IT IS SO APPARENT - LDS Hymn Parody #95

You know what really irritates me???  That I went along with Mormonism for so many years, and then when I finally used critical thinking, it made absolutely no sense.  At that point, it was an absolute mystery to me why I ever believed it in the first place.  Still is.

Now I look so many things embodied within Mormonism, and I am appalled.  Like the Book of Abraham and Joseph Smith's supposed translation of the Egyptian papyri, as well as how he obtained the papyri.  Five papyri and four mummies were purchased from Michael Chandler who was touring the area and stopped in Kirtland, Ohio with a traveling mummie exhibition.  When Joseph Smith entered the exhibition along with two others, Mr. Chandler asked Joseph (knowing of his notoriety for claiming to have "translated" the gold plates of the Book of Mormon) to look at the scrolls and tell them what they said.  After examining them, Joseph and two others paid over $2,400 for the five papyri and four mummies (which was a lot of money in 1835).  Obviously, this "traveling salesman" saw them coming.  One con man duping another con man.

Of course, there are so many more bogus claims within Mormonism, as well as a mountain of extremely sordid history.  In looking at Mormonism closely, it became transparently clear to me that none of it is true.  It was at that moment when I finally accepted the fact that I had been duped my entire life, and it was as if my eyes were open for the first time.

Accepting it all at face value was my biggest mistake.  Having been born and raised in the Mormon Church, I relied too much on what other Mormons told me (including my father), and not enough on my own inner voice.  I should have started doing my own independent research much earlier in my life.  But then, I wasn't very intellectually curious back then.  Looking back, I really think Mormonism squelched my intellectual curiosity  and I came to accept things without looking at them objectively. 

But then, everything happens in its own time.  Perhaps I was meant to uncover the truth and find my own voice later in my life.  Who knows?  What I do know, though, is that finally living an authentic life is a very rewarding existence.  Being able to openly talk about my issues with Mormonism is also very fulfilling.  Although TBMs would like for me to just shut up and keep my opinions to myself (and stop blogging!!), I cannot do that because I know it's very important for me to express my feelings and make my voice be heard.  Keeping quiet about it all is the very last thing I want to do - and the least healthy for me psychologically.

So here is my 95th LDS Hymn Parody, dedicated to being Mormonism free - and finally being free to simply be ME.

IT IS SO APPARENT
Sung to the tune of We Are All Enlisted - #250

1.  It is so apparent that it’s packed full of lies,

The Mormon Church, The Mormon Church.
They can try to mask it, but there is no disguise,
Found out when I did my own research.
Studied the details, found out the truth,
Wish I had done that back in my youth.
A devout Mormon for many years,
Then broke away, broke away, shedding many tears.

(Chorus)
It is so apparent that it’s packed full of lies,
The Mormon Church, the Mormon Church.
They can try to mask it, but there is no disguise,
So apparent when you do research.

2.  When I did my research, the deception was clear,
Opened my eyes, opened my eyes.
Full of fabrications, not as it would appear,
Knew right then that I had not been wise.
They said believe it, I followed suit,
So very faithful, did not dispute.
Blindly accepted what they would say,
Until I saw, til I saw, much to my dismay…

(Chorus)
It is so apparent that it’s packed full of lies,
The Mormon Church, the Mormon Church.
They can try to mask it, but there is no disguise,
So apparent when you do research.

3.  After all the heartache, I am finally free,
Mormon no more, Mormon no more.
No more heavy burden, I am free to be me,
On my life before, I closed the door.
Should have been wiser, not just a clone,
Could have been different if I had known.
Critical thinking, a better choice,
And finally, finally, I have found my voice.

(Chorus)
It is so apparent that it’s packed full of lies,
The Mormon Church, the Mormon Church.
They can try to mask it, but there is no disguise,
So apparent when you do research.

© Diane Tingen, 5/21/2013

MORMONS, THE PROBLEMS ARE PLENTY - LDS Hymn Parody #94

Earlier this week, I got an email from a TBM who has read my blog - an 18 year old boy who has submitted his mission papers.  In this email, he said that he has read several of my hymn parodies, and... well, here's his email:

I have grown up in the lds church all my life and never was I told to stop asking questions or to not worry about my questions. I had many questions. I have been studying the church's history for almost three years now. I completely understand how you are angry at the church. It can be very hard to understand. I have found for myself the truth and it has made my testimony of Joseph smith and the restoration of the gospel steadfast and immovable. I am a worthy 18 year old young man and am proud to say that I have turned my mission papers in so I can serve god. I have spent countless hours studying church history. I have not as you might say justified or am in denial and I am not ignorant. I have found the explanations of the truth. I decided to wright you because I read some of your hymn parody's and I do think you have quite the talent for poems, however as to your blog "yet another anonymous" you quoted Christopher miller. To this I say you don't know if the well is poisoned or not. I have found great joy by drinking out of the well. So I am asking you to stop blogging about your hatered for Mormonism its just not nice. let us freely believe in what we want and we will let you freely believe in what you want. I would like to hear back from you. I think you are a very intelligent person and I think you probably live your life at a high standard. I do not care much for arguing about who's right but rather I delight in conversation of views.  Thank you for your time.

Ah, "my blogging about my hatered for Mormonism its just not nice."  My bad. 

After weeding my way through this email, I responded, thanking him for his email - and then setting out some areas about which I wanted to know his views (such as Polygamy, Polyandry, the Book of Abraham, the Book of Mormon, the supposed Martyrdom of Joseph Smith, the Nauvoo Expositor, the First Vision and its different accounts, etc.).  But when he responded, he did not address any of queries.  Instead, he said the following:

Diane! i am very glad to hear back from you. you responded so quickly i didn't realize you had, thank you.  i am not naive about any of this. i worked very long and very hard to get my answers i am not educated in this but i have studied a lot and enough to form my own views. i was never told to believe anything, not from the church and not from family. i once asked for my dads help on a question, he kindly told me that i could figure it out and only told me to read books. my father didn't even tell me which books to read. he said information on the internet is unreliable. i found this to be true as to the fact that many internet sources on the matter are by people who are uneducated on the matter such as you and they place so much of their opinion within the facts. my church leaders would give me their opinion on the subject and tell me to find my own answer to the question most of my leaders answers i didn't agree with. that or i didn't fully agree with it. though that's the beauty of it, we are all able to find truth in our own way. that's why the church promotes us to ask for our self's. I often found myself reading books by Hugh Nibley. his explanations of my questions were very thorough. i liked reading his stuff because he is a convert to the church and is very well educated. (he did his research first hand). obviously, this didn't stop me from going to internet sites that were completely anti-mormon. i did visit your blog and revisited. 

Diane in my last letter i explained that i don't enjoy arguing about who's right. i could go through each of these and give you the explanations that i have found but we both know that neither of us will give on the matter. we could go back and forth for days. if you want to see my views i will tell you the books i read for each question and the chapter i found most truth in. Hugh Nibley and other authors explain it so much better then i could ( i am very young). i am so much more interested in hearing about what you now believe i find that that would be a much better conversation. 

the well is poisoned (in your opinion) you don't know it is poisoned. you cant know because me and so many other people have studied the same information as you and have declared it a well that will give you everlasting life. not all Mormon's are ignorant as you may think they are. in fact most are very well informed about their church history. again i am asking you to stop blogging about your hate for gods church. it is very hurtful that someone can be so mean about what someone believes. i love my religion and for you to attack it is to attack me. i don't care if you want to say that you only hate Mormonism and not Mormons. this church is such a big part of my life, that this is nothing less than a direct attack on me.  thank you for your time.

Of course, he's right about one thing - we could go back and forth for days and even longer, and we probably wouldn't get anywhere (especially since he seems to think Hugh Nibley's word is golden).  So I will probably send him a response saying, "Stop blogging?  Isn't going to happen."  I think I'll also include the fact that though the Mormon Church claims that there are 14 million Mormons in the world, less than half of them are active.  So that means that there are 7 million active Mormons (and that's a high estimate).  Given that the world's population is 7 billion, that means that the 7 million Mormons are .1% of the current world's population.  Yes, that's one tenth of one percent.  So much for "me and so many other people" who have "studied the same information as I have and declared it" to be true.  Does he really think that God is only going to save Mormons in the Celestial Kingdom - when they are such a small percentage (in fact, infinitesimal) of the people who are living on the earth right now?  Of course, when you add in all those who have preceded the current population, it makes the Mormons even a smaller percentage of the entire picture.  Mormons can be so egotistical in thinking that they are the only ones who have the "correct answers."
This 18 year old boy is obviously all "gung-ho" about the Mormon Church and not willing to look at alternative views.  Hopefully, though, one day he will see the actual truth.  I hope this for all Mormons.  Because clearly, the problems are plenty... 

So here is my latest LDS Hymn Parody - my 94th one to date.  I've been working on some others, so hopefully soon I'll hit the 100 mark.

MORMONS, THE PROBLEMS ARE PLENTY
Sung to the tune of Master, the Tempest Is Raging ‑ #105

1. Mormons, the problems are plenty,
So clearly it’s all a fraud.
I think if you look at it closely,
You’ll see that it’s hugely flawed.
Carest thou not that it’s bullshit?
How canst thou go along?
If you take off the blinders, you’ll see it,
The whole thing is clearly wrong.

(Chorus)
It’s clear Mormonism is filled with lies,
No disguise, no disguise.
Whether they tell you to just believe,
Don’t simply accept it and be that naïve.
The facts and the evidence clearly show
What Joseph Smith conjured up years ago.
Just do some research, you’ll see the lies,
No disguise, no disguise.
Just do some research, you’ll see the lies,
There’s no disguise.

2. Mormons, some critical thinking
Is called for, not blind belief.
The questions I found myself asking
Were answered with great relief.
For many years, I believed it,
Stuck my head in the sand.
Though it took me some time to admit it,
Such joy when I took a stand.

(Chorus)
Just opened my eyes and could see the lies,
No disguise, no disguise.
I heard the mantra to just believe,
And for many years, I was blind and naïve.
It wasn’t till I did my own research,
Deception I saw in the Mormon Church.
Through my own research, I saw the lies,
No disguise, no disguise.
Through my own research, I saw the lies,
There’s no disguise.

3. Mormons, it’s filled with deception,
Just look with discerning eyes.
The falsehoods throughout it aren’t hidden,
The evidence truth belies.
So many Mormons accept it,
Saying their bosoms burn,
And they bear testimony on Sunday,
But when will the truth they learn?

(Chorus)
It’s clear Mormonism is filled with lies,
No disguise, no disguise.
It is not wise when you just believe,
They say just accept it, but don’t be naïve.
When all of the facts show it is not true,
Don’t stay in denial, but say adieu.
The Mormon Church is a total fraud,
False façade, false façade.
The Mormon Church is a total fraud,
Not Word of God.

© Diane Tingen, 5/16/2013

 

GRASPING AT STRAWS - LDS Hymn Parody #93

 

In thinking about Mormonism, so many cliches, idioms and phrases come to mind, such as: (1) Jumping to conclusions; (2) Burying their heads in the sand; (3) Turning a blind eye; (4) Turning a deaf ear; (5) Grasping at straws; etc.

Of course, many Mormons think that anyone who leaves the Mormon Church is going to hell in a handbasket.  Naturally, TBMs think that all Ex-Mormons have an axe to grind, that we are all loose cannons, and have seriously lost our marbles.  They seem to constantly be jumping to conclusions about Ex-Mormons' motives, state of mind, and even morals.

Sadly, though, discussing subjects relating to Mormonism with most Mormons is not a level playing field because so many have absolutely no idea about the real facts surrounding Mormon Church History or that it is extremely sordid.  Many TBMs also have limited information about the realities of Mormon teachings and doctrines.  Even if they do listen, they quickly jump to the conclusion that what Ex-Mormons are really talking about is simply all smoke and mirrors and that Ex-Mormons are trying to pull the wool over their eyes.

So many TBMs simply go along and turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to anything even slightly negative about the Mormonism.  "There's none so blind as those who will not see" (and likewise, there's none so deaf as will not hear).  Essentially, they seem to spend their time burying their heads in the sand, refusing to even look at other viewpoints.  Also, so many seem to grasp at straws, rationalizing their way through Mormonism and its obvious problems, attempting to invent a way to color it all in a positive light.

So here is my 93rd LDS Hymn Parody, dedicated to one of the exercises that all TBMs seem to get a lot of...

GRASPING AT STRAWS
Sung to the tune of True to the Faith - #254

1. While the Mormon Church continues
To attempt to hide details
All about its sordid history,
In the end, the truth prevails.  Yes!!

(Chorus)
Grasping at straws as the Mormons refuse to see,
They just believe what they’re told to obediently.
It’s full of lies, there’s no disguise,
And for the truth, there’s no compromise.

2. The deception is apparent
If you open up your eyes.
Do some independent research
And the lies you’ll recognize.  Yes!!

(Chorus)
Grasping at straws as the Mormons refuse to see,
They just believe what they’re told to obediently.
It’s full of lies, there’s no disguise,
And for the truth, there’s no compromise.

3. It is clear that Mormonism
Was a hoax right from the start.
Was made up by Brother Joseph
With deception off the chart.  Yes!!

(Chorus)
Grasping at straws as the Mormons refuse to see,
They just believe what they’re told to obediently.
It’s full of lies, there’s no disguise,
And for the truth, there’s no compromise.

4. How they market Mormonism
Saying it’s the Word of God,
Is a ploy to gain new members,
Mormonism is a fraud.  Yes!!

(Chorus)
Grasping at straws as the Mormons refuse to see,
They just believe what they’re told to obediently.
It’s full of lies, there’s no disguise,
And for the truth, there’s no compromise.

© Diane Tingen, 4/4/2013

COME, ALL THOSE WHO SEE THE LIES - LDS Hymn Parody #92

Looking back at those very dark days when I was earnestly questioning the Mormon Church, I remember struggling with so many things.  Having been born and raised Mormon, my life was completely submerged in Mormonism - so I knew that if I decided to walk away, I was giving up much more than just my religion.  I was giving up the only way of life I had ever known.  Of course, that's what the Mormon Church counts on, and that's the way they keep a lot of members.  In the end, though, I decided that was a small price to pay for living an authentic life - but in the midst of it all, I was in a great deal of turmoil.

I really wish I had turned to the Ex-Mormon community earlier in my disaffection process.  But I did not go on any Ex-Mormon or Post-Mormon websites until I had already left the Church.  In fact, the first time I went on www.exmormon.org was after Thanksgiving dinner in 2008 when my brother told me that he wanted to show me the genealogy he had uploaded onto the Mormon Church genealogy website - www.familysearch.org.  After looking at our family genealogy on www.familysearch.org, I decided to look at Joseph Smith's pedigree chart - and that is when I first discovered that Joseph Smith had married women who were already married to living husbands).  When I first made this discovery, I was completely dumbfounded since I had been a member of the Mormon Church for over 52 years before I finally disassociated myself from my life-long religion - and not once had I heard of this even taking place.  Naturally, I had heard of Polygamy (although I never really knew the real truth behind that practice until I began my research prior to going on the Mormon Church History Tour in the Summer of 2001).  But Polyandry?  I was floored!!

When I got home from that Thanksgiving dinner, I decided to do some more research about this - and that's when I found out that this practice is called Polyandry.  On Google, I saw links to some articles about Polyandry, and followed a few of them.  One of the links lead me to www.exmormon.org and an article by Bob McCue.  After reading this article, I decided to go on the discussion board (mainly to see how many others even knew about Polyandry), and that was the first time that I even exchanged messages with any Ex-Mormons.  It was an enlightening experience because whereas I had struggled for a few years with thinking that I was misunderstanding things, that I must just not be righteous enough to understand it all, that I just needed to endure to the end as I had been told innumerable times, etc., etc., ad nauseum, I began to realize that many others shared my views of the lies that are obviously laced throughout Mormonism.  What a eye-opener that was!!

Of course, the fact that I didn't go onto www.exmormon.org until then is a testament to the brainwashing I had received my entire life.  Even in the aftermath of my discovery of the deception that is encompassed in Mormonism, subconsciously I had continued to follow the admonition not to talk to "those angry apostates."  Truly, brainwashing dies hard.

So if I had one thing to do over again in my journey away from Mormonism, it would have been to garner strength from those who were also questioning as well as those who had already made the leap to leave.  That would have provided so much reassurance and would have made me not feel so alone in my quest for truth as well as my decision to close the door and walk away.  That is what is so valuable about websites like www.exmormon.org.  Later on, I discovered www.postmormon.org as well, and I gained a lot of strength from discussions on that website as well.  In fact, after talking with a lot of people on there, I ended up going to the 2010 Ex-Mormon Conference in SLC and met many of those people in person, which was a wonderful experience.  After that, I ended up joining several Ex-Mormon groups on Facebook, and have made more friends there.  During all of this, I have discovered that there is a very large community of Former Mormons out there, providing support not only to those who have already left but also to those who are in the process of questioning and re-examining their views about Mormonism.

And so, here is my 92nd LDS Hymn Parody, dedicated to all the Former Mormons out there...

COME, ALL THOSE WHO SEE THE LIES
Sung to the tune of Come, Ye Thankful People - #94

Come, all those who see the lies,

Those who finally recognize
Mormonism is not true,
Pure deception through and through.
Yes, we’ve seen the truth at last,
And though we were once downcast,
The conclusions we have drawn
Lead us to a brighter dawn.

Lies are laced throughout it all,
Truth is written on the wall.
We reject the Mormon Church
Through the facts and our research.
We’re so grateful that we saw
Each defect and every flaw.
It is just a stack of lies,
Evidence they can’t disguise.

© Diane Tingen, 4/3/2013

BEYOND THE SHADOW A DOUBT - LDS Hymn Parody #91

Beyond the shadow of a doubt.  There are certain phrases that immediately remind me of my many years in the Mormon Church, and this is one of them.  I heard that phrase so many times in church that I lost count, and particularly in Fast and Testimony Meeting - and I'm sure I said it many times way back when I was still a devout Mormon, without even realizing what it really meant.

When I saw this picture, I really liked it because it demonstrates what this phrase really means.  The man is standing outside the shadow of the word "Doubt."  This precisely shows just how far outside of "Doubt" my convictions really are about the many falsehoods within Mormonism.  

On Wikipedia, this phrase is defined as follows: 

Beyond the shadow of a doubt, or beyond a shadow of a doubt, is a standard of proof.  The phrase means the issue in question is so obvious, or has been so thoroughly proven, that there can exist no doubt.  Two possible interpretations of "Beyond a shadow" might refer, first, to the fact that doubt could be nowhere in the vicinity (completely expelled from the issue), or second, to the thoroughness of the argument (a shadow being even less substantial than a doubt itself).

After coming to the conclusion that Mormonism is a complete fraud, I can now say that "I know beyond the shadow of a doubt" that Mormonism was obviously created by Joseph Smith for his own purposes, and perpetuated by other men ever since his death.  Of that fact, there is no doubt whatsoever in my mind.  It is very hard for me to understand how anyone can stay in the Mormon Church once they discover the actual truth behind the doctrines, teaching and history.  But so many members mindlessly cling to it all, refusing to believe that it is actually an enormous stack of lies, and that the entire religion was a hoax from the get-go.  Complete and total denial.

So here is my 91st LDS Hymn Parody, dedicated to knowing "Beyond the Shadow of a Doubt" that Mormonism is a complete and total fraud, riddled with innumerable lies...

 

BEYOND THE SHADOW OF A DOUBT
Sung to the tune of While of These Emblems We Partake - #174

Beyond the shadow of a doubt,
Though I believed and was devout,
Now I am sure it is a fraud,
And not at all the Word of God.

When looking at the Mormon Church,
Investigate and do research,
Examine all the evidence,
Clearly there is no good defense.

Seeing the facts, I could not stay,
Closed all the doors and walked away.
The Mormon Church is in my past,
A web of lies, so huge and vast.

It was made up by Joseph Smith,
What he created is a myth.
Mormons steadfastly cling to lies,
What they believe the truth belies.

© Diane Tingen, 4/2/2013

UNVEILING ALL THE LIES - LDS Hymn Parody #90

BEHIND THE MORMON SPIN.  The longer I have been out of Mormonism, the more I have realized just how much "spin" is involved in this religion.  Of course, we almost expect there to be "spin" in politics - we've come to expect it.  But "spin" in religion?  A person would think that religion would be above that kind of manipulative behavior.  As Javier Bardem once said, "I do respect people's faith, but I don't respect their manipulation of that faith to create fear and control."  Well put.

I recently read an article entitled "Ethical Communications: Spinning the Truth" by Mark S. Putnam, in which he said, "Somewhere between the truth and a lie, there's 'spin.' We hear about politicians spinning bad news in their favor. We see journalists and pundits spin news stories to reflect a certain point of view. It's easy. You too can spin if you look at data, filter it through your biases, and preach it like gospel. The rationale is that it isn't really lying, just putting a bias on what is already true. So what's wrong with it?  Before you choose to spin yourself into trouble, understand that in the context of ethical communication, you should be clear, truthful, and honest in what comes out of your mouth. Spinning is like any other kind of dishonesty, it's wrong. It makes good old fashioned lying sound clever and trendy. It can be said that stupid people lie and smart people spin."

I like that last line - "It can be said that stupid people lie and smart people spin."  But what's even more mystifying for me is that although literally everything about Mormonism is ridiculous (its doctrines, its teachings, and most definitely its history), there are many otherwise intelligent people who are completely caught up in Mormonism and so devoted to its tenets that they steadfastly stand up for its doctrine, teaching and history.  These people are not stupid, and yet they are trapped inside the web of lies that Mormonism propagates.  They truly believe that Joseph Smith was a Seer and Prophet of God who restored the "everlasting gospel in these latter days."  To me, the only explanation for that is that Mormonism has seeped into their psyches and clouded their judgment.  They allow the Mormon Church to dictate how they think and what they accept as true.  They are so entrenched in Mormonism that they are caught in a never-ending spiral of denial.  But that's all part of the spin - the Mormon Church expects its members to simply go along and not question, and if they do question, they are told that when the Prophet speaks, the debate is over.  That type of philosophy works to keep people quiet, and to make sure they don't speak out about their concerns.

In September 2010, I wrote a poem entitled "Spin, Spin, Spin the Truth," (based on "Row, Row, Row Your Boat") which is posted in the Poetry section of this blog.  The first two verses are:

Spin, spin, spin the truth,
Every way you can.
Verily, verily, verily, verily,
Like it all began.

Hide, hide, hide it all,
They can’t know the truth.
History, history, history, history,
Cover up the proof.

The poem goes on for several more verses, and ends with the following verse:

Please, please, please no more,
This is crazy stuff.
Overload, overload, overload, overload,
I have had enough.

Truly, I have had enough.  Enough lies... enough deception... enough denial... enough spinning.  To me, truth is the bottom line.  Is that too much to ask?

   

I will be forever grateful that in the Summer of 2001, I went on that Mormon Church History Tour because that is when I started my independent research.  At first, I simply wanted to know more about church history so I would know what occurred at the key places when we visited those locations.  But then, as I discovered more and more, I began to see that I had been duped all those years into believing that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God and that the Mormon Church was the Word of God.  I often think about the possibility that if I had not gone, I would most likely still be completely caught up in the web of lies that Mormonism weaves.  Thankfully, I saw the lies and was able to extricate myself from its clutches.

And so, here is my 90th LDS Hymn Parody...

UNVEILING ALL THE LIES
Sung to the tune of I Know My Father Lives - #302

Unveiling all the lies,
The truth revealed.
So long denial sheltered me,
Reality concealed,
Reality concealed.

Within the Mormon Church,
A plan devised.
Deception at its very core,
Dishonesty disguised,
Dishonesty disguised.

So much is evident
With open eyes.
Just look beyond the rhetoric,
And you will see the lies,
And you will see the lies.

Through research I have found
The lies within.
The truth is there for all to find,
Behind the Mormon Spin,
Behind the Mormon Spin.

© Diane Tingen, 3/25/2013

WHEN LIES ARE TOLD - LDS Hymn Parody #89

THE TRUTH.
No wiggle room.  No poetic license.

THE FACTS.
No dodging, hedging or dancing around.

ONLY THE TRUTH and JUST THE FACTS.
Is that too much to ask?  As far as Mormonism is concerned, it seems to be - particularly since the Mormon Church has a very long history of distorting the facts (as well as attempting to cover-up many facts and details) and expecting everyone to believe that they are being upfront and honest when, in fact, that is the furthest thing from the actual truth.

Since leaving Mormonism, though, I've realized that not only is the doctrine false (and the history extremely sordid), but that the way in which the Mormon Church disperses information is suspect as well.  Particularly statistics about its membership numbers and growth rate.

On the Mormonism Research Ministry website, there is a blog entitled Mormon Coffee (It's forbidden, but it's good!).  On that blog, I recently read an entry entitled, "Mormonism's growth figures - what can you believe?" posted on May 7, 2012.  This blog entry starts off by saying:

Screaming front page headline in Wednesday, May 2, 2012’s Salt Lake Tribune (in bold, no less): 

“Multiplying Mormons expand into new turf” Subhead 1: “2010 census: LDS Church is fastest-growth Christian faith in 30 states, report shows” Subhead 2: “Only Muslims, with 67% jump from 2000-2010, outpaces 45% LDS increase.” Anyone picking up the paper on Wednesday received several messages: 1. The Mormons are a Christian faith.2. The church grew by 45.5% over the past decade. 3. The church grew from 4,224,000 US members to 6,144,000 from 2000 to 2010.  

This blog entry went on to say:

These are amazing numbers.  The problem is, the numbers were cooked.  A person who only looked at the front page and the major headlines on Wednesday probably missed the follow-up article on Thursday.  Instead of the front page, a story was placed in Section B of the Utah section next to the page's main article, "Dry winter portends a busy wildfire season."  The one-column article next to it had a much small headline, reading, "LDS Church growth really near 18%."  The subhead:  "Only 40% of Mormons attend church regularly, says researcher."

Really??!!  Cooking the books.  Why does that not surprise me?  For a church that plays fast and loose with the truth, creative accounting is not a big leap.  It's simply "business as usual."  Trying to make the Mormon Church look like it is "the fastest-growth Christian faith in 30 states" is simply part of their marketing scheme.

Of course, some people reading this blog entry (as well as many other entries on my blog) are probably saying, "Well, that's her opinion."  But actually, although everything written here is my opinion, the fact is that my opinions are based on actual facts.  You know, the facts that the Mormon Church goes to great lengths to cover up.  Naturally, any "negative information" about the Mormon Church is characterized by them as "Anti-Mormon Propaganda," which is basically their way of attempting to keep its members from either reading or believing the actual truth about Mormonism.  The Mormon Church even goes so far as to "prohibit" research outside their "approved parameters" (one of the signs of a cult), and includes a question about internet usage and research in the interview to obtain a temple recommend.  From what I've been told, Mormons are denied a temple recommend if they admit that they have looked at this "forbidden information."  Truly, if the Mormon Church had nothing to hide then it wouldn't matter what people read, research or look at, would it?

Mormons are told to "have faith and just believe," regardless of how preposterous the whole thing may seem.  And there are a lot of people who do just that, in essence putting aside all critical thinking and just accepting what they are told to believe.

Lies should have no part in anyone's life.  I, for one, do not want to live my life based on lies or half-truths - because in very plain and simple terms, "...trust departs when lies are told" (as the below LDS Hymn Parody says - my 89th to date).

WHEN LIES ARE TOLD

Sung to the tune of When Faith Endures, #128

I know the truth, it’s very clear,
The Mormon Church, a false veneer.
For lies are laced throughout it all,
The facts are written on the wall.
For years, I simply went along,
Though deep inside, I sensed it’s wrong.
They say believe, the Lord extolled,

But trust departs when lies are told.

© Diane Tingen, 3/12/2013

WHO'S REALLY THINKING? LDS Hymn Parody #88

It never ceases to amaze me that there are very intelligent people who are members of the Mormon Church, and yet they seem to suspend their intellect in order to continue to believe in Mormonism.  Take my brother, for instance.  He is a very intelligent man who has a Master's Degree in Library Science (albeit from BYU).  He has been Assistant Director of a library in a Georgia town for many years.  He has a lot of information stuffed into his brain - and what he doesn't know off the top of his head, he can find in an instant.  But when it comes to the Mormon Church, he epitomizes the edict to "just believe."  No critical thinking seems to be going on - at least, not as far as Mormonism is concerned.

From 2006-2010, I lived in Georgia - and when I first moved there, I told my brother that I had not been to church in almost two years.  Of course, he said, "Well, it's never too late to go back."  When I told him that I didn't want to go back, he said, "It all boils down to whether or not you believe Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God.  If he was a Prophet of God, then it's all true.  But if he wasn't, then it's all a lie.  As for me, I believe that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God who restored the gospel in these latter days, and so I believe that the Mormon Church is the Word of God."  It amazed me at the time just how rote he sounded - almost like a recording.  But then, since our parents joined the church when I was only 10 months old, and he is 17 months older than me, he was brainwashed from a very young age just as I was.  Sadly, though, he has never progressed to the point of really questioning it, in earnest.  At least, that's the way it seems.

Why doesn't evidence mean anything to the Mormons?  Facts do not lie.  But they don't seem to be concerned with evidence or facts.  Any time something comes up that doesn't make sense, they go into auto-pilot and repeat this mantra:  "We are mere mortals and do not understand the ways of God.  We cannot understand everything in this life, but if we remain faithful and endure to the end, then our minds will be opened to all things and we will know that it was worth it."  I heard this little speech from my late father so many times over the years that I lost count. 

So here is my 88th LDS Hymn Parody - and truly, when it comes to Mormonism, Who's Really Thinking???

WHO’S REALLY THINKING?
Sung to the tune of Who’s on the Lord’s Side? - #260

1. Who’s really thinking? Who?
Within the Mormon Church?
We ask it with concern,
Who’s really thinking? Who?
They simply go along,
Have faith and just believe.
But it is all a fraud,
Who’s really thinking? Who?

(Chorus)
Who’s really thinking? Who?
Within the Mormon Church?
We ask it with concern,
Who’s really thinking? Who?

2. Though Mormonism claims
To be The One True Church,
That claim is fraudulent,
Who’s really thinking? Who?
Just research on your own,
And you will plainly see,
It is a stack of lies,
Who’s really thinking? Who?

(Chorus)
Who’s really thinking? Who?
Within the Mormon Church?
We ask it with concern,
Who’s really thinking? Who?

3. When I began to think,
To really use my brain,
The question would arise,
Who’s really thinking? Who?
The Mormons just accept
Whatever they are told,
They cling to all the lies,
Who’s really thinking? Who?

(Chorus)
Who’s really thinking? Who?
Within the Mormon Church?
We ask it with concern,
Who’s really thinking? Who?

4. The truth has set me free,
For I have walked away,
And now I ask myself,
Who’s really thinking? Who?
The Mormons are not wise
To blindly just accept
The doctrine they are taught,
Who’s really thinking? Who?

(Chorus)
Who’s really thinking? Who?
Within the Mormon Church?
We ask it with concern,
Who’s really thinking? Who?

© Diane Tingen, 2/28/2013

IF YOU JUST GO ALONG - LDS Hymn Parody #87

For so many years, I just went along with whatever the Mormon Church told me was true.  If they had told me the wall was red, rather than blue as I saw it, I would have accepted that the wall was red and there was something wrong with my eyes and my ability to see correctly.  Even when I did begin to have doubts, I put them up on my shelf, just like a good Mormon girl/woman, and believed that if I prayed more, read the scriptures more, studied more, attended all my meetings, etc., etc., ad nauseum, then somehow it would all miraculously make sense.  Sadly, though, that never happened - and when I finally began doing my own independent research (in violation of the mandate that Mormons are only supposed to read approved materials because everything else is faith-destroying Anti-Mormon Propaganda), I began to realize that I had been duped my entire life.

There are a lot of Mormons out there who just go along, who follow the admonition to "just believe."  But what they are putting their faith in is actually an enormous stack of lies.  If I could talk with each one of them, I would tell them to please do their own independent research - not to let the Mormon Church pull the wool over their eyes any longer, but to find out for themselves.  A religious organization telling its membership not to research outside the approved parameters is one sign of a cult.  If there was nothing to hide, then it wouldn't matter what they read or look at.  I know Mormons don't want to accept the fact that their church is actually a cult - I denied that for many years.  When I would hear the Mormon Church called a cult, I would become insulted and strongly defend it saying, "Oh no, it's not a cult!!"  But in reality, the Mormon Church is most definitely a cult as is confirmed by studying the characteristics of cults on websites such as http://www.cultwatch.org/ (and in particular, see http://www.howcultswork.com/).  Also, please see Stephen Hassan's website, http://www.freedomofmind.com/.

And so, here is my 87th LDS Hymn Parody, highlighting the fact that Joseph Smith was a crook who invented Mormonism for his own purposes - and ever since his death, other men have perpetuated the hoax that he created way back then.  I just wish that those who are trapped inside the Mormonism could see the real truth because by accepting everything blindly, they are giving their power away. 

IF YOU JUST GO ALONG
Sung to the tune of Let Us Oft Speak Kind Words - #232

If you just go along and don’t question,
Accept what they say to believe,
Every piece of the dubious doctrine,
Denying they work to deceive.
Allowing the church to entrap you,
As in Mormonism you stay,
Not looking at each contradiction,
But giving your power away.

(Chorus)
It’s so clear if you look, Joseph Smith was a crook,
And he made it up from the start.
So don’t just go along, ask some questions,
Do research and take it to heart.

Looking back, I can see the denial,
With sorrow, I sadly recall
When some doubts would arise, I would squelch them,
I blindly accepted it all.
But finally, I started to question
In earnest, my research began.
And soon I could see Mormonism
Was made up by one twisted man.

(Chorus)
It’s so clear if you look, Joseph Smith was a crook,
And he made it up from the start.
So don’t just go along, ask some questions,
Do research and take it to heart.

© Diane Tingen, 2/23/2013

JOSEPH, JOSEPH, WHAT A SCOUNDREL - LDS Hymn Parody #86

Some of these LDS Hymn Parodies just seem to write themselves, and my most current one is a prime example of that.  It's like the meme says that is posted on my other blog - (http:/exmormonhymnbook.blogspot.com) -
"LDS Hymn Parodies - Because they're just asking for it."

As anyone who follows my LDS Hymn Parodies knows, Joseph Smith is the subject of many of them - and rightly so, since he's the man who made the whole thing up, out of thin air.  In studying history, it is very clear that Joseph was a scoundrel and a shyster.  He was a charlatan, a treasure seeker, always out for a quick buck.  According to history, he was also very charismatic, and it was because of that charisma that he was able to convince a lot of people that he was a Prophet and Seer.  Indeed, Joseph found his goldmine in creating Mormonism - and in doing so, he gained power and control over a lot of people.  Because of that power, he was even able to create and practice Polygamy and Polyandry, coercing many young girls and women (even women who were already married to living husbands) to become one of his 33 wives.

And so, here is my 86th LDS Hymn Parody, dedicated to "Brother Joseph."

JOSEPH, JOSEPH, WHAT A SCOUNDREL

Sung to the tune of Israel, Israel, God is Calling - #7

Joseph, Joseph, what a scoundrel,
He created such a fraud.
Mormonism was his angle,
Touted as the Word of God.
Pure deception, pure deception,
Just a hoax, a false façade.
Pure deception, pure deception,
Just a hoax, a false façade.

Joseph, Joseph, what a shyster,
Not a Prophet and a Seer.
He was clearly an imposter,
Not a tiny bit sincere.
Do some research, do some research,
All the facts are crystal clear.
Do some research, do some research,
All the facts are crystal clear.

Joseph, Mormons still revere you,
Worship you, their Prophet dear.
Faced with truth, they loudly argue,
Close their ears so they can’t hear.
Mormonism, Mormonism,
False religion, very clear.
Mormonism, Mormonism,
False religion, very clear.

Joseph, Joseph, very callous,
Made it up, no truth at all.
Mormonism, clearly bogus,
Really was the height of gall.
So deceptive, so deceptive,
Truth is written on the wall.
So deceptive, so deceptive,
Truth is written on the wall.

© Diane Tingen, 02/22/2013