|
Devoted to the Critical Exploration of Mormon History
Mormon history... visions, angels, revelations, translations, and miracles. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we have heard the stories since we were little. The question is, are these stories representative of "real" history, or are they the products of more than a century of revisionist history? The only way to find out is to examine the historical research that is not found in the local LDS bookstore. The purpose of this website is to respectfully and critically explore Mormon history for what it really is.
WHAT'S
NEW? This website is not for everyone. To better understand the nature of this website, please read the introduction below. |
|
|
 The Book Of Mormon: A Product of the 19th Century This online booklet provides a thorough overview of the evidence for the Book of Mormon's modern origin. The first section reviews the evidence found within the book, itself, and includes an examination of the grammar, the style of language, the influence of the Bible and Apocrypha, and the existence of 19th Century elements, among others things. The second part provides a brief overview of the external factors that challenge the historicity of the Book of Mormon, including evidence from the scientific fields of archeology, genetics, linguistics, and geography. My intent is to summarize others' research, contribute a few observations of my own, and provide interpretation where useful. |
 It
Was All Just A Dream:
A
Fictitious Transcript from an Interview with Past and Present LDS General
Authorities
This mock interview highlights the great divide between the attitudes, beliefs, and temperament of past general authorities and those of modern Church leaders. Answers to the questions I pose are direct quotes found almost entirely in official church publications, with a few others coming from local newspapers, official minutes, or personal letters. Several controversial topics are covered in depth, including the Adam-God doctrine, Blood Atonement, Polygamy, Slavery, and more. |
|
This is essentially a summary of portions of Neither White Nor Black: Mormon Scholars Confront the Race Issue in a Universal Church, edited by Lester E. Bush, Jr. and Armand L. Mauss (Signature Books; Midvale, Utah, 1984). I first provide a few short bios of early Black members of the Church, focusing mostly on Elijah Abel, who held the office of Seventy in the Melchizedek Priesthood and was a friend to Joseph Smith. The remainder of the paper is a chronological list of official and unofficial Church authority statements related to slavery, the Priesthood ban, and the Black race in general. I give voice to my own thoughts and interpretations in the introduction and conclusion. |
|
This is a paper I wrote for a human development class in my Masters of Arts in Counseling Psychology program. In it, I explore both the positive and negative in American adolescent religious devotion, applying the research to a fictitious case study of two Mormon siblings. |
|
This is a copy of the letter I wrote to my bishop to inform him of the loss of faith I encountered after discovering many problem areas in Church history.
|
Free Speech and Excommunication: The Dichotomy of Two Mormon Values This essay considers the ironic situation among the Church membership in which free speech is prized and practiced in daily life, but largely excluded "on Sundays." The Church's major defense against free speech, excommunication, is discussed in detail. This is strictly an opinion piece. |
|
|
Whether you agree or disagree with my opinions, I welcome your comments and questions: ray@osaywhatistruth.com. Copyright © 2009. osaywhatistruth.com. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use of any original material is strictly prohibited. Last Updated 3/16/09
|
