Incite Blog

Reason #197: Count up the Book of Mormon Changes for Yourself

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I’ve seen estimates as high as over 5,000, describing the number of changes in the Book of Mormon from its first “inspired wording” to recent editions. But don’t take my word, or anyone else’s for that. Look on this site and compare multiple digital versions for yourself:

Facsimilies of Historic Book of Mormon Editions

Very interesting!

For more information, see The Mormon Mirage 3rd Edition:  A Former Member Looks at the Mormon Church Today (Zondervan, 2009). Also available as an audiobook and as an expanded-text E-book for Nook, Kindle and other reading devices.

Also available by Latayne C. Scott, Latter-day Cipher: A Novel

 

 

Reason #196: Because It Goes Beyond Tallying Risks

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I’ve often heard Christians express frustration with non-believers, offering this argument:  If Christianity is true, you should believe it to benefit from its advantages, not the least of which is eternal life. And if it’s not true and there is no eternal reward, they reason, what does one have to lose by living the Christian life?

However, the same argument is used by Mormons — and has been used on me. If Mormonism is true, I (unlike the average “never-Mo” or someone who was never a Mormon) risk eternal damnation by continuing to reject Mormonism. The reasoning is this:  Just return to Mormonism. If it’s not true, what would I lose as compared to such a catastrophic loss?

The issue is truth. This business of the gain and loss of one’s soul can’t be done according to advantages versus disadvantages, nor according to percentages of probability, nor according to personal preference or political correctness.

Jesus didn’t just say He was the Way and the Life. He said He was Truth embodied. Though faith involves reason, it is not based on our own reasoning abilities but upon one fact:  Someone came to this earth, taught an unchanging message, and died for that message. But unlike any other religious martyr in history, He rose from the dead, thus vindicating everything He ever said.

That is truth, and that is worth risking everything for. 

For more information, see The Mormon Mirage 3rd Edition:  A Former Member Looks at the Mormon Church Today (Zondervan, 2009). Also available as an audiobook and as an expanded-text E-book for Nook, Kindle and other reading devices.

Also available by Latayne C. Scott, Latter-day Cipher: A Novel

 

 

Reason #194: Because I get to answer snarky letters

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Here’s a recent letter to me via this site:

Another one bites the dust, ha ha.  :)  Anyhow, I think it\’s sad that you allowed Dan\’s love for you to also infect your faith.  I didn\’t see anything new here or in your books — basically a rehash of the faded blue jean arguments of the Tanners, who, like so many others, have left Mormonism but just can\’t seem to leave it alone.  In all sincerity, I hope you find peace because there doesn\’t seem to be much of it here.  Heck, there\’s more turmoil here than in the spin cycle of my washing machine.  :)

Best regards,
Alan

My response:

Thank you for your interest.

I found it remarkable — in every sense of the word — that you referred to what you found “here” (on the site, perhaps?) as having “more turmoil. . .than in the spin cycle of my washing machine.”

The spin cycle of my washing machine doesn’t have turmoil. The agitation took place in the wash cycle. The spin is a final process, using centrifugal force, to extract the last bit of dirt and rinse water from things.

That’s where I am in my life, married now for 38 years to the same Dan who says he is the happiest man in the world, with two adult children who are responsible, happy Christians married to Christians and with stable home lives themselves; with loyal friends, attending the same church I joined 38 years ago surrounded by lifelong brothers and sisters who love me.

It has taken that long to finally spin out the damage that Mormonism did. But I am free of it, and have a happy life, a wonderful honorable career, and great, satisfying, soul-deep peace with God.

I pray the same for you.

Reason # 193: “Doctrines That Are Going Away”

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I am a “lurker” on an Internet message board where LDS historians and others speak about “doctrines that are going away” (their words, not mine.)
Q: How can a DOCTRINE go away? A practice, yes. But a definition of God shouldn’t “go away,” right?

Here’s another quote (which I assume is tongue in cheek, but telling):
“Mormons, we used to be peculiar, but ever since 1995 we have been just as normal as you!”

For more information, see The Mormon Mirage 3rd Edition:  A Former Member Looks at the Mormon Church Today (Zondervan, 2009). Also available as an audiobook and as an expanded-text E-book for Nook, Kindle and other reading devices.

Reason #192: Romney’s Candidacy Highlights the Role of LDS Secrecy

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‎”That aspects of the religion of a devout president of the United States should be concealed from all but 2 percent of us may be a legitimate question that merits pondering.” Quote from a provocative article in The New York Times:  Everyone is asking this question.
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‎”That aspects of the religion of a devout president of the United States should be concealed from all but 2 percent of us may be a legitimate question that merits pondering.” Quote from this  provocative article in The New York Times.
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What is going on in those secret temple ceremonies?  For more information, see The Mormon Mirage 3rd Edition:  A Former Member Looks at the Mormon Church Today (Zondervan, 2009). Also available as an audiobook and as an expanded-text E-book for Nook, Kindle and other reading devices.
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