Reason #186: Because the LDS Church Banks on Short-Term Memory of the Public
I recently learned here that some people believe the leadership of the LDS church exerted enough pressure that it was able to prevent the production/airing of a mini-series, The Mormon Murders, that documented how the LDS church (and others) were duped by a document forger named Mark Hoffman. Some might say that the story of Hoffman is hardly “news” — but I’m thinking that the LDS church is hoping that time has softened the effect of this story and its implications: The LDS church bought documents from this forger because they believed them to be BOTH authentic and damaging to the reputation of Mormonism. That’s the way Mormonism is dealing with its past — by making it go away. Here’s an excerpt from my book, The Mormon...
Reason #169: Because Mormons call my books “religious pornography”
When I was a Mormon . . .I could not understand why anyone would oppose an organization that did so many good things for people. However, I never considered the implications of . . .an early anti-Christian book published by the LDS Church, the one in which Joseph Smith said he was told about all Christian churches: “I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong. . .all their creeds were an abomination in his sight, that those professors were all corrupt. . .”[i] That of course is standard Mormon doctrine from the official version of the First Vision itself in the Pearl of Great Price, firing the first shot in this battle directly at the character and doctrines of Christians. By name it [the LDS Church] has attacked all the major...
Reason #133: Today’s Mormons Don’t Know The Church’s Past
I have read that a very high percentage of members of the LDS church today are first-generation. Recently I had the following experience with one of them: About two months ago I sat at a restaurant with a college student who had grown up Mormon as she recounted to me her growing doubts about Mormonism. I shared that when I was an LDS college student, I also had to make some decisions about Mormonism. But things were very different, because the Church’s doctrines had changed so much – what with the ban on black men in the priesthood, the fact that all American Indians were no longer considered Lamanites… Her face went completely blank. “What do you mean, about blacks and priesthood?” She had grown up her whole life a Mormon and never knew. –...
Latter-day Cipher AND Mormon Mirage Giveaways
Easy way to get a free copy of my controversial novel about Mormonism: Go to Moody Fiction’s new blog, and make a comment. (You may need to refresh the page to make sure you’re commenting on my book.) They’re giving away ten copies tomorrow, Saturday, January 9. UPDATE: Zondervan is giving away 10 copies of The Mormon Mirage tomorrow too at the Moody Fiction blog! Go sign up!
On writing
Recently I the ExMormon Foundation honored me by requesting that I address them at their annual conference on how to write well. Here’s a link to the 8-part (about an hour) presentation, Out of the Mormon Mirage. And in the course of the address I referred to a short, handy resource list for writers or those who would like to get started in writing. It’s here. Blessings to all!
