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Recent Posts
Why The Worldwide Fast Didn't Work
Previously: I Finally Got That Coveted Slot on Radio Free MormonI frequently hear from regular readers who have been asking why I'm often absent from this blog for long periods of time. There are two reasons, actually, one having to do with my...(26 Sep)
I Rarely Walk Out of A Movie
I usually trust that still, small voice (and it was SO right this time).Infidel was not on my radar to see. It already had a few strikes against it but tonight the showing was at a real convenient time, so I decided to roll the dice.The first...(25 Sep)
Socialism and Satan's Plan
The ramping up to November's US presidential election has made pretty much everybody in my country go even crazier than we already were. Mormons aren't immune to it either.Last month, the blog titled My Life By Gogo Goff put out an article all...(23 Sep)
Donald "Biff" Trump
There was a story in the news today about someone sending Ricin to the White House. It occurred to me that I would never think well of that action or the person who did it - and I hate Trump (something I have never felt toward any...(22 Sep)
In Comparison To More Classic Products
In prominent casinos in Canada today, the variety of video games usually gets to 2000 titles! On the internet, casinos like to reveal to you how much they value each of your down payment. As well as offered further developments as well as attributes...(20 Sep)
Face-to-Facemask with the Rasbands
In another attempt to connect with the youth of the church, the Rasbands have continued the trend of face-to-face broadcasts designed for young adults. This particular event was a pretty heavy one with a lot that demands review. ...(20 Sep)
Review: Producing Ancient Scripture
I’ve been intrigued with what seem to be esoteric[1] influences flowing into Joseph Smith, and esoteric elements flowing out of him — into Mormonism. And as I consider how he fits into the larger scheme of esoteric-Christianity, I...(19 Sep)
Repurpose An Amusement Gun Safe Door
When you’ve got a vertical divider on your secure, it may make your secure not to shut if the trendy pocket is complete. With a layout that is half of the size bigger than its bigger brother, the American Security Model 13 door organizer will...(19 Sep)
Leading Online Poker Blogs, Websites & Influencers
For circumstances, if you are betting $1 for a spin, yet the port equipment requires an optimum wager of $3 for a spin to win a prize, after that, you need to stick to the need. If Online Bingo is your video game after that, Pink Casino is the area...(19 Sep)
Brain Buzz
When I was a teen, I was part of a competitive Bible quiz league. We had competitions locally and went to a few national tournaments around the country during the year.Essentially, you would commit a book of the Bible to memory and be asked...(18 Sep)
President Russell M Nelsons throws past Presidents under the bus
(14 Sep)
D&C 30: Personal Revelations
There's not a lot in this section that I find actually objectionable, but it is a good example of an interesting phenomenon prevalent in the early church that's absent in the modern church: personalized scoldings from God.You could make the...(31 Aug)
How to Avoid Being a Jerk to Gay People
My mom gets cold easilyI don't know about you, but I have a lot of experience being a jerk. I rarely behave like a jerk on purpose, it happens most frequently with the people I love, and almost always because I lack empathy. For example,...(17 Aug)
I Finally Got That Coveted Slot on Radio Free Mormon
Previously: The Only Thing That Matters is the ScienceWell, it finally happened. Due to the overwhelming demands of one listener, Radio Free Mormon loosened its standards Friday morning and agreed to feature me on the podcast. |Join us as I...(16 Aug)
Adam Clarke’s Commentary and the Book of Mormon
In his most recent podcast episode, Radio Free Mormon spent an hour and a half exploring the possibility of the influence of Adam Clarke’s early nineteenth century Bible commentary on the Book of Mormon. In the wake of the publication of an...(10 Aug)
Is the Media Fair
I took the title of this post from a Trump/Pence campaign add, disguised as a survey, with the question "Is the Media Fair" accompanied by a yes or no button, I wanted to press the no button but realized I had way too many questions about what...(31 Jul)
I Work in Building Named after a Man Who Said Homophobic Things
Me in front of the Wilk in 2018Disclaimer: Like all my posts, I speak only for myself here. I do not speak for my employer nor do I speak for other queer people associated with BYU. And I certainly don’t speak for the many people who are calling...(27 Jul)
“Writing Mormon History” is an emotional roller coaster ride
A review of Joseph W. Geisner, ed., Writing Mormon History: Historians and Their Books (Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 2020).
Writing Mormon History, edited by Joseph W. Geisner, is a collection of essays by prominent historians of...(20 Jul)
The Book of Mormon versus Joseph Smith
As you can see the Book of Mormon contradicts Joseph Smith on almost everything he taught after 1835 Joseph Smith: Many men say there is one God; the Father, theson and the Holy Ghost are only one God! I say this is a strange...(19 Jul)
Joseph Smith’s First (or Second) Prayer
Rumor has it that the folks assembling the new Church hymnal are planning to embrace the multiple accounts of the First Vision with a completely rewritten version of the hymn “Joseph Smith’s First Prayer.” We here at ZD are pleased...(6 Jul)
A New Life Phase
It’s been over a year since we updated this website. There are several countries we’ve visited that we haven’t written posts about (Germany, Austria, Czech Republic). Our Family Adventure Summit event in Bali last October (2019)...(25 Jun)
Take a Survey About Spirituality During the Pandemic
From a PhD student in Counseling Psychology at BYU:
“What we believe makes a real difference. Decades of research shows that religious beliefs affect individuals’ emotional well-being, including depression and anxiety levels. Believers tend...(25 Jun)
Mormons Defending Confederate Statues
A few decades ago, I served a mission in the American South. This meant that I got to have lots of conversations with Christians who thought Mormonism was wrong from the get-go simply because we have extra scriptures in addition to the Bible. The...(24 Jun)
The Architect of Rock and Roll
Little Richard performs at KABC in Los Angeles on Dec. 12, 1991.Sad news about Little Richard today. They broke the mold when they made him. He literally changed everything about music.I have two Little Richard stories. One was in high school. We...(9 May)
Elijah of the Old Testament was fulfilled by John the Baptist
A Marvelous Work and a WonderChapter 13The Mission of Elijah Elijah's coming foretoldThe next major event we will consider in this "restution of all things" (acts 3 :19-21) is the coming of Elijah in fulfillment of Malachi 4:5-6Le Grande...(1 May)
Muh-Muh-Muh My Corona, Part Four: "The Only Thing That Matters Is The Science"
Previously: And Should We Die?Not long ago I was re-watching the movie Rain Man. There's a scene in the film where Tom Cruise is driving cross country with his severely autistic brother Raymond, played by Dustin Hoffman. Raymond has...(26 Apr)
Trump's Hydrocholroquine claim is currently unfounded
sinisterporpoise@yahoo.com(10 Apr)
The Official Mormon Faith Promoting Joseph Smith Jr First Vision Story
sinisterporpoise@yahoo.com(10 Apr)
How the Second Great Awakening Laid the Seeds for Mormonism
sinisterporpoise@yahoo.com(28 Mar)
Thank You For Being My Neighbor
A couple of years ago I walked into a darkened movie theater, the trailers already underway. As I fumbled my way to my seat, back to the screen, I heard a voice. I froze, my face immediately in my hands, and burst into tears. I didn’t need to turn...(20 Mar)
Dancing With Crazy. Again.
...But only in a newly re-designed and re-edited way! NOW AVAILABLE on Amazon.(10 Mar)
The Love of God in the Toughest of Times
Friday, September 4th, 2015 was one of the worst nights of life. My stake president called me unexpectedly. Over the past six months we had been working and counseling together to form a stake-sponsored group for LGBTQ Latter-day Saints. A member...(4 Mar)
Truth is Reason: Faith of a Scientist Reviewed
Disclosures: I personally know the author. He's a super nice guy and I appreciate him and am happy to know him. Also, I resigned my membership in the LDS church because I don't believe in it. I enjoyed reading this book and getting to know John's...(25 Jan)
State of the Me: 2019-2020
Since this new year is a nice, round number -- and I'm hitting 20 years of marriage and 20 years of living in Europe at the end of this new year -- I'd like to give a two-decade review this time.The three main axes are home/family, career, and...(19 Jan)
Goulash Soup
1.2 liters broth (in a soup pot that holds two liters+)0.2 liters red wine600 grams beef or meat substitute (such as Dinki-Gulasch Goulash, 3 packets), in small cubes (1-2 cm diameter)1 packet (50 grams) "dodatak jelima sa povrcem za Goveđi Gulaš"...(25 Dec)
OH MORMON CHURCH - ExMormon Song Parody ala O Christmas Tree
It's been almost a year since I last posted on this blog, but yesterday, I was listening to Christmas music and a lot of "alternative lyrics" started running through my head - and, of course, when I say "alternative lyrics," they usually involve...(5 Dec)
Grateful
I am also grateful for my kids, chocolate, bubble blowing, massages, music, swimming pools, roller skates, kissing, old movies, new movies, any movies, sushi, narwhals, coffee, books, heavy blankets, incense, silence, double rainbows, red...(29 Nov)
Server maintenance
I am in the process of upgrading the server for this site and its sister sites (MAA Books, Outer Blogness, and ExMormon). There will probably be some downtime(12 Nov)
A Stingy God
by Johnny Townsend On the surface, Mormons are generous. They give a full ten percent of their income to their church. They donate countless hours every week to various “callings,” as Sunday School teachers, Nursery leaders, temple workers, and...(29 Oct)
Uber Diaries: Respect the Grind
(Note: This is a story I wrote for an upcoming book. This one didn't make the final cut, but I still like it.)Pickup: Sentinel HotelThe passenger is average height, but an athletic build. He gets into the van with a duffel bag I assume is luggage. I...(23 Oct)
Ad Astra: A movie review
It's been a while since I opened blogger for any reason other than deleting spam comments, but I've just come out of Ad Astra and I need to talk about it. No... I need to write about it.I blame grad school and film class for this.I love a good...(7 Oct)
Magic Glasses and a Bunny Suit (saying no to perfection and yes to vulnerability)
by Emily Waite Growing up in the Mormon church, the voice that narrated my life up until now was screaming of perfection. For as we know, though we will never reach it in this life, perfection is the goal – always. After leaving the church I had...(13 Sep)
I Want to Know What Love Is
I'm not sure when I first heard the song.*It came out the year I left on my Mormon mission for France - 1984. (The lead photo was taken a few months before I left.) I was pretty sequestered in the first city I served in - Brest, at the tip of...(26 Aug)
Recent Comments
Katherine Ruth Pollock @ Worlds Without End
THE PLOT THICKENS!
Mark Thomas @ Worlds Without End
Colby, Here are 2 quick counter examples indicating that Jospeh Smith was in dialogue with other com...
Mark Thomas @ Worlds Without End
One correction in my last comment. I should have said that Thomas Scott was published more than any ...
Mark Thomas @ Worlds Without End
Methodist circuit riders carried the the gospel by horseback throughout early nineteenth century Ame...
Colby Townsend @ Worlds Without End
Struggling, I have listened to it of course but I have also known Haley for more than eight years no...
Struggling @ Worlds Without End
I assume that you have listened to this podcast:
https://www.mormonstories.org/podcast/haley-wilson-...
William L Davis @ Worlds Without End
Colby, I’m really glad that you posted this announcement about your forthcoming work. From our...
canlı poker @ Worlds Without End
Asking questions are actually good thing if you are not understanding anything totally, except this ...
John Hajicek @ Worlds Without End
Thanks, Andrew. Nicely done.
jpv @ Worlds Without End
Schmee: pwned.
A WordPress Commenter @ Dawning of a Brighter Day | Mormon Literature in the 21st Century
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A WordPress Commenter @ Telestial State | The Absolute Worst Utah Has to Offer
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To get started with moderating, editing, and deleting comments, please visit ...
It’s not just the social media thing that does this.It can be snobbery and a lack of acceptanc...
thanks for sharing. i’m making my way through the podcast. feeling a little lonely.
chanson @ Main Street Plaza
@Suzanne — That’s a good point. I think it really is about being trained to see right/g...
Missed you, your insights and the truth. (Hello Nauvoo Expositor.)
Helped me through a really diffic...
Suzanne Neilsen @ Main Street Plaza
I guess some people think FDR is the same as Hitler and Stalin, since they clearly can’t diffe...
Junia @ Main Street Plaza
Johnny,
Do you really think that Trump is unique among politicians in his horredness? Do you really ...
Rick @ Main Street Plaza
Homosexuals who practice are in danger of judgement, same as the practitioner of sex before marriage...
Rick @ Main Street Plaza
You cited your opinion, which you’re entitled to, however you are not citing facts. Trying to ...
Mark Daniel Cross @ Main Street Plaza
Brilliant insight Jerry. Spot on.
Megan @ Main Street Plaza
Part of the issue with the Church and Joseph Bishop is that he told his victim in the leaked audio ...
Megan @ Main Street Plaza
This is the most backward and terrible advice. Ladies, it is OKAY to initiate conversation and push ...
Ryan @ Main Street Plaza
I’m actually the individual in the ad.
At the time, I had just returned from serving a missio...
This puzzles me.
Judaism was created & in both its ancient & modern form exists for precisel...
I hit on this problem a long time ago, when I was a teenager. (It took some years to do a lot of rea...
chanson @ Main Street Plaza
Yeah, same. It was certainly never presented to me as a decision I would need to make.
Romney came down to speak in St. George a few months back. On the comments of the news story coverin...
Great essay. This is exactly the reasoning that took me out of the church. Once I knew a loving god ...
I have thought about this recently in the context of why Mormon men give up on the faith than Mormon...
Hi Ron,
Thanks for the thoughtful reply. I actually went to the Unitarian Church for 5 years after I...
Hi John, I was sorry to read that after you left LDS you tried Christianity and for some reason it a...
I hope you see this – that the energy leads you back here if you haven’t already figured...
Brandon Pearce @ Pearce On Earth - Traveling Family. Entrepreneurship. Homeschool.
Wonderful! Let us know where you end up! We’ve been working with SMA Home Solutions, but there...
Hi there- we are in the process of purchasing a home in San Miguel. Can you share the name of your ...
Thanks so much for sharing what you have.It’s almost a revelation to me that I could perhaps s...
Dhammika Alawatte / Maddumage @ Pearce On Earth - Traveling Family. Entrepreneurship. Homeschool.
This Wonderful family on Travel takes us to those untapped territories & opened their wisdom &am...
Just want to let you know I found this very informative as I’m moving to the UAE for a year. I...
Brandon Pearce @ Pearce On Earth - Traveling Family. Entrepreneurship. Homeschool.
Yes, there were a few couples there together. I think it’s a fine thing to experience together...
Very enlightening thoughts! Thanks for sharing Brandon. I am looking forward to share and discuss y...
Hi Lenny, how was your experience at the retreat? I am thinking of going next month but I am very co...
Viviane Bernardin @ Pearce On Earth - Traveling Family. Entrepreneurship. Homeschool.
Hi Brandon,Interesting and balanced view on your experience. First time I heard of Ayahuasca. Have y...
Cyclingdiva @ ReubensCube
Do you know, and can you pls share with me. what type of dang cables did you use? I’m working ...
Jenny Pulinec @ ReubensCube
I also am in the same boat love the citrus splash…had it here in Ontario,Canada …but now...
Earl @ ReubensCube
Just came across your post. Looks great! I have used Drylock in the past also. Great stuff, just a b...
Citrus Blast @ ReubensCube
Rueben,
Did Crest discontinue this flavor? Like you, this is the only toothpaste I have been using ...
Gail @ ReubensCube
I love the Citrus Crest! I’m in search of it now so I can stock up. Thank goodness I have a co...
james Barends @ ReubensCube
Code requires the drum trap be air tight, not just water tight. What you have done is OK for a shor...
bejah @ ReubensCube
You’re crazy. Why in the world would you say that? college is the best thing that could happen...
Terry @ ReubensCube
Mint makes me cough and or sneeze. Allergy maybe?? I NEED my citrus toothpaste fix! We have a runni...
Lorne @ ReubensCube
Same thing here in Canada. I also hate the taste of mint and was angered that I can no longer find i...
CathyL2 @ ReubensCube
You mention this is water tight ~ but is it airtight? Sewer gasses are considerably smaller than wat...
LDSRevelations @ LDS Revelations
“Also the words did not just appear in the translators”
The actual accounts of the trans...
LDSRevelations @ LDS Revelations
“Also the words did not just appear in the translators”
The actual accounts of the trans...
Fatboy @ LDS Revelations
I think there is a very important understanding missing here. When Joseph Smith translated the Book ...
Fatboy @ LDS Revelations
I think there is a very important understanding missing here. When Joseph Smith translated the Book ...
LDSRevelations @ LDS Revelations
This just arouses my curiosity and desire to learn more of both books. I’m sure they support each ...
LDSRevelations @ LDS Revelations
This just arouses my curiosity and desire to learn more of both books. I’m sure they support each ...
LDSRevelations @ LDS Revelations
Who inspired who? In 1823 Ethan Smith in Vermont knows nothing of Joseph Smith and the claims of ang...
LDSRevelations @ LDS Revelations
Who inspired who? In 1823 Ethan Smith in Vermont knows nothing of Joseph Smith and the claims of ang...
Melisa @ LDS Revelations
Hi There,
We’re trying to spread the word about LDS LGBT Suicide and Homelessness Awareness D...
Melisa @ LDS Revelations
Hi There,
We’re trying to spread the word about LDS LGBT Suicide and Homelessness Awareness D...
David @ LDS Revelations
Now it gets a bit more interesting. Joseph first reported to his family about the gold plates in 18...
David @ LDS Revelations
Now it gets a bit more interesting. Joseph first reported to his family about the gold plates in 18...
David @ LDS Revelations
Very amusing. This just arouses my curiosity and desire to learn more of both books. I’m sur...
David @ LDS Revelations
Very amusing. This just arouses my curiosity and desire to learn more of both books. I’m sur...
Heber Frank @ LDS Revelations
If a woman married in the New and Everlasting Covenant of Marriage loses her husband she MUST have t...
Heber Frank @ LDS Revelations
If a woman married in the New and Everlasting Covenant of Marriage loses her husband she MUST have t...
john @ LDS Revelations
I made a business deal with some Mormons ONCE, they screwed me over. The Mormons are the last peopl...
john @ LDS Revelations
I made a business deal with some Mormons ONCE, they screwed me over. The Mormons are the last peopl...
LDSRevelations @ LDS Revelations
What LDS defenders need to look for in the BoM is the early American anachronisms (18-19th century)t...
LDSRevelations @ LDS Revelations
What LDS defenders need to look for in the BoM is the early American anachronisms (18-19th century)t...
Discussing the Name of God With a Jehovah’s Witness Elder 5/29/13 | The Edge @ Evidence Ministries
[…] We concluded our study and I gave him his copy of my study. I purposefully didn’t want t...
What Do I Do With The Dudes At My Door? 2013 | The Edge @ Evidence Ministries
[…] will meet in CBC Central (the old sanctuary) from 9:00 AM -12:oo PM. Visit our web site ca...
Keith @ Evidence Ministries
Jeff,
In all of my my 17+ years of missionary service to Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons, I ha...
Jeff @ Evidence Ministries
Did a video on this in response at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RquN0RP-3CA&feature=plcp
Melody @ Evidence Ministries
I would be willing to die before I would vote for a Mormon.
Gift of Love | Mormon Coffee @ Evidence Ministries
[…] precious, healing words of hope with a ten-foot pole.But Becky Walker won’t give up. In ...
Issues with Tissues: What exactly is an Anti-Mormon Kleenex? | The Edge @ Evidence Ministries
[…] Sixth, the LDS Church does indeed attack the religion of others. Read this article for quo...
Issues with Tissues: What exactly is an Anti-Mormon Kleenex? | The Edge @ Evidence Ministries
[…] The second lady in Aaron’s video is my wife Becky. She wrote an article to the Mormon wo...
Miranda @ Evidence Ministries
That was very sly to put your card in a package of tissues, wrap with fabric ribbon to look like a g...
Parker Dahl @ Evidence Ministries
This made no sense to me.. I get a bad feeling when I read article from this website.
Hello —
I was raised Jewish, am now a “frequent attender” at Brooklyn Monthly Meet...
Sigmund Russell @ Mind on Fire | Religion, SF, and Other Speculative Fictions.
You might be interested in a new website – atheistprinciples.tripod.com (see also the linked f...
John,
I stumbled on your anniversary/invite from stake pres post when I was trying to find NB stake...
Hey John!
It’s Dana Huber from WFC. I couldn’t find you on Facebook when I looked; do yo...
Jennifer Dobner @ Mind on Fire | Religion, SF, and Other Speculative Fictions.
Hey John – Laura Compton sent me your way. I’m an Associated Press reporter in Salt Lake...
Hi there. Nice writing, mate. Might just add you to my rss-reader 🙂
I was wondering what that pho...
Hello, ex-Mormons!
My name is Rae and I’m a fellow ex-Mormon. I love, love, LOVE coming across...
John W. Morehead @ Mind on Fire | Religion, SF, and Other Speculative Fictions.
John, I found you through the article “Saving the Dead” you did for the Nov. 2006 issue ...
surcey: I’m glad you enjoy our site just as much as mommy blogs 🙂 I’ve a special plac...
Hi xJane,
I just wanted to say I am a liberal Christian (best term I can come up with so far), and I...