Brigham Young - wasmormon.org

Mormons and Interracial Marriage

“We recommend that people marry those who are of the same racial background generally, and of somewhat the same economic and social and educational background, and above all, the same religious background, without question.” - LDS Church President, Spencer W. Kimball 1976 BYU Devotional, Marriage and Divorce | wasmormon.org

President Spencer W Kimball, as president of the church gave a speech at BYU about Marriage and Divorce in 1976. This talk is currently referenced frequently, nearly 50 years later, in church lesson manuals and by church leaders. In this talk, he spoke against interracial marriages. He advised against marriages between those from differing economic …

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What is ‘Letter For My Wife’

"My Love, I am writing this letter to explain in detail how I came to the conclusion that the Church is not all it claims to be. I long for your understanding and support. You are my whole world." - Letter for my wife | wasmormon.org

Letter For My Wife is a document aggregating questions and doubts about the Mormon church written by a questioning Mormon to his wife. The letter is meant to discuss the questions and concerns with the church’s truth claims or truth crisis and this man’s testimony. The letter was started as a document in 2009, when …

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I Know The Church Is True

"It is one thing to be able to say, “I believe, I think, I hope that the gospel is true,” but it requires personal revelation and personal acknowledgment and recognition to declare, “I know that the Church is true.” - Elder Charles Didier, October 1991 General Conference | wasmormon.org

Nearly every speaker in a testimony meeting says “I know the church is true.” This is a nonsensical statement, but considering the Illusory Truth Effect we can see what the church may be after. We know that repetitions don’t make statements any more true, but psychologically we do tend to believe things we’ve heard repeatedly. …

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Unwritten Rules Are A Foundation Built On Sand

The emphasis on modern prophets and the latest general conference over the scriptures creates an atmosphere of transience that pervades everything. The only real rule is to do whatever they said most recently. Everything else is optional and unknowable. There's no foundation, or base we can trust. There is no doctrine, no catechism, and no solid foundation of rules or beliefs. It's just a doctrine of authority and spiritual coercion and abuse to ensure the sheep stay in line. The point is to obey the authorities and not question the brethren. The law of obedience is the most important law to follow, it's really the only law to follow. It's as circular as "Do as I say. Because I say so." It's shifting sands, maybes, and implied gotchas. Even though in primary we are taught the tale of those who build their house on the sand, and we know and remember that it doesn't end well for them. | wasmormon.org

Mormonism Is a Religion of Unwritten Rules Mormonism as a religion and a culture relies heavily on unwritten and even unspoken rules. The religion judges members on these rules and judges everyone for adherence to the unwritten rules. There are theological assumptions that are entirely based on some of these rules and the religion has …

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Brigham Young – No People Who Pay Females More Respect

“I can say with confidence, that there is no people on the face of this earth that pay more respect to females than do this people. I know of no community where females enjoy the privileges they do here.” - Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses Volume 9, 37 February 9, 1862 - Brigham Young had already married 50 of his 56 wives. wasmormon.org

Brigham Young is famous for having fifty-six wives. He was a champion of polygamy and is credited with integrating polygamy publicly within the Mormon religion. While Joseph Smith participated and started the practice of polygamy, he did it in secret. After Joseph Smith was killed, Brigham Young moved the church and most of the members …

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BYU Counsels Divorcees to “Fill the holes that were once filled by sex”

“Identify the ways that you can start to fill the holes that were once filled by sex.” - BYU School of Family Life - Covenant Intimacy Conversations Website: Single After Marriage - April 14, 2021 | wasmormon.org

The Covenant Intimacy Conversations discuss the challenging transition individuals may face when moving from a state of being sexually active to sexually inactive due to divorce or the death of a spouse. It states that while it may not be possible to fully replace the aspect of sexual intimacy lost through such life changes, individuals …

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Another “Moment in the Barn is One She’ll Never Forget”

That moment in the barn is one she’ll never forget. - Gospel Living Article on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Website. Not to be confused with that moment in the barn both Fanny Alger and Emma Smith will never forget. wasmomron.org

The church published a Gospel Living article on its website with a title referring to a memorable “moment in the barn” as one that “she” would never forget. The title is full of intrigue and leads a reader to wonder who this she is, and what this unforgettable moment was. Mary Whitmer in the Barn …

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Apostle LeGrand Richards on Lifting the Priesthood Ban

“We had a meeting in the temple, and we discussed it as a group together, and then we prayed about it in our prayer circle, and then we held another prayer circle after the close of that meeting, and President Kimball lead in the prayer; praying that the Lord would give us the inspiration that we needed to do the thing that would be pleasing to Him and for the blessing of His children. And then the next Thursday—we meet every Thursday—the Presidency came with this little document written out to make the announcement—to see how we’d feel about it—and present it in written form. Well, some of the members of the Twelve suggested a few changes in the announcement, and then in our meeting there we all voted in favor of it—the Twelve and the Presidency.”- LeGrand Richards, Senior Apostle Recounting a behind-the-scenes look at the 1978 Priesthood Ban | wasmormon.org

In this interview, LeGrand Richards discusses the revelation to lift the priesthood ban for individuals of African descent and the subsequent Official Declaration 2. He highlights the role of Spencer Kimball, the then-president of the church, in seeking guidance on this matter. An admitted catalyst for the revelation is the concern about the growing number …

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Mormon Bishop Resigns at Pulpit in Mississippi Sacrament Meeting

"I owe it to my ward family, to hear it from me. I've asked to be released. Not because of some sin. Not because I'm hiding something. Not at all. There's just a few things that I've been required to do that I personally cannot morally stand by. I can't. So I need to step down." - Mormon Bishop in Mississippi Resigns at Pulpit | wasmormon.org

A Mormon Bishop in a Mississippi Ward resigned from his calling during a message he delivered in sacrament meeting in front of his ward. He asked to be released from his calling and wanted his ward to hear about it directly from him. He states it is not because of any sins or because he’s …

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"We have to remember, that these people are just simply us who haven't yet learned the truth. I don't know what the answer is. Part of me thinks if we stop talking about it and just love them. Maybe. Maybe that's the answer. Maybe we quit dogging Joseph and Brigham. Those people have heard it. They know. They've just been brainwashed. They can call it whatever they want but that's what it is... Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for the love that you've made my family feel in a time where they felt nothing. You don't know what you've done for me." Mormon Bishop in Mississippi Resigned - Says Thank You | wasmormon.org — "We have to remember, that these people are just simply us who haven't yet learned the truth. I don't know what the answer is. Part of me thinks if we stop talking about it and just love them. Maybe. Maybe that's the answer. Maybe we quit dogging Joseph and Brigham. Those people have heard it. They know. They've just been brainwashed. They can call it whatever they want but that's what it is... Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for the love that you've made my family feel in a time where they felt nothing. You don't know what you've done for me." Mormon Bishop in Mississippi Resigned - Says Thank You

Examine What You Know – Dismiss What Insults Your Soul

"Re-examine all you have been told in school or church or in any book, and dismiss whatever insults your own soul" - Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass, 1855 | wasmormon.org

Walt Whitman Walt Whitman (1819-92) is considered to be the most important American poet of the 19th century. He published the first edition of his major work, Leaves of Grass, in 1855 and updated it throughout his life with updated editions. Whitman’s work broke away from traditional poetic forms, embracing free verse and celebrating the …

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“The principle spoken upon by brother Pratt, this morning [plural marriage], we believe in. And I tell you—for I know it—it will sail over and ride triumphantly above all the prejudice and priestcraft of the day: it will be fostered and believed in by the more intelligent portion of the world as one of the best doctrines ever proclaimed to any people.” - Brigham Young | wasmormon.org — “The principle spoken upon by brother Pratt, this morning [plural marriage], we believe in. And I tell you—for I know it—it will sail over and ride triumphantly above all the prejudice and priestcraft of the day: it will be fostered and believed in by the more intelligent portion of the world as one of the best doctrines ever proclaimed to any people.” - Brigham Young

“It was the first time in my life that I had desired the grave, and I could hardly get over it for a long time. And when I saw a funeral, I felt to envy the corpse its situation, and to regret that I was not in the coffin, knowing the toil and labor that my body would have to undergo.” - Brigham Young on his feelings when Joseph Smith privately introduced the principle of plural marriage to him as a divine commandment | wasmormon.org — “It was the first time in my life that I had desired the grave, and I could hardly get over it for a long time. And when I saw a funeral, I felt to envy the corpse its situation, and to regret that I was not in the coffin, knowing the toil and labor that my body would have to undergo.” - Brigham Young on his feelings when Joseph Smith privately introduced the principle of plural marriage to him as a divine commandment

A Fig For Polygamy?

"If one portion of the doctrines of the Church is true, the whole of them are true. If the doctrine of polygamy, as revealed to the Latter-day Saints, is not true, I would not give a fig for all your other revelations that came through Joseph Smith the Prophet; I would renounce the whole of them, because it is utterly impossible, according to the revelations that are contained in these books, to believe a part of them to be divine—from God—and part of them to be from the devil." - LDS Apostle Orson Pratt | wasmormon.rg

Early church leaders (Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, and Orson Pratt among others) allegedly had a change of heart for polygamy. At first, they reportedly resisted the practice but later on accepted it and vehemently defended it. Did they really resist in the first place or are these just retro-active stories and manipulation in order to …

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Mother Knows Best – Joseph Smith’s Mother on The First Vision

"One evening we were sitting till quite late conversing upon the subject of the diversity of churches that had risen up in the world and the many thousand opinions in existence as to the truths contained in scripture. Joseph never said many words upon any subject but always seemed to reflect more deeply than common persons of his age upon everything of a religious nature. After we ceased conversation, he went to bed and was pondering in his mind which of the churches was the true one. But he had not lain there long till he saw a bright light enter the room where he lay. He looked up and saw an angel of the Lord standing by him. The angel spoke: ‘I perceive that you are inquiring in your mind which is the true church. There is not a true church on earth-no, not one-and has not been since Peter took the keys of the Melchizedek Priesthood after the order of God into the kingdom of heaven. The churches that are now upon the earth are all man-made churches. There is a record for you, Joseph, but you cannot get it until you learn to keep the commandments of God, for it is not to get gain, but it is to bring forth that light and intelligence which has been long lost in the earth. Now, Joseph, beware or when you go to get the plates, your mind will be filled with darkness and all manner of evil will rush into your mind to prevent you from keeping the commandments of God. You must tell your father of this, for he will believe every word you say. The record is on a side of the hill of Cumorah, three miles from this place. Remove the grass and moss, and you will find the record under it, lying on four pillars of cement." - Lucy Mack Smith, Preliminary Manuscript, Biographical sketches of Joseph Smith the prophet, and his progenitors for many generations, by Lucy Smith, Mother of the Prophet | wasmormon.org

Today’s church narrative tells the story of a young rambunctious yet spiritual lad of 14 who is stressed about which church to join and is absorbed in the words of the Bible. He finds the passage that if he lacks wisdom, he should pray (James 1:5). He resolves to pray and the heavens are opened. …

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Judging Past Leaders by Today’s Standards

“Prophets in all dispensations have been "men of their times," who were raised with certain beliefs and interacted all their lives with others who shared those beliefs.” - FAIR: Faithful Answers, Informed Response for Latter Day Saints: Was Brigham Young a Racist? | wasmormon.org

Church members and leaders enjoy the refrain that we can’t judge Joseph Smith (and other church leaders) by modern standards. Nobody today should criticize them for living according to the cultural norms of the day. People thought and did things differently back then. This expands beyond Mormon church leaders into politics etc. There are many …

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Truth and History are Anti-Mormon

One could define a faithful perspective as supporting the church’s truth claims at all costs. Anything that is outside of that faith-promoting mindset could be argued to be anti-mormon, because it doesn’t align with promoting faith in the church at all costs. We aren’t willing to sacrifice everything (as Elder Oaks says is his Apostolic …

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As Man Now Is, God Once Was; As Now God Is, Man May Be – Lorenzo Snow

“As man now is, God once was: As God now is, man may be.” - Lorenzo Snow, LDS Church President | wasmormon.org

Lorenzo Snow coined a couplet that famously explains a complex doctrine of Mormon theology which is closely tied to the idea of eternal progression. It also gets Mormon theology in deep water with most other Christian denominations. It challenges (or changes) the nature of God and our relationship with him as mankind. It proclaims that …

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Hinckley’s “I Don’t Know That We Teach It” Interview

Is this the teaching of the church today, that God the Father was once a man like we are? Hinckley: "I don’t know that we teach it. I don’t know that we emphasize it. I haven’t heard it discussed for a long time in public discourse. I don’t know. I don’t know all the circumstances under which that statement was made. I understand the philosophical background behind it. But I don’t know a lot about it and I don’t know that others know a lot about it." Gordon B Hinckley interview transcript for TIME Magazine article Kingdom Come of August 1997, in context compared to the printed article. | wasmormon.org

A famous saying within the Church states, “As man is now, God once was; as God is now, man may be.” This couplet, originating from Joseph Smith’s King Follet discourse, was popularized by the fifth Church President Lorenzo Snow. Time Magazine published an article about Mormons and asked President Gordon B Hinckley about this concept …

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Racist Brigham Young

Brigham Young, the second President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS or Mormon Church), held racially discriminatory beliefs. These views included views on interracial marriage and the mixing of races and he taught them as doctrine from God at the pulpit of the church for decades. He calls it the law …

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Apostates Can Never Have a Really Happy Day?

“"I have not enjoyed one day's peace since I left the Church." This is the declaration of the apostates today, when they tell the truth about it.” - Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, speaking in for all disaffected church members. | wasmormon.org

At the end of Section 76, (3 Degrees of Glory) the ‘D&C Commentary’ issues a salient warning to all those who would desert the faith, by naming brother Lyman Johnson as a: ‘Particular kind of apostate’ who “never had a really happy day” after leaving the fold and ended up drowning in an accident. “In one portion of this Revelation the eternal misery …

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First Presidency Urged for Segregation

"It seems to us that it ought to be possible to work this situation out without causing any feelings on the part of anybody. If the white sisters feel that they may not sit with them or near them, we feel very sure that if the colored sisters were discreetly approached, they would be happy to sit at one side in the rear or somewhere where they would not wound the sensibilities of the complaining sisters. We will rely upon your tact and discretion to work this out so as not to hurt the feelings on the part of anyone." - Letter to President Ezra T. Benson, Washington D.C. Stake President, From the First Presidency Heber J. Grant, J. Reuben Clark, Jr., and David O. McKay, Dated 23 June 1942 | wasmormon.org

Let’s examine the common Mormon apologist argument that leaders are simply “men of their times” through a story of racist thoughts and practices in the church. Priesthood Ban The church enjoys celebrating the lifting of the priesthood ban in 1978. But we can’t give them any credit for doing it either, since it was the …

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Men Of Their Times

Church leaders assert that they directly follow God’s guidance, exempting themselves from apologies and social pressure, like for example addressing racism within church doctrine and culture. Apologists claim that church leaders are merely “men of their times” and can’t be judged by today’s standards. These two ideas don’t work together. Either the leaders are led …

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"Shall I tell you the law of God in regard to the African race? If the white man who belongs to the chosen seed mixes his blood with the seed of Cain, the penalty, under the law of God, is death on the spot. This will always be so." - Brigham Young, LDS Prophet 1863 | wasmormon.org — "Shall I tell you the law of God in regard to the African race? If the white man who belongs to the chosen seed mixes his blood with the seed of Cain, the penalty, under the law of God, is death on the spot. This will always be so." - Brigham Young, LDS Prophet 1863

Gordon B Hinckley on Larry King Live | Interview Transcript 1998

"The church does not become involved in politics." - Gordon B. Hinckley on Larry King Live | wasmormon.org

Transcript of Larry King Live: Gordon Hinckley – Distinguished Religious Leader of the Mormons. Remember that time Hinckley was on Larry King in 1998? Looking back at the transcript, he said quite a few surprising things on air. Hinckley claimed that when people think of Mormons when polygamy is mentioned, they do it “mistakenly” and …

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"Lyman E. Johnson, the first to be called to the Apostleship when the first Council of Twelve was organized, left the Church, but he never had a really happy day after that. According to President Brigham Young he, (Lyman) on one occasion, said, at a meeting" - Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses | wasmormon.org — "Lyman E. Johnson, the first to be called to the Apostleship when the first Council of Twelve was organized, left the Church, but he never had a really happy day after that. According to President Brigham Young he, (Lyman) on one occasion, said, at a meeting" - Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses

“"Have you enjoyed yourself since resigning 'Mormonism?' Now speak the truth. Come, tell us just as it is. Have you experienced joy and happiness since leaving the kingdom of God? Come, now, don't lie!" Brother answers, "I have not enjoyed one day's peace since I left the Church." This is the declaration of the apostates today, when they tell the truth about it. Look at their countenances—is there happiness depicted there? No, it is sorrow; they choose error instead of truth, they love darkness rather than light, and the end thereof, to use Scripture language, is death.” - Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Speaking for Disaffected Members | wasmormon.org — “"Have you enjoyed yourself since resigning 'Mormonism?' Now speak the truth. Come, tell us just as it is. Have you experienced joy and happiness since leaving the kingdom of God? Come, now, don't lie!" Brother answers, "I have not enjoyed one day's peace since I left the Church." This is the declaration of the apostates today, when they tell the truth about it. Look at their countenances—is there happiness depicted there? No, it is sorrow; they choose error instead of truth, they love darkness rather than light, and the end thereof, to use Scripture language, is death.” - Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Speaking for Disaffected Members

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