![“[A woman] was contemplating a temple marriage to a man whose eternal companion had died. She would be a second wife. She asked this question: would she be able to have her own house in the next life, or would she have to live with her husband and his first wife? I just told her to trust the Lord... You should be worried about whether you will get to [kingdom of glory]. Concentrate on that. If you get there, all of it will be more wonderful than you can imagine.” - Dallin H. Oaks, LDS Apostle, “Trust in the Lord”, October 2019 | wasmormon.org](https://i0.wp.com/wasmormon.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Dallin-H-Oaks-second-wives-of-eternal-polygamy-just-trust-the-lord-worry-about-get-to-heaven-will-be-more-wonderful-than-you-can-imagine.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1)
In a 2019 talk, Dallin H. Oaks—apostle and current First Counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—responded to a question that hits at the heart of the legacy peculiar Mormon doctrine of plural marriage, especially for women today: If a woman marries a widower sealed to his first …
Tag Archives: church leaders
Brian Was a Mormon, an Ex-Mormon Profile Spotlight
Brian’s story is one of courage, complexity, and personal truth. A vibrant personality, Brian embraced his life as a Mormon with sincerity, believing 100%, and even serving a mission in London at the age of 19. He faithfully followed the teachings, made sacrifices, and lived with conviction, while also navigating the unique challenges of being …
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John Taylor’s Hidden 1886 Polygamy Revelation
In 1886, then-LDS Church president John Taylor claimed to receive a direct revelation from God reaffirming that plural marriage was an eternal, unchangeable law. This divine directive—written in his own hand—declared that the New and Everlasting Covenant (a.k.a. polygamy) could never be revoked, even under government pressure. But just a few years later, in 1890, …
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Joseph Smith on Slavery
In recent years, LDS apostle Quentin L. Cook has claimed that early members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were persecuted because they were abolitionists and anti-slavery. Today leaders promote the narrative that latter-day saints of the day were driven out of Missouri in significant part because they were opposed to slavery. …
Leadership Suppress Dissenfecting Light – The Nauvoo Expositor
On June 7, 1844, a bold and short-lived newspaper called the Nauvoo Expositor published its first—and only—issue in Nauvoo, Illinois. It was created by former Mormon insiders who could no longer remain silent. They leveled charges against Joseph Smith, including abuse of power, political tyranny, and most explosively, his secret polygamy. The Nauvoo Expositor printed …
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Green Flake, The Man and Slave Labor The Church Accepted as Tithing
Today, the LDS Church no longer condones slavery, and leaders assert that the church has always been against slavery and racism, but there is a hidden history of racism and even slavery in the church. There are even instances where slaves were given as tithing to the church—the church used slave labor in temple construction. Green Flake …
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Can Mormons Wear Tank Tops? What are Porn Shoulders?
In Mormonism, modesty has long been tied to righteousness, especially for women and girls. From early youth activities to temple preparation, countless lessons reinforce the idea that spiritual worth is directly connected to how much skin is covered. Among the most scrutinized body parts? Shoulders. For generations, sleeveless dresses have been seen as taboo—unworthy of …
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Why Did the Mormon Church Stop Polygamy?
For most of the 19th century, the Mormon Church preached polygamy—referred to by leaders as “the new and everlasting covenant,” “the principle,” or “celestial marriage”—as a divine commandment. It wasn’t just a lifestyle; it was taught as a requirement for exaltation in the highest level of heaven. Church leaders claimed they stood immovable on God’s …
Jane Manning James: Faithful Servant, Denied Sisterhood, Sealed into Slavery
Jane Elizabeth Manning James was a remarkable woman who exemplified deep faith and resilience, despite the racism and systemic exclusion she endured within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Born free in Wilton, Connecticut, in the early 19th century. As a child, she worked as a domestic servant in a prosperous white household. …
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The 2015 Boise Rescue Transcript: An Attempt to Rein in Apostasy
On June 13, 2015, a special multi-stake fireside or devotional was held in Boise, Idaho, featuring Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Assistant Church Historian Richard E. Turley Jr. The event, now colloquially known as the “Boise Rescue,” was organized in response to a wave of local concerns over …
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The Mormon Church’ Guide to Stalking, or Locating Members
One of the most common accusations levied against those who leave the Mormon Church is that we just “can’t leave it alone.” It’s a phrase that gets tossed around in talks, in social media, and in conversations with believing family and friends. The idea is that if someone really didn’t believe anymore, they would just …
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Mormon Apologist Handbook: Argument does not Create Conviction, Lack of it Destroys Belief
Latter-day Saint apologetics—through institutions like FARMS, FAIR, and now the Interpreter Foundation—have largely operated on a defensive crouch, crafting arguments not to generate genuine conviction, but simply to keep belief from crumbling. Their aim isn’t to persuade the outsider or satisfy the seeker; it’s to keep the disillusioned member tethered, just barely. But Farrer warns …
White Suites, Stolen Keys, and Fried Chicken
In recent years, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has leaned hard into its carefully staged imagery—photos designed to communicate power, legitimacy, and divine authority. But the more tightly the Church clutches at these symbols, the more glaringly artificial the whole display becomes. From white-suited prophets mimicking the image of Christ to manufactured …
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Irony of Mormon Church Complaining of Bigoted Marriage Laws
![“The laws against the plurality of wives, we believe to be unconstitutional, growing out of the narrow-contracted bigoted customs of Apostate Christianity. If the [saints] wish to enjoy the privileges granted by the word God, and by the glorious Constitution of our National Republic, let them depart from under the jurisdiction if these illiberal State laws, and go to Utah where religious liberty is tolerated, and where every people and sect have the right to worship please, and marry as many wives as they please.” - Orson Pratt, LDS Apostle, The Seer (1853) Criticizing "bigoted" monogamous marriage laws forbidding his preferred plural marriage. wasmormon.org](https://i0.wp.com/wasmormon.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Orson-Pratt-laws-against-plurality-of-wives-unconstitutional-narrow-contracted-bigoted-customs-go-to-Utah-where-people-have-the-right-to-marry-as-many-wives-as-they-please.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1)
Remember that time when Mormons called out marriage laws for being narrow-minded, bigoted laws. The Mormon church complained about laws that defined marriage as between one man and one woman. This was in the days of plural marriage, so in other words, these laws were against Polygamy and the plurality of wives. They called them …
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How to Let Religion Sabotage Your Life: A Deconstructing Mormon Perspective on Jim Palmer’s 16 Steps
Jim Palmer, a former pastor turned spiritual critic and trauma-informed coach, outlines 16 stark observations in his piece How to Let Religion Sabotage Your Life. For those deconstructing Mormonism, these steps feel less like satire and more like a checklist of lived experience: 1. Begin with the premise that there is something hopelessly and incurably …
LDS Leadership on Appearances: “Put on a little lipstick,” “Even a barn looks better painted”
Sexism, Patriarchy, and the Lingering Legacy of Polygamy in the LDS Church Two statements made by high-ranking LDS church leaders reveal more than just outdated social attitudes—they expose the deeply entrenched gender roles and patriarchal frameworks that continue to shape the church’s view of women. In a devotional, President David O. McKay once said, “Even …
Shifting Visions of God: Unpacking Mormonism’s Developing Theology Through Joseph Smith’s First Vision Accounts
Joseph Smith’s various accounts of the First Vision provide a window into his evolving theology, particularly regarding the nature of the Godhead. The changes in each version, when looked at as a narrative through a lens to understand the thinking of church leadership at the time, show ideas developing and how these changing ideas were …
Mormonism’s Legacy of Slavery
The history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in the 19th century is marked by moments of conflict, migration, and the formation of a new religious identity in the American frontier. LDS leaders suggest that early Latter-day Saints were persecuted for being abolitionists or for holding enlightened racial views, meanwhile, …
Painted into a Corner: Prophets, Revelation, and the Mormon Church’s Integrity Crisis
The Mormon Church has painted itself into a theological and historical corner. Its unwavering position—that all teachings and policies come from direct revelation from God through a living prophet—has created a system resistant to introspection and allergic to correction. For nearly 200 years, this stance may have worked for the institution. But in the age …
Mormon Abuse Helpline
In 2022, an Associated Press (AP) investigation revealed that officials of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints failed to prevent or report the sexual abuse of children by a church member in Arizona over seven years. The report detailed how church leaders were informed of the abuse but did not notify law enforcement, …
Church Leadership Claims No Financial Compensation For Service
During the 2025 April General Conference, Steven D. Shumway continued to push the narrative that church leaders are not paid for their service in the church. He claims that “we do not receive financial compensation for serving.” This is misleading and exemplifies a glaring transparency issue regarding church leadership and finances. While it is technically true …
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Church Admits Gender Inequality in the Church – Absence of a Reason Give No License to Change
At a recent stake-level women’s conference in California, LDS Apostle Dale G. Renlund addressed gender inequality in priesthood ordination. Note that while we’re a full report or transcript of his actual talk is not available, we have the following summary from the Salt Lake Tribune. Renlund addresses gender equality Speaking at a women’s conference this …
Book of Mormon Most Racially and Ethnically Unifying Book on Earth
In 2014, the church published a series of “personal essays” from then Mission President and rising black LDS leader, Ahmad Corbitt. Admittedly, Corbitt says he was “asked to write this paper” on the “topic of the priesthood and African peoples.” This followed the church publishing the Gospel Topic Essays, and his paper specifically mentions the …
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Brian Was a Mormon, an Ex-Mormon Profile Spotlight
Brian’s journey out of Mormonism is one of awakening and courage. Born into the faith and raised under its doctrines, he spent years navigating an on-again, off-again relationship with the church, always holding onto the thought that it might be true. Like many, the deep-seated fear of questioning and doubting kept him tethered to the …
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Renlund’s Boat Parable – Showcase of Demonizing Doubters and Dismissing Concerns
In 2019, both Dale G. Renlund, LDS Apostle, and his wife, Ruth L. Renlund, gave a talk at a Worldwide devotional from BYU-Hawaii. They shared a colorful parable to marginalize and blame doubters for their struggles with the church’s false truth claims. They claimed to be prompted to share this message and that they’d been …
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Tithing is About Money, Not Faith, Obedience, Loyalty, or Sacrifice
Tithing is a fundamental doctrine in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), requiring members to contribute 10% of their income to the Church. It is framed as a commandment from God, essential for spiritual growth, obedience, and blessings. Paying a full tithe is also a requirement for temple access, making it …
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Every Member ‘Who Has Means’ Shall Pay Tithing
For those then who are struggling in these difficult times, please consider Lorenzo Snow’s comments in 1899. The church uses this and the teachings of President Lorenzo Snow to preach tithing to members. Every Man, Woman and Child Who Has Means Shall Pay Tithing I plead with you in the name of the Lord, and …
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Mary Was a Mormon, an Ex-Mormon Profile Spotlight
Mary Kathryn’s journey out of Mormonism is one of transformation, resilience, and self-discovery. A devoted believer, she followed the prescribed path—attending BYU, marrying young, and having eight children by age 35. She dedicated herself fully to the faith, shaping her identity around the church’s teachings on womanhood, family, and service. However, as life unfolded—with personal …
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Fast Food Orders vs Quitting Church – McDonald’s, Messed-Up Orders, and the Commoditization of Religion
A popular meme has been making the rounds. These memes read: “McDonald’s can mess up your order 101 times and you still keep going back… One thing goes wrong at church and you quit.” This suggests that people are more forgiving of mistakes at fast-food restaurants like McDonald’s than they are of issues with a church. It …
The Other Mormon Extermination Order, from Brigham Young against the Timpanogos People
The Provo River Massacre, also known as the Battle of Fort Utah, was a brutal campaign of extermination carried out in 1850 under the direct orders of Brigham Young against the Timpanogos people in what is now Provo, Utah. Tensions between Mormon settlers and the Timpanogos had escalated over land disputes and trade conflicts. Rather …