The Church Is Not True Podcasts/Beehive House Tour

[_Sethbag]

LDSDoubter, do you believe that Joseph Smith was a true prophet who actually was empowered by a God who actually exists, to lead an organization to represent that God and his interests on Earth?

If so, then you'd better get back into line, update that temple recommend, pull out the checkbook and catch up on your tithing, etc. And don't get so hung up on whether they're doing it right or not - after all, if it really is God's church, and he's really at the helm, then trust that he'll do what's necessary to keep it run the way he wants.

And if you don't believe the church is true, then why do you care how it's run? If it's not true, and you don't want to be in it anymore, then it's just a manmade religion like all of the other manmade religions out there, and it'll act like it, and you don't really need to give a crap about it because you'll be gone.

But seriously, leaving the church because you disagree with decisions the leaders make is I think shortsighted. The real issue isn't what the current prophet did or said or whatever, it's whether a God really does exist, and wants you to be in the LDS Church.

[_LDSDoubter]

But seriously, leaving the church because you disagree with decisions the leaders make is I think shortsighted. The real issue isn't what the current prophet did or said or whatever, it's whether a God really does exist, and wants you to be in the LDS Church.

I think this is why I haven't left.

[_Sethbag]

Alrighty then. So the real question remains, whether you believe God exists, and wants you to be in the LDS church. All of this other stuff about how the church is lead and whatnot are really just a distraction, except as much as the leadership of the church offers up evidence of its manmade nature. I think such evidence abounds, and not just in how the church is run today, but all the way back to 1830.

You should read "Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power" by D. Michael Quinn. If that doesn't scream out "MANMADE!" to you, then read the 1838 Missouri Mormon Wars book by LeSeuer. If that doesn't scream out "MANMADE!" to you, then pick up David Bigler's "Forgotten Kingdom" book about the history of Utah church/US govt. interactions from 1847 to 1896 or so. If that doesn't scream out "MANMADE" to you then my best suggestion is just to pull out your checkbook, catch up on your tithing, and get back in line.

Actually though, there are a lot of ways to approach this that don't rely on just three books as described above. Right down the major points that critics make about LDS founding history, and try to run some type of running tab of how it's trending. I think by the time you consider Fanny Alger, the Book of Mormon, the Book of Abraham, Joseph's secret polygamy, and a few other things, you'll realize that "MANMADE!" explains almost everything nicely, whereas "well God commanded it", while not strictly excludable through lack of evidence, comes off as quite the stretch. The church actually being true then requires a whole series of "quite a stretch" type of explanations, and at some point, it reaches a critical mass where you have to surrender your mind to pretzel logic and mental gymnastics, and know you're doing it, or else let the evidence lead to whatever conclusion is most likely.

In my case, the conclusion that seems overwhelmingly most likely is that the LDS Church is a manmade institution from A to Z, from top to bottom, to the very last fiber of its bean, and with only the very faintest rhetorical shadow of a doubt.

As always, your mileage may vary.

[_Seven]

="why me"

Where has it been dishonest about its history? Has the LDS church denied that Joseph Smith was a polygamist? Or BY? Has the LDS church denied such facts? Where is the lie

They intentionally mislead/deceive the Chapel Mormons and investigators by editing out polygamy history and doctrinal teachings from LDS publications and church websites. They also deceive by painting Joseph Smith and other Prophets as monogamist on church websites and cirriculum.
That's a form of dishonesty and it has backfired on the church.

I don't believe they have malicious intentions.
I see them erasing the past in an attempt to protect the members and help the church grow. The doctrine of plural marriage is a deal breaker for most people who value chastity, marriage, and family.

[_Seven]

The whole podcast gave me the creeps. Here we have two nice guides who were happy and friendly and yet they were being set up the whole time for an antimormon podcast. Talk about deceit. Plus, I have a hard time believing Hyrum's name story in the beginning.

But really, if this is the tactics of the antimormons I really do feel sorry for them. Plus, to have a child in the beginning of the podcast say what she said, is kinda brainwashing the child. But this whole podcast is deceitful, especially since it is focused on how the church deceives its members.

Those missionaries weren't very friendly when they were presented with uncomfortable truths.
I do agree that it was wrong to have the child reciting a brainwashed message at the beginning and end. But conversely, is it any more ethical to make children develop a testimony of Joseph Smith to be accepted?

I also didn't feel comfortable listening to the podcast knowing these women did not authorize it. (even if it's legal)