The sad thing is that it was always known to be a farce by anyone who bothered to check.
I've decided most people are intellectually lazy. They justify thinking whatever they want, sans facts, by depending on emotions and not verifying whatever someone happens to tell them.
I just realized today that I can still be that way - not about Mormonism, but I was totally doing that related to my favored political candidate. I don't know all that much really about the person, and have done very little reading about the candidates, but saw one thing they my favored person was promoting today and was thinking, yeah, that candidate is really the one. Then I realized how careless I was being.
The essays leave out a lot of stuff. They are VERY carefully worded and are full of SPIN.
You'd think something like that wouldn't be a faith-shaker. Even when THEY control the narrative, the facts are so damning that their very attempt at damage control pulls the rug out from under them.
It is known that members must say that they KNOW the church is true BEFORE they possess the testimony that it is true. This is one of the steps to gain a testimony.
Hmmmm....does this also work by a member saying that they know they will shortly receive a huge raise at their employment, that their dying wife will soon be made whole, or that World Peace will arrive in February next month?
It is Known by many that TSCC is full of bu**sh*t.
The existence of Kolob is also a fraud and it is ignored too.
I want to watch Game of Thrones but I am so far behind now that I don't think I could ever catch up. I have heard it is good though. Sorry to disappoint.