The C-Suite Saints and the Educated Elite

How closely do church leaders line up with the broader membership, and the population at large, when it comes to education and professional expertise? The answers may surprise you… or not.

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Mormon Doctrine, Ditched

What was once considered scripture for decades was decanonized without the consent of church members. Whatever happened to the Lectures on Faith?

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Eternal Consequences for Drinking Coffee?

When it was introduced, the Word of Wisdom was shared as a suggestion and not commandment. So when did it change into a commandment upon which our admittance to the temple is conditioned?

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Modern Mormon Marxists…?

A new group of self-described leftist Mormons have written a manifesto attempting to reconcile their Marxist views and their alleged Mormon faith.

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Marsh’s Milk Strippings: True or False?

A widely repeated story about apostasy has a questionable source. What are we to make of Thomas Marsh turning on Joseph and the Saints?

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8 Reasons why Joseph Smith Couldn’t Have Written the Book of Mormon

Critics have long alleged that the Book of Mormon was a creation of Joseph Smith's mind, but that claim doesn't withstand scrutiny.

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Is there a difference between church policy and doctrine?

Without clear boundaries between which is which, members can become confused about what is from God and what isn't.

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The Book of Mormon is Missing Something…

Astute readers may need to read between the lines to answer an important question about the circumstances God’s people faced in the New World.

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The Church’s Push for Vaccines

What happened in 1978 that led the First Presidency to speak out so strongly in favor of vaccines? And how do their past statements relate to today's vaccines?

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Increased Silence on Pornography

While the spread of pornography has risen, mentions about it in general conference have declined.

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The Lord’s Vengeance: First on the Church?

Modern revelation suggests that the Latter-day Saints are going to bear the brunt of God's apocalyptic fury. If true, why aren't we talking about it?

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My Wall of Heroes

These individuals hang on my office wall, inspiring me daily to stand up for truth in a world filled with lies.

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Garments: Unchanged and Unaltered?

The temple garment was once thought to be revealed to Joseph and that it should remain in its original form. Why has that changed?

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Why are William Clayton’s journals hidden?

Despite huge steps being taken to bring more transparency, a critical set of documents remains hidden in the First Presidency vault. Why?

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Ezra Taft Benson, Rebuked

A public speech by President Benson led to a private rebuke by the prophet. 30 years later, that speech reached scriptural status.

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Should Those Complicit in COVID-19 Be Granted Amnesty?

Is it worth forgiving and forgetting what happened in one of the greatest events of mass psychosis?

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Did Joseph Smith Predict Declining Fertility?

The prophet Joseph once prophecied that one day only Latter-day Saint women would be willing to bear children. Or… did he?

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Thou Shalt Not Talk Politics at Church?

Recent survey data shows how reluctant Latter-day Saints are to have social and political issues discussed in church.

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The Church and “Outward Appearance”

Numerous examples exist of church decisions being made out of concern for the institution's image. What can we learn from what scripture says about focusing on outward appearance rather than what is right?

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Changing Mormon Catchphrases

Covenant Path? Think Celestial? How about Ponderize? These and more catchphrases ebb and flow with popularity. But how frequently are they used, and why?

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Jesus: Unifier or Divider?

We worship a Jesus who is loving and peaceful, and who wants us to be united. How do we reconcile this with what He himself said regarding the divisiveness His gospel would create?

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New Youth Program: Success or Failure?

The Church ditched the Boy Scouts of America and introduced a new youth program based on goal-setting and enriching activities. But is it working?

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Did Joseph Smith Say This…?

Frequently cited statements that are claimed to have been spoken by Joseph Smith are published in Church manuals, taught by Church leaders, and shared by Church members. But are they all accurate?

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Big Tech Rats Out (Lazy?) Latter-day Saints

There's a wide discrepancy between the number of of people who say they are regular church-goers, and what some new data reveals is actually true.

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Come Follow Me’s Spectacular Fail

The Book of Mormon's second most important purpose receives hardly any attention in our lesson manual this week. Any guesses as to why?

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Do We Fight or Flee Babylon?

Can we actually be "in the world but not of the world"? How do we flee Babylon if we're not physically separating like in ancient times?

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Throughout scripture, God called out the righteous from among the wicked before a destruction. Does this set a pattern that will repeat today?

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Did Brigham Young Teach False Doctrine? (Part 2)

If the second president of the restored Church introduced several false teachings, what does that mean for the Church today?

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Did Brigham Young Teach False Doctrine? (Part 1)

Why have each of the major doctrinal innovations advanced by the Church's second president been rejected?

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Who are we defending the gospel against?

The scriptures are clear that God's people repeatedly abandon the faith while deluding themselves into thinking they are righteous. Why do we think we're immune from this trend?

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Heavenly Grandfather and a Plurality of Gods

Shortly before being murdered, Joseph Smith spoke twice on the topic of multiple Gods, sharing provocative teachings that angered his fiercest critics. Do these doctrines still stand?

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Thou Shalt Not Vote For Trump?

A small group of left-leaning Latter-day Saints are making the case that our faith requires not supporting Trump. Are they wrong?

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What (in the hell) are evil spirits?

The scriptures say that casting out evil spirits will be a sign of Christ's believers. Is it happening today, or do we prefer to ignore the topic?

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How Many Branches of Mormonism Are There?

Since Joseph Smith founded The Church of Christ, it has seen a number of breakoffs, including some in modern days as well. Why are there so many different denominations within the Mormon umbrella?

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Our Constitutional Conundrums and Condemnations

Do Latter-day Saints draw near to the principles of the Constitution while their hearts are far from them?

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Make Cultural Halls Cultural Again

Amid a loneliness epidemic and a decrease in social connection, could church cultural halls be turned into community centers to repair social fabric and bring people together?

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Leadership Roulette in the LDS Church

When one's eternal salvation hinges on the unique personality, biases, and leadership style of a local leader, for some this becomes a costly game of leadership roulette. Can the system be improved?

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Captain Moroni’s Dark Side?

Mormon portrays Captain Moroni as a near-perfect man, but did all of Moroni's military actions have divine sanction?

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Is President Nelson Part of a Secret Society?

The notorious Skull and Bones order originated at Yale and exists in only one other location: the University of Utah, where President Nelson graduated. Was he a member, and what implications does this have?

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Dude, Where’s My Moroni?

The Angel Moroni is missing from all recent LDS temples being constructed. In this musing, Connor shares the history and trends and explores why the change was made to remove Moroni.

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Why Aren’t Mormon Missionaries Doing What Jesus Commanded?

When Jesus called people to preach the gospel, both during His time on Earth and also in more recent revelation, He told missionaries to follow a practice that has since been abandoned. But why?

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Why do Mormons Revere Abraham Lincoln?

Was "Honest Abe" the Great Emancipator who preserved the Union, as some church leaders have taught? An honest review of history suggests otherwise.

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More Mormon Menaces to Society?

The Church just extended by five years the amount of time that unmarried Mormons can remain in their Young Single Adult ward. But is this a sign of a greater societal problem we need to grapple with?

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Aaron Sherinian Appears With Ukraine President

Zelenskyy and his crew visited with leaders from the Church, but not the First Presidency. Why might that be?

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President Nelson’s “Anti-Mormon” Campaign

Under what circumstances is it still okay to use the term "Mormon"? The recent changes have also produced some interesting legal updates that has gone unnoticed… until now.

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The Most Quoted Non-Mormon in General Conference

The Deseret News once claimed that C.S. Lewis was the top-most quoted non-Mormon in general conference. Turns out, they're wrong. So who is it?

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Is the Law of Consecration Active?

Church leaders have said conflicting things about whether we are supposed to live the law of consecration today. What does God expect us to do to live this celestial law?

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Are Mormons Christian?

Mainstream Christians criticize Mormons for having additional scripture beyond the Bible, yet themselves rely on doctrinal creeds that are not in the Bible. What gives?

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Sabbath Day Myths: What’s Actually Allowed?

If the Sabbath was made for man, then what are we supposed to actually do during that day?

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First Presidency to FDR: Pound Sand!

In 1941 the top leadership of the LDS Church wrote a letter to FDR's administration expressing opposition to the New Deal and the war buildup… but is this letter real?

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Four General Conference Talks I Would Give

Connor shares a few topics he thinks the Saints need to hear more regularly and powerfully over the pulpit during general conference.

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Four Reasons Why the Church Should Apologize

Elder Oaks said a decade ago that the Church does not give apologies. Perhaps this policy should be reconsidered?

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Three Tips to Spot a Truth-Teller

In a world filled with deceptions, how can disciples of Christ seek and defend the truth? Connor shares three specific tips to identify truth-tellers amongst us.

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Fake Quotes and Mormon Myths

What if a prophetic quote you have been sharing for years turns out to be falsely attributed? Worse, what if the only source of the quote was an avowed enemy of the Church?

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Four Worrisome Trends Troubling Church Growth

Each year we are presented with a bigger and bigger number of total church membership. But these numbers do not present a complete picture of what's actually happening—and the results should concern us.

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Idaho Saints Rebuked for Not Following the Prophet

Last week at a Stake Conference in Sandpoint, Idaho, two leaders chastised the Saints for not following the prophet regarding COVID-19. What can we learn from this rebuke?

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Joseph Smith, Criminal?

Latter-day Saints rightly champion the innocence of Joseph Smith in multiple trials on trumped up charges, pointing out how he was falsely arrested. But was he innocent of all these charges? And which claims against him are actually believed by Mormons today?

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Gold Plates Discovered in Saudi Arabia?!

New claims of 2,000-year-old gold plates discovered in the Middle East excited many Mormons because of the similarity with the Book of Mormon record. Could this be validation of what Joseph Smith did, or is this new claim a fraud?

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No food storage? Straight to jail!

How prepared is the average Latter-day Saint family? Connor shares some data and discusses why church leaders are talking about this issue less in recent years.

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Has Modern Revelation… Stopped?

As Latter-day Saints we believe in continuing revelation, but what should we make of the dearth of revelatory remarks from God in the past century?

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Has the Mormon Patriarchy Gone Poof?

Latter-day Saint men are taught that they are supposed to preside, but is this actually what God intends—and if so, what does it look like if husband and wife are "equal partners"?

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Three Reasons Why the Kirtland Temple Was Sold

The day many have long awaited is finally here, but why specifically did the Community of Christ decide to give up the Kirtland temple and other historical properties?

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Let’s Learn from Lucifer (Wait, what?)

While it's important to focus on Jesus, what happens if we don't closely investigate and learn from how Satan operates?

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Are Mormons the Best Breeders?

How does the fertility rate of Latter-day Saints stack up against their peer religionists, and those with no religion? The data shows a worrisome trend we need to discuss.

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Would YOU fight an armed intruder at church?

Why does the LDS Church disarm its members while in chapels—except for one privileged class of people?

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Gender Wars in the Church

Are trans converts now being listed as their assumed gender on church records? Is the marriage status of gay members now being recognized? What do these changes mean for the policy and doctrines of the church?

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Seminary

A new program from the Church will teach youth basic "life skills"… is this a sign of progress and better support, or an indictment on a failure of parents to teach their kids these things?

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Texas, Illegal Immigration, and God’s Plan

Millions of migrants have been streaming across the US southern border. Might this be a fulfillment of what God said would happen?

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Be More Strict, Grow the Church

Growth in church membership has substantially declined in recent decades. Could part of the problem be the unwillingness to boldly stand by our doctrines and thereby attract more curious investigators?

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Meet the Church’s New Chief Globalist

The LDS Church has hired a person to oversee its PR and political activities who has a clear and abundant history of engaging in activism for leftist causes, including climate change, DEI, LGBT, and more. What does this mean for the Church?

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Will You Get Your Own Planet?

Mormons are sometimes criticized for believing that as a heavenly reward they "get their own planet." Is this even true, and where does the idea come from?

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Only 1% of People Have Read the Best Book

What was supposed to be a flood has only been a trickle. Why have so few people read, let alone internalized the messages of, the Book of Mormon?

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Did Mary Know?

A popular Christmas song asks a number of questions about what Mary knew. So, what's the answer?

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Is Elder Kearon an Invalid Apostle?

Elder Kearon was recently ordained as a new Apostle… but it appears that church leaders skipped an important step.

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Free Agency Doesn't Exist

Agency is the central conflict in the war in heaven, so understanding it is important. And yet, people continue to wrongly call it "free agency." Why?

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Saints and Secular Schools

Why do Christians send their children to Caesar's schools then act surprised when they return home as Romans?

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A Prophet From Outside the Hierarchy?

The scriptures are full of examples of God calling a new prophet from outside the established religious hierarchy. Could it happen today?

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Is This the Mark of the Beast?

Many people think that microchips or CDBCs, or something like them, are the mark of the beast warned about in Revelation. Is this accurate, or what might be another interpretation?

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The Church Should Sell KSL and the Deseret News

Do the Church's media outlets advance the cause of Christ's kingdom? Or are they propaganda organs for advancing Caesarian politics and culture?

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Did Jesus Have a Wife?

Several early church leaders believed that Jesus was married — to multiple women — and children as well. Was this speculative opinion or is there any scriptural evidence for these claims?

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Truth: The First Casualty in War

Latter-day Saints have been commanded to seek and share truth, and beware the many deceptions that false spirits and the adversary are spreading. Why, then, do we fall prey so often to believing things that are not true?

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Climate Change and the Church

Did you know the Church has a "Sustainability Manager"? So does BYU. What is the Church's involvement in efforts to please "climate change" activists?

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What should Israel do?

Horrendous attacks on Israeli citizens raises the question: how should Israel respond? More importantly, what does God have to say about it?

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President Nelson Under Fire

There have been many critics in the past week of President Nelson's recent conference address and his statement to not take counsel from unbelievers. Does this criticism have any merit?

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Latter-day Hero Worship

A recent general conference talk rightly warned of "hero worship" and encouraged us to avoid it. But one group was curiously left off the list…

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Should the

What do the scriptures say about secession, and under what circumstances would it be okay for one or more states to leave the Union?

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Tim Ballard's Church Smackdown

The LDS Church accused Tim Ballard (of Operation Underground Railroad) of engaging in "morally unacceptable" behavior. Was this fake news, a rogue PR church official, or is it true?

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Let Church Leaders Retire

President Nelson recently celebrated his 99th birthday, and Elder Holland is back on mend to soon return to his duties. Why don't we let these men retire to emeritus status?

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Be Like Jaiden

What lessons can we learn from the 12-year-old boy who stood up to historically ignorant teachers and administrators after they kicked him out of class?

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You Can Now Wear Shorts at BYU-Idaho…

Recent changes at the LDS Church's universities attempt to focus more on principles than nit-picky restrictions, but did they miss the mark?

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Out of the Best Books

Connor shares ten important books that Latter-day Saints should read in order to better understand the gospel of Jesus Christ.

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Brother Brigham’s Transfiguration Tall Tale

While it is widely believed that during the "succession crisis" Brigham Young looked and sounded like Joseph Smith, what actually happened?

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Core Church Beliefs: Watered Down Edition

A new website from the LDS Church shares six "core beliefs" of the faith that some of its members might find peculiarly watered down.

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Oppenheimer and America’s Fiendish Butchery

Most people believe that dropping atomic bombs on Japan was necessary or justified. Then why did one church leader teach that it was immoral savagery?

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Sex Rules for Mormons (PG-13)

A 1982 First Presidency letter has a pretty strong statement on certain kinds of sex performed by members. Why was this taught, and is it still binding?

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Seven Powerful Mormon Doctrines

Latter-day Saints are Christians who have access to additional revelations beyond the Bible. What are some of the distinctive doctrines that emerged from these revelations?

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Modern Mormonism and the Abandonment of Ritual

Is the LDS Church's termination of temple cornerstone ceremonies an isolated issue or part of a larger trend away from symbols and rituals in modern worship?

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Can the church apostatize?

Modern Mormons think that the church has been restored and will never fall away. But is that accurate? And what do the scriptures actually say about us Latter-day Gentiles?

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Mormons believe in a female God?

While there is no recorded revelation on the topic, Latter-day Saints believe in a Heavenly Mother. Where did this belief come from?

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Is FHE Dead?

Connor reviews how often Family Home Evening was encouraged by church leaders and how this practice has declined in recent years.

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Does civility clash with standing for truth?

How should Christians model Jesus's behavior when it comes to opposing culture trends and personal beliefs or practices that are inconsistent with the gospel? How can we oppose what is wrong while being "civil"?

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Super Duper Political Neutrality

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints updated their statement on political neutrality this week, with several new and curious references. Let's compare and contrast against what was there before.

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The Matrix and Sleeping Saints

What false traditions do Christ's followers cling to today? What are the iniquities that keep them in a deep slumber?

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A Second Rejection of Jesus?

The Jews rejected Jesus when he came to them. Will Mormons reject Jesus when he returns?

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Evil Speaking of the Lord's Anointed

What doctrine says that Saints should not criticize any leader of the church, even if the criticism is true?

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Charles III: A Counterfeit King

Despite its attempts to mirror the real thing, the British coronation is a corrupt counterfeit of the true process where God wants us to become kings and queens. But did you know there is a second step to this in the temple that few have experienced?

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Trek and Synthesized Spirituality

Every year, hundreds of thousands of teenagers engage in pioneer cosplay to recreate a historically inaccurate Trek experience. But is this program and its associated activities spiritually counterproductive?

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The Family Proclamation: Prophecy or Not?

Published in 1995, the prescient proclamation on the family was ahead of its time. But is the document still relevant today with same-sex marriage legalized and amid societal gender wars?

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Is the Church Losing the Youth?

What does the future of the Church look like if the majority of its youth are going inactive and abandoning the faith? What do we need to do differently to retain more youth and help them remain on the strait and narrow?

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Prophets and Plastic Water Bottles

A recent General Conference talk taught church members that prophetic counsel is whatever the president of the Church says. But is this actually true?

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16 Silly Church Cultural Traditions

Middle initials for all General Authorities? Celebrating secular holidays in church? Beardless Bishops? Connor shares his thoughts on these and other cultural traditions in our church.

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Bible Stumbling Blocks for Christians

Mainstream Christians believe in the inerrancy of the Bible, but how do they reconcile a variety of verses that they don't actually adhere to?

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Why do Americans hate Mormons?

A recent poll shows the deep division between members of the LDS Church and those of other faiths. We like them, but they don't like us. The real question is, why?

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“Rumors of wars” aren't what you think…

Jesus said that before his return the world would be filled with wars and rumors of wars. We obviously understand what war is, but few realize what "rumors" Jesus was referring to. Connor shares scriptural and historical examples to bring clarity to this confusion.

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Government welfare: an evil dole or a necessary evil?

For generations, Latter-day Saints in need have been counseled first to help themselves, then to get help from family members, and then the Church. But that has now changed, with bishops being encouraged to point members to government welfare programs. When did this change occur and why?

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Should the Church’s Finances Be Transparent?

This week, the SEC fined the LDS Church $5 million for intentionally hiding information about its investments. Why was this hidden to begin with? Connor argues that the scriptures require financial transparency by the Church in order for its members to give "common consent."

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Are We “Anxiously Engaged” Enough?

Mormons volunteer more than any other social group, but does that mean we're actually doing what we need to be? And just as the government crowded out private charitable groups, are we letting the church crowd out our individual charity work?

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Transgenderism, Testimony, and Social Contagion

21% of Gen Z now identifies as LGBT. To what degree are these kids making choices about their sexuality and gender because of peer influence and social media? And how else does "social contagion" influence our children?

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These “Anti-Mormon” Attacks Didn’t “Break My Shelf”

Critics of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ often barf up a long list of supposed "gotchas" in an attempt to overwhelm ignorant and unsuspecting victims who are unfamiliar with church history or scholarship. Do their criticisms of the faith withstand scrutiny? How should Latter-day Saints respond?

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What’s in the Mormon Memory Hole?

There are things that earlier Mormons heard and believed that church members today are simply unaware of. What are some examples of this "memory hole" effect and why is it happening?

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Which Wars Are Actually Justified?

Latter-day Saints are a "warlike people" despite being commanded to "renounce war and proclaim peace." Even worse, they often fail to abide by modern revelation—one that is essentially ignored by the church—that spells out which wars are actually justified.

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How the Income Tax Silenced the Church

Since 1954, churches have been silenced by the IRS, their free speech suppressed as a condition of maintaining their tax-exempt status. What are the results of this policy and should it be overturned?

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Truth vs. the Depopulation Psychos

Dr. Paul Erhlich famously (and wrongly) claimed in 1968 that hundreds of millions of people would die of starvation, and this week was on 60 Minutes spouting the same fearmongering nonsense. Evil is called good, lies are advanced as truth, and "experts" are held up as credible by a corrupt media. But what's the truth, and what do we do about it?

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New Year, New World Order?

Why is the LDS Church getting cozy with the United Nations? Connor explores some concerning connections.

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The Christmas Story Got Screwed Up

Why do people think Joseph and Mary were turned away by an innkeeper who couldn't accommodate them? Or that she gave birth in a stable?

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Scarcity-Minded Saints and Slothful Servants

Latter-day Saints have been given so much and are commanded to seek for abundance, yet fall into fear-based traps of scarcity that limit their potential. What are the 4 Cs that can help us?

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Why is Church So Boring?

Latter-day Saints are taught to seek learning and explore the mysteries, yet most talks and classes are full of theological mediocrity. Why?

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Public schools’ war on religion

Connor shares the history behind government schools and how their motive was (and isn't?) to educate, but to indoctrinate.

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“Experts” and their destroyed credibility

Should we listen to the "experts" when the term is too loosely used and they don't admit when they were wrong? What if we applied the same standard to prophets?

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Taylor Swift, Ticketmaster, and the Laws of Wickedness

Why are people so quick to investigate Ticketmaster but not Epstein's client list, FTX's money laundering schemes, or Hunter Biden's laptop?

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Are political parties compatible with the gospel?

Church leaders often tell us that "principles compatible with the gospel may be found in various political parties…" Connor reviews the Democrat and Republican platforms in search of compatible principles.

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What is being colonized today?

If there's no more land to dominate, what is being colonized today? You are.

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My Bishop Had to Shave His Beard

If the Latter-day Saints want to be more than "Saints in Name Only" then we have to identify and avoid all the ways we're being deceived with cultural traditions of our fathers, idolatry, and iniquity.

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Who is in the “great and abominable church”? Are you?

Can members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) also be members of the "church of the devil"?

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Who will the next prophet be?

Connor shares the scriptural pattern of prophets being called from within the church — but not the church hierarchy — to call the people to repentance. Will this pattern repeat itself today, or can we ignore it?

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Lusts and Heaping Teachers

Why is it so hard to "endure sound doctrine," and easy to reject the counsel of those who tell us we're not on the right path? It's in the past and present, and it's a problem in our church. How does it relate to you?

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For the Strength of… Adults?

The new "For the Strength of Youth" pamphlet contains several improvements over the previous version. Connor shares many before-and-after examples and ponders what the same approach might look like if applied to adult members as well.

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Why I Stopped Praying in Shakespearean English

The T-words (thou, thee, thine, thy) used to be familiar and informal, but now are archaic and "reverential"… so why do we still use them? Connor shares some history and thoughts as to why he no longer speaks like Shakespear half a millennia ago.

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Should We Support the Constitution?

Musing from Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Connor discusses some of the scriptures that mention the Constitution to review whether Latter-day Saints are required to support it. And if we aren't, what should we be doing to ensure people aren't "in bondage to one another"?

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Mormons are Conspiracy Theorists

On the anniversary of 9/11, Connor explores why members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have to believe conspiracies exist and what they are supposed to do about it.

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Should Christians Support School Debt Forgiveness?

People often think that Jesus was a socialist or that God's commandment to help the poor means we should do so through government welfare programs and bailout policies. They're all wrong.

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Are you paying too much tithing? (Probably…)

Have you ever actually read the law of tithing? If you do so while referencing the 1828 dictionary (to understand the meaning of words at the time), a far different picture emerges than what is understood by most people in the church today. And it probably means that you're paying more than is required of you.

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Doing what is right vs. Protecting the image of the church

Connor shares several examples of how the church's actions may be guided by a desire to protect the image of the church, and how that can undermine a focus on doing what is right and letting the consequence follow.

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Psychedelic Drugs, Mental Illness, and Mormons

Do the scriptures support Latter-day Saints using mind-altering substances? The answer may surprise you and reveal God's desire to remove the causes of our modern diseases.

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Moroni and Hypocritical Christians

Too often we gloss over or altogether ignore a select set of scripture versus that rebuke us for our hypocrisy and apostasy, wrongly thinking that they don't apply to us. In this musing, Connor discusses how Moroni was speaking about and to us in his condemnation of our corruption.

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Is Religious Freedom the Right Fight?

While many in the Church focus on religious freedom, including most recently President Dallin H. Oaks in a recent speech in Rome, it is worth considering if this narrowing of our concern to religious matters excludes other areas where we as a church community should publicly fight for freedom. Joseph Smith, for example, proclaimed a desire to defend the "civil and religious" liberty of all people. Should we?

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The Politics of Pioneer Day

What has become a second "Independence Day" of sorts has special meaning for members of the LDS Church whose heritage requires them to recognize that the government is full of "damned rascals," as Brigham Young once called them, who fail to secure our rights and often persecute instead of protect us.

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Should Morality Be Legislated?

Why do Christians turn to Caesar to be the arbiter and enforcement arm of their moral worldview? Connor explores some of the arguments used by proponents of "legislating morality" and discusses why they are problematic.

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Are You in the Majority or Minority?

The Bible's story of Elisha and the hosts of heaven surrounding Syria's army should help followers of the Way realize we're in the majority even though our positions and actions might be in the mortal minority, subject to scorn and derision from peers, neighbors, and family members.

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Patriotic Mormon Rameumptoms

Should we sing patriotic songs in sacrament meeting? Is it appropriate to bear testimony of the "land of the free" and the like, especially for people who do nothing about it? Connor shares why he skipped church today and why the 4th of July worship service has been problematic for him in the past.

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You're Probably Not Anxious Enough

Members of the LDS Church were recently told that they "may appropriately choose to participate" in the political process, but is that enough? A few verses shine light on how far we've strayed from how much we're supposed to involve ourselves in.

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Mormons are Too Mainstream

God has said that we're condemned for our "vanity," and it's the same problem the children of Israel experienced when they told Samuel they wanted a king to be "like all the nations." What does this mean for followers of "the Way"?

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Was Joseph Smith Actually a Polygamist?

We're told that Joseph Smith revealed, taught, and practiced polygamy. But there's significant evidence to conclude that this is not actually true. Connor reviews some of the information.

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Which Way Should We Follow?

Early Christians weren't known by that label until later. They were simply followings of "the Way" — disciples of Christ who had told them personally that he was the way to follow. What does that mean for us?

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Four Scriptures Most Mormons Ignore

We talk about having the "restored gospel," but we don't really have it — we only have a part of it. So why don't we talk about the "greater portion" that's been held back from us, let alone try and obtain it?

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Choosing Christ Creates Contention

Why did the Prince of Peace say that he didn't come to bring peace, but a sword? What is it about the gospel of Jesus Christ that leads to contention?

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We Are an Idolatrous People

Why did a modern prophet say that we, the Latter-day Saints, are "an idolatrous people"? While it's easy to dismiss and deride the early Israelites for their idol-chasing tendencies, what might we learn about their mistakes that apply to our own commitment to God today?

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The Church is Way Too Silent on Abortion

Connor shares some data he compiled revealing how little abortion has been discussed by church leaders in recent years, and discusses why this silence is so problematic.

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Should I Be Excommunicated?

In a religion that involves ongoing revelation, our beliefs are always subject to change. Some Latter-day Saints might be further along in their access to spiritual insights than us… so what does it look like to enforce membership restrictions on people who believe (and even advocate for) things that might fall outside of the mainstream?

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My Church Shouldn’t Be My Political Opponent

There's a perception that the LDS Church controls politics in Utah. Connor shares several examples of how this has worked in the past, and explains why lobbying the legislature creates problems for Mormons who disagree with the Church's stance.

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Stop Pledging Allegiance to a Flag

Most people who pledge allegiance to the flag, and the government "for which it stands," have no clue about its history or the purpose behind its creation. Connor shares that information and why it's problematic for Christians.

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Taxation is Theft (According to Scripture)

Are taxes the price we pay for living in a civil society? Or are they a sinful enslavement of some men over others?

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I Don’t Want My Kids to Attend BYU

Despite coming from a family of BYU graduates, and marrying into one as well, Connor explains several reasons why he will be encouraging his children to not attend Brigham Young University.

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Are Christians Deceived?

We often talk about wars and events happening elsewhere, but we don't know "the hearts of men in [our] own land." Why do we fall into the trap of fixating on external issues when there are so many internal issues we need to be fixing? Connor elaborates on an oft-ignored scripture to discuss its modern application.

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The Counsel Most Saints Ignore

Despite countless decades of counsel from our leaders, why do so few Latter-day Saints follow Joseph's example to lay up in store during years of plenty?

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Why I Still Believe

Can an intelligent person be a faithful person? Connor shares several reasons why he continues to believe in the gospel, despite arguments against it being true.

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Religious Exemptions from Government Mandates

Does our religion allow us to seek a religious exemption from vaccine mandates? How about fighting in the military? Connor explores why our faith should lead us to focus on a bigger issue if we really care about religious freedom.

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Does the Prince of Peace Approve of War?

With the Russia and Ukraine controversy unfolding, what should Latter-day Saints believe and advocate? Is it okay to support war, either directly or indirectly? Connor reviews a modern revelation (God's law on war) that few people even pay attention to, let alone heed.

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Beards, Ankles, and Whited Sepulchers

BYU bans beards, BYU-Idaho prohibits shorts, and some suggest that obedience to these Pharasaical policies helps show our obedience to God. But if the Lord looketh on the heart, why do we so heavily fixate on the superficial as a measure of our devotion to God?

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Is the Word of Wisdom Wrong?

It's widely known that Mormons don't drink alcohol or coffee or tea, but is this actually a commandment? Or have members of the LDS Church become like Pharisees in how they approach this principle of health?

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Can Christians Break the Law?

Is civil disobedience ever justified by God? When is it okay to defy the government? Connor discusses these questions in light of Romans 13, the 12th Article of Faith, and D&C 134, which are commonly cited by those who claim we should submit to the state.

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When is a Prophet Actually… a Prophet?

Are the leaders of the Church always inspired? What is "prophetic counsel" that we are supposed to follow? And how can we determine what is from God and what is merely good advice to consider? Connor shares some historical examples to suggest the importance of not assuming that everything leaders say is inherently from God.

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Should the Church Fight the State?

Despite claiming to care about religious freedom, why is the Church not speaking out against its threats today? Connor discusses the difference between institutional and individual obligations to support freedom, and why those who claim to worship God need to do something about it.

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What the War in Heaven Actually Means About Agency

Many members of the LDS Church misunderstand what the War in Heaven was all about. They think that Satan wanted to "force us to be righteous," but no scripture supports this viewpoint. Connor discusses how Lucifer wanted to persuade people to commit sin while thinking they could avoid the consequences of their actions — a tactic that continues today.

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