that “destroying Newell would be justifiable in the slight of God, that it was the will of God, etc.”  

4.  1838 – Kirtland, Ohio

After a warrant was issued for Smith’s arrest on a charge of banking fraud, Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon fled Kirtland for Missouri on the night of Jan. 12, 1838.  This incident had to do with the failure of the Kirtland Safety Society Anti-Banking Company, and with charges of fraud and illegal banking, including the illegal purchase of Monroe Bank in Michigan by Smith and Ridgon.  After the purchase of Monroe Bank was complete, Oliver Cowdery was named as its Vice-President and as part of that deal and Oliver’s move to Michigan to run that bank, his Ohio company (O. Cowdery & Company) was dissolved and all assets were transferred to Jospeh Smith and Sidney Rigdon.  Of course, 1837 was filled with events that led to the banking failure and the fraud charges, and numerous events occurred during that time frame, culminating in Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon fleeing Kirtland and heading for Missouri.  Please see the information contained on FairMormon.org at this link.  (This information has since been removed by the LDS church)

5.  1838 – Missouri

On November 1, 1838, the Mormon surrendered to 2,500 state troops, and agreed to forfeit their property and leave the state.  Joseph Smith was court-martialed and nearly executed for treason, but militiaman Alexander Doniphan, who was also Joseph Smith’s attorney, probably saved Joseph’s life by insisting that he was a civilian. Joseph Smith was then sent to a state court for a preliminary hearing, where several of his former allies, including Danite commander Sampson Avard, turned state’s evidence against him.  Joseph Smith and five others, including Sidney Rigdon, were charged with “overt acts of treason,” and transferred to the jail at Liberty, Missouri to await trial.

In 1839, Smith and his companions tried to escape at least twice during their four-month imprisonment.  On April 6, 1839, on their way to a different jail after their grand jury hearing, they succeeded in escaping by bribing the sheriff.  Subsequently, Joseph Smith and the Mormons fled the state and moved to Illinois.

6.  1844 – Illinois

Arrested for ordering the destruction of the Nauvoo Expositor printing press and the burning of building in which it was housed (after an article was written exposing the truth behind Joseph Smith’s practice of polygamy and polyandry).  He was subsequently killed on June 27, 1844 while in Carthage Jail.  Interestingly, after the destruction of the Nauvoo Expositor and the burning of the building, Joseph Smith fled the state, going across the Mississippi River into Iowa.  It was only upon the pleadings of Emma Smith (his fist wife) that he returned to Illinois to face the charges – and was arrested.  And of course, there is the famous statement that Joseph Smith made on his way to Carthage Jail – that he was going as a lamb to the slaughter.  Yeah, right!  I mean, he had a gun and shot it during the shoot-out.  How is that being like a lamb going to the slaughter?  And using that terminology would intimate that he was an innocent man, when that is the farthest thing from the truth.

My reaction to discovering all of the above (#1-6) was WOW!!  Of course, it also makes me sick to my stomach, especially since I was a member of this cult for over 50 years.  In researching all of this, I found so much that I never knew before, mainly because nothing about this type of information is ever discussed in Mormon Church meetings.  Like the Monroe Bank in Michigan.  Oliver Cowdery becoming its Vice-President and relinquishing the assets in his Ohio business to Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon in the process?  Interestingly, Oliver Cowdery was excommunicated from the Mormon Church in 1838 as well.  From what I have been able to discern, his excommunication was for speaking out against Joseph Smith and his practice of polygamy – but it appears now that it probably had something to do with the Monroe Bank and the banking failure of the Kirtland Safety Society Anti-Banking Company as well.  And perhaps appointing him as Vice-President of the Monroe Bank in Michigan was a way to get rid of him since he was being too vocal about Joseph Smith’s activities.

Of course, I could go on and on about the many versions of the First Vision, the supposed “martyrdom” of Joseph Smith upon being killed while in Carthage Jail (and the fact that he had a gun with him during the shoot-out), the true origins of the Book of Mormon, and the supposed translation of the Book of Abraham, but since all of those topics are discussed in length in the book I have written which is posted on this blog, I won’t go into all that here (especially since this post has gotten so long).  Suffice it to say that Joseph Smith was a very busy boy in his gold-digging business, treasure-hunting, founding Mormonism, creating doctrine to add to it (like the Book of Mormon, Book of Abraham and the D&C), exorcisms, purchasing banks, founding new banking companies, getting arrested (and defending himself, as well as escaping and bribing his way out of jail), chasing women, trying to talk them into marrying him, having actual weddings, juggling all the women (I mean, 33 wives must have been a job all by itself), joining the Masons, stealing the Masonic ceremonies for use in the Mormon Temple in Nauvoo, designing special undergarments (with obvious Masonic symbols incorporated in them), and on and on.

I have to admit that what Joseph lacked in credibility, he made up for in creativity, charisma, and chutzpah.

https://questioningmormonism.wordpress.com/2011/08/12/208/

http://mormonismschism.blogspot.com/2011/08/rough-stone-rolling-really_9100.html

STATE OF NEW YORK vs. JOSEPH SMITH

Frasier Magazine Quote - Another Forger - Forgery Demonstrated - New Discoveries - Neely and De Zeng's Bills - Transcript Verified - An Examination? - Destroys Objections - Joseph Smith Guilty? - A Disorderly Person - Very Convincing -The Implications - A Treacherous Path - Charges Against Us - Getting Rich? - New Hofmann Book

http://www.utlm.org/newsletters/no68.htm

The Arrest Records of Joseph Smith from 1826 to 1830 are Rediscovered and Given to the Mormon Church.

http://www.exmormon.org/mormon/mormon430.htm

Joseph Smith and the 1826 Trial: New Evidence and New Difficulties by Marvin S. Hill

http://www.lightplanet.com/response/1826Trial/1826Trial_Hill.html

Joseph Smith's 1826 Conviction

http://www.mormonthink.com/QUOTES/js1826.htm

Just the Facts - The 1826 Trial (Hearing) of Joseph Smith

http://www.lightplanet.com/response/1826Trial/facts.html

Joseph Smith’s Indictment for Adultery and Fornication

http://rationalfaiths.com/joseph-smiths-indictment-for-adultery-and-fornication/

Joseph Smith on Trial

http://richkelsey.org/an_incredible_story_part_iii.htm

Joseph Smith's 1826 Glass Looking Trial — Testimonies / Records:

http://richkelsey.org/1826_trial_testimonies.htm

Rethinking the 1826 Judicial Decision - Dan Vogel

http://mormonscripturestudies.com/ch/dv/1826.asp

Joseph Smith’s Bankruptcy Fraud

http://lifeafter.org/joseph-smiths-bankruptcy-fraud/

Evidence Against Mormonism: Joseph Confesses

https://rfmorg.wordpress.com/2008/08/07/evidence-against-mormonism-joseph-confesses/

Joseph Smith's Bainbridge, N.y., Court Trials and from Occult to Cult with Joseph Smith, Jr. - Wesley P Walters

http://www.amazon.com/Joseph-Smiths-Bainbridge-Trials-Occult/dp/B0006XARYK

Joseph Smith and the criminal justice system

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Smith_and_the_criminal_justice_system

~Death

http://www.utlm.org/onlineresources/josephsmithsdeath.htm

FINAL MOMENTS AT CARTHAGE JAIL AND THE DEATH OF JOSEPH SMITH

http://www.mrm.org/death-of-joseph-smith

The Carthage Conspiracy (Joseph Smith Murder) Trial: A Chronology

http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/carthage/carthagechronology.html

The Carthage Conspiracy Trial: An Account

http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/carthage/carthageaccount.html

~Debunking mormonism

Ex-Mormon Jeremy Runnells: Letter to a CES Director - An Ultimate Refutation of Mormonism http://cesletter.com/Letter-to-a-CES-Director.pdf

11 other resources:

http://cesletter.com/

Debunking FAIR's Debunking of the CES Letter http://cesletter.com/debunking-fairmormon/

http://cesletter.com/debunking-fairmormon/book-of-mormon.html

http://cesletter.com/debunking-fairmormon/#questions

Daniel C. Peterson gave a presentation at the 2014 FairMormon Conference concerning Jeremy's CES Letter, titled, "Some Reflections On That Letter To a CES Director." Jeremy has responded to Dan in a piece titled, "A Zombie's Reflections on That Mormon Apologist's Reflections." http://cesletter.com/apologetics/a-zombies-reflections-on-that-mormon-apologists-reflections.html

Letter to a CES Director - Teaser Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-k8UF8trbhY

The Jeremy Runnells Interview (3 Parts) http://mormonstories.org/jeremy-runnells-and-his-letter-to-a-ces-director/

Pt 1: On Growing Up Mormon and the Genesis of the CES Letter https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nMadctXvMg

Pt 2: Jeremy Discusses the CES Letter in Detail https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVsBWpn8eBU

Pt 3: Rapid Firing Round, Reaction to the Letter https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjJJ9Rl-9_Y

An open letter to Jeremy Runnells: Your letter changed my life. https://www.reddit.com/r/exmormon/comments/2e9wrx/an_open_letter_to_jeremy_runnells/

~Banned Mormon Cartoon - EXTENDED VERSION

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3BqLZ8UoZk

SPOOF: You Can't Touch Mormon Jesus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46PXaJxzuDE&ab_channel=DSFARGEG00

~David Fitzgerald

Learn the recorded history of blatant fraud used to invent Mormonism:

The Complete Heretic's Guide to Western Religion Book One: The Mormons Paperback – May 15, 2013 by David Fitzgerald (Author) http://www.amazon.com/dp/1482773341

The Complete Heretic's Guide to the Mormons - David Fitzgerald - Sexy Secular Conference 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qTrVmUUsjY

The Heretic's Guide to Mormonism, David Fitzgerald Skepticon 4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTi8dq4KAeE

NTSC 2013: The Heretic's Guide to Mormonism, David Fitzgerald https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2DlcvqT_hk

David Fitzgerald - The Complete Heretic's Guide to Western Religion: Mormonism ACSJ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upmtWnVl9PE

The Mormons w/ David Fitzgerald (Unbelievers Radio) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tiySRoDgMc

The Heretic's Guide to Mormonism, David Fitzgerald Skepticon 4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTi8dq4KAeE

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/thethinkingatheist/2013/06/04/the-mormons--with-guest-david-fitzgerald

http://unbelieversradio.com/2014/10/mormons-w-david-fitzgerald/

~Fawn M. Brodie

No Man Knows My History: The Life of Joseph Smith Paperback – Fawn M. Brodie http://www.amazon.com/dp/0679730540

~Dan Vogel

16 videos: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCE7-EZ_ANHRkYHv7wCUTt0Q/playlists

Joseph Smith: The Making of a Prophet (A Biography) 

http://www.amazon.com/Joseph-Smith-Making-Prophet-Biography/dp/1560851791

Early Mormon Dcouments, Volume 1-5

http://www.amazon.com/Early-Mormon-Dcouments-Documents/dp/1560850728

http://www.amazon.com/Early-Mormon-Dcouments-Documents/dp/1560850930

http://www.amazon.com/Early-Mormon-Documents-Dan-Vogel/dp/1560851333

http://www.amazon.com/Early-Mormon-Documents-Dan-Vogel/dp/1560851597

http://www.amazon.com/Early-Mormon-Documents-Dan-Vogel/dp/1560851708

~More Books

http://mit.irr.org/category/book-reviews

Unveiling Grace: The Story of How We Found Our Way out of the Mormon Church – by Lynn K. Wilder 

http://www.amazon.com/Unveiling-Grace-Story-Mormon-Church/dp/0310331129

BOOK: Breaking the Mormon Code: A Critique of Mormon Scholarship - By Matthew A. Paulson

http://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Mormon-Code-Critique-Scholarship/dp/1595940677

Stolen Innocence: My Story of Growing Up in a Polygamous Sect, Becoming a Teenage Bride, and Breaking Free of Warren Jeffs - by Elissa Wall

http://www.amazon.com/Stolen-Innocence-Polygamous-Becoming-Breaking/dp/0061734969

Escape  – by Carolyn Jessop 

http://www.amazon.com/Escape-Carolyn-Jessop/dp/0767927575

The Witness Wore Red: The 19th Wife Who Brought Polygamous Cult Leaders to Justice  – by Rebecca Musser 

http://www.amazon.com/The-Witness-Wore-Red-Polygamous/dp/1455527858

Triumph: Life After the Cult--A Survivor's Lessons – by Carolyn Jessop

http://www.amazon.com/Triumph-After-Cult-A-Survivors-Lessons/dp/0307590712

Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith by Jon Krakauer 

http://www.amazon.com/Under-Banner-Heaven-Story-Violent/dp/1400032806

The Mormon Mirage: A Former Member Looks at the Mormon Church Today Paperback – by Latayne C. Scott

http://www.amazon.com/Mormon-Mirage-Former-Member-Church/dp/0310291534

Mormon Crisis: Anatomy of a Failing Religion - by James a. Beverley 

http://www.amazon.com/Mormon-Crisis-Anatomy-Failing-Religion/dp/192735532X

Church of Lies Flora Jessop & Paul T. Brown

http://www.amazon.com/Church-Lies-Flora-Jessop/dp/0787994626

Prophet's Prey: My Seven-Year Investigation into Warren Jeffs and the Fundamentalist Church of Latter-Day Saints - Sam Brower

http://www.amazon.com/Prophets-Prey-Seven-Year-Investigation-Fundamentalist/dp/160819275X

Shattered Dreams: My Life as a Polygamist's Wife - Irene Spencer

http://www.amazon.com/Shattered-Dreams-Life-Polygamists-Wife/dp/1599957191

God's Brothel: The Extortion of Sex for Salvation in Contemporary Mormon and Christian Fundamentalist Polygamy and the Stories of 18 Women Who Escaped - Andrea Moore-Emmett

http://www.amazon.com/Gods-Brothel-Extortion-Contemporary-Fundamentalist/dp/1930074131

~The mormon Beliefs

10 of the Most Crazy and Bizarre Mormon Beliefs - Mormon Church LDS Beliefs

http://www.artipot.com/articles/531629/10-of-the-most-crazy-and-bizarre-mormon-beliefs-mormon-church-lds-beliefs.htm

The History and Beliefs of the Mormons

http://www.truthnet.org/Christianity/Cults/Mormon7/

Top 10 Craziest Mormon Beliefs

http://www.top10craziestmormonbeliefs.com/

Top 10 Bizarre Mormon Beliefs http://listverse.com/2008/02/04/top-10-bizarre-mormon-beliefs/

The Religion Virus: Criminals at the Heart of Mormonism: Under the Banner of Heaven

http://religionvirus.blogspot.com/2009/02/criminals-at-heart-of-mormonism-under.html

The Blog : Should We Be Mormons in the Matrix? : Sam Harris

http://www.samharris.org/blog/item/is-religion-true-in-the-matrix/

The 14 Fundamentals in Following the Prophet of Mormonism

http://friendlyatheist.com/2011/04/08/the-14-fundamentals-in-following-the-prophet-of-mormonism/

An American Fraud: One Lawyer's Case against Mormonism

http://anamericanfraud.blogspot.com/2011/08/warren-jeffs-v-joseph-smith-thank-god.html

Mormonism - Secret Religious Teachings

http://www.daylightatheism.org/2011/04/secret-religious-teachings.html

Bill Maher exposes Mormon religion

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKqqGX0DEMM 

Hitchens & Dawkins Expose Mormon Religion

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Etownp_Rmw 

http://www.utlm.org/newsletters/no46.htm

Mormonism: A Racket Becomes a Religion - Christopher Hitchens 

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/fighting_words/features/2007/god_is_not_great/mormonism_a_racket_becomes_a_religion.html

The Mormon Curtain is an Ex-Mormon Blog containing Articles collected from News, Blogs, Ex-Mormon Communities and Forums - providing the very best posts and articles therein. This is to aid Ex-Mormons who are on the road to recovery, Mormons who are looking for more information on their own religion, and Non-Mormons who may be studying the Mormon Church on purpose of possible baptism.

http://mormoncurtain.com/index.html

99 Mormon Questions: Genuine Concerns of Latter-day Saints

http://www.99mormonquestions.com/

Mormonism: Anatomy of a Colossal Fraud

http://infidels.org/kiosk/article/mormonism-anatomy-of-a-colossal-fraud-715.html

Free Online Book: Mormonism exposed : Joseph Smith an imposter and the Book of Mormon a fraud

http://www.archive.org/stream/mormonismexposed00hancrich#page/n0/mode/2up

The Book of Mormon: Fraud or Fiction?

http://wakeupmormons.blogspot.com/p/book-of-mormon-fraud-or-fiction.html

http://frommormontoatheist.blogspot.com/

Recovery from mormonism

http://exmormon.org/d6/drupal/

Romney’s cousin: Mormonism is a ‘fraud’

http://www.rawstory.com/2012/03/romneys-cousin-mormonism-is-a-fraud/

~Planet Kolob?

http://findingkolob.weebly.com/

http://www.mormonhandbook.com/home/kolob.html

http://www.mormonthink.com/scienceweb.htm

http://www.gospeldoctrine.com/content/abraham-3

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolob

http://exmormon.org/d6/drupal/Mormon-Cosmology

http://mormonmatters.org/2008/01/10/planet-kolob-to-mormons-its-not-our-weird-beliefs-its-our-credibility/

https://www.lds.org/scriptures/pgp/abr/3?lang=eng

https://www.lds.org/scriptures/pgp/abr/fac-2?lang=eng

Listen to this mormon Derp!

“Another governing star in [the] Abrahamic system is Enish-go-on-dosh, said by the ancient Egyptians to be the sun, and to borrow [receive] its light from Kolob through the medium of Kae-e-vanrash. Kae-e-vanrash is the grand key or governing power which governs fifteen other fixed planets or stars, as also the moon (Flo-eese), the earth and the sun in their annual revolutions. Kae-e-vanrash receives its power through Kli-flos-is-es or Hah-ko-kau-beam. Kli-fios-is-es and Hah-ko-kau-beam receive their light from the revolutions of Kolob.” ~Joseph Smith, Jr., Elohim Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Section Six 1843-44 p.343

http://www.mormonteachings.com/enish-go-on-dosh-joseph-smith-jr/#

~Kinderhook Plates

http://www.mormoninfographics.com/2012/09/kinderhook-plates-hoax-or-history.html

http://hoaxes.org/archive/permalink/kinderhook_plates

http://www.mormonthink.com/kinderhookweb.htm

http://20truths.info/mormon/kinderhook.html

http://mit.irr.org/joseph-smith-and-kinderhook-plates-overview-and-current-perspectives

http://www.mrm.org/kinderhook-plates

http://cesletter.com/debunking-fairmormon/kinderhook-plates.html

http://www.mormoninformation.com/kinderhk.htm

http://www.utlm.org/onlineresources/kinderhookplates.htm

http://www.mormoninformation.com/emails00.htm#kinderhk

http://exmormon.org/phorum/read.php?2%2C1179274

~DNA VS. Mormonism

DNA Evidence has forced another edit to the Book of Mormon

http://www.mormoninfographics.com/2013/02/the-most-corrected-book-on-earth.html

http://mormoncurtain.com/topic_dna.html

Book of Mormon and DNA Studies - Response to LDS.org

http://www.mormonthink.com/essays-bom-dna.htm

Genetic Evidence Discounts that Native Americans Descended from Jews

http://20truths.info/mormon/dna.html

Lamanites No More: DNA and Lost Ties to Father Lehi

http://mit.irr.org/lamanites-no-more-dna-and-lost-ties-father-lehi

http://www.utlm.org/onlineresources/josephsmithkinderhookplates.htm

Lamanites Everywhere but Nary A Drop of Jewish DNA

http://exmormon.org/d6/drupal/Lamanites-Everywhere-but-no-Jewish-DNA

DNA AND THE BOOK OF MORMON RECORD

http://www.mrm.org/dna

DNA, Geography, and the Book of Mormon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pa60T879hDQ

More Nail-Pounding into the Mormon Church's "Lamanite DNA" Coffin . . .

http://exmormon.org/d6/drupal/Mormon-Church-Lamanite-DNA-Coffin

http://www.mormonsinshock.com/DNABOM.htm

MORMON CHURCH CLAIMS DNA STUDIES CAN’T AFFIRM OR REJECT BOOK OF MORMON

http://religiondispatches.org/mormon-church-claims-dna-studies-cant-affirm-or-reject-book-of-mormon/

http://www.equip.org/article/dna-science-challenges-lds-history/

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/tech/news/2004-07-26-dna-lds_x.htm

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/695221057/DNA-claims-rebutted-on-Book-of-Mormon.html?pg=all

http://sourceflix.com/dna-vs-the-book-of-mormon/

~The mormon Assimilation of the Dead?

Why do Mormons baptize the dead?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-faith/why-do-mormons-baptize-the-dead/2012/02/15/gIQAnYfOGR_story.html

Why Do Mormons Baptize The Dead?

http://andrewsullivan.thedailybeast.com/2012/02/why-do-mormons-baptize-the-dead.html

Mormons Baptize Anne Frank (Cenk Goes Off)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLFdX0-4clc

Mormons Sorry for Baptizing Simon Wiesenthal’s Dead Parents

http://www.theatlanticwire.com/national/2012/02/mormons-sorry-baptizing-simon-wiesenthals-parents/48735/

Mormons apologize for baptizing of dead Jews

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57377969/mormons-apologize-for-baptizing-of-dead-jews/

Mitt Romney on Mormon Baptisms of the Dead: ‘I Haven’t Recently’

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/02/16/mitt-romney-on-mormon-baptisms-of-the-dead-i-haven-t-recently.html

~Mormon Racism

White and Delightsome or Pure and Delightsome?

http://www.mormoninfographics.com/2012/09/white-and-delightsome-racism-in.html

Why Race Is Still a Problem for Mormons

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/19/opinion/sunday/racism-and-the-mormon-church.html

Mormon prophet quotes on blacks

http://www.mormonthink.com/QUOTES/antiblack.htm

Statements about race in the Book of Mormon

http://www.religioustolerance.org/lds_race1.htm

Racist Remarks by Leaders in the Church

http://lifeafter.org/racist-remarks-by-leaders-in-the-church/

http://mit.irr.org/category/race

http://mormoncurtain.com/topic_whiteanddelightsome.html

http://rationalfaiths.com/racism-in-the-book-of-mormon/

http://www.religioustolerance.org/lds_race1.htm

http://www.mrm.org/white-and-delightsome

http://mormonmatters.org/2010/04/20/what-will-it-be-white-and-delightsome-or-pure-and-delightsome-cognitive-dissonance-2/

Love One Another: A Discussion on Blacks and Priesthood

http://www.mormonsandnegroes.org/

Two conflicts between the LDS and the the federal government:

The LDS church has had a fascinating and turbulent history. They have had two major conflicts with the federal government.

The first occurred in the mid-19th century when the Mormon practice of polygyny – a form of polygamy – was the main reason why statehood for Utah was initially rejected. Six additional refusals followed, between 1849 and 1887. In 1890, as the government was about to seize the assets of the LDS Church, the LDS Prophet received a revelation from God. This was the “Great Accommodation” that at least temporarily suspended the practice of polygyny – a form of polygamy. On 1896-JAN-4, Utah became the 45th state in the union.

Pressure was also felt by the LDS during the 1970’s because of the LDS’ institutionalized racism. The IRS was threatening to cancel the church’s non-profit tax exempt status. University sports teams were refusing to compete in Utah. This pressure was relieved on 1978-JUN-6 when prophet of the church believed that he had received a new revelation from God to end the practice of discrimination against persons of African-American heritage.

Racist statements by LDS leaders

http://www.religioustolerance.org/lds_race2.htm

“[A]s both church president & governor, [Brigham Young] … instructed the Utah legislature to legalize the slavery of African-Americans.” “Even after federal emancipation of America’s slaves … , [he] referred to African-American slavery as a religious necessity.”

“[T]he 1st Presidency wrote that ‘the intermarriage of the Negro & White races, [is] a concept which has heretofore been most repugnant to most normal-minded people from the ancient patriarchs til now.'”

”[It] repeatedly affirmed that no African-American could stay at the LDS church-owned Hotel Utah… . America’s beloved contralto … Marian Anderson 'was allowed to stay … on condition that she use the freight elevator.’ … Nobel Peace Prize recipient Ralph Bunche was allowed to stay … only after [he] agreed to use the freight elevator, 'have his meals in his room & not come to the dining room.'”

“[W]hile criticizing the legislative efforts in AZ to 'guarantee rights of Negroes,’ LDS presidency counselor David O. McKay said, 'The South knows how to handle them & they do not have any trouble & the colored people are better off down there–in CA they are becoming very progressive & insolent in many cases.'”

”[A] 1st Presidency secretary informed a white Mormon that 'The LDS Hospital here in Salt Lake City has a blood bank which does not contain any colored blood.’ According to [counselor] J. Reuben Clark, this policy of segregating African-American blood from the blood donated by so-called 'white people’ was intended 'to protect the purity of the blood streams of the people of this Church.'”

“[T]he … 1st Presidency did what it could to block nat'l efforts for the civil rights of African-Americans… . [Referring] to the desegregation controversy in Little Rock, AR, … [v.p. of the Nat'l Council of Women] Belle Smith Spafford [was told by Clark] 'that she should do what she could to keep [it] from going on record in favor of what in the last analysis would be regarded as Negro equality.'”

“… Apostle Joseph Fielding Smith told 'Look’ magazine, "Darkies” are wonderful people & they have their place in our Church.'”

“… Apostle Ezra Taft Benson stated … that 'the so-called civil rights movement as it exists today is a Communist program for revolution in America.’ … [As] the Mormon hierarchy’s strident voice against the national crusade for African-American civil rights … [his] Negrophobic rhetoric intensified after the federal Civil Rights Act … drastically changed Utah’s patterns of racial discrimination… . [He] approved the use of one of his talks as the forward to the overtly racist book 'Black Hammer’ … . Subtitled 'White Alternatives,’ [it] warned about the 'well-defined plans for the establishment of a Negro Soviet dictatorship in the South’… . [He] instructed BYU students about 'black Marxists’ & 'the Communists & their Black Power fanatics.’“

Obama vs Romney: Mormon Racist Teachings Will Inspire Record African American Turnout

http://www.policymic.com/articles/11642/obama-vs-romney-mormon-racist-teachings-will-inspire-record-african-american-turnout

Chris Rock Blasts Mormons for Racist Past

'ROMNEY’S CREW’ THOUGHT BLACK PEOPLE WERE 'THE DEVIL’ UNTIL 1978

http://www.newser.com/story/147729/chris-rock-blasts-mormons-for-racist-past.html

Mormons and Racism: Are Mormons Racist?

http://wellbehavedmormonwoman.blogspot.com/2012/02/mormons-and-racism-are-mormons-racist.html

Racism in the LDS church  - Its resolution

http://www.religioustolerance.org/lds_race3.htm

~Mormon Sexism

http://feministing.com/2014/06/24/the-mormon-church-excommunicates-woman-for-calling-mormon-church-sexist/ http://abcnews.go.com/US/mormon-church-excommunicates-kate-kelly-womens-rights-activists/story?id=24264440 http://thinkprogress.org/home/2014/06/24/3452713/mormon-church-excommunicates-womens-rights-leader-just-as-they-always-have/ http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/02/28/us/ap-us-mormon-excommunication.html

~Women in heaven

Move over Saint Peter, a woman can’t get into heaven unless her husband lets her in and once there, she will get to be eternally pregnant with billions of spirit children.

“From [Joseph Smith] I learned that the doctrine of plural and celestial marriage is the most holy and important doctrine ever revealed to man on the earth, and that without obedience to that principle, no man can ever attain to the fulness of exaltation in celestial glory.” – William Clayton, Historical Record, Vol. 6, pp. 225-227

“Our exaltation depends on marriage…. Our Heavenly Father has given us the law of eternal marriage so that we can become Like him. We must live the law of eternal marriage to become as he is — able to have spirit children.” (Gospel Principles, p. 231.)

How polygamy factors in to exaltation is commonly misunderstood, and it is in fact actively obfuscated by modern LDS leaders, teachers, and apologists (commonly discounted with a reference to Official Declaration 1).

LDS Church teachers in time since D&C 132, have demanded that polygamy be followed, and reinforce the damnation of not entering into polygamy:

“… he that abideth not this law (polygamy) can in no wise enter into my glory, but shall be damned, saith the Lord.” (D & C, 132:27)

“Go ye, therefore, and do the works of Abraham; enter ye into my law [polygamy] and ye shall be saved.” (D & C, 132:32)

‘”The only men who become Gods … are those who enter into polygamy.” (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, vol. 11, p. 269)

“I bear my solemn testimony that plural marriage is as true as any principle that has been revealed from the heavens. I bear my testimony that it is a necessity, and that the Church of Christ in its fullness never existed without it. Where you have the eternity of marriage you are bound to have plural marriage; bound to and it is one of the marks of the Church of Jesus Christ in its sealing ordinances.” (George Teasdale, Journal of Discourses, vol. 25, p. 21)

‘”The Lord has said, that those who reject this principle [polygamy] reject their salvation, they shall be damned, saith the Lord … they will finally go down to hell and be damned if they do not repent.” (0rson Pratt, Journal of Discourses, vol. 17, pp. 224-225)

You need to get a copy of: The Changing World of Mormonism, written by Jerald and Sandra Tanner, great-great granddaughter of Brigham Young. It is written for Mormons and it contains all the original documents of the Mormon faith and the changes that were made to make the religion more palatable for its members and the public. Some historians of LDS have even been murdered because they discovered that there had been changes and threatened to make the original documents public. I even have newspaper clippings of one such incident. I studied with a bishop of the church and he told me I had learned things many members did not even know. I think you should do some investigating. I have a feeling it will surprise you to learn the truth, if you dare!

A Mormon women can only attain the “Celestial Kingdom” by having her husband call her secret name through the veil, and being sealed to him. It is commonly known, taught, and doctrine that they will then become as God is. He creates worlds without number with Billions of spirits. Who’s going to create these “spirit children?” I don’t think you get what “Heaven” you are working towards. Eternally pregnant. Sounds like fun to me. Mormon Doctrine clearly states that sealed/celestial married men and women “will live eternally in the family unit and have spirit children, thus becoming Eternal Fathers and Eternal Mothers”

There are Three degrees of heaven: Celestial, Terrestrial, and Telestial.

LDS doctrine claims that nobody gets into the top level of the celestial kingdom without having been married “for time and all eternity”, and they don’t get in without their spouse accompanying them.

So Jesus is in a lower level heaven?

http://www.texemarrs.com/052012/rabbis_love_mormons.htm

How much brainwashing does it take for a cult to make people oppress themselves, opposing their own equality and human rights? Most religions do this but let's look at mormonism: http://skepticmormon.blogspot.com/2011/02/womens-role-in-mormon-church.html?m=1 http://www.exmormon.org/mormwomn.htm http://www.i4m.com/think/lists/mormon_gender.htm http://mormoncurtain.com/topic_womeninmormonism.html 

~The mormon “Magic” Underwear & mormon Masturbation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cbfgmorIGE Debunking Divine Protection https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m12mZiiaWuw RIDICULOUS Mormon Anti-Masturbation Campaign

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y24Gi-o8j28

Bill Maher - Mormon Masturbation Handy Tips

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrl7GlLsVf0

Penn Jillette https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qJDd-2tM-A TTA Podcast 112: The Mormons https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKGj9sSVJyU

Mormon Underwear, Revealed

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released an informational guide to "temple garments" on their website. Why have these clothes been such a source of fascination in American culture?

http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2014/10/mormon-underwear-revealed/381792/

Jesse Ventura Is Not A Fan Of The Magic Underwear (VIDEOS)

http://www.addictinginfo.org/2012/06/12/jesse-ventura-is-not-a-fan-of-the-magic-underwear-videos/

Steps to prevent masturbation. They are simply PRICELESS!

http://www.moonmac.com/Mormon_masturbation.html

Mormon Quotes on Masturbation

http://mormonthink.com/QUOTES/masturbation.htm

Hilarious Anti-Masturbation Campaign Waged By BYU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ueuz0-Rnd5c

Note: The following article was written by a faithful LDS Physician. In fear of reprisal from church leaders, the doctor asked that his name be witheld.

http://www.i4m.com/think/sexuality/masturbation_help.htm

Email exchange with bishop regarding masturbation

http://exmormon.org/d6/drupal/Email-exchange-with-bishop-regarding-masturbation

http://www.mormonmentalhealth.org/065-recommendations-from-2-mormon-sex-therapists/

HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF NEW MASTURBATION ATTITUDES IN MORMON CULTURE: SILENCE, SECULAR CONFORMITY, COUNTERREVOLUTION, AND EMERGING REFORM

http://www.mormonstudies.net/pdf/mormon_masturbation.pdf

~The mormon Temple Blood Oaths 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-r3eBf1rwY Were there really DEATH PENALTIES in the Mormon Temples before 1990?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCXFyVvr9Jk Mormon Rituals http://www.hiddenmysteries.org/religion/lds/ldsrituals.shtml http://mormontruth.blogspot.com/2005/09/mormon-temple-changes-and-how-evil-and.html Mormons Modify Temple Rites : Ceremony: Woman's vow to obey husband is dropped. Changes are called most significant since 1978. http://articles.latimes.com/1990-05-05/news/vw-353_1_temple-ceremony http://blog.mrm.org/2012/03/lds-apostle-discusses-pre-1990-mormon-temple-death-penalties/ LDS Mormon Temple Endowment Ceremony Death Oaths http://www.i4m.com/think/temples/temple_oaths.htm

~The "White Horse Prophecy" failed with Romney

Exclusive: Brigham Young’s Great-Great-Granddaughter on Mormonism and Mitt Romney

A direct descendant of Brigham Young, Sue Emmett left the church because of the very values she says would make Romney a frightening president. She speaks exclusively with Jamie Reno.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/08/07/exclusive-brigham-young-s-great-great-granddaughter-on-mormonism-and-mitt-romney.html

Joyner Hopes Romney will Fulfill the 'White Horse Prophecy’

http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/joyner-romney-white-horse

Romney’s Milestone For Mormon Faith “White Horse Prophecy”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyFqd7fKdQE

“White Horse Prophecy” and The Revelation of St. John the Divine, Chapter 6

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/10/05/1139767/–White-Horse-Prophesy-and-The-Revelation-of-St-John-the-Divine-Chapter-6

Will Mitt Romney Fulfill the Mormon White Horse Prophecy?

http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/Article36699.html

White Horse Prophecy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Horse_Prophecy

Romney and the White Horse Prophecy

http://freethoughtblogs.com/dispatches/2012/10/10/romney-and-the-white-horse-prophecy/

Mormons, Romney and the White Horse Prophecy

http://www.thedailybell.com/4333/Ron-Holland-Mormons-Romney-and-the-White-Horse-Prophecy

Mitt Romney and the Mormon white horse prophecy

http://the-end-time.blogspot.com/2012/10/mitt-romney-and-mormon-white-horse.html

~Gay Rights

The cult of mormonism is an oppressor of human rights, just like most religions: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/11404308/John-Dehiln-Mormon-supporter-of-gay-rights-excommunicated.html Gay Mormon Pens Incredible Response To LDS Bishop After Being Threatened With Excommunication: VIDEO http://www.towleroad.com/2015/05/a-gay-mormons-incredible-response-to-the-churchs-decision-to-excommunicate-him/ LDS Church is Now Excommunicating Legally Same-Sex Married Membershttp://mormonstories.org/lds-church-is-now-excommunicating-legally-same-sex-married-members-taylor-knuth-bishop/ http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/10/us-usa-mormons-excommunication-idUSKBN0LE2DY20150210 http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/john-dehlin-popular-mormon-podcaster-excommunicated-church-n303656

LDS donate millions to fight gay marriage

http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/lds-donate-millions-to-fight-gay-marriage/article_84a8a9bf-6851-56a1-8c36-f170e8cd9f13.html

The New Religious Right - Does the organizational and fund-raising prowess displayed by the LDS church during California’s Proposition 8 campaign augur future political might?

http://www.advocate.com/news/2008/12/03/new-religious-right

https://messengerandadvocate.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/fp-letter.pdf

News Coverage: Fines Proposed Against Mormon Church for Prop 8 Campaign Finance Violations

http://www.californiansagainsthate.com/2010/06/08/news-coverage-fines-proposed-against-mormon-church-for-prop-8-campaign-finance-violations/

News Coverage: Prop 8 screenings draw standing ovations, but no LDS officials

http://www.californiansagainsthate.com/2010/01/29/news-coverage-prop-8-screenings-draw-standing-ovations-but-no-lds-officials/

The Divine Institution of Marriage http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/the-divine-institution-of-marriage

Top Mormon leaders sending letter to members, reaffirming God’s law against same-sex marriage http://www.sltrib.com/home/2682018-155/top-mormon-leaders-sending-letter-to

LDS church gay marriage lobbying reports http://www.motherjones.com/documents/811352-lds-church-gay-marriage-lobbying-reports

LDS Church asks U.S. Supreme Court to rule against same-sex marriage http://fox13now.com/2015/04/10/lds-church-asks-u-s-supreme-court-to-rule-against-same-sex-marriage/

Mormon Church Tells Followers It Will Not Marry Gay Couples Despite Supreme Court Decision; Says Homosexual Behavior 'Violates the Commandments of God' http://www.christianpost.com/news/mormon-church-tells-followers-it-will-not-marry-gay-couples-despite-supreme-court-decision-says-homosexual-behavior-violates-the-commandments-of-god-141200/

Mormon church says ruling won't alter stance on marriage http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/06/26/mormon-church-says-ruling-alter-stance-gay-marriage/29380131/

The Mormon church won't drop its opposition to gay marriage http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/nov/29/mormon-church-gay-marriage-lobbying

Church Leaders Counsel Members After Supreme Court Same-Sex Marriage Decision http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/top-church-leaders-counsel-members-after-supreme-court-same-sex-marriage-decision

Pro–Marriage Equality Family Accidentally Featured In Mormon Church’s Statement Opposing Same-Sex Marriage http://www.buzzfeed.com/tasneemnashrulla/mormon-church-features-photo-pro-marriage-equality-family-in#.yxEl3WPpx

Mormon Church Abandons Its Crusade Against Gay Marriage

Prop. 8 backlash has led the Latter Day Saints to soften their treatment of LGBT church members.

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/04/prop-8-mormons-gay-marriage-shift

Gay rights, religious rights and a compromise in an unlikely place: Utah http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/gay-rights-religious-rights-and-a-compromise-in-an-unlikely-place-utah/2015/04/12/39278b12-ded8-11e4-a500-1c5bb1d8ff6a_story.html

Mormon church backs LGBT rights -- with one condition http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/27/us/mormon-church-lgbt-laws/

Judge says Hobby Lobby ruling allows Mormon cult member to avoid talking to feds http://www.rawstory.com/2014/09/judge-says-hobby-lobby-ruling-allows-mormon-cult-member-to-avoid-talking-to-feds/

Federal Judge Rules Mormon Cult Can Use Hobby Lobby Ruling To Hide Child Labor http://crooksandliars.com/2014/09/federal-judge-rules-extreme-mormon-cult

Churches and Political Lobbying Activities http://ffrf.org/outreach/item/14005-churches-and-political-lobbying-activities

History of LDS Politics http://www.mormonthink.com/politics.htm

~The Moral Failings of mormonism

401 children and and 133 women taken in raid of Texas mormon cult compound http://www.nbcnews.com/id/23993440/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/t/women-children-leave-polygamist-ranch/#.Vc-g2_lVhBc http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-04-07-Polygamy_N.htm http://www.reuters.com/article/2008/04/08/us-nc-usa-mormons-abuse-idUSN0730647220080408 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89498037 http://jezebel.com/377200/authorities-take-400-more-kids-from-polygamist-sect-in-texas http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/polygamist-compound-raid-nets-401-children/2008/04/09/1207420431456.html http://www.chron.com/news/article/401-children-in-custody-in-polygamist-compound-1541529.php

Utah Statistics are Among the Highest in the Nation for Depression, Rape, Child Abuse, and Pornograpy

http://www.mormonstruth.org/statistics.html

LDS Mormon Sex Abuse

http://www.i4m.com/think/sexuality/mormon_sex_purity.htm

Child Abuse Cover-Up Costs Mormon Church $3 Million - Church Continues to Deny Responsibility Despite Ten Prior Warnings to Church http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/child-abuse-cover-up-costs-mormon-church-3-million-71939217.html

Women and Child Abuse in Mormonism http://exmormon.org/d6/drupal/drameana

For College-Age Mormons, Sexual Violence Is a Religious Problem

Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints church doctrine says that victims of sexual abuse are not guilty of sexual sin, but there’s a far different story playing out on the ground, where bishops are making women repent for their own rapes.

http://www.psmag.com/health-and-behavior/college-age-mormons-sexual-violence-religious-problem-84637

Mormon child sexual abuse http://ldssexchildabuse.blogspot.com/

Utah judge suppresses evidence in sexual abuse case http://www.sltrib.com/home/2668723-155/utah-judge-suppresses-evidence-in-sexual

Paperdolls: A True Story of Childhood Sexual Abuse in Mormon Neighborhoods http://www.amazon.com/Paperdolls-Childhood-Sexual-Mormon-Neighborhoods/dp/0941405273

Utah’s Crime Situation | Utah Foundation Research

While the murder, aggravated assault and robbery rates are significantly lower than the national average, Utah’s forcible rape rate has been surprisingly higher than the national average. Utah had the 13th highest rape rate (40.7 per 100,000) among states in 2002, which has risen markedly between 1988 and 1991 as shown in Figure 5. According to the Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice (CCJJ), a large reason for Utah’s high forcible rape rate is attributed to a vast improvement in the reporting of rapes. However, a recent study by the National Violence Against Women Prevention Research Center, which is funded by the Center for Disease Control, found that Utah ranked second in the nation in terms of the estimated percentage of rape victims. The report estimates that 20.6 percent, or a fifth, of the state’s female population is a victim of rape. Only Alaska had a higher percentage of rape victims (20.9 percent) than Utah according to the study. The 2000 National Crime Victimization Survey found that in 1999, only 28% of rapes and sexual assaults were reported to law enforcement officials.

http://www.utahfoundation.org/reports/?page_id=342

FLDS Church Dealt Another Blow

http://www.tmdailypost.com/article/culture/flds-church-dealt-another-blow

FLDS doesn’t consider abuse of women a crime, ex-member speaks out [RELIGION EXPOSED]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrGcjAbE9ag

Religion Exposed: Mind control Polygamy, the FLDS Mormon Church deceit

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsFicUdODgU&feature=plcp&context=C4cd4147VDvjVQa1PpcFPySGO

“FLDS: Inside the Secret Sect” Arnold Richter Interview Part 1"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56jd4Jzs1LI

FLDS: Inside the Secret Sect" Arnold Richter Interview Part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBqeI4QdVn8

FLDS: Inside the Secret Sect" Arnold Richter Interview Part 3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZV-i9mhRGc4

Religion Exposed: Crimes in Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_ijKSkTXM0&feature=plcp&context=C49313dbVDvjVQa1PpcFPySGO_

Former FLDS prisoner: ESCAPE by Carolyn Jessop

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJHJC6beMD4

Carolyn Jessop On Horizon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4X4PZ-mdJXs

Carolyn Jessop - Escaping from the FLDS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJAvqc5u9KM&feature=related

Lifting the Veil of Polygamy - This documentary examines the roots of Joseph Smith’s legacy, and its modern-day fruit. We follow the compelling testimonies of nine former..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjDJs7wvGLg

The Man With 80 Wives: Pt 1 on Vimeo http://vimeo.com/17958315

The Man With 80 Wives - Part 2 on Vimeo http://vimeo.com/18180891

Banking on Heaven

Polygamy in the heartland of the American West. Banking on Heaven is the inside story of the largest polygamous enclave in the United States, written, produced, and narrated by Laurie Allen, who escaped a similar polygamous sect.

Banking on Heaven reveals what happens behind closed doors in the FLDS, including the YFZ Ranch in Texas. Banking on Heaven reveals the corruption, the legislatures failure to help, the Mormon Church’s role, and the plight of innocent members of the FLDS polygamous sect.

Banking on Heaven is the deep story behind the headlines. While politicians brag about liberating the women and children of Afghanistan and Iraq, Banking on Heaven asks who is going to liberate the women and children of Colorado City, Arizona.

http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/banking-on-heaven/

Tim Gunn’s Guide to Polygamist Style

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcN_LbP3QbA

LDS Church branch president ousted after penis—biting incident

http://www.standard.net/stories/2012/08/09/lds-church-branch-president-ousted-after-penis-biting-incident

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/2012/08/09/lds-church-leader-efrey-guzman_n_1762061.html

~Warren Jeffs

Polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs gets life in prison

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/religion/2011-08-09-polygamist-sect-leader-warren-jeffs-life-sentence_n.htm http://www.cnn.com/2011/CRIME/08/09/texas.polygamist.jeffs/ Warren Jeffs Biography http://www.biography.com/people/warren-jeffs-20771031 The evil preacher who runs his cult from prison Paedophile Warren Jeffs is serving a life sentence in jail. As a new television drama tells his story, why is he still so powerful? http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/10904019/The-evil-preacher-who-runs-his-cult-from-prison.html Warren Jeffs sentenced to life plus 20 years in prison as picture emerges of 50 brides, bred to worship the polygamous 'prophet' Church leader sentenced to life plus 20 years in prison for two counts of sexually assaulting a child Jury took less than half an hour to decide on the maximum possible sentence Decision comes as photograph emerges of 50 of his wives, smiling for the camera in a group shot Girls were so indoctrinated they held each other down during 'heavenly' sessions of brutal sexual abuse 'Jeffs had his big house, where he raped young women. The state of Texas has a big house too, where he will spend the rest of his days,' attorney says http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2024150/Warren-Jeffs-trial-Paedophile-gets-life-sentence-50-brides-photo-emerges.html

Polygamist leader Warren Jeffs sentenced to life in prison

http://articles.cnn.com/2011-08-09/justice/texas.polygamist.jeffs_1_warren-jeffs-sexual-assault-brent-jeffs?_s=PM%3ACRIME

Damned to heaven: Synopsis: Along the barren canyon lands of the Arizona Strip lies the remote polygamous community of Colorado City. The Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints, or FLDS, have thrived here for over half a century in perceived peace and harmony. Under the leadership of self-proclaimed prophet, Warren Steed Jeffs, have disturbing accounts of rampant emotional, physical and sexual abuse begun to emerge. Warren Jeffs serves a jail sentences in Utah. This is the story of some of the survivors. 

http://www.cultureunplugged.com/documentary/watch-online/filmedia/play/4688/Damned-to-Heaven

http://www.exmormon.org/mormon/mormon_polygamy.htm

Warren Jeffs: Polygamist Leader Had Nearly 80 Wives, 24 Under Age 17, His Meticulous Records Show

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/05/warren-jeffs-polygamist-leader-records_n_919170.html

Warren Jeffs & Joseph Smith – Polygamy Parallels

http://mit.irr.org/warren-jeffs-joseph-smith-polygamy-parallels

Comparing Mormon founder, FLDS leader on polygamy

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/52371806-78/smith-says-women-wives.html.csp;

http://www.mormoninfographics.com/2012/08/joseph-smith-vs-warren-jeffs-visualized.html

http://www.exmormon.org/mormon/mormon526.htm

http://www.i4m.com/think/polygamy/teen_polygamy.htm

~The Polygamy of Joseph Smith

The Many Wives of Joseph Smith; Visualized

http://www.mormoninfographics.com/2012/09/the-many-wives-of-joseph-smith.html

Joseph Smith; The Reluctant Polygamist

http://www.mormoninfographics.com/2012/08/joseph-smith-reluctant-polygamist.html

Mormon church finally admits founder Joseph Smith was polygamist with 40 wives 

http://gawker.com/mormon-church-joseph-smith-had-40-wives-including-14-1657405725

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/11223347/Mormon-church-finally-admits-founder-Joseph-Smith-was-polygamist-with-40-wives.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/11/us/its-official-mormon-founder-had-up-to-40-wives.html?_r=0

http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/11/living/mormon-founder-polygamy/

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-30009324

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2014/11/11/363324816/mormon-church-admits-founder-joseph-smith-had-up-to-40-wives

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/national/wp/2014/11/11/the-mormon-church-finally-acknowledges-founder-joseph-smiths-polygamy/

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/nov/11/joseph-smith-wed-40-wives-mormon-church-says/

http://www.businessinsider.com/afp-mormon-founder-joseph-smith-had-as-many-as-40-wives-2014-11

http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-mormon-church-polygamy-20141111-story.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2829968/Mormon-church-finally-admits-founder-40-wives-young-14-married-friends.html

http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2014/11/11/joseph_smith_s_40_wives_the_mormon_church_finally_acknowledges_its_founder.html

http://www.vanityfair.com/news/daily-news/2014/11/joseph-smith-40-wives

http://crooksandliars.com/2014/11/mormon-church-admits-founder-joseph-smith

Did Joseph Smith have sex with his wives?

http://www.i4m.com/think/history/joseph_smith_sex.htm

Indian Polygamy Revelation

http://www.utlm.org/onlineresources/indianpolygamyrevelation.htm

Mormon Polygamy: A History Paperback – Richard S. Van Wagoner 

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0941214796/favoritespanishr/

THE STRANGE MARRIAGES OF SARAH ANN WHITNEY TO JOSEPH SMITH THE MORMON PROPHET, JOSEPH C. KINGSBURY, AND HEBER C. KIMBALL

http://user.xmission.com/~research/family/strange.htm

http://www.wivesofjosephsmith.org/

The Wives of Brigham Young; Visualized

http://www.mormoninfographics.com/2012/09/the-wives-of-brigham-young.html

Early Mormon Prophets and their Young Brides

http://www.mormoninfographics.com/search/label/Polygamy

Every aspect of mormonism is fraud, even the fake images of Joseph Smith

Kirtland Banking Society

http://www.mormoninfographics.com/2012/08/kirtland-banking-society.html

Joseph's Vain Ambitions

http://20truths.info/mormon/vain.html

http://www.utlm.org/onlineresources/josephsmithsbank.htm

http://mormoncurtain.com/topic_kirtlandbank.html

http://www.mrm.org/kirtland

http://www.smithbusters.com/SmithBusters/Prophecies/Entries/2006/4/18_33._The_failure_of_Josephs_anti-bank.html

~The mormon Mountain Meadows Massacre of 1857

In 1857, Mormon guerillas, stoked by religious zeal and a deep resentment of decades of public abuse and federal interference, murder 120 emigrants at Mountain Meadows, Utah.

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/mormons-and-paiutes-murder-120-emigrants-at-mountain-meadows

http://www.mrm.org/mountain-meadows-massacre

http://mormonthink.com/glossary/mountain-meadows-massacre.htm

http://www.utlm.org/onlineresources/mmm_familysecrets.htm

http://mormoncurtain.com/topic_mountainmeadosmassacre.html

http://www.religioustolerance.org/lds_mass.htm

http://www.historynet.com/mountain-meadows-massacre

http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/mountainmeadows/leeaccount.html

20 Pages: http://www.mormonthink.com/BagleyViolentEncountersInterview.pdf

Books:

Blood of the Prophets: Brigham Young and the Massacre at Mountain Meadows – by Will Bagley  

http://www.amazon.com/Blood-Prophets-Brigham-Massacre-Mountain/dp/0806136391

The Mountain Meadows Massacre 3rd Edition - Juanita Brooks

http://www.amazon.com/Mountain-Meadows-Massacre-Juanita-Brooks/dp/0806123184

Mormonism Unveiled: The Life and Confession of John D. Lee, Including the Life of Brigham Young - John D. Lee

http://www.amazon.com/Mormonism-Unveiled-Confession-Including-Brigham/dp/0826327885

The Forgotten Kingdom: The Mormon Theocracy in the American West, 1847–1896 (Kingdom in the West: The Mormons and the American Frontier) David L. Bigler

http://www.amazon.com/The-Forgotten-Kingdom-Theocracy-American/dp/087062282X

In the past week, I have seen dozens of mormons bragging about their success. It turns out that their talking points are as fraudulent as their religion: 

Mormons have been lying about their numbers and growth in order to encourage their assimilation efforts: 

http://religiondispatches.org/mormon-numbers-not-adding-up/

Britain Puts Mormonism on Trial - 02.08.14

A London court called the church’s leader to account for “false” doctrines—the latest in a string of sensational charges leveled against Mormons since they first landed in Liverpool.

The president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been ordered to appear before a British court to defend the Mormon faith against charges that it used false teachings to defraud church members.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/02/08/brtain-puts-mormonism-on-trial.html

More Resources:

www.exmormon.org

http://exmormon.org/phorum/list.php?2

http://www.mormonabuse.com/

http://mormoncult.org/

http://www.cultwatch.com/mormon.html

Hear real life testimonies from ex-mormons about the horrors of mormonism:

https://www.youtube.com/user/iamanexmormon/videos

http://www.iamanexmormon.com/join-us/ http://www.postmormon.org/exp_e/ http://www.lifeaftermormonism.net/ https://www.reddit.com/r/exmormon/

Investigating Mormonism, by Richard Packham or here

Rethinking Mormonism

Truth Is Restored Again: A Gentle Awakening for the Sincere Seeker of Truth - this is a very safe, respectful place for questioning members to go.

MormonBookshelf.com

Utah Lighthouse Ministry

Recovery from Mormonism

Mormon MesoAmerica

Exmormon Foundation

More Truth Foundation

The Mormon Curtain

lds-mormon.com

Mormons in Transition

Images of the restoration

LDS Origins - Exploring the origins of the LDS (or Mormon) church

20 Truths About Mormonism

Mormon Links

MormonInformation.com

Word for the Weary: Questioning Mormonism

Difficult Questions for Mormons

Watchman Fellowship

PostMormon.org

Book of Mormon Tories

What is Mormonism

O'Say What is Truth

Do Not Baptize

For Mormon Faith and Research (Christian)

Ex-Mormon Scholars Testify

I Am An Exmormon

The Mormon Handbook

Truth Shall Set You Free

Mormon Truth - UK

Mormon Fruit

Mormonleaks

Mormon Probe - listing of links for major topics

Richkelsey.org - LDS Series by Rich Kelsey documenting problems with Mormonism.

Pesquisas Mormonas en Español - Spanish site with an inquiry into Mormonism

http://www.2think.org/hii/mormon.shtml

https://www.youtube.com/user/TruthSeeker211/search?query=mormon

https://www.youtube.com/user/SuchIsLifeVideos/search?query=mormon

~Fun with mormonism

South Park 

Season 7 - Episode 712 - All about the Mormons ***NOTE: This is real funny but also very accurate. http://www.mojvideo.com/video-south-park-all-about-mormons/16e2175f7244381a1b6d

Short Clips http://southpark.cc.com/clips/104253/joseph-smith-part-1 http://southpark.cc.com/clips/104256/joseph-smith-part-2 http://southpark.cc.com/clips/104257/joseph-smith-part-3 http://southpark.cc.com/clips/154257/joseph-smith-part-4

http://southpark.cc.com/clips/154240/the-new-kid http://southpark.cc.com/clips/154242/initiation-rites http://southpark.cc.com/clips/154244/garys-family http://southpark.cc.com/clips/154250/randy-gets-fired-up http://southpark.cc.com/clips/154251/killed-with-kindness http://southpark.cc.com/clips/154254/marsh-family-conversion

Full http://www.amazon.com/All-About-Mormons/dp/B000O1NEEO http://www.hulu.com/watch/250048 http://www.vudu.com/movies/#!content/569118/South-Park-All-About-Mormons https://itunes.apple.com/us/tv-season/all-about-mormons/id213888489?i=215314433&mt=4&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

Matt Stone & Trey Parker - The Book of Mormon

http://www.atheistmedia.com/2011/03/matt-stone-trey-parker-book-of-mormon.html

17 Mormon Missionary Positions You Should Try

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.972888022733131.1073741885.187145274640747

John Safran: Door To Door Atheists Bother Mormons

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U58wgn-9Y3c

The Musical: https://vimeo.com/98016224 OR https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEj8LqTMIhY

Please join pages in our Facebook Network

http://exposingreligionblog.tumblr.com/post/20825271431

See an organized listing of all of our research:

So, for my first rant, I thought it best to start with one of my personal favourites - the Right Lane Driver (henceforth to be known as RLD’s)

To clarify - I live in Australia, where we drive on the left side of the road.  When there is more than one lane, by law, you are supposed to stay in the left lane UNLESS YOU ARE OVERTAKING SOMEONE.

However, most drivers where I live and where I have driven elsewhere in this country seem to be drawn magnetically to sitting in the right lane regardless of whether they are overtaking another car or not....

Why is this a problem?  For several reasons.....the first is that the usual method of right lane sitting involves driving at EXACTLY the same speed as the car they are sitting alongside in the left lane - effectively blocking all traffic from going past. Even worse.......there usually seems to be an unspoken agreement between these two cars that they should STAY TOGETHER even if either of them speeds up or slows down.

The second issue is that these chronic RLD’s automatically go into the right lane whether there is a need to or not!!  What the hell???  For example, on my daily drive there is a section of road that is single lane, which then expands out to two lanes at traffic lights, but then in about 300-400 metres past those traffic lights, the lanes merge again into one.  The idea is that if you are a slower car at the lights, that other cars can bypass you before the lanes merge again.  However, there is a brand of moronic driver who move into the right lane at those lights FOR NO FREAKING REASON.  They will do it when there are NO other cars there, they will do it when there is ONE other car there that they have NIL intention of actually overtaking, they will do it if they are the slowest of 20 cars lined up at that intersection - again effectively blocking anyone else’s attempts at making a reasonable overtake.

“Wait a minute!” you might say “They probably have a good reason to be in that lane!” Good point!!  What constitutes a good reason though?? “Them needing to make a right hand turn!” you say.  Again, good point! However the chronic RLD sits in that lane even if there is NOWHERE to turn!  On one section of road I drive every day, the distance between right turns is about 10-12 kilometres and I have seen RLD’s sit alongside other cars for that entire distance, blocking traffic, but still never turning right!  Even if they DO eventually turn right, there is no reason for them to have say in that lane the ENTIRE way.....GRRRRRR!!!!!!!