elevated emotion - wasmormon.org

Seek Truth Wherever We Find It?

"Latter-day Saints are not asked to blindly accept everything they hear. We are encouraged to think and discover truth for ourselves. We are expected to ponder, to search, to evaluate, and thereby to come to a personal knowledge of the truth. We seek for truth wherever we may find it." - Dieter F. Uchtdorf, LDS Apostle, January 13, 2013 BYU Devotional | wasmormon.org

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf spoke in a BYU Devotional, teaching that “We seek for truth wherever we may find it.” He invites his listeners to find truth, and bring it into their testimony. Is the church really this comfortable with members searching wherever for truth? This sentiment is often repeated by modern LDS leaders and …

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Mormons Expected to Stand Forever – Despite Questions

“If you answer the primary questions, the secondary questions get answered too, or they pale in significance, and you can deal with things you understand and things you don’t and things you agree with and things you don’t, without jumping ship altogether.” - Lawrence E. Corbridge, LDS Seventy, BYU Devotional, Stand Forever, January 22, 2019 | wasmormon.org

Church leader Lawrence E. Corbridge, an LDS Seventy, gave a BYU Devotional that addresses how to properly deal with questions. Corbridge explains that he’s read all the anti-Mormon literature out there, but was successfully able to put all his questions on the shelf because he was able to convince himself that his questions don’t matter …

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Corey Was a Mormon, an Ex-Mormon Profile Spotlight

Corey’s journey from a devout member of the Mormon Church to an individual outside its walls is a powerful example of courage, intellectual honesty, and the pursuit of truth and genuine faith. Raised in southern Idaho within a large Mormon family, Corey was deeply woven into the fabric of the Church. His identity, values, community, …

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New Scripture Translated From Sealed Portion – Jesus visits Macaroni and Condemns Viper Church Leaders of Last Days

9. Yea, for in the latter days, there shall arise a great church, yea, a church that shall build fine temples of stone, and they shall heap up treasures in hedge funds, and their storehouses shall overflow with riches. 10. Some of the principles and ideas of the church did come from the truth that is me. But behold, this church is not of me. Yea, they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 11. For the leaders of this church shall be as wolves in sheep’s clothing, and they shall deceive the righteous and lead them astray. They shall teach the philosophies of business-men mingled with scripture, and they shall pervert my holy gospel for gain. 12. Yea, I say unto you, they shall enrich themselves upon the backs of the poor and the widows, and their wealth shall be stored up in vaults of steel and gold, hidden from the sight of the people. 13. And they shall turn my holy church into a corporation, where profits lead and prophets are silenced. The Book of Macaroni 21:9-13 | wasmormon.org

A few years ago, Russell M. Nelson revealed how Joseph Smith would translate by using a rock in a hat a few years ago. Suppose, for a moment, that he could know this technique from experience. What if President Russell M. Nelson knew more about the translation process? What if he used the same technique …

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Moroni’s Promise and Begging the Question

The catch is—it's a trap! This is flawed logic. The trap of Moroni's Promise lies in its circular reasoning and built-in assumptions. It suggests that if we read the Book of Mormon and pray with a sincere heart and real intent, we will receive confirmation from the Holy Ghost that it is true. However, if we do not receive this confirmation, the promise implies we either lack sincerity, genuine intent, or sufficient faith. This creates a no-win situation: if we believe, it confirms the Church's truth claims; if we don’t, the fault lies with our efforts or intent, not with the promise or the church. This circular logic traps individuals in a cycle where any outcome reinforces the belief system, making it difficult to evaluate the truth of the Church’s teachings. It is dangerous to base a belief on something so subjective and manipulative. | wasmormon.org

Moroni’s Promise is a passage found in the Book of Mormon, Moroni 10:3-5, where the prophet Moroni invites readers to test the truthfulness of the book. According to the scripture, Moroni promises that if readers sincerely ask God in prayer, with a genuine heart and real intent, they will receive a confirmation through the Holy …

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Facts of feelings: In life, there is a big difference between allowing facts to influence our feelings and allowing feelings to influence our facts. It's important to recognize that difference." - Corbin Allred, Ex-Mormon Actor via Instagram | wasmormon.org — Facts of feelings: In life, there is a big difference between allowing facts to influence our feelings and allowing feelings to influence our facts. It's important to recognize that difference." - Corbin Allred, Ex-Mormon Actor via Instagram

What is Cognitive Dissonance?

"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

Cognitive dissonance occurs when a person experiences discomfort due to holding conflicting beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors. To reduce this discomfort, individuals often try to reconcile these inconsistencies, either by changing their beliefs, justifying their actions, or avoiding information that exacerbates the conflict. Leon Festinger Social psychologist Leon Festinger coined the term “cognitive dissonance” in the 1950s in …

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Does a “Burning in Your Bosom” Outweigh Physical Evidence?

"You could have [the gold] plates, you could turn the pages, you could look at them, you could hold them, and you wouldn't know any more after that experience whether or not the book is true than you would have before... You will not get to know it by trying to prove it archaeologically, or by DNA, or by anything else, in my judgment... I don't believe that's how people will ever come to know whether or not the Book of Mormon is the word of God... Religious truth is always confirmed by what you feel." - Elder M. Russell Ballard, LDS Apostle addresses the question of whether there is scientific proof of The Book of Mormon | wasmormon.org

In an attempt to convince people that the lack of archaeological, DNA, or linguistic evidence supporting the Book of Mormon is nothing to be concerned about, LDS Apostle M. Russell Ballard makes quite an interesting claim in the video shown below. He says… I don’t believe that’s how people will ever come to know whether …

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When Moroni’s Promise Doesn’t Work

"I'll put Moroni's promise to the test," I told myself, eager to get started. "I'll finally learn whether the Church is true." For the next 90 days, I diligently devoured the book's contents. Exultant with joy as I closed with Moroni's farewell and amen, I scrambled to my knees. Brimming with anticipation, I posed my question: Was the Book of Mormon true? As I waited for a response, a cricket chirped. The air conditioner switched on. My watch intrusively ticked off the seconds as they passed. There was no burning bosom sensation, no chorus of angels, no flash of knowing. Nothing... The truth of this book isn't always manifest in burning bosoms and visions of angels; it's manifest in the lives of the people who read it and put it to use. I don't need to ask anymore if this book is true. - Waiting for My Testimony, by Caroline LeDuc. LDS Published New Era Magazine, Feb 2010 | wasmormon.org

Here are three articles from Church magazines that show the church acknowledging that Moronoi’s promise is not perfect and that many with real intent don’t get answers to their sincere heart prayers. These articles show that many do not receive the promised spiritual experience or manifestation of the Holy Ghost. Maybe it’s just that the …

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“[E]very thing is useful which contributes to fix us in the principles and practice of virtue. When any act of charity or of gratitude, for instance, is presented either to our sight or imagination, we are deeply impressed with its beauty and feel a strong desire in ourselves of doing charitable and grateful acts also. [I ask whether] the fidelity and generosity (of some fiction books) do not dilate [the reader's] breast, and elevate his sentiments as much as any similar incident which real history can furnish? Does he not in fact feel himself a better man while reading them, and privately covenant to copy the fair example?” - Thomas Jefferson (1771) | wasmormon.org — “[E]very thing is useful which contributes to fix us in the principles and practice of virtue. When any act of charity or of gratitude, for instance, is presented either to our sight or imagination, we are deeply impressed with its beauty and feel a strong desire in ourselves of doing charitable and grateful acts also. [I ask whether] the fidelity and generosity (of some fiction books) do not dilate [the reader's] breast, and elevate his sentiments as much as any similar incident which real history can furnish? Does he not in fact feel himself a better man while reading them, and privately covenant to copy the fair example?” - Thomas Jefferson (1771)

Figure 1. Mean self-reported feelings and appraisals from participants as a function of video condition.

Elevation and Other Elevated Emotions

“The power of the positive moral emotions to uplift & transform people has long been known... an emotion that I have begun to call "elevation." Elevation is elicited by acts of virtue or moral beauty; it causes warm, open feelings in the chest; and it motivates people to behave more virtuously themselves.” - Jonathan Haidt, Elevation and the Positive Psychology of Morality (2003) Author, Social Psychologist, Professor of Ethical Leadership | wasmormon.org

Many people who have left the church report still feeling the “spirit” just as they did when they were active members. This feeling is linked to a phenomenon called “Elevation Emotion,” which is well-researched and associated with positive emotions like gratitude and admiration. Researchers can reliably induce this feeling, often described as a warm sensation …

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"Any human endeavor rooted in the pursuit of truth must rely on fact and not feelings." - Gad Saad, Professor of Marketing, Concordia University, Canada. The Parasitic Mind: How Infectious Ideas Are Killing Common Sense | wasmormon.org — "Any human endeavor rooted in the pursuit of truth must rely on fact and not feelings." - Gad Saad, Professor of Marketing, Concordia University, Canada. The Parasitic Mind: How Infectious Ideas Are Killing Common Sense

Moroni’s Promise – A Lesson in Confirmation Bias and Elevated Emotions

"Follow Moroni's counsel. Sincerely ask God the Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, with real intent, if the teachings of the Book of Mormon are true. Ask with a desire to receive a confirmation personally, nothing doubting. There has to be an explanation of that book you can hold in your hand. I know that you can receive a spiritual confirmation that it is true. You will then know that Jesus Christ lives, that Joseph Smith was and is a prophet, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord's Church. You will confirm that the Savior guides His Church through a living prophet. These truths will become a foundation for your productive life." - LDS Apostle, Richard G. Scott, 2012 | wasmormon.org

In the Book of Mormon, Moroni offers a promise often cited by members of the LDS Church to confirm its truthfulness. This promise is foundational for many Mormons, providing a personal spiritual confirmation of the church’s teachings. Moroni encourages readers to ask God with a sincere heart and real intent if the Book of Mormon …

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“Our unique strength is the ability to touch the hearts and minds of our audiences, evoking first feeling, then thought and, finally, action. We call this uniquely powerful brand of creative "HeartSell"® - strategic emotional advertising that stimulates response.” - HeartSell® on Bonneville International Website, 2014

“Affecting Change by Reaching the Hearts and Minds of our Audiences” - HeartSell® on Bonneville International Website, 2008 | wasmormon.org — “Affecting Change by Reaching the Hearts and Minds of our Audiences” - HeartSell® on Bonneville International Website, 2008

“At Bonneville Communications, our ability to touch the hearts and minds of audiences makes us an essential resource for organizations with vital messages... Our creative professionals have designed messages for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” (Bonneville is a subsidiary of Deseret Management Corporation, a for-profit arm of The Church.) - HeartSell® on Bonneville International Website, 2014 | wasmormon.org — “At Bonneville Communications, our ability to touch the hearts and minds of audiences makes us an essential resource for organizations with vital messages... Our creative professionals have designed messages for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” (Bonneville is a subsidiary of Deseret Management Corporation, a for-profit arm of The Church.) - HeartSell® on Bonneville International Website, 2014

Bonneville’s HeartSell® – Strategic Emotional Advertising With the Holy Ghost

One of the main messages from the church is that IF you feel a warm positive emotion, or feeling THEN you know what is being taught or said is true and from God. As long as the questions you ask align with the questions they want you to ask and your emotional response is what …

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Book of Mormon Invites Criticism

"The Book of Mormon can and should be tested. It invites criticism." - LDS Apologist and Historian, Hugh Nibley, 1988 | wasmormon.org

Hugh Nibley (1910–2005) was an American scholar and prominent figure in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was known for his contributions to LDS scholarship, particularly in ancient history, languages, and religious studies. Nibley held a Ph.D. in ancient history and wrote about ancient civilizations, religious history, and Mormonism. Nibley’s influence extends …

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Tim Was a Mormon, an Ex-Mormon Profile Spotlight

In Germany, Tim was raised in an atheist family but was intrigued by the church. He met with missionaries and wanted to get baptized at 16 years old. At this age, he needed parental permission, which they did not give but he continued to investigate the church for two more years. He was baptized right …

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Explore the Origin Story of wasmormon.org – A Mormon Book Reviews Podcast Episode

A recent episode of the Mormon Book Reviews podcast features an interview with Evan, the creator of wasmormon.org, and his brother Garrett. Evan shares the story of how he came to create the website and why he chose to share his experience of leaving the Mormon church. The interview includes the personal stories of faith …

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Jean Was a Mormon, an Ex-Mormon Profile Spotlight

Jean was impressed with the ‘true religion’ as taught by the missionaries and joined the church with her young family. After serving faithfully for a long time and even serving a senior mission to South Africa, she collected a few issues onto her shelf. She questioned why she and the other missionaries weren’t better protected …

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Ken Was a Mormon, an Exmormon Profile Spotlight

Ken served faithfully in the mormon church for 30 years. He concluded that many so-called facts about church history, church doctrine and church operation were not true. Thus the church was not true. He lambasts the church and its leaders while also calling for an uprising of the disillusioned and the disaffected. He calls for …

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