Probably not...
But it appears in the article below (located at the church's official news website), that the LDS church is ready to throw in the towel when it comes to the Book of Abraham debate. Due to the overwhelming evidence that Smith made it up out of his head, LDS apologist, John Gee, now claims that the Book of Abraham is (and I quote) "not central to the restored gospel of Christ."
This article is written for the LDS people, obviously, and does not go into detail about what the arguments against the Book of Abraham actually are, of course. If they did that, they would probably lose more members.
http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/57738/The-Book-of-Abraham-The-larger-issue.html
"...how the Book of Abraham was translated is unimportant. The Church does not stand or fall on the Book of Abraham."
It doesn't? It cost you my 10%. That should say something. If Joseph Smith lied about how the BoA came to exist, what does that suggest about the other "inspired" writings that he produced? The church hasn't "fallen" yet, but if/when it does, it will most likely be because of this very issue. It is very telling and very damning.
In a private meeting, Steve Benson (ex-Mormon and grandson of prophet Ezra T. Benson) met with Dallan H. Oaks and Neal A. Mazwell. In this meeting, Benson recalls about Oaks:
Oaks admitted that "the scholars" seemed to have the evidence "in their favor" against the Book of Abraham, but that he himself had a "personal witness" that the Book of Abraham was true. He went on to say that he did not let evidence "weighted against Joseph Smith on this" persuade him that the Book of Abraham was not true.
Benson concludes: "No wonder the Book of Abraham is not the center of Mormonism. That center isn't holding."
There you have it folks...
LDS church apologists and GA's are dismissing the Book of Abraham. Since they can't defend it, they are now claiming that it really doesn't matter. So what if it's proven false? It means nothing because it means nothing to us. It's still true, but means nothing. If you're losing the battle, just pretend it doesn't matter.
IDIOTS!!!!!!!!! If it means nothing, why is it in your canon of scripture?
The Book of Abraham absolutely does matter. If it proves that Smith was a lying fraud, then it matters a lot, perhaps even moreso than the Book of Mormon.
LDS solution to this sticky mess: just stick your head in the sand.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Jesus Needs You... NOW!
In the February 2011 Ensign, on pages 36-39 is a Question and Answers section. This months question is this:
Q. (In a nutshell): I feel overwhelmed with all the commandments and expectations "in living the gospel"! What do I do?
A. (In a nutshell): Priortize all your time to the church. Your worldly chores can wait. Once your church duties are done, you can use whatever time is left for all that other stuff.
Basically: Stop being a selfish SOB. Your children can wait. Your husbands and wives can wait. JESUS CAN'T WAIT.
http://lds.org/ensign/2011/02/questions-and-answers?lang=eng
Here is a link. Obviously, I have put my 'Mormon411 spin' on it, but read it and you will see that my exaggeration is really spot on. Give all your time to the church first. Everything else can get done later.
Q. (In a nutshell): I feel overwhelmed with all the commandments and expectations "in living the gospel"! What do I do?
A. (In a nutshell): Priortize all your time to the church. Your worldly chores can wait. Once your church duties are done, you can use whatever time is left for all that other stuff.
Basically: Stop being a selfish SOB. Your children can wait. Your husbands and wives can wait. JESUS CAN'T WAIT.
http://lds.org/ensign/2011/02/questions-and-answers?lang=eng
Here is a link. Obviously, I have put my 'Mormon411 spin' on it, but read it and you will see that my exaggeration is really spot on. Give all your time to the church first. Everything else can get done later.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Boyd K. Packer's "Little Factory" Speech
On October 2, 1976, Boyd K. Packer gave a speech about young men and their sexuality. He likened a boys reproductive organs to a "little factory" which if played with too much, makes more and more "product". He tells the young men that this product should only be "released" when properly married. He talks about ways to help young men who have already started the immoral habit of releasing product before marriage. He also includes a lot of anti-gay speech as well. "Don't let anyone play with your junk!"
This speech was made into a pamphlet and was widely distributed. Now, of course, the church has tried to make this bit of embarrasing history disappear.
An ex-Mormon recently found a copy of this pamphlet in an old box and was kind enough to scan it into a PDF file. It is available here:
http://jhuston.com/Boyd's_Little_Factory.pdf
Because of the apostrophe in the address, blogger thinks it is an invalid link and will not save it the way it is. Therefore, in order to view this page, you will have to highlight the address, copy it, and then paste it into your address bar.
In the event that you can't get it to work, or the pdf is no longer available, please e-mail me. I have saved a copy and will be happy to e-mail it to anyone who wants it.
Remember, the power of pro-creation is a special gift from god, but if you abuse it, you will go to hell!
This speech was made into a pamphlet and was widely distributed. Now, of course, the church has tried to make this bit of embarrasing history disappear.
An ex-Mormon recently found a copy of this pamphlet in an old box and was kind enough to scan it into a PDF file. It is available here:
http://jhuston.com/Boyd's_Little_Factory.pdf
Because of the apostrophe in the address, blogger thinks it is an invalid link and will not save it the way it is. Therefore, in order to view this page, you will have to highlight the address, copy it, and then paste it into your address bar.
In the event that you can't get it to work, or the pdf is no longer available, please e-mail me. I have saved a copy and will be happy to e-mail it to anyone who wants it.
Remember, the power of pro-creation is a special gift from god, but if you abuse it, you will go to hell!
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Science and the God Delusion: A conversation with Richard Dawkins
http://www.library.uhi.ac.uk/dawkins/
Eden Court Theatre, Inverness, Wednesday 2 April 2008.
Introduction by Professor Robert Cormack, principal, UHI Millennium Institute.
Professor Richard Dawkins FRS was interviewed on stage by Inverness resident Paula Kirby. Paula, who used to be a Christian and is now an atheist, talked to Richard Dawkins informally about the ideas that have informed his life and work. This was followed by an extended opportunity for the audience to put their own questions and challenges to this world-renowned and controversial figure.
Total running time: about 120 minutes.
Eden Court Theatre, Inverness, Wednesday 2 April 2008.
Introduction by Professor Robert Cormack, principal, UHI Millennium Institute.
Professor Richard Dawkins FRS was interviewed on stage by Inverness resident Paula Kirby. Paula, who used to be a Christian and is now an atheist, talked to Richard Dawkins informally about the ideas that have informed his life and work. This was followed by an extended opportunity for the audience to put their own questions and challenges to this world-renowned and controversial figure.
Total running time: about 120 minutes.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Fond Memories of the Good Ol' TBM Days
I was thinking today about some of the memories I have of attending church so I decided to put together a random list of things I remember.
One guy would always bring a TON of crap to church with him every Sunday. On top of his scriptures, he would have four large bags. One on each shoulder and one in each hand. I always wondered why he needed to bring so much junk to church.
One of the things that always bugged me were scripture readers... you know, the ones that sit there in sacrament meeting and read their scriptures. If you're going to read your scriptures in church, you might as well stay home and read. But it's all about appearance: following the commandments in plain sight where everyone can see you.
There was a certain family that, no matter what time sacrament meeting started, they would always walk in half way through the opening song. They were NEVER on time and I thought it was strange because they were the wards "golden family", meaning that they are the best known for their booming testimonies.
I was sitting in the clerk's office counting tithing one day when a member of the ward walked in. I don't remember what he needed. What I do remember is that he was giving his word about something and pulled out his temple recommend to prove that he was being truthful. I laughed inside because it was so dumb. Even then, I realized that a person could easily lie to get their recommend!
I remember old men arguing in gospel doctrine class.
I remember sitting in elders quorum getting grilled to death every week because our home teaching numbers were very low.
I remember being extended yet another calling and reluctantly accepting it because you never say "no" to Jesus.
Being a clerk to the bishop, I was privy to some confidential information. Once, during fast and testimony meeting, a young man who had been disfellowshipped tried to go to the podium and share a remark. The bishop, quickly cut him off before he could get up and ended the meeting. Apparently, disfellowshipped people are not allowed to participate in testimonies, prayers, etc. I knew why the bishop had cut him off, but no body else did.
In priesthood meeting, before the group breaks up for their different classes, the bishop told everyone in the room to stand up. Once everyone was standing, he then instructed everyone with a temple recommend to sit down. Those left standing had no recommend and were being publically humiliated. Even as a TBM, that really pissed me off.
I remember one ward activity at a local park. One of the young women wore a white shirt and somehow got all wet. She was running around giving the entire ward a clear view of her large, bouncy headlights.
In testimony meeting, a young man got up and started talking about lots of controversial stuff. While the bishop did not get up and stop him, he did turn off the microphone so that no one could hear what he was saying.
A friend of mine in the ward was divorced from a woman in the ward. He told me that the reason they got married was because they were caught by her daughter "doing it". To justify what they were doing, they told the daughter that they were engaged. Knowing that, I always found it funny when the woman would get up and pretend to be all righteous. I knew what she had been up to!
Anyone else have any fond or funny memories that they'd like to share?
One guy would always bring a TON of crap to church with him every Sunday. On top of his scriptures, he would have four large bags. One on each shoulder and one in each hand. I always wondered why he needed to bring so much junk to church.
One of the things that always bugged me were scripture readers... you know, the ones that sit there in sacrament meeting and read their scriptures. If you're going to read your scriptures in church, you might as well stay home and read. But it's all about appearance: following the commandments in plain sight where everyone can see you.
There was a certain family that, no matter what time sacrament meeting started, they would always walk in half way through the opening song. They were NEVER on time and I thought it was strange because they were the wards "golden family", meaning that they are the best known for their booming testimonies.
I was sitting in the clerk's office counting tithing one day when a member of the ward walked in. I don't remember what he needed. What I do remember is that he was giving his word about something and pulled out his temple recommend to prove that he was being truthful. I laughed inside because it was so dumb. Even then, I realized that a person could easily lie to get their recommend!
I remember old men arguing in gospel doctrine class.
I remember sitting in elders quorum getting grilled to death every week because our home teaching numbers were very low.
I remember being extended yet another calling and reluctantly accepting it because you never say "no" to Jesus.
Being a clerk to the bishop, I was privy to some confidential information. Once, during fast and testimony meeting, a young man who had been disfellowshipped tried to go to the podium and share a remark. The bishop, quickly cut him off before he could get up and ended the meeting. Apparently, disfellowshipped people are not allowed to participate in testimonies, prayers, etc. I knew why the bishop had cut him off, but no body else did.
In priesthood meeting, before the group breaks up for their different classes, the bishop told everyone in the room to stand up. Once everyone was standing, he then instructed everyone with a temple recommend to sit down. Those left standing had no recommend and were being publically humiliated. Even as a TBM, that really pissed me off.
I remember one ward activity at a local park. One of the young women wore a white shirt and somehow got all wet. She was running around giving the entire ward a clear view of her large, bouncy headlights.
In testimony meeting, a young man got up and started talking about lots of controversial stuff. While the bishop did not get up and stop him, he did turn off the microphone so that no one could hear what he was saying.
A friend of mine in the ward was divorced from a woman in the ward. He told me that the reason they got married was because they were caught by her daughter "doing it". To justify what they were doing, they told the daughter that they were engaged. Knowing that, I always found it funny when the woman would get up and pretend to be all righteous. I knew what she had been up to!
Anyone else have any fond or funny memories that they'd like to share?
Monday, February 7, 2011
Why I Can't Leave the Church Alone
A lot of people ask me, "Since you're over the LDS church, why don't you just leave it behind and move on with your life instead of wasting all your time trying to tear it down?"
I have stated many times that if people are truly happy with their religion, whatever religion it is, then I am happy for them. One might ask, "If that is the case, then why do you blog against religion?"
That is a legitimate question. It's not for the attention and it's certainly not for the money. In fact, I've never received a penny for what I do here.
For 30 years, I gave myself unquestioningly to the church. I trusted them. I put my faith, money, and talents into them, expecting the eventual promised outcome: eternal salvation. I served a mission for them. I tried to bring my non-member friends into the church. I prayed daily and knew the scriptures inside and out. I read the Book of Mormon cover to cover at least a dozen times. Before my mission, I attended church for six hours a day (of my complete own free will). I truly strived to obey all the commandments and keep myself temple worthy. In short, I put everything I had into the church.
When I found out it wasn't true, that meant the last 30 years of investing into LDS, Inc. was a waste. But not only was it a waste, it was a sham, a con, a hoax. It wasn't an investment that just went under... it was a complete swindle from the very beginning.
I will never get those 30 years back. I will never get the thousands of dollars back. I will never get my youth back.
I threw away my youth for a cult. A cult that sucks you dry and then keeps on sucking. I turned down several sexual advances throughout my youth in an attempt to "keep the spirit". I was a normal young man with normal hormones and feelings. I suppressed them all in order to "be worthy". I will never get those years or those opportunities back.
And that is what pisses me off more than anything. My damn youth was wasted. I might as well have stayed in bed and slept for 30 years.
So I do what I do so that some other person can find the truth before their youth is gone. The sad (and funny) part is that if someone had come to me as a young adult and told me the church was not true, I would have shrugged them off and bet my life that it was true.
The LDS church destroys lives and families. Let me answer the above questions with another question. Do you walk away from something terrible and just leave it there to keep doing terrible things? No! You warn people about the danger and you fight to eliminate it.
Asking me why I can't leave the LDS church alone is like asking a Jew to leave Hitler alone. If you were a Jew and Hitler killed your entire family, would you just shrug it off and walk away if you had the means and ability to fight back? No! You would do anything you could to stop Hitler before he kills someone elses family.
And that's why I can't leave it alone. Now, I know that is extreme, comparing the LDS church to Hitler, but it was just an example. All I am trying to do is save someone else from wasting their life away, investing everything they have in a sham.
If you invested money into something and it later turns out that the "investment" was a scam, would you warn your friends not to invest? Of course you would! You wouldn't just walk away and say nothing while your friends get ripped off. You would do something. You would say something. You would try to prevent them from scamming more people.
And that's why I do what I do. I wasn't happy as a Mormon and yet I was brainwashed into thinking I was happy. Hey, I really mean it... if there are people who LOVE paying 10% of their hard earned income, who LOVE attending meeting after meeting, who LOVE having every aspect of their life dictated and controlled, then GREAT! I'm glad you love it! Stay with it! But for those who only say they LOVE it because the church has programmed them to say that they LOVE it, that is my target audience. That is who I am trying to liberate. I'm just seeking the person who believes it is true and yet has this feeling of burden, like a huge stone tied around their neck.
That is what it always felt like to me. I believed it and yet felt completely burdened down by all the expectations and commandments. I gave them a chance to prove themselves and they failed miserably. I gave them a chance for 30 years!
I won't discuss the actual reasons (at least not in this particular post) of why I came to understand that it's not true. I won't expound on why I believe they lied to me. I will just say that once I found my truth, that heavy burden was gone. Having Jesus in your life is supposed to make the burden easy... WRONG! Kicking Jesus and religion out of my life is what actually made the burden go away.
No more "big brother" in heaven who is always disappointed with me. No more superstition. No more crap. I now see life and the world the way it really is. Life is wonderful without religion and that's why I do what I do. I don't get paid for it. I don't get extra "blessings" for it. I just do it because I want to. I want to do my little part to make someone elses life better.
I have stated many times that if people are truly happy with their religion, whatever religion it is, then I am happy for them. One might ask, "If that is the case, then why do you blog against religion?"
That is a legitimate question. It's not for the attention and it's certainly not for the money. In fact, I've never received a penny for what I do here.
For 30 years, I gave myself unquestioningly to the church. I trusted them. I put my faith, money, and talents into them, expecting the eventual promised outcome: eternal salvation. I served a mission for them. I tried to bring my non-member friends into the church. I prayed daily and knew the scriptures inside and out. I read the Book of Mormon cover to cover at least a dozen times. Before my mission, I attended church for six hours a day (of my complete own free will). I truly strived to obey all the commandments and keep myself temple worthy. In short, I put everything I had into the church.
When I found out it wasn't true, that meant the last 30 years of investing into LDS, Inc. was a waste. But not only was it a waste, it was a sham, a con, a hoax. It wasn't an investment that just went under... it was a complete swindle from the very beginning.
I will never get those 30 years back. I will never get the thousands of dollars back. I will never get my youth back.
I threw away my youth for a cult. A cult that sucks you dry and then keeps on sucking. I turned down several sexual advances throughout my youth in an attempt to "keep the spirit". I was a normal young man with normal hormones and feelings. I suppressed them all in order to "be worthy". I will never get those years or those opportunities back.
And that is what pisses me off more than anything. My damn youth was wasted. I might as well have stayed in bed and slept for 30 years.
So I do what I do so that some other person can find the truth before their youth is gone. The sad (and funny) part is that if someone had come to me as a young adult and told me the church was not true, I would have shrugged them off and bet my life that it was true.
The LDS church destroys lives and families. Let me answer the above questions with another question. Do you walk away from something terrible and just leave it there to keep doing terrible things? No! You warn people about the danger and you fight to eliminate it.
Asking me why I can't leave the LDS church alone is like asking a Jew to leave Hitler alone. If you were a Jew and Hitler killed your entire family, would you just shrug it off and walk away if you had the means and ability to fight back? No! You would do anything you could to stop Hitler before he kills someone elses family.
And that's why I can't leave it alone. Now, I know that is extreme, comparing the LDS church to Hitler, but it was just an example. All I am trying to do is save someone else from wasting their life away, investing everything they have in a sham.
If you invested money into something and it later turns out that the "investment" was a scam, would you warn your friends not to invest? Of course you would! You wouldn't just walk away and say nothing while your friends get ripped off. You would do something. You would say something. You would try to prevent them from scamming more people.
And that's why I do what I do. I wasn't happy as a Mormon and yet I was brainwashed into thinking I was happy. Hey, I really mean it... if there are people who LOVE paying 10% of their hard earned income, who LOVE attending meeting after meeting, who LOVE having every aspect of their life dictated and controlled, then GREAT! I'm glad you love it! Stay with it! But for those who only say they LOVE it because the church has programmed them to say that they LOVE it, that is my target audience. That is who I am trying to liberate. I'm just seeking the person who believes it is true and yet has this feeling of burden, like a huge stone tied around their neck.
That is what it always felt like to me. I believed it and yet felt completely burdened down by all the expectations and commandments. I gave them a chance to prove themselves and they failed miserably. I gave them a chance for 30 years!
I won't discuss the actual reasons (at least not in this particular post) of why I came to understand that it's not true. I won't expound on why I believe they lied to me. I will just say that once I found my truth, that heavy burden was gone. Having Jesus in your life is supposed to make the burden easy... WRONG! Kicking Jesus and religion out of my life is what actually made the burden go away.
No more "big brother" in heaven who is always disappointed with me. No more superstition. No more crap. I now see life and the world the way it really is. Life is wonderful without religion and that's why I do what I do. I don't get paid for it. I don't get extra "blessings" for it. I just do it because I want to. I want to do my little part to make someone elses life better.
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