The scriptures have far more weight when it comes to persuasion. As they ought. Please consider the questions posed below and then actually look up and read the scripture references provided before you answer the question in your own mind.
For anything that is not direct scripture, I have provided source references, dates and many times embedded direct links.
I had previously organized this list of scriptures in anticipation of answering questions on why I don’t actively attend the LDS church with my family. No one has asked. I’m sure there are plenty of assumptions, but literally no one has inquired of me directly. I would love to have the conversation. I’m publishing this list as a handy reference to those who recognize the problems in the church. I’ve noticed recently that more people are rejecting the cognitive dissonance after the jab was endorsed by President Nelson.
There is a golden thread amongst the chaff. Don’t pull it if you don’t think you’re strong enough. The good news is: God has not abandoned the Restoration!
Who are the Gentiles?
2Ne 10:11 – Land of liberty for Gentiles, no kings
1Ne 13:13-17 – pilgrims to Revolutionary War
1Ne 13:39- BoM given to _______
D&C 109:60 – Joseph Smith at the Kirtland dedication
D&C 13:1 – never taken from the earth
3 Ne 16:10 – Prophecy given by Christ Himself
What is the Fullness of the Gospel?
- D&C 76:14- fullness of gospel – Jesus Christ with whom we conversed
- 2 Nephi 31:13-16 Gospel: faith, repentance, baptism, Holy Ghost, endure to the END
2 Nephi 31:17 baptism = gate
2 Nephi 9:41 keeper of gate = Holy one of Israel
John 10:9 I am the door
3Ne 9:18 – I am Alpha and Omega, beginning and END
2Ne 11:2 – he saw Redeemer, I have seen him
Ether 3:13 – redeemed from fall, brought back into my presence
Alma 34:32, – this life time for men to prepare to meet God
D&C 93:1, – see my face know that I am
Revelation 19:10 – testimony of Jesus is spirit of prophecy
Numbers 11:29 – would that all Lord’s people were prophets
Ether 12:41 – commend you to seek this Jesus
D&C 76:74, – Terrestrial = did not receive testimony of Jesus in the flesh but afterwards received it
3Ne 21:20-21 – Who will not repent and come to Son, cut off execute vengeance/fury
The ascent to God is the fullness of the gospel not sealing families to kindred dead.
“Here, then, is eternal life — to know the only wise and true God. And you have got to learn how to be Gods yourselves — to be kings and priests to God, the same as all Gods have done — by going from a small degree to another, from grace to grace, from exaltation to exaltation, until you are able to sit in glory as do those who sit enthroned in everlasting power.” Joseph Smith TPJS, 348; WJS, 350.
Is the Church still under Condemnation?
D&C 1:30 – only true & living church, Nov 1831
D&C 84:54-57 – church under condemnation – taking lightly the BoM, Sept 1832
D&C 88:119 – prepare every needful thing, house of order
D&C 95:2-3 – rebuked for not building house
D&C 124:28 – fullness of the priesthood was taken away
D&C 124:32 – baptisms acceptable for now- but @ end of appointment, rejected as a church
D&C 124:45 – IF you hearken, will not be moved out of your place (Nauvoo)
Nauvoo temple not finished
June 26, 1844 Joseph Smith’s Last dream – The Dilapidated Farm, Source Documentary History of the Church 6:609–619
June 27, 1844 Murder of Prophet & Patriarch, Who Killed Joseph Smith?
Feb 8, 1846, The twelve knelt around the altar, dedicated the Nauvoo Temple to the Most High, and asked for His blessings
Feb 9, 1846 The roof of the Nauvoo temple catches fire from an overheated stove. Please note, this was the DAY AFTER the attempted dedication
Sept 1846 Church members driven out of Nauvoo, temple abandoned
Oct 1848 Nauvoo temple burned by arson
May 27, 1850 tornado knocked down 3 walls of the Nauvoo Temple
1856 remaining wall pulled down for safety
27 June 2002 -Nauvoo Temple rebuilt. Rededicated on the anniversary of the martyrdom.
28 June 2019 – Nauvoo temple struck by lightning, Moroni damaged Source
His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled. The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.
Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods.
—Psalms 97:4-7
- Lectures on Faith Canonized in 1835 as DOCTRINE part of the Doctrine & Covenants
- Lectures on Faith removed from cannon in 1921 by vote of committee
- Lighting strike on the Bountiful Temple destroying the Angel Moroni, 22 May 2016 Was it a coincidence? Commentary
- 5.7 magnitude earthquake on March 18, 2020, Angel Moroni on top of the Salt Lake LDS Temple dropped his trumpet. Source & Commentary
- March 26, 2020, the 200th anniversary of the First Vision, all LDS temples worldwide closed. Source
- See Daniel 11:31 & 12:22 – take away daily sacrifice
Speaking TO the Gentiles
Mormon 8:35 – speak unto you as if you were present – I know your doing
Mormon 8:37 – ye do love money, apparel, adorning of churches more than poor
Rome Italy Temple & other Temple real estate
City Creek Center Mall – $1.5 billion, dedicated by Thomas Monson “Let’s go shopping”
Mormon 8:38 – hypocrites polluted holy church of God
3 Nephi 29: 5-8 – make a game of the Jews,
Commentary on withholding the Book of Mormon from the Jews in Israel
Are Changing Ordinances & Temple Covenants still Efficacious?
Isaiah 24:5 – transgressed laws, changed ordinance = broken covenant
Sacrament prayer changed “wine” to “water” see Moroni 5
Baptismal ordinance “having been commissioned by Jesus Christ” vs “Having authority given me of Jesus Christ” see 3 Nephi 11:25
Joseph declared, “Ordinances instituted in the heavens before the foundation of the world and the priesthood, for the salvation of men, are not to be altered or changed. All must be saved on the same principles” [TPJS, p. 308, HC 5:423]
- Temple changes – Record of earlier changes
1990 removed penalties
2005 removed actual washing/anointing for symbolic
2019 – women no longer veil faces
2019- Marriage/ chastity covenant changed to neutral gender “spouse” instead of “husband or wife”.
2023 Eve no longer covenants with Adam to obey his law as he obeys Father. Eve covenants directly with the Father.
2023 – Receiving tokens as part of instruction removed. Don’t handle the tokens till @ the veil
2023 remove live witness couple, removed words “who is dead”
Speaking OF the Gentiles
- 2Ne 28:5-6 – Hearken to us, God has done his work
“By the authority vested in him [church president], all ordinances of the gospel are performed, all teaching of the truths of salvation is authorized, and through the keys which he holds, salvation itself is made available to men of his day” Mormon Doctrine p 591-592
“As a Church we sing the song, ‘We Thank Thee, O God, For a Prophet.’ Here then is the grand key—follow the prophet.” Ezra Taft Benson
“My boy, you always keep your eye on the President of the Church and if he ever tells you to do anything, and it is wrong, and you do it, the Lord will bless you for it.” Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1960, p. 78
2Ne 4:34 – cursed is he who putteth trust in arm of flesh
2Ne 28:21 – Pacify, saying All is well in Zion – lead carefully to hell
Come Come Ye Saints lyrics
Speaking during the annual Pioneer Days Devotional in Ogden, Utah, President Uchtdorf, second counselor in the First Presidency, addressed the topic “All Is Well.”
2Ne 26:29 – No priestcraft, set themselves up as light, get gain/praise, seek not the welfare of Zion
Light the world campaign vs. 3 Ne. 13:1-4 – do not your alms before men to be seen of them
Million Dollar birthday party for President Nelson
Salaries + reimbursement for all living expenses, Source Mormonleaks.io
Why hasn’t Zion been built yet? Or the foundations of the Temple laid in Jackson County Missouri?
Can Tithing be Robbed?
- Malachi 2:1 – Ye priests this command is for YOU
- Malachi 3:8 – Will a man rob God?
“I want to say to you, we may not be able to reach it right away, but we expect to see the day when we will not have to ask you for one dollar of donation for any purpose, except that which you volunteer to give of your own accord, because we will have tithes sufficient in the storehouse of the Lord to pay everything that is needful for the advancement of the kingdom of God.” April 1907 General Conference, Joseph F. Smith
Dec 2012 Ensign “If paying tithing means that you can’t pay for water or electricity, pay tithing. If paying tithing means that you can’t pay your rent, pay tithing. Even if paying tithing means that you don’t have enough money to feed your family, pay tithing.“ Source
Ensign Peak Fund $140B, not used for charitable causes – fined by SEC
- Are we Paying Too Much Tithing?
Whose Church is it?
3 Ne 27:8 – My church called in my name, called in the name of a man = church of a man
Incorporation date: 26 Nov 1923 – Company number 555534-0145, Corporate sole = CORPORATION OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS Source, also can be looked up on https://secure.utah.gov/bes/index.html by company number.
Priesthood, Who holds the keys?
D&C 124:123-124 Patriarch highest position in church
1979, Patriarch Eldred Smith (in Hyrum Smith’s familial line) was made emeritus. Source
Patriarch Eldred Smith died 4 April 2013 at 106 years old and with him the office of Patriarch
D&C 107:22-26, 36, First Presidency = Quorum of 12 Apostles = Seventy = stake high council
D&C 121:37-38 – cover sins, gratify pride, control = Amen to the priesthood
Excommunicated Denver Snuffer, member of his stake’s high council, for publishing a historical book quoting church presidents. It was 40 year anniversary of his baptism. 10 Sept 2013.
5 April 2014 the Lord ended all claims of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to claim it is led by the priesthood.
First of 4 tetrad eclipses 10 days later, 15 April 2014
Davidic Servant - Why is this person necessary?
D&C 85:7 – One Mighty & Strong set in order house of God.
Ezekiel 34:23 – One shepherd over them, David
Prayer for Covenant
Prayer for Covenant, given to Denver Snuffer Jr. by revelation during the week of 9 July 2017.
“Heavenly Father, it is I whom you named David, asking you in the name of Jesus Christ for your mercy and grace to be with those of us who seek to become your people. We hope to repent and return to your path, and no longer be condemned and rejected as a people because of those who went before. Take pity on us all and have mercy for us, as we acknowledge and accept the condemnation and rejection of the latter-day gentiles, and petition that we may overcome it….” full text
Answer to Prayer
Answer to Prayer for Covenant, received by Denver Snuffer Jr., 14 July 2017.
“I, the Lord, say to you: You have asked of me concerning the scriptures prepared on behalf of all those who seek to become my covenant people, and therefore I answer you on behalf of all the people, and not as to any individual. For there are those who are humble, patient, and easily persuaded. Nevertheless, people who are quarrelsome and proud are also among you, and since you seek to unite to become one people, I answer you as one…..” full text
Things that now make sense in this context:
Polygamy
Jacob 2:23 – Excuse themselves in committing whoredoms, things written of David/Solomon. Expounding on Jacob 2
Joseph Smith, “I had not been married scarcely five minutes, and made one proclamation of the Gospel, before it was reported that I had seven wives. I mean to live and proclaim the truth as long as I can. I have rattled chains before in a dungeon for truth’s sake. I am innocent of all these charges, and you can bear witness of my innocence, for you know me yourselves…. What a thing it is for a man to be accused of committing adultery, and having seven wives, when I can only find one. I am the same man, and as innocent as I was fourteen years ago; and I can prove them all perjurers.” WJS, p. 374-377
The 1835 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants included this article on marriage in section 101: “Inasmuch as this church has been reproached with the crime of fornication, and polygamy; we declare that we believe that one man should have one wife; and one woman, but one husband.” Source 1835 D&C 101
D&C 122 1-3 “..fools shall have you in derision, and hell shall rage against you, while the pure in heart, and the wise, and the noble, and the virtuous shall seek counsel, and authority, and blessings constantly from under your hand. And your people shall never be turned against you by the testimony of traitors, and although their influence shall cast you into trouble, and into bars and walls, you shall be had in honor.”
D&C 132 writing analysis concluded Brigham Young was author Chapter: Who Wrote Section 132?
“Brigham explained that ‘if a woman can find a man holding the keys of the priesthood with higher power and authority than her husband, and he is disposed to take her, he can do so, otherwise she has got to remain where she is. In either of these ways of sep[a]ration, you can discover, there is no need for a bill of divorcement.” Source: Conference Reports, October 8, 1861
During his 1998 interview with Larry King, Gordon B. Hinckley made a statement on polygamy. “As far as we’re concerned, it’s behind us., a long ways… I condemn it as a practice because I think it’s not doctrinal.” Source
Priesthood Ban (July 1844 – Sept 1978)
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“…and he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female;” 2 Nephi 26:33
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Gospel Topics essays Race & The Priesthood, “During the first two decades of the Church’s existence, a few black men were ordained to the priesthood. One of these men, Elijah Abel, also participated in temple ceremonies in Kirtland, Ohio, and was later baptized as proxy for deceased relatives in Nauvoo, Illinois. There is no reliable evidence that any black men were denied the priesthood during Joseph Smith’s lifetime.”
Source Gospel Topics Essays: Race & the Priesthood -
“Shall I tell you the law of God in regard to the African race? If the white man who belongs to the chosen seed mixes his blood with the seed of Cain, the penalty, under the law of God, is death on the spot. This will always be so.” , by Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 10:104-111
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“From the days of the Prophet Joseph even until now, it has been the doctrine of the Church, never questioned by any of the Church leaders, that the Negroes are not entitled to the full blessings of the Gospel.” (Statement of The First Presidency on the Negro Question, July 17 1947, quoted in Mormonism and the Negro, pp.46-7, Source)
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To all general and local priesthood officers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints throughout the world: […] all worthy male members of the Church may be ordained to the priesthood without regard for race or color. Official Declaration 2
Blood Atonement
Meadow Mountains Massacre, 11 Sept 1857
“This is loving our neighbour as ourselves; if he needs help, help him; and if he wants salvation and it is necessary to spill his blood on the earth in order that he may be saved, spill it. Any of you who understand the principles of eternity, if you have sinned a sin requiring the shedding of blood, except the sin unto death, would not be satisfied nor rest until your blood should be spilled, that you might gain that salvation you desire. That is the way to love mankind.” (Sermon by Brigham Young, delivered in the Mormon Tabernacle, Feb. 8, 1857, printed in the Deseret News, Feb. 18, 1857; also reprinted in the Journal of Discourses, Vol. 4, pp. 219-20)
Bishop Warren S Snow forcibly castrated 24-year old Thomas Lewis for refusing to give up his fiance to be a polygamist wife. Utah/Crime and violence/Castration in the 1800’s – FAIR (fairlatterdaysaints.org)
Rosmos Anderson. “…a charge was laid against Anderson before the Council, accusing him of adultery with his step-daughter. This Council was composed of Klingensmith and his two counselors; it was the Bishop’s Council. Without giving Anderson any chance to defend himself or make a statement, the Council voted that Anderson must die for violating his covenants.[…] They went to the place where the grave was prepared; Anderson knelt upon the side of the grave and prayed. Klingensmith and his company then cut Anderson’s throat from ear to ear and held him so that his blood ran into the grave. As soon as he was dead they dressed him in his clean clothes, threw him into the grave and buried him. They then carried his bloody clothing back to his family, and gave them to his wife to wash, when she was again instructed to say that her husband was in California. —Confessions of John D. Lee, photomechanical reprint of the original 1877 edition, pages 282-284
Adam/God Doctrine
“When our father Adam came into the garden of Eden, he came into it with a celestial body, and brought Eve, one of his wives, with him. He helped to make and organize this world. He is MICHAEL, the Archangel, the ANCIENT OF DAYS! about whom holy men have written and spoken–HE is our FATHER and our GOD, and the only God with whom WE have to do.” Prophet Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, v. 1, p. 51
Spencer W. Kimball labeled Brigham’s teaching “false doctrine.” He stated, “We warn you against the dissemination of doctrines which are not according to the scriptures and which are alleged to have been taught by some General Authorities of past generations, such, for instance is the Adam-God theory. We denounce that theory and hope that everyone will be cautioned against this and other kinds of false doctrine” (Church News, 10/9/76).
“The Lord will never permit me or any other man who stands as President of this Church to lead you astray. It is not in the programme. It is not in the mind of God. If I were to attempt that, the Lord would remove me out of my place” Wilford Woodruff, Official Declaration 1
Shifting Sands
I’m a Mormon was an advertising and outreach campaign by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 2010 to 2018 that aimed to combat stereotypes and misconceptions about the church by featuring short profiles from church members (also known as Mormons).
“If we allow nicknames to be used or adopt or even sponsor those nicknames ourselves, He is offended. What’s in a name or, in this case, a nickname? When it comes to nicknames of the Church, such as the “LDS Church,” the “Mormon Church,” or the “Church of the Latter-day Saints,” the most important thing in those names is the absence of the Savior’s name. To remove the Lord’s name from the Lord’s Church is a major victory for Satan.”
Russell M Nelson, October 2018 conference address
