Yearly Archives: 2023

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The Matrix is a great metaphor for a faith crisis. Imagine finding out that everything you ever believed, everything you ever knew, was a lie. The church doesn’t want you to find out the truth. They need you to power their machine. Don’t be like Cypher, blissfully ignorant. Be like Neo. Wake up!
The Matrix is a great metaphor for a faith crisis. Imagine finding out that everything you ever believed, everything you ever knew, was a lie. The church doesn’t want you to find out the truth. They need you to power their machine. Don’t be like Cypher, blissfully ignorant. Be like Neo. Wake up!
"Permit me to quote the passages which seem to be brought most in question: “He (Lucifer) wins a great victory when he can get members of the Church to speak against their leaders and to ‘do their own thinking” & “When our leaders speak, the thinking has been done. When they propose a plan–it is God’s plan. When they point the way, there is no other which is safe. When they give direction, it should mark the end of controversy….”" - Unitarian Minister J Raymond Cope's letter to President George Albert Smith | wasmormon.org
"Permit me to quote the passages which seem to be brought most in question: “He (Lucifer) wins a great victory when he can get members of the Church to speak against their leaders and to ‘do their own thinking” & “When our leaders speak, the thinking has been done. When they propose a plan–it is God’s plan. When they point the way, there is no other which is safe. When they give direction, it should mark the end of controversy….”" - Unitarian Minister J Raymond Cope's letter to President George Albert Smith
"I do not know who is responsible for this statement, but I am sure it is doing inestimable harm to many who have no other reason to question the integrity of the Church leaders. Many people are suffering because of this. My reply to each of those who have spoken to me is “Please, do not become disturbed, for this cannot be the position of the true leaders.” And, from my knowledge of the early writings of your leaders, I must assume this to be non-representative." - Unitarian Minister J Raymond Cope's letter to President George Albert Smith | wasmormon.org
"I do not know who is responsible for this statement, but I am sure it is doing inestimable harm to many who have no other reason to question the integrity of the Church leaders. Many people are suffering because of this. My reply to each of those who have spoken to me is “Please, do not become disturbed, for this cannot be the position of the true leaders.” And, from my knowledge of the early writings of your leaders, I must assume this to be non-representative." - Unitarian Minister J Raymond Cope's letter to President George Albert Smith
"There was delivered to my door a short religious editorial, prepared by one of your leaders, entitled “Sustaining the General Authorities of the Church.” Its message amazed me a great deal, and with the passing of weeks my disturbance became very acute. It might have passed, except that several members of your Church have come to me to discuss the subject. The most recent was a prominent doctor, who, because of this tract, he affirms, is losing his religious faith. He is a large man, and I became impressed with his deep sincerity as he broke down and wept like a boy. I am convinced that he is undergoing a very dangerous experience." - Unitarian Minister J Raymond Cope's letter to President George Albert Smith | wasmormon.org
"There was delivered to my door a short religious editorial, prepared by one of your leaders, entitled “Sustaining the General Authorities of the Church.” Its message amazed me a great deal, and with the passing of weeks my disturbance became very acute. It might have passed, except that several members of your Church have come to me to discuss the subject. The most recent was a prominent doctor, who, because of this tract, he affirms, is losing his religious faith. He is a large man, and I became impressed with his deep sincerity as he broke down and wept like a boy. I am convinced that he is undergoing a very dangerous experience." - Unitarian Minister J Raymond Cope's letter to President George Albert Smith
ponderize: The act of monetizing ones position in a church office. This revelation from God is going to make me rich if I can find a way to ponderize it. "I invite you to “ponderize” one verse of scripture each week. The word ponderize is not found in the dictionary, but it has found a place in my heart. So what does it mean to ponderize?" - Urban Dictionary vs Devin Durrant | wasmormon.org
ponderize: The act of monetizing ones position in a church office. This revelation from God is going to make me rich if I can find a way to ponderize it. "I invite you to “ponderize” one verse of scripture each week. The word ponderize is not found in the dictionary, but it has found a place in my heart. So what does it mean to ponderize?" - Urban Dictionary vs Devin Durrant
"I was aware that my son was creating a website related to the topic of my talk. I should have stopped the process. I did not. That was poor judgment on my part. Of course, none of the church leaders were aware of the site. I offer a sincere apology to any person who was offended in any way by the site." - Devin Durrant, Sunday School General Presidency, Apologizes for ponderize.us | wasmormon.org
"I was aware that my son was creating a website related to the topic of my talk. I should have stopped the process. I did not. That was poor judgment on my part. Of course, none of the church leaders were aware of the site. I offer a sincere apology to any person who was offended in any way by the site." - Devin Durrant, Sunday School General Presidency, Apologizes for ponderize.us

Monetizing Ponderize – Do Church Leaders Cash In?

The term “ponderize” was coined by a Mormon Church leader, Devin G. Durrant, during a General Conference talk in October 2015. It is a portmanteau of “ponder” and “memorize” intended to convey a specific approach to studying and applying the teachings of the Church. I invite you to “ponderize” one verse of scripture each week. The word ponderize is not …

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The new digital-only handbook replaces Handbook 1 (for stake presidents and bishops) and Handbook 2 (for all other leaders) and is being revised under the direction of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Whereas previous handbooks were written in an administrative, procedural voice for Church leaders, the General Handbook — available to the public and written for a global Church — aims to be more principle based. Content has been simplified, reduced and made more adaptable for congregations of all sizes worldwide. - The Church News | wasmormon.org
The new digital-only handbook replaces Handbook 1 (for stake presidents and bishops) and Handbook 2 (for all other leaders) and is being revised under the direction of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Whereas previous handbooks were written in an administrative, procedural voice for Church leaders, the General Handbook — available to the public and written for a global Church — aims to be more principle based. Content has been simplified, reduced and made more adaptable for congregations of all sizes worldwide. - The Church News | wasmormon.org
Though small, these and other changes in terminology in the revised handbook are significant, said Elder Anthony D. Perkins, General Authority Seventy and executive director of the Church’s Correlation Department, which oversees the handbook. The Church News | wasmormon.org
Though small, these and other changes in terminology in the revised handbook are significant, said Elder Anthony D. Perkins, General Authority Seventy and executive director of the Church’s Correlation Department, which oversees the handbook. The Church News | wasmormon.org
Newspeak: a propagandistic language that changes the meaning of words, especially to persuade people to think a certain way and often includes euphemism, circumlocution, and the inversion of customary meanings. - 1984 by George Orwell | wasmormon.org
Newspeak: a propagandistic language that changes the meaning of words, especially to persuade people to think a certain way and often includes euphemism, circumlocution, and the inversion of customary meanings. - 1984 by George Orwell

Why Latter-day Saint Leaders Support the Respect for Marriage Act

Recently the US passed an act called The Respect for Marriage Act. This act requires the U.S. federal government and all U.S. states and territories to recognize the validity of same-sex and interracial civil marriages. It also protects religious liberty. Almost surprisingly, Latter-day Saint leaders supported the act. Support is a Dramatic Reversal Taylor Petrey, …

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Mormon Excommunication For Change – The September Six and More

The September Six were a group of six members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) who were excommunicated or disfellowshipped in September 1993 for their intellectual and historical pursuits that were deemed contrary to the teachings and doctrines of the Church. The six members were: The excommunications and disfellowshippings of …

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"Lucifer has a very cunning way of convincing unsuspecting souls that the General Authorities of the Church are as likely to be wrong as they are to be right. This sort of game is Satan’s favorite pastime, and he has practiced on believing souls since Adam. He wins a great victory when he can get members of the Church to speak against their leaders and to “do their own thinking.”" - Improvement Era, Ward Teachers' Message June 1945 | wasmormon.org
"Lucifer has a very cunning way of convincing unsuspecting souls that the General Authorities of the Church are as likely to be wrong as they are to be right. This sort of game is Satan’s favorite pastime, and he has practiced on believing souls since Adam. He wins a great victory when he can get members of the Church to speak against their leaders and to “do their own thinking.”" - Improvement Era, Ward Teachers' Message June 1945
"When our leaders speak, the thinking has been done. When they propose a plan — it is God's plan. When they point the way, there is no other which is safe. When they give direction, it should mark the end of controversy. God works in no other way. To think otherwise, without immediate repentance, may cost one his faith, may destroy his testimony, and leave him a stranger to the kingdom of God." – Improvement Era, Ward Teachers' Message June 1945 | wasmormon.org
"When our leaders speak, the thinking has been done. When they propose a plan — it is God's plan. When they point the way, there is no other which is safe. When they give direction, it should mark the end of controversy. God works in no other way. To think otherwise, without immediate repentance, may cost one his faith, may destroy his testimony, and leave him a stranger to the kingdom of God." – Improvement Era, Ward Teachers' Message June 1945