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“To me the gospel is not a great mass of theological jargon. It is a simple and beautiful and logical thing, with one quiet truth following another in orderly sequence. I do not fret over the mysteries... I am not worried that the Prophet Joseph Smith gave a number of versions of the first vision” - President Gordon B. Hinckley, as Second Counselor in the First Presidency, November 1983 | First Presidency Message, October 1984 Ensign | wasmormon.org
“To me the gospel is not a great mass of theological jargon. It is a simple and beautiful and logical thing, with one quiet truth following another in orderly sequence. I do not fret over the mysteries... I am not worried that the Prophet Joseph Smith gave a number of versions of the first vision” - President Gordon B. Hinckley, as Second Counselor in the First Presidency, November 1983 | First Presidency Message, October 1984 Ensign
“Let's Go Shopping!” “We’re so pleased to join in inviting the world to come to downtown Salt Lake City... Everything that we see around us is evidence of the long-standing commitment of The Church to Salt Lake City. Downtown, thanks to so many, is indeed rising.” - President Eyring spoke on behalf of the church during the ribbon-cutting ceremony officially opening City Creek Center. Church President Thomas S. Monson, second counselor President Dieter F. Uchtdorf  and the Presiding Bishopric were also in attendance. | wasmormon.org
“Let's Go Shopping!” “We’re so pleased to join in inviting the world to come to downtown Salt Lake City... Everything that we see around us is evidence of the long-standing commitment of The Church to Salt Lake City. Downtown, thanks to so many, is indeed rising.” - President Eyring spoke on behalf of the church during the ribbon-cutting ceremony officially opening City Creek Center. Church President Thomas S. Monson, second counselor President Dieter F. Uchtdorf  and the Presiding Bishopric were also in attendance.
“So there is no misunderstanding, I emphasize that none of that money comes from the tithing of faithful members. That is not how we use tithing funds.” - Presiding Bishop H. David Burton | October 8, 2003 Press Conference Announcing Church strategy to revitalize downtown Salt Lake City | wasmormon.org
“So there is no misunderstanding, I emphasize that none of that money comes from the tithing of faithful members. That is not how we use tithing funds.” - Presiding Bishop H. David Burton | October 8, 2003 Press Conference Announcing Church strategy to revitalize downtown Salt Lake City
This is a spotlight on a profile shared at wasmormon.org. These are just the highlights, so please find the full story at https://wasmormon.org/profile/spenceay94/. There are stories of Mormon faith journeys contributed by hundreds of users like you. Come check them out and consider sharing your own story at wasmormon.org!
This is a spotlight on a profile shared at wasmormon.org. These are just the highlights, so please find the full story at https://wasmormon.org/profile/spenceay94/. There are stories of Mormon faith journeys contributed by hundreds of users like you. Come check them out and consider sharing your own story at wasmormon.org!
"I first read the letter for my wife and I couldn't reconcile with the facts it contains, Joseph Smith was not a good man, he wasn't even pleasant from the sound of it. After that I struggled to see why I should stay." - Spence's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/spenceay94/
"I first read the letter for my wife and I couldn't reconcile with the facts it contains, Joseph Smith was not a good man, he wasn't even pleasant from the sound of it. After that I struggled to see why I should stay." - Spence's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/spenceay94/
“Scholars still argue whether Joseph Smith was convicted of glass looking in 1826, but the point is moot. Church scholars now acknowledge that he had a seer stone and did look for lost objects as a young man... No one denies that magic was there, especially in the mid-1820s. Smith never repudiated folk traditions; he continued to use the seer stone until late in life and used it in the translation process.” - Richard Bushman, LDS Historian | wasmormon.org
“Scholars still argue whether Joseph Smith was convicted of glass looking in 1826, but the point is moot. Church scholars now acknowledge that he had a seer stone and did look for lost objects as a young man... No one denies that magic was there, especially in the mid-1820s. Smith never repudiated folk traditions; he continued to use the seer stone until late in life and used it in the translation process.” - Richard Bushman, LDS Historian
“The treasure-seeking stories of Joseph Smith’s youth have done more than cast a shadow on his character. They supply a secular explanation for his extraordinary religious claims... The response of Mormon historians in the 1970s was to deny almost everything... Not only the Smiths but also many of their neighbors were looking for treasure in Palmyra in the 1820s. It may not have been the most uplifting activity, and some scoffed, but it was something like reading astrological charts today—a little goofy but harmless. The only harm came when someone tried to deceive others to get gain. That was why Joseph Smith was put on trial.” - Richard Bushman, LDS Historian | wasmormon.org
“The treasure-seeking stories of Joseph Smith’s youth have done more than cast a shadow on his character. They supply a secular explanation for his extraordinary religious claims... The response of Mormon historians in the 1970s was to deny almost everything... Not only the Smiths but also many of their neighbors were looking for treasure in Palmyra in the 1820s. It may not have been the most uplifting activity, and some scoffed, but it was something like reading astrological charts today—a little goofy but harmless. The only harm came when someone tried to deceive others to get gain. That was why Joseph Smith was put on trial.” - Richard Bushman, LDS Historian
“If a court record could be identified, and if it contained a confession by Joseph Smith which revealed him to be a poor, ignorant, deluded, and superstitious person, then it follows that his believers must deny his claimed divine guidance which led them to follow him... How could he be a prophet of God, the leader of the Restored Church, if he had been the superstitious fraud which 'the pages from a book' declared he confessed to be?” - Francis W. Kirkham, LDS Historian A New Witness For Christ in America (1942), Pages 486-487 | wasmormon.org
“If a court record could be identified, and if it contained a confession by Joseph Smith which revealed him to be a poor, ignorant, deluded, and superstitious person, then it follows that his believers must deny his claimed divine guidance which led them to follow him... How could he be a prophet of God, the leader of the Restored Church, if he had been the superstitious fraud which 'the pages from a book' declared he confessed to be?” - Francis W. Kirkham, LDS Historian A New Witness For Christ in America (1942), Pages 486-487
“A careful study of all facts regarding this alleged confession of Joseph Smith in a court of law that he had used a seer stone to find hidden treasure for purposes of fraud, must come to the conclusion that no such record was ever made, and therefore, is not in existence... If any evidence had been in existence that Joseph Smith had used a seer stone for fraud and deception, and especially had he made this confession in a court of law as early as 1826, or four years before the Book of Mormon was printed, and this confession was in a court record, it would have been impossible for him to have organized the restored Church.” - Francis W. Kirkham, LDS Historian A New Witness For Christ in America (1942), Pages 385-387 | wasmormon.org
“A careful study of all facts regarding this alleged confession of Joseph Smith in a court of law that he had used a seer stone to find hidden treasure for purposes of fraud, must come to the conclusion that no such record was ever made, and therefore, is not in existence... If any evidence had been in existence that Joseph Smith had used a seer stone for fraud and deception, and especially had he made this confession in a court of law as early as 1826, or four years before the Book of Mormon was printed, and this confession was in a court record, it would have been impossible for him to have organized the restored Church.” - Francis W. Kirkham, LDS Historian A New Witness For Christ in America (1942), Pages 385-387
“if this court record is authentic it is the most damning evidence in existence against Joseph Smith... Now bear in mind that the is the key witness to the existence of the Bainbridge court record, and that that record is the most devastating blow to Smith ever delivered” - Hugh Nibley, LDS Historian The Myth Makers (1961) Page 142 | wasmormon.org
“if this court record is authentic it is the most damning evidence in existence against Joseph Smith... Now bear in mind that the is the key witness to the existence of the Bainbridge court record, and that that record is the most devastating blow to Smith ever delivered” - Hugh Nibley, LDS Historian The Myth Makers (1961) Page 142
“the inhabitants thereof began to hide up their treasures in the earth; and they became slippery, because the Lord had cursed the land, that they could not hold them, nor retain them again. And it came to pass that there were sorceries, and witchcrafts, and magics; and the power of the evil one was wrought upon all the face of the land” - Mormon 1:18-19 | The Book of Mormon | wasmormon.org
“the inhabitants thereof began to hide up their treasures in the earth; and they became slippery, because the Lord had cursed the land, that they could not hold them, nor retain them again. And it came to pass that there were sorceries, and witchcrafts, and magics; and the power of the evil one was wrought upon all the face of the land” - Mormon 1:18-19 | The Book of Mormon
“Three of us took some tools to go to the hill and hunt for more boxes of gold or something, and indeed we found a stone box. We got quite excited about it and dug carefully around it, and by some unseen power it slipped back into the hill.” - Martin Harris, One of the Three Witnesses, Scribe to Joseph Smith, Book of Mormon Financier The Last Testimony of Martin Harris, The Instructor, October 1930, Vol 65, No 10 | wasmormon.org
“Three of us took some tools to go to the hill and hunt for more boxes of gold or something, and indeed we found a stone box. We got quite excited about it and dug carefully around it, and by some unseen power it slipped back into the hill.” - Martin Harris, One of the Three Witnesses, Scribe to Joseph Smith, Book of Mormon Financier The Last Testimony of Martin Harris, The Instructor, October 1930, Vol 65, No 10
Some scholars say historical records point to discrepancies with the official church history. How do you reconcile the differences? And what is the church's position on historical scholarship? "Well, we have nothing to hide. Our history is an open book. They may find what they are looking for, but the fact is the history of the church is clear and open and leads to faith and strength and virtues." - Gordon B. Hinckley, LDS Church President Answering Associated Press questions about the LDS Church, Dec 25, 2005 | wasmormon.org
Some scholars say historical records point to discrepancies with the official church history. How do you reconcile the differences? And what is the church's position on historical scholarship? "Well, we have nothing to hide. Our history is an open book. They may find what they are looking for, but the fact is the history of the church is clear and open and leads to faith and strength and virtues." - Gordon B. Hinckley, LDS Church President Answering Associated Press questions about the LDS Church, Dec 25, 2005
The BITE™ Model of Authoritarian control is a framework to identify and analyze the ways cults and other high-control groups manipulate their members with mind control or undue influence. BITE stands for Behavior, Information, Thought, and Emotional control. | wasmormon.org
The BITE™ Model of Authoritarian control is a framework to identify and analyze the ways cults and other high-control groups manipulate their members with mind control or undue influence. BITE stands for Behavior, Information, Thought, and Emotional control.
"The victim must do all in his or her power to stop the abuse. Most often, the victim is innocent because of being disabled by fear or the power or authority of the offender. At some point in time, however, the Lord may prompt a victim to recognize a degree of responsibility for abuse. Your priesthood leader will help assess your responsibility so that, if needed, it can be addressed. Otherwise the seeds of guilt will remain and sprout into bitter fruit. Yet no matter what degree of responsibility, from absolutely none to increasing consent, the healing power of the atonement of Jesus Christ can provide a complete cure." - Elder Richard G. Scott, Healing the Tragic Scars of Abuse, General Conference April 1992 | wasmormon.org
"The victim must do all in his or her power to stop the abuse. Most often, the victim is innocent because of being disabled by fear or the power or authority of the offender. At some point in time, however, the Lord may prompt a victim to recognize a degree of responsibility for abuse. Your priesthood leader will help assess your responsibility so that, if needed, it can be addressed. Otherwise the seeds of guilt will remain and sprout into bitter fruit. Yet no matter what degree of responsibility, from absolutely none to increasing consent, the healing power of the atonement of Jesus Christ can provide a complete cure." - Elder Richard G. Scott, Healing the Tragic Scars of Abuse, General Conference April 1992
"Even in a forced contact such as rape or incest, the injured one is greatly outraged. If she has not cooperated and contributed to the foul deed, she is of course in a more favorable position. There is no condemnation where there is no voluntary participation. It is better to die in defending one's virtue than to live having lost it without a struggle." - Spencer W. Kimball, The Miracle of Forgiveness, 1969 | wasmormon.org
"Even in a forced contact such as rape or incest, the injured one is greatly outraged. If she has not cooperated and contributed to the foul deed, she is of course in a more favorable position. There is no condemnation where there is no voluntary participation. It is better to die in defending one's virtue than to live having lost it without a struggle." - Spencer W. Kimball, The Miracle of Forgiveness, 1969
"I am proposing that dissonance, that is, the existence of non-fitting relations among cognitions, is a motivating factor in its own right. By the term cognition, I mean any knowledge, opinion, or belief about the environment, about oneself, or about one's behavior. Cognitive dissonance can be seen as an antecedent condition that leads to activity oriented toward dissonance reduction, just as hunger leads to activity oriented toward hunger reduction." - Leon Festinger, A Theory of Cognitive Dissonance, 1957 | wasmormon.org
"I am proposing that dissonance, that is, the existence of non-fitting relations among cognitions, is a motivating factor in its own right. By the term cognition, I mean any knowledge, opinion, or belief about the environment, about oneself, or about one's behavior. Cognitive dissonance can be seen as an antecedent condition that leads to activity oriented toward dissonance reduction, just as hunger leads to activity oriented toward hunger reduction." - Leon Festinger, A Theory of Cognitive Dissonance, 1957
"People can hold very strong core beliefs. When they are presented with evidence that works against that belief, the evidence cannot be accepted. It creates an extremely uncomfortable feeling called cognitive dissonance. It is so important to protect these core beliefs that people will rationalize, ignore, and even deny any information that doesn't fit within their core belief." Cognitive Dissonance | wasmormon.org
"People can hold very strong core beliefs. When they are presented with evidence that works against that belief, the evidence cannot be accepted. It creates an extremely uncomfortable feeling called cognitive dissonance. It is so important to protect these core beliefs that people will rationalize, ignore, and even deny any information that doesn't fit within their core belief." Cognitive Dissonance
"The existance of dissonance, being psychologically uncomfortable, will motivate the person to try to reduce the dissonance and achieve consonance. When dissonance is present, in addition to trying to reduce it, the person will actively avoid situations and information which would likely increase the dissonance." - Leon Festinger, A Theory of Cognitive Dissonance, 1957 | wasmormon.org
"The existance of dissonance, being psychologically uncomfortable, will motivate the person to try to reduce the dissonance and achieve consonance. When dissonance is present, in addition to trying to reduce it, the person will actively avoid situations and information which would likely increase the dissonance." - Leon Festinger, A Theory of Cognitive Dissonance, 1957
This is a spotlight on a profile shared at wasmormon.org. These are just the highlights, so please find the full story at https://wasmormon.org/profile/docbob49/. There are stories of Mormon faith journeys contributed by hundreds of users like you. Come check them out and consider sharing your own story at wasmormon.org!
This is a spotlight on a profile shared at wasmormon.org. These are just the highlights, so please find the full story at https://wasmormon.org/profile/docbob49/. There are stories of Mormon faith journeys contributed by hundreds of users like you. Come check them out and consider sharing your own story at wasmormon.org!
"A small town Mormon boy. I had 4 years of released time seminary, a mission interview by Assistant Apostle Packer in 1962, a mission to Mississippi where we were told not to contact the Negro. I had a BYU faculty interview by Apostle Stapley in 1977 and a Salt Lake temple marriage. I served as a Branch President in Nebraska, on the High Council in Flagstaff, and in the Bishopric in Cache Valley. I was a Mormon." - Bob's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/docbob49/
"A small town Mormon boy. I had 4 years of released time seminary, a mission interview by Assistant Apostle Packer in 1962, a mission to Mississippi where we were told not to contact the Negro. I had a BYU faculty interview by Apostle Stapley in 1977 and a Salt Lake temple marriage. I served as a Branch President in Nebraska, on the High Council in Flagstaff, and in the Bishopric in Cache Valley. I was a Mormon." - Bob's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/docbob49/
“Was not Joseph Smith a money digger? Yes, but it was never a very profitable job for him, as he only got fourteen dollars a month for it.” - Joseph Smith Jr, Elders Journal. Far West, Missouri. July 1838 The following answers to questions, which were asked in the last number of the Journal | wasmormon.org
“Was not Joseph Smith a money digger? Yes, but it was never a very profitable job for him, as he only got fourteen dollars a month for it.” - Joseph Smith Jr, Elders Journal. Far West, Missouri. July 1838 The following answers to questions, which were asked in the last number of the Journal
“It's not their beliefs that define cults but the way they deceptively recruit, indoctrinate, and ultimately control the lives of their members.” - Dr. Steven Hassan, Developed the BITE Model™ to describe cults. Author, Mental Health Counselor, Cult Expert | wasmormon.org
“It's not their beliefs that define cults but the way they deceptively recruit, indoctrinate, and ultimately control the lives of their members.” - Dr. Steven Hassan, Developed the BITE Model™ to describe cults. Author, Mental Health Counselor, Cult Expert
The BITE™ Model of Authoritarian control is a framework to identify and analyze the ways cults and other high-control groups manipulate their members with mind control or undue influence. BITE stands for Behavior, Information, Thought, and Emotional control. Behavior control explores how manipulative groups dominate actions and behaviors through strict rules, rewards, and punishments, limiting individual autonomy. Information control examines the tactics manipulative organizations use such as censorship and propaganda, restricting members’ access to outside perspectives. Thought Control focuses on psychological techniques used by such groups to shape beliefs and attitudes, suppressing critical thinking and promoting conformity. Emotional Control explores how these groups manipulate emotions, fostering dependency and loyalty through guilt, and fear-based indoctrination.
The BITE™ Model of Authoritarian control is a framework to identify and analyze the ways cults and other high-control groups manipulate their members with mind control or undue influence. BITE stands for Behavior, Information, Thought, and Emotional control. Behavior control explores how manipulative groups dominate actions and behaviors through strict rules, rewards, and punishments, limiting individual autonomy. Information control examines the tactics manipulative organizations use such as censorship and propaganda, restricting members’ access to outside perspectives. Thought Control focuses on psychological techniques used by such groups to shape beliefs and attitudes, suppressing critical thinking and promoting conformity. Emotional Control explores how these groups manipulate emotions, fostering dependency and loyalty through guilt, and fear-based indoctrination.
“BITE offers a clearly defined model based on observable behaviors that expert witnesses can use to evaluate the presence of mind control or thought reform across a variety of settings and groups.” - Dr. Steven Hassan, Developed the BITE Model™ to describe cults. Author, Mental Health Counselor, Cult Expert | wasmormon.org
“BITE offers a clearly defined model based on observable behaviors that expert witnesses can use to evaluate the presence of mind control or thought reform across a variety of settings and groups.” - Dr. Steven Hassan, Developed the BITE Model™ to describe cults. Author, Mental Health Counselor, Cult Expert
“This odd humour of digging for money ... has for several years been mighty prevalent among us. Men, otherwise of very good sense, have been drawn into this practice through an over weening desire of sudden wealth, and an easy credulity of what they so earnestly wished might be true. While the rational and almost certain methods of acquiring riches by industry and frugality are neglected or forgotten. There is certainly something very bewitching in the pursuit after mines of gold and silver, and other valuable metals; and many have been ruined by it. Surely, this is nothing less than the most egregious folly and madness.” - Benjamin Franklin, The Busy-Body, No. 8, March 27, 1729 | wasmormon.org
“This odd humour of digging for money ... has for several years been mighty prevalent among us. Men, otherwise of very good sense, have been drawn into this practice through an over weening desire of sudden wealth, and an easy credulity of what they so earnestly wished might be true. While the rational and almost certain methods of acquiring riches by industry and frugality are neglected or forgotten. There is certainly something very bewitching in the pursuit after mines of gold and silver, and other valuable metals; and many have been ruined by it. Surely, this is nothing less than the most egregious folly and madness.” - Benjamin Franklin, The Busy-Body, No. 8, March 27, 1729
“There are amongst us great numbers of honest artificers and labouring people, who, fed with a vain hope of growing suddenly rich, neglect their business, almost to the ruining of themselves and [their] families, and voluntarily endure abundance of fatigue in a fruitless search after imaginary treasures. They wander through the woods and bushes by day to discover the marks and signs; at midnight they repair to the hopeful spot with spades and pickaxes; full of expectation they labour violently, trembling at the same time in every joint, through fear of certain malicious demons who are said to haunt and guard such places. At length a mighty hole is dug, and perhaps several cartloads of earth thrown out, but alas, no cag or iron pot is found! No seaman’s chest crammed with Spanish pistoles, or weighty pieces of eight! Then they conclude, that through some mistake in the procedure, some rash word spoke, or some rule of art neglected, the guardian spirit had power to sink it deeper into the earth and convey it out of their reach.” - Benjamin Franklin, The Busy-Body, No. 8, March 27, 1729 | wasmormon.org
“There are amongst us great numbers of honest artificers and labouring people, who, fed with a vain hope of growing suddenly rich, neglect their business, almost to the ruining of themselves and [their] families, and voluntarily endure abundance of fatigue in a fruitless search after imaginary treasures. They wander through the woods and bushes by day to discover the marks and signs; at midnight they repair to the hopeful spot with spades and pickaxes; full of expectation they labour violently, trembling at the same time in every joint, through fear of certain malicious demons who are said to haunt and guard such places. At length a mighty hole is dug, and perhaps several cartloads of earth thrown out, but alas, no cag or iron pot is found! No seaman’s chest crammed with Spanish pistoles, or weighty pieces of eight! Then they conclude, that through some mistake in the procedure, some rash word spoke, or some rule of art neglected, the guardian spirit had power to sink it deeper into the earth and convey it out of their reach.” - Benjamin Franklin, The Busy-Body, No. 8, March 27, 1729