Entries by MormonBox

Eliminate autocracy by balancing consensus rule (democracy) with guidance from ordained leadership

Reform Action #4 of 20   (see overview page) Reform governance in seasoned regions of the church, working to eliminate autocracy & “divine dictatorship” and implement the democratic principles revealed in our scripture. Restore the law of common voice where possible in the selection of many congregational-level callings. Do better at respecting difference of opinion and re-instituting the […]

Remove the doctrine of muted prophetic infallibility

Reform Action #6 of 20   (see overview page) Remove the muted doctrine of prophetic infallibility from our scripture and teachings. (“Muted” meaning on the surface we say it’s not a doctrine we promote or believe, but we actually subtly promote it using muted language.) Church leaders and members often use the following excerpt from Wilford Woodruff’s Official declaration 1 […]

Book of Mormon Stories Unearthed – Bibliography

  SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY Following is a selection of books which have superb information on their selective topics and which should be available at a local library or bookstore (or the internet) for those wanting to learn more.  A complete bibliography of all referenced books, papers, and articles follows.  In both bibliographies I have first given […]

Economic Socialism in LDS Scripture

The socialistic systems advocated in LDS scripture are not necessarily “socialism” per se, in the most accepted modern economic definitions. Production did not need to be controlled by the state by and large. BUT, a form of socialism was certainly advocated, were excess income (the share one earned which was “above” or more than the […]

Making Sense of the Numbers of Genesis

Among the greatest stumbling blocks to faith in the Bible are the incredibly long ages of the patriarchs and the chronologies of Genesis 5 and 11 that seem to place the age of the Earth at about 6,000 years ago. The key to understanding the numbers in Genesis is that, in the Mesopotamian world view, […]

The Sin Next To Murder

  The hallmark of religious fundamentalism is promoting a worldview that does not accord with reality. In fundamentalist religions, things that don’t matter much, get blown out of proportion and things that cause social collapse, war and anarchy are dismissed as inconsequential.  For Christians, the Jewish religion at the time of Christ is a classic example. Jewish […]

LDS Scripture Supporting Universalism

LDS Scripture fully supports a version of Religious Universalism.  Despite many traditional exclusivist teachings from its leaders (going all the way back to Joseph Smith), its scriptures clearly teach a form of universalism. Teaching that Christ will eventually save all mankind (except for a select few who chose Satan’s plan of totalitarian manipulation and enslavement). And that sectarian religious […]

The Narrow Neck as Baja and the Sea of Cortez

Book of Mormon accounts are always “BY” the narrow neck, never ON the narrow neck.“Where the sea divides the land”, NOT where the land divides the seaNarrow Passes are never said to be ON the narrow neck . . Overview I believe many of the best correlations between the Book of Mormon’s internal geography and […]