All The Reasons We Won't Return to Mormonism
Reason #166: Because of Letters Like This
I sometimes get letters like this. They do indeed cause me to pause and re-evaluate my reasons for writing what I do, and reasons why I won't return to the LDS Church, in spite of the joyful experiences I had there. Here's the letter, and my reply. Mrs. Scott, I...
Reason #165: The Futility of Trying to Talk Grace to a Mormon
Mormons believe in grace -- as a subsequent to the exhaustion of your own good works. Yet, this is not the Biblical concept of grace; the unmerited favor of God. Grace is central to the Christian gospel, but is more of an attachment to the Mormon teaching. For...
Reason #164: The LDS Church is a Corporate Investment Entity
I recently read an article that quotes a former employee of the LDS Church who has insider information about how this corporation -- which he says is no longer a church, and hasn't been for a long time -- spends its billions of tax-free dollars. As a corporate...
Reason #163: Because of the Joseph Smith Papers
Did you know that all of the published images (and transcripts) of the writings of Joseph Smith are now online in a searchable form? See what LDS scholars have access to -- and know why so many of them study Mormonism's history -- but no longer believe its doctrines....
Reason #162: The Mental Gymnastics of Anticipating Polygamy
As a young Mormon woman I believed that I should prepare myself for plural marriage (the mainstream LDS church does not practice earthly polygamy of course but does command its practice after death.) I believed I might be able to enjoy the exclusive attentions of my...
Reason #161: Fanny Alger
On an ex-Mormon discussion board recently, the question was posed: What was the tipping point that caused you to leave Mormonism? (I asked the same question, but called it a "point of departure" in my book, Why We Left Mormonism (Baker Book House.) One person said it...