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“Over time people have been confused about the Godhead. People have disagreed about what God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost are like. This is one reason why the First Vision that Joseph Smith had was so important. He saw that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have bodies and are two separate beings.” - Gospel Basics | What Is the Godhead? | Liahona, June 2021
“We shall, in this lecture speak of the Godhead: we mean the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. There are two personages who constitute the great, matchless, governing and supreme power over all things... They are the Father and the Son: The Father being a personage of spirit, glory and power: possessing all perfection and fulness: The Son, who was in the bosom of the Father, a personage of tabernacle, made, or fashioned like unto man, or being in the form and likeness of man, or, rather, man was formed after his likeness, and in his image... possessing the same mind with the Father, which mind is the Holy Spirit, that bears record of the Father and the Son, and these three are one, or in other words, these three constitute the great, matchless, governing and supreme power over all things: by whom all things were created and made, that were created and made: and these three constitute the Godhead, and are one: The Father and the Son possessing the same mind, the same wisdom, glory, power and fulness: Filling all in all—the Son being filled with the fulness of the Mind, glory and power, or, in other words, the Spirit, glory and power of the Father—possessing all knowledge and glory, and the same kingdom: sitting at the right hand of power, in the express image and likeness of the Father—a Mediator for man...” - Lectures on Faith, 1835, First Edition of the Doctrine and Covenants
“When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!” - The 1838 First Vision Account | Joseph Smith History 1:17
“A personage appeared in the midst of this pillar of flame, which was spread all around and yet nothing consumed. Another personage soon appeared, like unto the first. He said unto me, “Thy sins are forgiven thee.” He testified unto me that Jesus Christ is the son of God. And I saw many angels in this vision. I was about fourteen years old when I received this first communication.” - The 1835 First Vision Account | Joseph Smith Journal
“While in the attitude of calling upon the Lord, in the sixteenth year of my age, a pillar of light above the brightness of the sun at noonday came down from above and rested upon me. I was filled with the spirit of God, and the Lord opened the heavens upon me and I saw the Lord.” - The 1832 First Vision Account | Joseph Smith Journal
“Even a barn looks better painted.” - David O. McKay, Apostle, Prophet, and LDS/Mormon Church President
"One of the reasons for the violent opposition to our members was most of them were opposed to slavery." - Quinten L. Cook, LDS Apostle, October 2021
“In Missouri in 1833, our Latter-day Saint values were in direct conflict with the Missouri settlers not of our faith.... Our doctrine respected the American Indians and our desire was to teach them the gospel of Jesus Christ. With respect to slavery our scriptures are clear that no man should be in bondage to another.” - Quinten L. Cook, LDS Apostle, Princeton Theological Seminary, July 2017
"How grateful I am that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has from its beginnings stood strongly against racism in any of its malignant manifestations." - Elder Alexander B Morrison, First Quorum of the Seventy
"Not everything that’s true is useful" - Dallin H. Oaks, LDS Apostle, PBS documentary The Mormons, 2007
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/dnc12vs5/. 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!
The SEC findings opened my eyes to a leadership that misleads its congregations, which then opened the door to explore the historic and social issues that plague the church. - Shane's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/dnc12vs5/
I’m Shane, converted and joined the LDS church in my early 30’s after multiple years of meeting with the missionaries. I was a Mormon. - Shane's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/dnc12vs5/
Protocol For Abuse Help Line Calls | LDS Church & Kirton McConkie Law Firm
Tell Priesthood Leader that no identifying information should be given. Use First Names only. - Protocol For Abuse Help Line Calls | LDS Church & Kirton McConkie Law Firm
Protocol For Abuse Help Line Calls – never advise a priesthood leader to report abuse
Protocol For Abuse Help Line Calls - It is important to have legal counsel involved in the discussions between priesthood leaders and Abuse Help Line Personnel in order to preserve the confidentiality of the information.
Protocol For Abuse Help Line: Never advise a priesthood leader to report abuse. - Protocol For Abuse Help Line Calls | LDS Church & Kirton McConkie Law Firm
Determine whether or not the incident of child abuse has already been reported to child protection or law enforcement authorities. If not, Abuse Help Line workers should instruct priesthood leaders to encourage an interested person to report the abuse. - Protocol For Abuse Help Line Calls | LDS Church & Kirton McConkie Law Firm
Protocol For Abuse Help Line Calls via MormonLeaks
”We actually don't have an abuse help line for just general membership. It's just for bishops or stake presidents.“ - Church Helpline Operator to AP News. “The nature and the purpose of the Church’s help line was seriously mischaracterized in a recent Associated Press article.”
“The Church's abuse help line has everything to do with protecting children and has nothing to do with cover-up.” - LDS Church Newsroom: Official Statements August 5 & 17, 2022
“These bishops did nothing wrong. They didn’t violate the law, and therefore they can’t be held liable.” - William Maledon, Arizona attorney, Representing LDS Church
The LDS Church claims its abuse helpline instructs bishops to follow reporting laws, yet in Arizona, while clergy may keep abuse confessions confidential, they are not required to, and are even legally protected if they report. Despite this, the helpline advised the bishop not to report the abuse. In practice, the helpline serves less to protect victims and more to shield the institution, keeping abuse cases “in-house.” This approach effectively circumvents law enforcement, protecting the church rather than the victims.
Church leaders and members are instructed in the Church’s “General Handbook” that their responsibilities related to abuse are as follows: • Assure that child sexual abuse is stopped.
• Help victims receive care, including from professional counselors.
• Comply with whatever reporting is required by law. - LDS Church Newsroom: Official Statements August 17, 2022
“The nature and the purpose of the Church’s help line was seriously mischaracterized in a recent Associated Press article. The help line is instrumental in ensuring that all legal requirements for reporting are met. It provides a place for local leaders, who serve voluntarily, to receive direction from experts to determine who should make a report and whether they (local leaders) should play a role in that reporting. When a leader calls the help line, the conversation is about how to stop the abuse, care for the victim and ensure compliance with reporting obligations, even in cases when the law provides clergy-penitent privilege or restricts what can be shared from private ecclesiastical conversations.” - Church Offers Statement on Help Line and Abuse
Official Statement, LDS Church Newsroom, 5 August 2022 - Salt Lake City
"We do not receive financial compensation for serving" - Steven D. Shumway, LDS General Authority Seventy, April 2025. "For 2025, we estimate $183k* in equivalent taxable salary for the living allowance offered to the LDS Church's 120 General Authorities." - The Widow's Mite Report - General Authority Compensation
"God does not expect perfect performance or exceptional talent to participate in His work. If so, ... Joseph Smith would not be the Prophet of the Restoration." - Steven D. Shumway, LDS General Authority Seventy, April 2025
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/scubasteven1013/. 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!
When I was in the organization, I felt like I was forcing myself to accept something I didn't want to believe in. I would push myself to study, pray, pay a full tithe, fast, attend every meeting, ect. Now my family and I have inside jokes about the trauma we all received. While we continue to work on ourselves without a religion hovering over us. It can be hard at times, because we have so many friends and family members still in the church. - Steven's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/scubasteven1013/
I don't believe the Book of Mormon is true. Not only has history proven that things never happened. But Joseph Smith looked into a Hat of Stones to read gold plates that he had to fight people off from stealing from him. He also had to run home with them. Joseph Smith had a bad limp and would not have been able to run with gold plates, away from people. Joseph Smith was a sick con-man. - Steven's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/scubasteven1013/
I'm a lot happier than I ever thought was possible. My life and mental health are experiencing new joys all the time. Now I know true happiness. I'm currently working on getting my records removed. It has been slow working with a really busy life. But it is something I want done for closure. - Steven's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/scubasteven1013/
I went from feeling like a weekly disappointment at church, and daily waste of God son, to being the happiest I've ever been after leaving and letting go of the lies I've been fed all my life. Since I left, I've learned so much about that organization. So many things make me sick. While many other things make me extremely angry. - Steven's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/scubasteven1013/
I remarried, and we started off strong in the church. But certain things just weren't adding up for both of us. She decided to leave, and I wanted to. But I decided I would try to stay for our kids. The problem was everything I read, studied, or heard within the church started to feel like a lie. I deep down knew how I felt was true. I started to look into the history, the stories, and research documents on the church, about the church, and the men running it. It shattered my shelf. - Steven's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/scubasteven1013/
Looking back, the 1st crack on my shelf was how I was denied my temple recommend because of child support (I owed, because I thought my ex and I would work on our marriage, and get back together. She was deceiving me, and waiting for ORS to have proof against me for Family Law). So while I was paying it back, I was not aloud to receive my recommend, until it was paid off. The crack grew more when I was told that my kids would no longer be sealed to me, because of the divorce. Although neither the bishop, or stake president could give me a reason why, or why not. I was sour about that. But decided that I didn't believe it, and God would work out the rest. - Steven's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/scubasteven1013/
When I went through my divorce. My ex blasted me to the ward. Despite the many times I had been around them, they did not have enough respect to speak to me. I moved, and over the next two years I worked on being a good member while being told repeatedly how I failed to keep my family "together forever". - Steven's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/scubasteven1013/
When I was 15 I left the church to be rebellious. I really was the most well behaved rebellious kid out there. At 18, I started to come back. I felt at the time it was what I was missing. When I turned 19 I decided to skip the mission, and continue to learn from the church. Soon after I met my now ex-wife. I dedicated my life to being a good Priesthood holder, Husband and Father. I worked my tail off to be a great example to my kids in the church. After 11 years in a very unhealthy marriage, I decided to divorce my ex. Over the next 5 years, I tried to be as faithful in the church, as I could. But that's when things changed for me. - Steven's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/scubasteven1013/
- Steven's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/scubasteven1013/ - Steven's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/scubasteven1013/
“The present effort of trying to find some other explanation for the organization of the Church, for the origin of the Book of Mormon, and for the priesthood with its keys and powers will be similar to other anti-Mormon fads which have come and blossomed and faded. Truth will prevail. A knowledge of that truth comes by effort and study, yes. But it comes primarily as a gift from God to those who seek in faith.” - President Gordon B. Hinckley, "Lord, Increase Our Faith," Ensign November 1987
“One of my friends, who is active in the Church, has some anti-Mormon literature and thinks we should read it so we know how to respond to it. But I find that literature disturbing. What should I tell my friend?” - New Era, 2007, July: Q&A: Dealing With Anti-Mormon Literature
“Say you would rather read something you trust, like the scriptures. Spending a lot of time and energy reading anti-Mormon literature would be a waste. If you run across it, discuss it with someone who is knowledgeable about the gospel. Never take anti-Mormon literature at face value. Honest inquiry is good, but everything needs a proper perspective and context. If the misrepresentations in anti-Mormon literature really disturb you, then tell your friend how you feel so that he’ll leave you alone about it.” - New Era, 2007, July: Q&A: Dealing With Anti-Mormon Literature
Comic with two people in a boat watching a third person climb overboard, they say: "Stay in the boat!" and "You'll drown out there!" The person disregards their warnings and climbs out saying, "You guys realize we're on land, right?" Those in the boat can't comprehend and simply state to each other, "I feel so sorry for him." Meanwhile the person who is free says, "I'm gonna go do land stuff. Good luck with all... this." https://www.crustaceansingles.com/2016/03/stay-afloat.html
Any unfairness that’s created by the asymmetry can and will be made right through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Church leaders haven’t done as good a job as I think we can to address existing imbalances within the bounds that God has set. So, we’re going to do better. - Dale G. Renlund, LDS Apostle, Women's Devotional Pasadena California Stake, March 7, 2025
The reason for the asymmetry between men and women regarding priesthood office ordination has not been revealed. Any proposed reason for that asymmetry with regard to priesthood office ordination is speculative. The absence of a reason doesn’t give us license to change the asymmetry just because we want to. - Dale G. Renlund, LDS Apostle, Women's Devotional Pasadena California Stake, March 7, 2025
“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most racially unifying organizations in the history of the world.” - Ahmad S. Corbitt, LDS General Authority Seventy, Personal Essay on Race and the Priesthood, 2014
“The Book of Mormon is the most racially and ethnically unifying book on the earth.” - Ahmad S. Corbitt, LDS General Authority Seventy, Personal Essay on Race and the Priesthood, 2014
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/brianolsen/. 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!
The worst part is that people in my family have wasted their whole lives on the church. It is truly sad that my mother has never enjoyed life. - Brain's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/brianolsen/
I can see now that none if it is true. It was all made up. All the nonsense I was taught as a kid is literally just nonsense. The prophets don't walk around the temple talking to Jesus. I wasn't some special kid in heaven. God isn't coming back anytime soon. Joseph never translated anything! - Brain's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/brianolsen/
