THE TRUTH IS THERE FOR YOU TO FIND - LDS Hymn Parody #22

167 years ago today, on June 27, 1844, Joseph Smith was killed by a mob while he was incarcerated in Carthage Jail in Illinois.  Of course, Joseph Smith was the founder and first President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (aka the Mormon Church).  While I was growing up, and during my entire time as a member of the Mormon Church, I was always told that Joseph Smith was a religious martyr, that he was killed because of religious persecution.  That story is the Mormon Party Line - but that simply is not true.  Joseph Smith was arrested and placed in Carthage Jail because he ordered the destruction of the Nauvoo Expositor (and the burning of the building which it was housed) after a story was published exposing Joseph Smith's practice of polygamy and polyandry.  That is why he was in Carthage Jail, and that is why he was killed by a mob while he was incarcerated there.  That does not make him a religious martyr, but rather a criminal (especially when you take into account that Joseph Smith was arrested at least 6 other times, and escaped from jail on at least two occasions).  Of course, it has been pointed out to me by a TBM with whom I have exchanged some messages that since he was never convicted of any crime, he was therefore innocent of all charges - but to me, that is simply rationalizing out the situation, sticking your head in the sand, pretending that reality isn't real, and that everything was completely above board (which it most definitely was not).

Naturally, I had believed the "religious martyr" story about Joseph Smith my entire life - until I began to do some research into Mormon Church history in preparation for going on a Mormon Church History Tour in the Summer of 2001.  Since I had never really studied much about church history as I was growing up, and basically relied wholly on what I was told and taught, I did not know a lot of details about the subject - so before going on this trip, I decided to do some reading and research so I would know more when we visited the key places.  But the more I read, studied and researched, the more I began to realize that what I had been taught and told about the history of the Mormon Church was simply not true.  All of this was quite a revelation, and was the beginning of the end for me.  Another big revelation for me was the fact that Joseph Smith had a gun when he was attacked in Carthage Jail, and shot it at his attackers.  So although he claimed to be "going like a lamb to the slaughter," that was not an accurate depiction of the situation either.

On a Facebook group of which I am a member, I heard about a Facebook page named "Sharing the Gospel through Social Media" - and I have gone on there several times in the past few days. This page is dedicated to honoring Joseph Smith on the anniversary of the date of his death.  In reading what is being posted there by TBMs, I can't help but feel incredibly sad for these members of the Mormon Church. They are following the Mormon Party Line completely, without doing any independent research or any critical thinking - just like I did for so many years. In my opinion, taking the stances that they are without looking outside the "authorized reading areas" is simply unwise.  Some of these people are obviously very intelligent, but that intelligence is being shut down when it comes to Mormonism. 

I have posted some comments on that Facebook page, as have some other people, trying to say something that will help to open these people's minds to the point where they will feel the need to research and study on their own, independent from strictly Mormon viewpoints.  IMO, no one should take anyone's word for anything, but rather they should read, research and study on their own in order to discover the actual truth about everything in life.  Last time I went there, though, I discovered that all of my posts and comments have been deleted.  Censorship, anyone?  It amazes me that so many TBMs can say whatever they want about the "truthfulness" of the gospel, and bear their testimonies all day long, but the minute anyone voices an opposing view, they become enraged.  Deleting comments on a page like this is, in my opinion, very childish and immature - and when I made a post to that effect, that one was deleted as well.  I figure it's just a matter of time before my last one is deleted (commenting, again, on the deletions and the lack of tolerance for opposing views).  Oh, well...

I am grateful every day of my life that I finally opened my eyes to the real truth, and it is my hope that many of these people will come to see the light through what others may say and cause some cognitive dissonance so they will research on their own.  It is my feeling that if everyone who discovers the truth and disassociates themselves from Mormonism simply keeps quiet about their discoveries, then what we have gone through and discovered will be of no help to those still caught in the web of lies perpetuated by the Mormon Church.

Truly, the truth is out there if they would just read... or Google it... or do something other than just blindly follow the Mormon Party Line.

THE TRUTH IS THERE FOR YOU TO FIND

Sung to the tune of Abide with Me, Tis Eventide, #165

The truth is there for you to find,
The lies can’t be ignored.

Deception and dishonesty,
It just might strike a chord.
Why don’t you research on your own?
The facts you soon will find.

(Chorus)

Just open up your mind and think,
To lies don’t be confined.
Just open up your mind and think,
The truth you just might find.

The truth is there for you to find,
Been closed off for too long.
Believing things that are not true
Is damaging and wrong.
If you don’t read the evidence,
You might as well be blind.

(Chorus)

Just open up your mind and think,
To lies don’t be confined.
Just open up your mind and think,
The truth you just might find.

The truth is there for you to find,
Employ your common sense.
It doesn’t hurt to use your brain,
It is your best defense.
Don’t simply buy what you are told,
Within the web entwined.

(Chorus)

Just open up your mind and think,
To lies don’t be confined.
Just open up your mind and think,
The truth you just might find.

The truth is there for you to find
In Mormonism’s fraud.
It’s clear if you just study it,
It’s not the Word of God.
So don’t stay with it out of fear,
To misery resigned.

(Chorus)

Just open up your mind and think,
To lies don’t be confined.
Just open up your mind and think,
The truth you just might find.

The truth is there for you to find,
And Google is your friend.
Just research independently
And all your doubts will end.
To “just believe” as Mormons do,
Insanity defined.

(Chorus)

Just open up your mind and think,
To lies don’t be confined.
Just open up your mind and think,
The truth you just might find.

© Diane Tingen, 6/27/2011

IMO, Mormons need to put on their thinking caps, and use
their critical thinking skills in order to determine for themselves
whether the LDS Church is true.  Relying on what they are told
to believe by their Church leaders and Prophet without doing
any independent research on their own is simply not wise.

WHAT THE HELL? LDS Hymn Parody #17

Wow, how many times have I asked myself WHAT THE HELL???... and wanted to scream it out loud???  I have faced that dilemma innumerable times during my life (for varying reasons).  But of course, since I was the "good girl" for most of my life, I just kept my differing opinions to myself.  Never wanting to rock the boat.  Always trying to keep the peace.

But once I discovered the lies, deceptions and contradictions laced throughout Mormonism, and processed through the fact that I had believed in and followed this skewed religion my entire life, I became incresingly outraged and began to express my shock and disgust. 

Of course, this blog is an outgrowth of the emergence of the "new me."  A woman who no longer just goes along... a woman who knows what she thinks and isn't afraid (any longer) of expressing her thoughts, no matter what others may think or say... a woman who spent 52 years in the Mormon Church, toeing the line and adhering to its ridiculous teachings and doctrine, all of which are not "of God," but rather made up by Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon Church, and its first Prophet and Seer, and perpetuated by countless other men through the years.

So my hymn parody addressing these concepts is quite appropriately a revision of "Choose the Right."  There are many great thoughts in the original hymn, but sadly, those thoughts are not in line with the realities of Mormonism - a religion that purports to highly value honesty and integrity (and choosing the right), but plays very fast and loose with the truth in many ways. 

WHAT THE HELL?

Sung to the tune of Choose the Right, #239

What the hell?  Do they really think I'm stupid?

I can think, and I'm not that naïve.

Not a sheep, and I simply will not follow

The Mormon Party Line and "just believe."

(Chorus)

What the hell?  What the hell?

Let knowledge guide your way before.

Loudly yell, what the hell,

And common sense do not ignore.

What the hell?  Let nobody drag you under,

Stand up tall, and tell them it’s not true.

Filled with lies, it’s apparent if you research,

Go on the Internet, and get a clue.

(Chorus)

What the hell?  What the hell?

Let knowledge guide your way before.

Loudly yell, what the hell,

And common sense do not ignore.

What the hell?  There is evidence a-plenty,

Google it, the answers will be clear.

Obvious, the teachings are deceptive,

Do not stay with it because of fear.

(Chorus)

What the hell?  What the hell?

Let knowledge guide your way before.

Loudly yell, what the hell,

And common sense do not ignore.

© Diane Tingen, 6/17/2011

Seriously.  What the Hell???

DEAREST MORMONS, DON'T BELIEVE IT - LDS Hymn Parody #10

Here is another hymn parody.  This is the other one in response to the request I received from the great great granddaughter of John Menzies Macfarland (1833-1892) to parody hymns written by him.

This hymn parody highlights the fact that after completing my independent research, I came to the conclusion that Mormonism was simply created by Joseph Smith, and that none of it is actually true.  It was all made up by Joseph Smith from his imagination, plagiarization, and input from some others (like Sydney Ridgon).  I think it's possible that he saw it as a good way to make money and gain power over people.

Indeed, as the picture states, he was two-faced - presenting himself one way to the "Saints," and yet he was an entirely different person privately, and in reality.  Since history shows that Joseph Smith was a shyster, charlatan, swindler and con artist, with a history of treasure-seeking and at least 7 arrests, it isn't hard to imagine him as such. Of course, my opinion of his character is backed up by what I discovered about the origins of Mormonism, including the Book of Mormon, Book of Abraham, the practice of Polygamy and Polyandry, the truth behind the supposed martyrdom since Joseph Smith was actually a criminal and not a martyr at all, etc. (more on all of this in other places on this blog and in my book, also posted on this blog).  And unlike many Mormons, I do not buy the explanation ala Rough Stone Rolling that Joseph Smith as a Prophet but also a flawed man.  To me, these concepts are mutually exclusive.

My point in writing this hymn parody is my firm belief that it is completely inadvisable for people to believe things without doing their own independent research.  Simply believing what others tell you to believe is relegating all of your power to someone else, and giving up your own power completely.  I mean, would you buy a car without researching its history?  Without examine its tires, interior and body?  Without having a mechanic look under the hood?  Without having the engine checked out and analyzed?  No, you would carefully consider such an important purchase.  So why is the acceptance of a religion given less thought than the purchase of an automobile?  Blind faith.  It's one thing if there is no actual evidence for or against a religion, but when there is a mountain of evidence against its validity, then it's not faith anymore but rather denial.

DEAREST MORMONS, DON'T BELIEVE IT

Sung to the tune Dearest Children, God is Near You, #96

Dearest Mormons, don’t believe it,
Mormon doctrine is a myth.
Mormon scriptures were invented,
By a man named Joseph Smith.
He’s a shyster, he’s a shyster,
Please don’t put your trust in him.

Dearest Mormons, it’s malarkey,
None of it makes any sense.
It’s not true, that is apparent,
Deceptive swindle so immense.
It’s a rip-off, it’s a rip-off,
Don’t believe a word they say.

All the Mormons, true believers,
Just believe, don’t question it.
Just believe because they say so,
But that just isn’t wise, a bit.
Simply question, simply question,
Blind acceptance makes no sense.

Mormons, don’t you know it’s drivel?
What they tell you to accept.
Tell them reason and your judgment
In the background can’t be swept.
Please do research, please do research,
For the truth, just Google it.

© Diane Tingen, 6/7/2011