Okay, so everybody has their own idea, but here is mine: the LDS church needs to come clean on the absolute immoral brutality with which they dealt with dissenters until very recent times. It is partly related to attempts to promote/cover up the rampant adultery and wife swapping that they euphemistically call "plural marriage", but it goes much farther than that. There is MMM, there is Bishop Warren Snow, there is the real motivation behind Thomas Marsh's disaffection, and on and on. One more topic about which TSCC has chosen to lie and hide from the faithful, but which sites like this have been trying for years to expose to the world. It needs to be told.

Adam-God

I can't wait for them to polish that turd.

Professional Postmo Wrote:
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> Adam-God
>
> I can't wait for them to polish that turd.


^ this ^

They have to say,something eventually about Joe's treasure hunting. That has to be covered. Bushman says he used treasure hunting to "refine" his seer ability. Stupid since if he had been refining it he would have found something at some point.

How about an essay explaining away all the Book of Mormon anachronisms? Things like elephants, horses, wheat, barley, silk, wheeled chariots, iron, steel swords, glass, coins, and other things.

Temple ceremony origins.

sportsguy Wrote:
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> Temple ceremony origins.


I quite agree. It is so easy for humans to assume that if something is unique, like the endowment, it must be cosmic. There are two parts to the problem of the endowment. One is the history of Freemasonry, from which it is clearly derived. The origins of Freemasonry are unique, but they are not cosmic. The second part of the problem is the manner and circumstances under which the Mormon church cobbled together the endowment. It was one part a fascination with Freemasonry and all those Hermetic promises, and one part a guise to lend an air of legitimacy to the "plural marriage" thing, otherwise known as adultery and wife sharing. So yes, the truth deserves to be exposed. Thank you.

I don't believe the brethren will be releasing any more essays - ever. They got burned on the polygamy essay and have learned their lesson. They are damned if they do and damned if they don't, but the odds for their survival are slightly better if they keep quiet, explain nothing, and hope for the best.

I agree. If anything, it will be one last essay on women and the priesthood. The Times piece already said that this was the last essay planned.

The Kirtland Anti-Banking Society "irregularities".............

Shunnings. Us v them. One True Church.

Never going to happen, but addresses the duality of Mormonism. What it is to members, what it is to non-members and former members.

The Thomas Marsh story is the most urgent thing they need to correct imo. That story is THE reason so many mormons think people leave the church over little arguments or being offended. It needs to be taken out the church curriculum, or at least the church should tell the whole story.

History of the Danite's how long they existed and are they still used today.
FYI look at some of the SS oops I mean security at the entrance to the COB or even at Temple Square during Confrence

Lying for the Lord

The essays have already covered all of the important issues that the LDS church would feel the need and ability to discuss. The only other important topics left are:

Hofmann forgeries - church leaders were completely fooled and demonstrated that they would believe anything about Joseph Smith no matter how damaging, but there's no positive way to spin the events. It's been 30 years, so church leaders just hope people have forgotten this embarrassing and damning episode in church history.

Treatment of homosexuals - the church completely screwed up on this issue, but it's too soon to disown the actions of church leaders, many of whom are still living and in positions of authority. In 20 years, the church will distance itself from these leaders and actions.

Succession to Joseph Smith - the LDS church doesn't have a strong claim to succession to Joseph Smith, but the RLDS church has ceased to be a potential rival so not many people are concerned about this issue.

Why after admitting to being wrong about all this stuff anybody should "follow the prophet?"

"Salt Lake City - Where The Money Went"

The real story of the Martin Handcart company.

"Gender and the Priesthood"
"Plural Marriage: The Reinstatement Manifesto"
"Book of Mormon: Inspired Fiction:
"Book of Abraham: it was never canon"
"Are Mormons Protestants?"



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 11/19/2014 11:14AM by Stumbling.

How about "Affirming Ones Faith through the Study of Church History"

When we read those few surviving journals (many journals were turned over to the church for preservation but later disappeared) how do we sort out the obviously glaring mistakes (non faith promoting stories) people made when recording their daily lives?