Yearly Archives: 2026

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
“None of the 104 members of the legislature have any control. The only entity who can tell you whether this [LGBT anti-discrimination bill] will pass is the Mormon Church.” - Steve Urquhart, former Utah state senator, interview with Lee Hale, KUER 45 Days bonus episode "Temple & State," February 14, 2018 | wasmormon.org
“None of the 104 members of the legislature have any control. The only entity who can tell you whether this [LGBT anti-discrimination bill] will pass is the Mormon Church.” - Steve Urquhart, former Utah state senator, interview with Lee Hale, KUER 45 Days bonus episode "Temple & State," February 14, 2018
“When the LDS lobbyists contact a legislator, the conversation goes like this: We are here to discuss such-and-such bill. We have received our orders 'directly from the top,' and we want you to vote for this bill. They mention that they received their orders 'from the top,' so that the legislator would know unequivocally that the LDS Church’s First Presidency sent them.” - Carl Wimmer, former Utah state House Representative The Role of The LDS Church in Utah's Politics, March 22, 2015 | wasmormon.org
“When the LDS lobbyists contact a legislator, the conversation goes like this: We are here to discuss such-and-such bill. We have received our orders 'directly from the top,' and we want you to vote for this bill. They mention that they received their orders 'from the top,' so that the legislator would know unequivocally that the LDS Church’s First Presidency sent them.” - Carl Wimmer, former Utah state House Representative The Role of The LDS Church in Utah's Politics, March 22, 2015
“There was intensity I had never felt before or after on the house floor. It was the intensity that comes only from political bullying, and it killed me to know that this time the "bully" was my own church.... If the LDS Church wants something in Utah politics, they get it.” - Carl Wimmer, former Utah state House Representative The Role of The LDS Church in Utah's Politics, March 22, 2015 | wasmormon.org
“There was intensity I had never felt before or after on the house floor. It was the intensity that comes only from political bullying, and it killed me to know that this time the "bully" was my own church.... If the LDS Church wants something in Utah politics, they get it.” - Carl Wimmer, former Utah state House Representative The Role of The LDS Church in Utah's Politics, March 22, 2015

I’ll Pray for You — Hate mail

Visitors sometimes ask why wasmormon.org exists, or why former members don’t just move on. Fair questions deserve straight answers. Occasionally, though, the mail isn’t a question—it’s a script: pity, prophecy, and the old line that people who leave should leave the Church alone. We recently received that kind of message and had an insightful exchange. Below is the full …

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Max contact form message - Hey, ever heard "You can leave the Church, but then you can never leave the Church alone"? Kind of applies to all those, who tragically are more active in trying to destroy and harm the Church, than living the restored Gospel before they left. I'm sorry for people like you. I'll pray for you. You'll see in a soon coming day, that you left the only true lasting way to salvation. Not, that others are entirely wrong, but they will be a dead end. Times will get worse. The Lord is preparing His return. | wasmormon.org hatemail
Hey, ever heard "You can leave the Church, but then you can never leave the Church alone"? Kind of applies to all those, who tragically are more active in trying to destroy and harm the Church, than living the restored Gospel before they left. I'm sorry for people like you. I'll pray for you. You'll see in a soon coming day, that you left the only true lasting way to salvation. Not, that others are entirely wrong, but they will be a dead end. Times will get worse. The Lord is preparing His return.
"My wife and I have decided to divorce... I broke the news that I wasn't sure I believed in the Church anymore; then everything changed. To answer the question that I get the most emails about, no she hasn't read the letter and never planned to." - Letter For My Wife, Author | wasmormon.org
"My wife and I have decided to divorce... I broke the news that I wasn't sure I believed in the Church anymore; then everything changed. To answer the question that I get the most emails about, no she hasn't read the letter and never planned to." - Letter For My Wife, Author
On behalf of the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel Assistants Program, we issue this public statement to express our concern regarding the decision to induct the oil portrait of Joseph Smith Jr., founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, into the International Hall of Honor at Morehouse College. Our beloved institution was founded in the aftermath of slavery to educate, uplift, and affirm the dignity of Black men. Our history is rooted in the affirmation of Black dignity and the pursuit of justice; therefore, those honored within our halls should reflect that legacy. Honoring a figure associated with a religious tradition whose early history includes racially exclusionary teachings and practices does not align with Morehouse's mission or heritage. Such an action does not reflect the Morehouse standard, nor the standard upheld by the Chapel Assistants Program. With righteous indignation, we have submitted a letter to Dean Lawrence Edward Carter Sr., respectfully requesting the immediate return of the oil portrait of Joseph Smith Jr. and the revocation of his induction. - The Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel Assistants Program | wasmormon.org
On behalf of the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel Assistants Program, we issue this public statement to express our concern regarding the decision to induct the oil portrait of Joseph Smith Jr., founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, into the International Hall of Honor at Morehouse College. Our beloved institution was founded in the aftermath of slavery to educate, uplift, and affirm the dignity of Black men. Our history is rooted in the affirmation of Black dignity and the pursuit of justice; therefore, those honored within our halls should reflect that legacy. Honoring a figure associated with a religious tradition whose early history includes racially exclusionary teachings and practices does not align with Morehouse's mission or heritage. Such an action does not reflect the Morehouse standard, nor the standard upheld by the Chapel Assistants Program. With righteous indignation, we have submitted a letter to Dean Lawrence Edward Carter Sr., respectfully requesting the immediate return of the oil portrait of Joseph Smith Jr. and the revocation of his induction. - The Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel Assistants Program
Joseph Smith Portrait Unveiled at Morehouse College Chapel - “Honoring a figure associated with a religious tradition whose early history includes racially exclusionary teachings and practices does not align with Morehouse's mission or heritage... With righteous indignation, we have submitted a letter to Dean Lawrence Edward Carter Sr., respectfully requesting the immediate return of the oil portrait of Joseph Smith Jr. and the revocation of his induction.” - The Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel Assistants Program | wasmormon.org
Joseph Smith Portrait Unveiled at Morehouse College Chapel - “Honoring a figure associated with a religious tradition whose early history includes racially exclusionary teachings and practices does not align with Morehouse's mission or heritage... With righteous indignation, we have submitted a letter to Dean Lawrence Edward Carter Sr., respectfully requesting the immediate return of the oil portrait of Joseph Smith Jr. and the revocation of his induction.” - The Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel Assistants Program