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Recent Posts
You Are Not Broken
During what may have been our last time attending our Evangelical church eleven years ago, the pastor was talking about sin and brokenness. He let the congregation know that God saw their sin and could not abide it. Yet, Jesus comes and...(24 Jan)
D&C 36: A Partridge and a Pair of Decrees
This section, given for the benefit of soon-to-be-up-and-coming member of the church Edward Partridge, essentially covers two subjects: a statement of intent for Partridge's immediate fate and a broader commandment for the spreading of the...(23 Jan)
THE END
If you have found this blog CONGRATULATIONS. You were brave enough to look at something you know the church would rather you not. This is an online book started in 2013 when I first decided to leave the Mormon church. I wrote...(21 Jan)
What Happens Next?
I was walking through a Wal-mart when I got the phone call. I nearly knocked over a display of allergy medicine to pick it up. The MRI was about a week ago and I waiting for the answer to, "am I going to die?" I remember laying in...(21 Jan)
D&C 35: Sundry Sidney Stuff
There's not much in the way of an unifying motif for my criticisms of this section, so rather than shoe-horn in a thematic thesis as a preamble, I'm simply going to use my refusal to shoe-horn in a thematic thesis as a preamble...as a...(16 Jan)
What Is Uncontrollable Gambling
While Rivers Gambling establishment provides a selection of online poker video games, the activity will be largely No Limitation Texas Hold ’em play video games. From entertainment gamblers to highstakes gamblers, numerous Americans position...(16 Jan)
Little Risks Online Poker Explained By A Specialist
A typical Bitcoin gambling method is the Martingale technique. Riverboat, dockside, and various other off-shore gambling businesses, consisting of cruise ship ships, are being suggested in numerous states as “restricted” gambling. The...(16 Jan)
I Knew When to Come out
For years I surrounded my secret in protective armor, afraid of letting anyone else see what I was hiding. Would they hate me as much as I hated myself? And yet at the same time I yearned to be vulnerable. I yearned to be understood and to have...(13 Jan)
Teachers Need To Set Boundaries
I am going on 30 years in the teaching profession.If you make it this far you either:A. Don't have a life outside your jobB. Have learned to set boundaries and let the rest goI don't panic when the district or the state changes this or that, fails...(9 Jan)
Appeal Products And Also Elegance Improvement
Aloe Vera application on the skin assists in maintaining skin hydrated, enhances flexibility and also avoids the growth of creases. Currently, boosting versatility and the level of smoothness in the skin is very easy with this face. Please make...(9 Jan)
Good For The Soul To Just Be Wrong
There is a lot of whataboutism and deflection going on at the moment as many on the Right wring their hands and try to redirect the negative attention they are getting due to what happened at the Capitol."Well if you were upset about the riot at the...(8 Jan)
The TBM Letter
Without any specific memory of how I'd gotten there—which is pretty common for cyberspace journeys—I recently discovered a sort of reverse CES Letter on the site Conflict of Justice. It's subtitled "Why you should stay a Latter-day Saint"...(31 Dec)
State of the Me: 2020-2021
Hello 2021! I've got to admit it's getting better... but I'm not quite where I want to be just yet.Let's start with my career since that's the facet of my life I've focused the most effort on lately. In August, I passed my Certified Kubernetes...(25 Dec)
What A Great Time To Be Alive!
Previously: What This Country Needs Is A Lot More LiberalsI've been hearing lately from friends who are completely demoralized over the current political climate. They tell me they fear the ruling class will succeed in stealing this...(6 Dec)
My imprefect understanding of Taoism
sinisterporpoise@yahoo.com(4 Dec)
The Mormon Blood Atonement Doctrine
THE DOCTRINE OF BLOOD ATONEMENT CLEANSING POWER OF BLOOD OF CHRIST. The Latter-day Saints believe in the efficacy of the blood of Christ. They believe that through obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel they obtain a...(3 Dec)
Hello Again
I've been away for quite some time. Part of the time I've actually been away. The remainder of the time I've merely been locked out of my blog. Since then, I've at least regained access to the blog , so I have returned in some...(24 Nov)
The Power of Proximity
I totally have a crush on Sharon Eubank. My admiration for her deepened during her most recent General Conference talk when she said, “This world isn’t what I want it to be. There are many things I want to influence and make better. And frankly,...(11 Nov)
Through the perilous fight, o'er the ramparts we watched...
Yesterday, for the first time in my life, I spontaneously felt like singing that song.Sure, I've sung the song before, but had never felt any connection with it. It's a war song about fighting for a symbol, and all too often fighting for the symbol...(8 Nov)
What This Country Needs Is A Lot More Liberals
Previously: Why The Worldwide Fast Didn't WorkThat's right. We need more liberals.Am I saying we need more Democrats? GOOD HEAVENS, NO! Those people have lost their minds!A smattering of politicians who once obtained traces of liberal...(25 Oct)
My Schedule for AdobeMax
I think I may have over-booked. TuesdayMastering the Essentials of Adobe XD — Part 1What's New in Photoshop? Features, Time-Saving Tools, and More Photoshop for Designers: Getting Speed and Consistency in Creative Campaigns —...(15 Oct)
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)
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)
President Russell M Nelsons throws past Presidents under the bus
(14 Sep)
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)
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)
“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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
Recent Comments
Mark D Thomas @ Worlds Without End
Jackson’s article is well worth reading. But it shows a strange bias that gives me pause. He p...
Jeff Lindsay @ Worlds Without End
Jackson’s article was published in Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Schola...
Jeff Lindsay @ Worlds Without End
I found Kent Jackson’s detailed treatment of Wayment’s chapter to be rather compelling. ...
Jack M. Lyon @ Worlds Without End
The plural of “Nazi” is “Nazis”–not “Nazi’s.” To mak...
Perfect Saint @ Worlds Without End
Waiting
William L. Davis @ Worlds Without End
Blake Ostler: at some point in the future, I plan to post an essay that clarifies some of the commo...
DW @ Worlds Without End
Thanks for this, Colby. When you can, give us your take on the recent Kent Jackson essay regarding W...
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 ...
A WordPress Commenter @ Dawning of a Brighter Day | Mormon Literature in the 21st Century
Hi, this is a comment.
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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...
In reply to Ron Johnson.
Hi Ron,
Thanks for the thoughtful reply. I actually went to the Unitarian C...
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...