Yearly Archives: 2026

A $3 Million Check and a Genealogy Center: The Church Comes to the Juneteenth Museum

On October 7, 2026, Dr. Opal Lee turned 100. The woman known as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” who campaigned for decades until Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021, celebrated with a crowd in Fort Worth, a ceremonial demolition on the future site of the National Juneteenth Museum, and a gift. The Church of Jesus …

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“And he had caused the cursing to come upon them, yea, even a sore cursing, because of their iniquity. For behold, they had hardened their hearts against him, that they had become like unto a flint; wherefore, as they were white, and exceedingly fair and delightsome, that they might not be enticing unto my people the Lord God did cause a skin of blackness to come upon them.” - The Book of Mormon — 2 Nephi 5:21, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
“And he had caused the cursing to come upon them, yea, even a sore cursing, because of their iniquity. For behold, they had hardened their hearts against him, that they had become like unto a flint; wherefore, as they were white, and exceedingly fair and delightsome, that they might not be enticing unto my people the Lord God did cause a skin of blackness to come upon them.” - The Book of Mormon — 2 Nephi 5:21, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced that it has committed $3 million to support construction of the museum. Plans for the museum include a genealogy center intended to help visitors discover and preserve family histories through experiences powered by FamilySearch.” “The church’s donation will finance a FamilySearch-powered center inside the museum.” - Oct 7 Church Newsroom Press Release and Oct 9 Deseret News article
“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced that it has committed $3 million to support construction of the museum. Plans for the museum include a genealogy center intended to help visitors discover and preserve family histories through experiences powered by FamilySearch.”“The church’s donation will finance a FamilySearch-powered center inside the museum.” - Oct 7 Church Newsroom Press Release and Oct 9 Deseret News article.

The 1832 First Vision Account Leaves Out “Which Church Is True?” Question

The Restoration story most members know starts with a question. In the 1838 account (Joseph Smith—History, every missionary flip chart), fourteen-year-old Joseph walks into the woods near Palmyra, troubled by competing churches, and asks God which denomination is right. The lessons set the hook with Joseph’s honest seeking and provide a foreshadowing solution, simply ask …

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“The teachers of religion of the different sects understood the same passages of scripture so differently as to destroy all confidence in settling the question by an appeal to the Bible... My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join... I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong)—and which I should join.” - 1838 First Vision Account | Joseph Smith—History 1:10-20 | wasmormon.org
“The teachers of religion of the different sects understood the same passages of scripture so differently as to destroy all confidence in settling the question by an appeal to the Bible... My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join... I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong)—and which I should join.” - 1838 First Vision Account | Joseph Smith—History 1:10-20

Corbridge’s Belief Trumps Discomfort vs Bishop Darth Vader

Lawrence E. Corbridge is at it again. In his 2019 BYU Devotional Stand Forever, the emeritus General Authority Seventy told members that hard questions about church history, polygamy, racism, translation methods, DNA evidence, and LGBTQ policies were merely “secondary.” Settle the “primary” questions first — Is there a God? Is Jesus the Christ? Was Joseph …

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“Belief trumps discomfort. If viewed from the institutional perspective, then those arguments for leaving make sense. If you see the church as the kingdom of God on Earth, then you will stay, come what may!” - Lawrence E. Corbridge, Emeritus General Authority Seventy Scripture Central, 2026 | wasmormon.org
“Belief trumps discomfort. If viewed from the institutional perspective, then those arguments for leaving make sense. If you see the church as the kingdom of God on Earth, then you will stay, come what may!” - Lawrence E. Corbridge, Emeritus General Authority Seventy Scripture Central, 2026
“[The LDS Church] doesn't bother lobbying rank-and-file members or going on record in open meetings like other political participants do; instead, [the Church] whispers to a few members of [legislative] leadership, and things magically happen.” - Steve Urquhart, former Utah state senator, Salt Lake Tribune, August 4, 2017 | wasmormon.org
“[The LDS Church] doesn't bother lobbying rank-and-file members or going on record in open meetings like other political participants do; instead, [the Church] whispers to a few members of [legislative] leadership, and things magically happen.” - Steve Urquhart, former Utah state senator, Salt Lake Tribune, August 4, 2017