December 2016

The Bible Delusion – extract.

Hang On A Minute Moment 96
No Rain for Three Years and Six Months.

Luke and James both refer to the idea that Elias (Greek for Elijah) claimed it did not rain for three years and six months.

Luke records “But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land.” (4:25). No rain at all for three and a half years would produce far more than just a famine. Loss of human life, flora and fauna, diseases; not to mention the mayhem that would ensue, would all be at unimaginable levels.

James confirms the event, also citing Elias as claiming a lack of rain for three and a half years. “Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.” (5:17-18). God answered a prayer, stopping the rain, until another prayer resulted in it starting again.

Hang on – firstly, there is absolutely no mention of any such thing in the OT; secondly, if there were any truth to the claim (not about Elijah – but rather the actual lack of rain), it would not only completely disrupt the ecosystem (by somehow actually making it stop, at least in that area), all humans would have migrated away – and there would be records of that. Other local life forms would be extinct by the end of it. The concept of stopping the water cycle is, scientifically, completely impossible. It was not a miracle; the consequences are all too obvious. It would be a miracle (metaphorically speaking), if anyone, or any thing, were to actually survive such a cataclysmic event.

In ancient times, people really believed gods controlled the weather, and moreover that they used it to bless or punish, just as they pleased. Many ancient gods were credited with control over weather. Humans relied on good weather and timely rain for their crops in order for them to survive. In bad crop seasons, famine could decimate a society. The belief in gods using weather to bless or curse people, quite naturally rolled over into the Hebrew religion. Their God was no different, although Yahweh was somewhat more violent and cruel in his use of the weather than many gods of the ancients.

In the OT, rain, or the lack thereof, is inexorably connected to God using it in relation to sin or righteousness. The recorded incidences of Hebrew belief in God controlling rain are numerous. (See Appendix F. ‘Rain’ for a selection).

God no longer cares to control the weather – if he did, many thousands of people could have been saved from severe flooding which is a regular feature in many parts of the world. If God was once so ‘hands on’ regarding the rain – what excuse has he got for not assisting now – when helpless humans are so often so afflicted? Are they all too sinful, or is he too busy to bother with them?

Appendix F. Rain.

Referenced from HOAM 96.

God seemed to enjoy controlling the weather, in order to help or hinder, depending on his wont. That is to say, the Hebrews were convinced that God used the weather in this way. If it didn’t rain and their crops failed, they thought it must have been because they had sinned. Such concepts were actually just a continuation of earlier religious beliefs concerning what are now considered pagan gods. In reality, nothing changed – apart from the name of the deity. Gods invariably influenced the weather.
These are a few examples of Hebrew belief that God controlled the rain.

Genesis 7:4. For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth.

Exodus 9:18. Behold, to morrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as hath not been in Egypt since the foundation thereof even until now.

Exodus 9:23. And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the Lord sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and the Lord rained hail upon the land of Egypt.

Exodus 9:33. And Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread abroad his hands unto the Lord: and the thunders and hail ceased, and the rain was not poured upon the earth.

Leviticus 26:4. Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.

Deuteronomy 11:14. That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil.

Deuteronomy 11:17. And then the Lord’s wrath be kindled against you, and he shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit; and lest ye perish quickly from off the good land which the Lord giveth you.

Deuteronomy 28:12. The Lord shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.

Deuteronomy 28:24. The Lord shall make the rain of thy land powder and dust: from heaven shall it come down upon thee, until thou be destroyed.

1 Samuel 12:17-18. Is it not wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the Lord, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the Lord, in asking you a king. So Samuel called unto the Lord; and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel.

1 Kings 8:35. When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou afflictest them:

1 Kings 8:36. Then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, that thou teach them the good way wherein they should walk, and give rain upon thy land, which thou hast given to thy people for an inheritance.

1 Kings 18:1. And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the Lord came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.

2 Kings 3:17. For thus saith the Lord, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, both ye, and your cattle, and your beasts.

1 Kings 17:1. And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.

1 Kings 17:14. For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth.

2 Chronicles 6:26-27. When the heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; yet if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou dost afflict them; Then hear thou from heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, when thou hast taught them the good way, wherein they should walk; and send rain upon thy land, which thou hast given unto thy people for an inheritance.

2 Chronicles 7:13. If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;

Ezra 10:9. Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together unto Jerusalem within three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month; and all the people sat in the street of the house of God, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain.

Ezra 10:13. But the people are many, and it is a time of much rain, and we are not able to stand without, neither is this a work of one day or two: for we are many that have transgressed in this thing.

Job 20:23. When he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall rain it upon him while he is eating.

Job 28:26. When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder:

Job 36:27. For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof:

Job 37:6. For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength.

Job 38:26. To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man;

Psalms 11:6. Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.

Psalms 68:9. Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary.

Psalms 135:7. He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries.

Psalms 147:8. Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.

Isaiah 5:6. And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.

Isaiah 30:23. Then shall he give the rain of thy seed, that thou shalt sow the ground withal; and bread of the increase of the earth, and it shall be fat and plenteous: in that day shall thy cattle feed in large pastures.

Jeremiah 3:3. Therefore the showers have been withholden, and there hath been no latter rain; and thou hadst a whore’s forehead, thou refusedst to be ashamed.

Jeremiah 5:24. Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the Lord our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest.

Jeremiah 10:13. When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures.

Jeremiah 14:4. Because the ground is chapt, for there was no rain in the earth, the plowmen were ashamed, they covered their heads.

Jeremiah 51:16. When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens; and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth: he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures.

Joel 2:23. Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.

Amos 4:7. And also I have withholden the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the harvest: and I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered.

Zechariah 10:1. Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain; so the Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.

Zechariah 14:17. And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.

Zechariah 14:18. And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the Lord will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.

The obvious reality? The Hebrew God did not exist or control the weather.

The Bible Delusion is available here:

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January 2014

Happy New Year everyone. May 2014 be delusion free.

An ‘incredible journey’ through Mormonism.

A new book, by Bob Bridgestock, released today, is available from Amazon and all major outlets worldwide. I had the opportunity to read it pre-publication, courtesy of the author, Bob Bridgestock. The following review is unsolicited and provided in genuine response to Bob’s work. (At the time of writing, Amazon has not yet enabled reviews for this book).

“Bob’s description of his early life is beautifully written and at times even poetic; his later description of the attitude of Mormon leaders toward members who ‘question’ is accurate as well as eloquent. I found this book an interesting, engaging, informative (and easy) read. We were both Mormons from our teens through to our late fifties, and both married to our first wives for similar periods of time before they died from the results of breast cancer. I relived the experience of my first wife’s long fight, her ultimate untimely death and my own trauma, reaction and road to recovery which mirrored Bob’s description of his own sad and similar experience. I too was having doubts, but mine were about the whole idea of god, never mind just Mormonism. None of my doubts, and clearly none of Bob’s doubts, were related to the deaths of our wives. It is just a part of life and it happens.

I could readily understand Bob’s attempts to pray and study more, as I had done the same, and I recalled the day when I later finally closed the Book of Mormon for the last time in a flood of tears, ‘realising’ that nothing about the Church was true. As Bob described it, “I was enough in myself.” The only subsequent difference between us was that Bob was excommunicated for expressing his doubts while I resigned membership over mine. The resulting ‘paradigm shift’ which Bob describes is something one has to experience to fully appreciate.

Bob’s ability to explain and expose the way the Mormon Church treats and controls its members is impressive. His coverage of Mormonism’s ‘gymnastics’ regarding scripture is very well presented and “…the Mormon Church tortures the Bible to make it fit the Church’s doctrines” says it all really.

This is an excellent book ‘about’ Mormonism and ones man’s experience of it. It is a wonderful read, and as he tells his own story, Bob intertwines some of the history that the Church would rather forget. Presumably because it is not a book about ‘evidence’, and he felt it unimportant, Bob fails to provide direct source references for most of his historical claims, such as Smith having thirty-four marriages, some of which were polyandrous, and that “…in 19th century Mormonism, 20% to 30% of families were polygamous”, which are often mentioned almost in passing. You have to take the validity of such statements as read most of the time.

I am happy enough with that, but some readers (particularly believing Mormons), may criticise this and not accept some statements without the underlying evidence being cited. However, I can confirm that everything is indeed entirely accurate, and I know where the source references can be found, as they are all given in my own books on the subject. The doubting reader can be assured of Bob’s accuracy without worrying about where he got his information from, and the not so familiar ‘non Mormon’ reader can feel reassured that Bob really knows what he is talking about.

The Church may still dispute some things (postulating only 2% to 5% polygamy for example – but they are wrong – according to census returns for the era). Many Mormons will be unaware of the real historical detail but there is no inaccuracy and no guesswork involved in this book. It can be entirely trusted. Bob includes some outstanding quotes from other authors and historical figures to emphasise various points, and these he does reference. This book is a very worthwhile read and I can highly recommend it.”

The Youngest Bishop in England

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The Church continues to admit they have a hidden history…

Book of Mormon Translation. You couldn’t make this stuff up! No, wait, yes you could; and in the fourth such statement, the Church officially (implicitly) admits that there was no point to the gold plates, which Smith didn’t even look at whilst supposedly ‘translating’ them. Remember, a man (Laban) was allegedly murdered to obtain the brass plates, some details from which are purported to have been included on the gold plates… which were then completely ignored during Smith’s now fully acknowledged ‘folk-magic’ translation process. Why murder someone when the Mormon god could have had Lehi find a ‘seer stone’, just as Smith claimed to do, and (assuming he had a hat), Lehi could have simply rewritten details from the brass plates without looking at them, rather than have someone killed in order to obtain them.

“As a young man during the 1820s, Joseph Smith, like others in his day, used a seer stone to look for lost objects and buried treasure.”

“…like others in his day…” is somehow supposed to excuse Smith for being a confidence trickster. Because others used the same con-trick, Smith is to be excused… What nonsense – and just how gullible does the Church consider its members really are?

They don’t mention Smith’s 1826 arrest and conviction for being a money-digging con artist, six years after supposedly having a ‘first vision’ of deity, and three years after his claimed visions of Moroni (or Nephi – take your pick). Smith does not qualify as someone any god would deal with in the real world – and that is a proven fact.

“Joseph placed either the interpreters or the seer stone in a hat, pressed his face into the hat to block out extraneous light, and read aloud the English words that appeared on the instrument.”

Lo and behold, Smith’s latest con… a new religion – like a rabbit – straight out of his hat!

We were raised on the concept that Smith literally looked at the plates in order to translate them. He had to – didn’t he? Otherwise it is a nonsense. Any other method negates the very need for plates altogether. If Smith had claimed, at the time, to ‘magically’ translate a book with his head in his hat, without ever mentioning any plates, would anyone have believed him? Of course not; the pretend plates were an essential part of the con. Almost two centuries later, we learn the truth and members are now expected to accept it without question. But question it they should – and then reject it!

The Church continues to selectively admit previously hidden truths, hoping to satisfy Mormons who have serious questions. If they have any sense, members will see through this scam and realise that those who have been trying to tell them it was a hoax were right all along. Admitting the truth after almost two centuries doesn’t make the past any less of a lie. “Everything is still smoke and mirrors – and nothing, nothing, about Mormonism is at it first seems, or at least as first taught.” (Jim Whitefield, ExMormon Foundation Conference, 2010). Testimonies that are built on a fabric of lies are completely worthless. Time to resign – if you haven’t already.

This is the link to the official Mormon Church article four:

LDS ESSAY: Book of Mormon Translation. 

The earlier three articles are:

LDS ESSAY: Plural Marriage. 

(TMD Volume 1 already covers this subject extensively. Notably, polyandry is conveniently completely ignored. After all, it always was, and still is, contrary to doctrine; something the Church confirmed to me personally, adding, “…those who participated would have to account for it.” Smith, Young and Kimball therefore completely forfeit their eternal salvation – doctrinally speaking).

LDS ESSAY: First Vision Accounts.

(I have already provided comprehensive coverage of this. See ‘The First Vision‘).

LDS ESSAY LINK: Race and the Priesthood.

I wrote about this during September 2013 and provided extracts from TMD Vol. 2.
The resuling article is available here: ‘Black and Cursed‘.

July 2013

In trying to somewhat get away from all things Mormon and lead a more ‘normal’ life (and being retired), I spend a lot of time enjoying books and documentaries about science and nature. I also enjoy gripping works of fiction and have just read Dan Brown’s latest offering, ‘Inferno’, which I can highly recommend. One statement from a character in the book struck me as the very essence of the adult Mormon psyche. The book (and the statement), has absolutely no connection with the Mormon Church whatsoever, but it made me stop and think, and realise, that this was me for many decades; and it continues to represent the mindset of millions of others who are still trapped in the delusion that Mormonism represents the ultimate truth, when in reality it is an easily provable hoax, perpetrated by Joseph Smith in a conspiracy of lies, with which Church leaders continue to deceive the faithful today.

“…most adults seemed like nothing more than aging children, lacking even the most basic understanding of the world around them, and, most troubling, lacking any curiosity or concern about it.” (Inferno, p.349).

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Meanwhile, in other news, the Church is changing tactics regarding proselyting. The Mormon god is moving in even more mysterious ways; he has reportedly found a “better way” to proselyte, as his old system continues to show decline in conversion ratios.

“Door-to-door work has not been effective for many years, said Matt Martinich, a member of the LDS church who analyzes membership…”

“Perry acknowledged that the new shift marks a “better way” to proselyte.”

“There are 70,000 young men and women on missions now, and church officials say there will be 85,000 by the end of the year. The previous record total of missionaries at one time was 61,600 in 2002, church figures show.”

From a money.msn.com article. [Since deleted].

My own prediction is that the effects of temporarily swelling the Mormon missionary ranks, bolstering them by reducing the missionary age from 19 to 18 for men and from 21 to 19 for women, will be short lived and the numbers will inevitably fall back to below the 2002 figure of 61,600 by 2016-17 (unless they invent other strategies, such as extending the missionary term). The Mormon god’s (or at least the earthly analysts and PR crew who concoct new ideas), new ‘method’ of proselyting is unlikely to proportionately increase conversion figures, as those contacted through the internet also have the knowledge, skills and ability to search out the truth in a few easy clicks, whilst many who are contacted by door-knocking or in the street may be less inclined (or perhaps not even have the facility) to do so.

As always, time will tell, but all the evidence suggests Mormonism is becoming less and less popular with members who are leaving in droves and investigators who are not joining. The Church is slowly dying and there are no measurable signs of recovery. This latest strategy will be a short lived desperate episode in the death throws of a small and insignificant cult.

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My old friend, Simon Southerton (author of ‘Losing a Lost Tribe: Native Americans, DNA, and the Mormon Church’), updated his blog on DNA and lost Lamanites during May and it is well worth reading. Previously, apologists tried to rationalize Simon’s findings, but now there is no hiding place. So, where are those elusive Lamanites? Nowhere. Absolutely nowhere!

June 2013

In recent months, several more countries and several states in the US have legalised gay marriage. On 20th May, the Church of Scotland ended centuries of tradition by voting to allow gay ministers, following years of debate between the liberal and traditionalist sides of the church. Also during May, in the UK, the House of Commons debated proposed amendments to the gay marriage bill which was passed in principle by a large majority earlier in the year. The bill was debated over two days, with its third reading – the final hurdle in the Commons, and then went on to the House of Lords for final consideration during the first week of June. The vote could be close there.

Churches will have the right not to provide gay marriage facilities – which is as it should be in a free society. Several denominations have indicated they will accommodate gay marriage – mainly those that already accept gay parishioners and clergy.

Meanwhile, the Mormon Church appears to have become rather quiet following the adverse press about its earlier illegal activity and financial support during the ‘Prop 8’ saga in California. But it still considers homosexuality to be a heinous ‘sin’ and actively opposes gay marriage. Mormon leaders don’t seem to understand that separation of church and state applies to Mormonism as much as any other religion. They actively oppose legislative change which does not affect faithful Mormons yet devastates many who are not remotely associated with Mormonism. The Mormon Church effectively tries to force its own belief on the rest of society in this way.

Actually, as about six to eight percent of humans are homosexual, the issue clearly does directly affect some Mormons, and accounts of the treatment of some homosexual members and the many Mormon suicides that have been recorded are more than disturbing.

I have expressed my own views previously, but just to consolidate my thoughts and make what I consider to be an informed and logical personal observation about the issue, I would state the following. There are three things to take into account when considering the gay marriage issue, in respect of any religious view. Without the religious aspect, there is nothing to consider at all – everyone should be equal and able to marry whomsoever they please.

One – if there was conclusive evidence for the existence of some sort of god, and two, evidence that all human brains are hardwired to opposite sex attraction, then three, same sex attraction may (but even then, not conclusively) be considered unnatural and deviant.

However: One – as there is absolutely no conclusive evidence in support of the ‘theory of a god’, and two, there is conclusive evidence that a percentage of human (and several other species) brains are hardwired to same sex attraction (which actually becomes gods ‘fault’ if he exists) then three, it cannot be considered ‘unnatural’ or deviant. It is just – ‘different’.

I have expressed elsewhere, how gays must feel about the way they are treated. I can only evaluate it (and hopefully help others to understand it) by equating it to how straight people would feel if the shoe was on the other foot. If you are straight, imagine falling head over heels in love with a member of the opposite sex, only to be told that it is a sinful thing and your god will punish you should you continue down that path.

Imagine being told to forgo that relationship and find a nice young member of the same sex instead. How does that feel? – Because that is exactly how a gay person feels – and it is not their ‘fault’ – it is just the way things are – and in our modern world, with all our scientific understanding and supposed intelligence, that should be more than okay with everyone.

Anything less than unconditional understanding and acceptance is beneath humans. By now, we should know better – but religion (especially Mormonism) continues to hold us back. It is not gay marriage that is objectionable – it is any religion that insists their god says it is. If such a being does exist, it’s time he took responsibility for such ‘errors’ in his supposed creation process and just let it go. Religion still has so much to answer for; the problem is that when beliefs go beyond common sense and reason, that becomes the abomination – not the gay issue.

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Also during May, David Fitzgerald, author of ‘Nailed: Ten Christian Myths That Show Jesus Never Existed At All’, published the first in his new series of books ‘The Complete Heretic’s Guide to Western Religion. Book One: The Mormons.’ I have read and reviewed David’s efforts. I highly recommend this entertaining book which is chock full of accurate historical facts as well as information about modern-day Mormonism and its schisms – as viewed by an outside author. I was more than impressed by David’s concise and entertaining style and also enjoyed his humour. My review can be found on Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, and Goodreads. Find the book here and click on ‘customer reviews’.

April 2013

During March, I updated information about The Mormon Delusion Volume 5 content and summary analysis. It includes comments on the Church updated and republished 2013 ‘Doctrine and Covenants’ which has seen a number of changes. Links to Church provided details of the changes are included. These will be posted in May. Added endorsements also now appear for The Mormon Delusion Volume 1 and Volume 2, kindly posted to Amazon and Lulu by Mike Oborn, author of ‘The Complete Mystery of Matthew Alcott: Heritage of Secrets’, an excellent semi-fictional story that involes the Church.

March 2013

With the Pope abdicating, something which last happened some six hundred years ago, it made me wonder if ever the Mormon Church will turn to the use of emeritus status for its own prophet (or apostles) when they become senile or otherwise incapable of adequately running the multi-billion dollar corporation; something which has already happened on several occasions and which they always cunningly try to hide. The most prominent example of such a case was the prophet, Ezra Taft Benson, details of which were fully exposed by his grandson, Steve Benson.

As the Mormon god doesn’t ensure that his prophets enjoy good mental health along with longevity, it would make sense for them to ‘retire’ when things become too much for them, but at present the Church stumbles along, stuck in its antiquated ways set in motion by early leaders who were ordained at earlier ages and served for much longer. Emeritus status is currently awarded to all Mormon leaders below that of Apostle who serve for life. Indeed, the very ‘election’ of a new prophet (although not set in stone) is traditionally the next longest serving apostle, ensuring future prophets are always already elderly when ‘called’. What is to happen when (not if) the next apostle in line to become prophet is already suffering from dementia when his turn to be prophet comes along? The Mormon god will no doubt have to move in yet another ‘mysterious way’ and change the system. It would make no difference, as their god apparently stopped communicating with his prophets long since, as openly admitted by the late prophet, Gordon B. Hinckley. (See: San Francisco Chronicle. Don Lattin interview with Gordon B. Hinckley. 13 Mar 1997 and The Mormon Delusion, Vol. 4:121-2). All they now get is ‘feelings’ – and we all get those; they can be very unreliable and often deceptive.

During the last month, I have been watching and reading Professor Brian Cox’s ‘Wonders of Life‘ which I also wrote about in February (below), and in trying to further consider my current feelings about life, I identified with his own understanding. I have incorporated Cox’s views into ‘Today and Tomorrow’ as ‘The Day After Tomorrow‘ (scroll down). His way of expressing his thoughts in this area is far better than mine. ‘Wonders of Life’ is available in the UK and will be released in May in the US where it is now available to pre-order on Amazon. Cox’s ‘Wonders of the Solar System’, ‘Wonders of the Universe’ and now ‘Wonders of Life’ are highly recommended. Everyone should get the DVDs and books. Understanding the origin and destiny of the universe, evolution through natural selection and mapping of the tree of life is an amazing adventure. The good news is that they just announced a further seires and filming starts in July 2013. Science provides evidence based facts, whilst Mormonism and many other religions cling to the mythology of the ancients – something which today is just silly

February 2013

Over the last few years, I have been asked to read and review several books for other authors. Usually, they have been works of non-fiction regarding the origins of religious myths, biblical problems or atheism. During January, I was sent two books to review and coincidentally they were both Mormon fiction, a subject I have had very little interest in due to my own work being fact and evidence based non-fiction.

However, I agreed to read and review the books out of courtesy. ‘A Mormon Massacre’ was by a nevermo who took the Mountain Meadows massacre as the backdrop for a modern day re-institution of ‘Danites’ by the prophet in order to reintroduce blood atonement and polygamy.

Unfortunately, whilst the Mountain Meadows history was reasonably accurate, the author had not researched modern day Mormonism at all and what he portrayed as an actual organisation was wrong in almost every respect. It turned out to be a trashy novel, full of smut, unbelievable characters and implausible plots, concluding in a predictable anti-climax. My review was consequently quite harsh. An author should get the facts right when portraying a real life organisation and then add in the underlying fiction. I found it a struggle to even finish reading the book.

The other book was by an exMo who has taken several decades to come to terms with the Church being a hoax and he finally found his therapy in writing a fictional story somewhat based on his own experiences in the Church. This book, by Michael Oborn, is well worth the read if you like Mormon fiction (or any thriller). The book is a well written, exciting and gripping story which would make a good movie. This is a link to my review of ‘The Complete Mystery of Matthew Alcott’ on Amazon.com. My review also appears on Amazon.co.uk and Goodreads.

Speaking of books, may I highly recommend Professor Brian Cox’s latest offering, released 24th January – ‘Wonders of Life’. It is available worldwide from Amazon and accompanies the UK TV series of the same name which started here last Sunday.

The book matches the five part series with five chapters, and judging by the first chapter, it not only mirrors the fascinating content of each episode but adds much more detail than a one hour TV programme can accommodate. The book confirms much scientific detail that has only recently become known as fact regarding not only evolution but also the very basis of life itself – and of course it completely contradicts material still canonised by the Mormon Church. In the D&C, Smith claims our Earth has a seven thousand year period of existence (D&C 77:6,12), and he was also recorded as discovering ‘Adam’s altar’ – which incidentally contained fossils. (See TMD Vol 4:254-257, 280-283).

The evidence has been creeping up on the Mormon Church in this area for decades and today anyone who has studied evidence from the many scientific disciplines that all combine to corroborate the tree of life, knows for a fact that the Earth and life on it is billions of years old and that all species have a common ancestor. As with many other scientific theories, such as gravity, evolution has been confirmed scientific fact for quite some time but many people just don’t keep up with science and cling to absurd alternate ‘beliefs’ instead of embracing new knowledge and understanding.

The problem for the Mormon Church in not accepting the evidence – or rather simply ignoring the fact that Smith was wrong about creationism – is that the D&C and Smith’s ‘Inspired Revision’ of the Bible – not to mention the temple endowment, combine to confirm his belief in creationism and his claim that God revealed it to him as the truth. They can’t get away from the facts, so they just ignore them. Recently, a BYU Professor published notes on how he reconciles evolution with Mormonism but the problem is that it cannot be reconciled without admitting Smith just made it all up – yet again. Accepting the fact that ‘Adam and Eve’ were mythical beings also leads to the problem that as this is the case, there was no ‘fall’ and thus no need for a ‘saviour’ or a ‘plan’ for our ‘redemption’. Everything falls apart.

Following Cox’s ‘Wonders of the Solar System’ and ‘Wonders of the Universe’, this volume, ‘Wonders of Life’, completes a fascinating trilogy, simply explained and beautifully illustrated. All three TV series are now also available to pre-order as a boxed set on DVD. Everyone should watch all of them and read the accompanying books. They are worth every penny. Understanding our solar system, the origin and destiny of the universe and the story of life on Earth is the most wonderful journey we could ever undertake – and it beats the hell out of Joseph Smith’s fairy tales.

Whatever anyone chooses to believe, science (evidence) should come first, with any personal ‘beliefs’ added afterwards – not the other way around, as is still the case in Mormonism – and many other religions.

“When evidence contradicts belief, it is the belief that is wrong.”
~ Jim Whitefield.

July 2012

Recent change to Mormon tithing slips…

Until recent times, tithing slips had a statement at the bottom which read:

“All donations to the Church’s missionary fund become the property of the Church to be used at the Church’s sole discretion in its missionary program.”

This statement not only confirmed what all Mormons already knew but it also distanced members from funds they provided to support their own children whilst on their missions. As tax relief is allowable on ‘donations’ (at least in the UK) this distancing provides a vehicle to protect the tax relief. When parents (including myself) previously paid money directly to children on missions, tax relief was not allowable. No tax relief is legally available even if parents first pay the money into Church coffers and subsequently it gets paid out to their own children. So, the Church invented this surreptitious circular route which also incorporated ‘averaging’ of mission costs per month worldwide. Parents pay the same for their children on missions no matter where they serve. Thus the amounts paid in are different to those paid out to individual missionaries, which may be higher or lower than the ‘donations’. The money is pooled and payment to individual missionaries is distanced from specific donors. We sent one son and a friend on missions under the old system obtaining no tax relief and another son and a daughter on missions under the carefully crafted new system. Whilst we were happy to get the tax relief which was paid to the Church and offset against tithing donations, it has to be said that we were indeed supporting our own children utilising this roundabout method. Whilst it was not an illegal move by the Church, and this ‘tax avoidance’ system of manipulating funds could not quite be described as ‘tax evasion’ which of course is entirely illegal, it does appear to be a morally wrong method of avoiding tax which would be payable if it could be shown that parents were in fact actually supporting their own children. The system was rationalised into place but is certainly not an entirely honest process and flies in the face of the proclaimed integrity implied in Articles of Faith 12 and 13.

12. We believe in … obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
13. We believe in being honest, true…

The Mormon Church mantra about avoiding the very appearance of evil also comes to mind.

Honouring and sustaining the law means not trying to circumvent legal requirements in order to avoid tax. Being ‘honest’ has a unique definition within Mormonism which often appears to create its own dictionary in order to accommodate its practices.

The old tithing slip statement has now been removed and replaced with the following which gives rise to even greater issues.

“Though reasonable efforts will be made globally to use donations as designated, all donations become the Church’s property and will be used at the Church’s sole discretion to further the Church’s overall mission.”

Options for ‘General missionary’, ‘Ward missionary’ and ‘Humanitarian aid’ donations remain on the new tithing slips but ‘Book of Mormon’, ‘Temple construction’ and ‘Perpetual education’ – the latter once a huge initiative to help youngsters in deprived countries to further their education – have all disappeared.

In TMD Vol. 2, Chapter 17, I was able to analyse Church income and expenditure in each category for the United Kingdom, as by law in the UK the Church has to disclose all financial details. This was long before the Church decided it could do what it liked regardless of donation ‘category’.

There were distinct transfers from one category to another without reference to members and most of the Humanitarian aid – which British Mormons generally believe gets used immediately for most dire overseas needs, was retained for local use. In fact, most of it was not dispersed at all in the year I inspected (2005). In the following details, £1 (GBP) is currently worth about $1.57 (USD). Out of £509,000 humanitarian aid donated in that year, only £34,000 was used and a total balance of £675,000 was carried forward. So, just £34,000 got used (locally) while millions of children died in the third world and the Church banked member donations for some supposed ‘greater’ future local use.

They also moved £500,000 out of the Fast Offering fund (supposedly used to feed the poor and needy) and put it into the Welfare fund, using it to build chapels etc.

“The ‘Fast Offering Fund’ is listed as “contributed by members of the Church to be used in the relief of the poor and needy”. Yes, that is the relief of the poor and needy. The perception is that the relief is given immediately to those who are in most need. The £500,000 ‘expenditure’ was actually transferred to the ‘Welfare Fund’ which has broader scope for use than members may imagine for their fast offerings.

The Welfare Fund does far more than provide food and necessities to those who desperately need immediate help to survive (the poor and needy); its full range and scope of expenditure, specified to achieve the goal of helping the poor and needy, includes the following: “Invests in farms which it rents out to subsidiary companies”, profits from which are returned to the charity of course, “acquires land and builds purpose built meeting houses, for a fellow subsidiary, in which members of the Church and members of the public can meet together for religious instruction and worship” and “assists individuals suffering through hardship, sickness and distress as needed” and “provides advice and guidance to Church members on the Church’s worldwide welfare and humanitarian aid programmes”. So, the fund that actually runs farms and pays for the construction of chapels is somewhat supported from funds donated by members who think ‘fast offering’ donations go to feed the poor and needy.” (TMD Vol. 2:341).

The Church does not disclose any financial information other than in countries where the law requires it. When he was questioned why, in an interview, the prophet Gordon B. Hinckley responded that they do not make the financial position known to the world as it is private and reserved for those inside the Church who make the donations. In stating that the information was available for members to see, Hinckley was not exactly being truthful, once again employing the unique Mormon take on being ‘honest’. The general membership has no more idea concerning what happens to their donations or how much money or other assets the Church has than anyone else. The Mormon Church hides everything from everyone.

Helmut Nemetchek of German ZFT Television: “In my country we say the people’s churches, the Protestants, the Catholics. They publish all their budgets annually to all the public. Why is not this possible for your church?”

Gordon B. Hinckley: “Well, we simply think that information belongs to those who make the contributions, not to the world. That’s the only thing. Yes.” (Gordon B. Hinckley Interview – ZDF German Television, Salt Lake City, Utah, 29 January 2002, conducted by Helmut Nemetschek at 47 East South Temple – Church Administration Building).

With the recent change in wording on tithing slips, it is clear the Mormon Church is giving itself carte blanche regarding all member donations.

Far from the latest statement representing the promise of a more honest future, the Mormon Church is simply rationalizing and justifying past misappropriation of funds.

June 2012

This month I have been reading John Hyde’s book, ‘Mormonism, Its Leaders and Designs’ which he wrote in 1857. Although the Mormon Church would claim it ‘unreliable’, it nevertheless makes for interesting reading. After joining the Church in England, Hyde served missions and then went to Salt Lake City, finally leaving the Church upon discovery of the underlying truth. He knew Brigham Young and other leaders personally and gives first hand accounts of their underhanded dealings. Hyde’s book confirms and corroborates much of Fanny Stenhouse’s work ‘Tell it All’, and also Samuel Hawthornethwaite’s book, ‘Mr. Hawthornthwaite’s Adventures among the Mormons, as an Elder during eight years’, also written in 1857.  I can thoroughly recommend all three books.

Here are some excerpts from John Hyde’s offering.

“Each person upon entering the Mormon Church is required to pay the tenth part of his or her property to the Lord’s servants for “building up temples, or otherwise beautifying and adorning Zion, as they may be directed from on high.” Having tithed their property, they must tithe their yearly increase for the same purpose. This tenth part is really a fifth part; for each man is required to work every tenth day on the Temple, or hire a substitute, and as well pay the tenth of the increase on the other nine days’ labour. It is even more than this in many cases, amounting to nearly fifty per cent., as the ladies pay the tenth part of their fowls, then a tenth part of their eggs, and then a tenth part of the chickens that may be hatched, irrespective of loss. This law of tithing, however, is only the “milk part of the gospel;” and was the preparative to a more rigid system of property-holding.” pp. 36-7.

I would encourage reading on from the above extract to see just how Brigham Young tried to have absolutely everything ultimately placed under his control so if so-called apostates did decide to leave the valley (assuming they made it out alive), they left with nothing.

Read about women being married to one man for life and secretly sealed to another in higher authority for eternity – where such unions also had to be consummated. For unsuspecting first husbands who wanted to be sealed – they held a mock ceremony to keep them quiet. The motto – “…it is better one man be deceived, rather than the whole Church should suffer.” See pp. 84–86.

See pp. 103-4 for the reason behind the killing of Squire Babbett.

Turning to logic, regarding the Book of Mormon:

“Professing to be a revelation from God, its evidence must be worthy of God; because God can do nothing unworthy himself. God, in the first place, would not send a book that would not commend itself and endure critical examination. God, in the second place, would not send it in a manner that would not sustain the most rigid scrutiny. God, in the third place, would not send it through a person whose character would not bear the most searching inquiry.” (p. 211).

Later in the book, having referenced the well known contradiction between Smith’s BOM (where it uses David and Solomon to confirm polygamy an abomination) and his D&C (where Smith uses the same characters and verses to validate his polygamy) – which should be enough for any rational thinker to realise the truth – he goes on with logic I never before considered. Hyde still believed in God and therefore the creation story and the flood. His point was that Smith and Young claimed monogamy was the wrong way and polygamy was God’s way and only by having a plethora of wives and children could you gain the highest of kingdoms. Hyde turns to logic. If, he says, polygamy is God’s way, why did he only give the first man one wife in order to populate the entire planet? Not only that, but after the flood when he saved just eight souls, Noah and three sons and their wives – just one each – why did he not save more women for them and institute polygamy then? At the two most significant moments in religious history regarding populating the world, polygamy was not introduced. Well, despite the fact they are fairy tales, for the believer, what is the answer to that? Hyde also gives the population figures around the globe at different periods and confirms men generally slightly outnumbered women, when you would expect a significantly larger proportion of women to be born to accommodate polygamy if God wanted it practiced. Clearly, had a god been involved with polygamy, it would have been the standard from the start and he would have arranged things differently.

Beyond evidence – logic, common sense and reason make a good basis for determining the truth, whereas the Church claims evidence (invariably contradicting Joseph Smith’s claims) means nothing and that faith transcends reason. That is a dangerous stance to take and stifles the rational mind making it bend to a world of fiction and fantasy.

The entire scanned book is available to read here: Mormonism: Its Leaders and Designs.