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 …
Tag Archives: integrity
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 …
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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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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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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Bednar’s Evasive $300 Billion Answer Only Raises More Questions
![“[To] the people who want to tell us how to spend the money, I would just emphasize one undergirding principle. The assets of the church are primarily income consuming; they are not income producing.” - David A. Bednar, LDS Apostle & Ryan Smith, Qualtrics/Utah Jazz Owner Silicon Slopes Summit, September 28, 2023 'What Does the Church Do With Tithing Money?' Church Video | wasmormon.org](https://i0.wp.com/wasmormon.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/David-A-Bednar-church-assets-are-income-consuming-not-income-producing.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1)
In February 2025, the LDS Church released a new video featuring an interview with David A. Bednar at the Silicon Slopes Summit on September 28, 2023. The interview was conducted by Ryan Smith, Mormon billionaire, co-founder of Qualtrics, and owner of multiple professional sports teams, including the Utah Jazz (NBA), Utah Hockey Club (NHL), and …
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Church Adjusts Correlated Children Lesson on Polygamy
In December 2024, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) released a children’s lesson supporting the polygamous history of the church as a hard commandment the leaders and members were blessed for following, even though they did not want to. Then in February 2025, the church updated the lesson to remove some …
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Distorted Reality
Religious zealotry distorts reality by imposing rigid, dogmatic worldviews that demand absolute obedience. High-demand religions, like Mormonism, instill a black-and-white perspective where faithfulness equates to righteousness, and doubt or dissent signals moral failure. This absolutism fosters an “us vs. them” mentality, making it nearly impossible for devout believers to see those who leave as anything …
Jeffrey R. Holland, Logical Fallacies, Manipulation, Guilt, and Fake Testimonies
In his MTC address, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland’s statement is filled with logical fallacies that manipulate emotions rather than provide actual evidence for the LDS Church’s truth claims. The “Borrowed Testimony” Fallacy “If there is anyone in the room who’s struggling with a testimony, you have one — mine!” This is similar to advice from …
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Would You Die For The Church?
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland illustrates the extreme, manipulative, and abusive expectations that LDS leadership places on its members—especially young missionaries. He spoke at the MTC to all missionaries in training in 2001. He set the expectation that serving a mission for the church, the church “wants you to run all the way, every day, every …
Curtis Was a Mormon, an Ex-Mormon Profile Spotlight
Once a devout member of the church, Curtis cherished the faith of his youth—until he discovered that the church he had loved was not what it claimed to be. Confronted with shifting doctrines, hidden history, and unethical behavior from church leadership, his testimony crumbled. Like many who experience a crisis of faith, Curtis cycled through …
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Church Misrepresents Offering Church Buildings as Shelters for California Fire Victims
In the wake of the recent California wildfires, the LDS Church has made headlines in their own new publications claiming that they have made their meetinghouses available as shelters for those affected. However, evidence suggests that no LDS chapels have actually been used as shelters, raising questions about whether the church is engaging in media …
The Mormon Mountain Meadows Massacre
The Mountain Meadows Massacre, one of the most disturbing events in Mormon history, occurred on September 11, 1857, in southern Utah. A group of approximately 120 emigrants traveling through Utah toward California was ambushed and slaughtered by members of the local Mormon militia, aided by Native American allies. The victims, predominantly families in the Baker-Fancher …
Witnesses Saw Gold Plates With Spiritual Eyes
![Martin was in the office when I [John H. Gilbert, typesetter for most of the Book of Mormon] finished setting up the testimony of the three witnesses, I said to him, “Martin, did you see those plates with your naked eyes?” Martin looked down for an instant, raised his eyes up, and said, “No, I saw them with a spiritual eye.” - Martin Harris, Witness of the Gold Plates | wasmormon.org](https://i0.wp.com/wasmormon.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Martin-Harris-Witness-not-naked-eye-spiritual-eye.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1)
The Three Book of Mormon witnesses offer a fascinating and contradictory window into the authenticity of Joseph Smith’s claims about the gold plates. The accounts of the witnesses—both official and unofficial—regarding whether they saw the plates with their natural eyes or spiritual eyes are highly contentious and have been subject to much debate. The church …
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How To Leave the Mormon Church
There are many reasons someone might decide to quit the Mormon Church, often stemming from a deep desire for authenticity, integrity, and personal freedom. For some, the decision arises after discovering inconsistencies in the church’s foundational narratives, such as the lack of evidence for the Book of Mormon or the troubling aspects of Joseph Smith’s …
How to Avoid a Faith Crisis
A stake in Utah offers a course in ‘How to avoid a Faith Crisis’. It looks like this is a series of lessons and though the handout formatting is so horrible some are hard to read, it looks like the topics each include a scripture reference and are as follows: Faith Crisis Avoidance Course Examination …
Doug Was a Mormon, an Ex-Mormon Profile Spotlight
Doug’s story is one of questioning, integrity, and the courage to seek truth despite the cost. Born into a devout Mormon family, Doug grappled with doubts from a young age, his sharp mind clashing with doctrines and practices that defied logic or evidence. His search for answers, including a memorable exchange with the Smithsonian Institution …
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Cameron Was a Mormon, an Ex-Mormon Profile Spotlight
Cameron’s life was steeped in the culture and expectations of Mormonism, growing up in a loving yet disciplined home in Orem, Utah, with milestones like baptism, priesthood ordination, and temple marriage shaping his path. These events were celebrated as pillars of faith and family life, and he embraced them wholeheartedly. However, as he began to …
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Oaks Demonizing Criticism and Avoiding Accountability
Dallin H. Oaks teaches that even true criticisms of church leaders should be avoided, framing this restraint as a necessary way to maintain unity and love within the church. By comparing criticism to blackmail or breaches of confidentiality, Oaks implies that revealing truths that could harm leaders’ reputations is inherently harmful and spiritually unfaithful. He …
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Mormons Expected to Stand Forever – Despite Questions
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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Truth and More – Merciful Companion to Truth is Silence?
Russell M. Nelson, in his youthful apostolic messages, taught that truth was important, but must be paired with mercy and more. He warns that simply knowing the truth does not excuse us from thoughtfully considering its use and power. He relates a story of a surgeon who spoke the truth bluntly and ended up hurting …
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Facts vs Beliefs – No Limit At All On What Church Is Required To Teach Or Not Teach
The LDS Church Corporation is currently involved in many many lawsuits. One such is a RICO case, where the church is being accused of behavior more similar to an organized crime network, like the mafia, than a religious institution. What is RICO? A RICO case refers to charges brought under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt …
Escaping the Matrix: Breaking Free from the Illusions of the Mormon Church
Have you seen the 1999 film, The Matrix? The Matrix is an excellent movie for deconstruction. Anyone familiar with The Matrix trilogy knows it presents a complex philosophical and even religious worldview. Even ordinary people, who had no education in philosophy, metaphysics, or neuroscience, came away from viewing those fanciful stories, asking themselves, “What is …
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How Much is a Modest Living Allowance for Mormon Apostles? How Much Do LDS Church Leaders Get Paid?
Are the top Mormon leaders paid for their callings as General Authorities? Yes! They receive what they call a “living allowance.” In a few instances, church leaders admit this, although they also make repeated statements claiming that there are no paid clergy. Gordon B. Hinckley in a moment of honesty admits that General Authorities are …
Donated Tithing Funds vs Earnings on Invested Tithing
The church repeatedly states that no tithing money is used for its business purposes, like funding the City Creek Center or bailout money for church-owned insurance company, Beneficial Life. The church is surprisingly secretive about finances and has not publicly disclosed any financial statements in the United States since 1959, that’s 65 years and counting. The …
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Are Mormon Church Leaders Paid?
The church makes misleading statements about how much the Apostles and Prophets of the LDS church are paid. They state regularly that there is no paid ministry, no professional clergy, and that no one is paid for their church service. This omits the fact that all senior leaders in the church are paid what they …
What is Cognitive Dissonance?
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 …
Murphy Was a Mormon, an Ex-Mormon Profile Spotlight
Meet Murphy, born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she was deeply involved in the church. Murphy was dedicated to her faith until it became a source of intense frustration and anger. Her strong, opinionated nature clashed with the church’s expectations for women, leading to resentment and a feeling of being unfulfilled in …
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The Emperor’s New Clothes
“The Emperor’s New Clothes” is a classic fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen. Hans Christian Andersen was a Danish author. Although a prolific writer of plays, travelogues, novels, and poems, he is best remembered for his literary fairy tales. It tells the story of an emperor who two cunning weavers deceive. They promise him a …
Relief Society President on Working Mothers and Living Prophets
Camille Johnson, Relief Society General President, made waves with a talk at the BYU Women’s Conference where she also talked about career, motherhood and following the living prophet. Her address is featured on the official Church instagram. She was born in 1962, earned her bachelor’s degree in 1985, married in 1987, and her law degree …
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