LDS Lingo Liberation

The following is a list of words and terms. Many of these words may seem invented. Isn’t all language invented? As you examine this list pay special attention to the factual etymology taken from “official dictionaries” which when placed side by side with the imaginative flexing of these words and terms, can shed much light. [...]

CHI #7

I believe this will be my last article on the LDS Church Handbook of Instructions. I have no desire to waste time trying to sort out all the things wrong with the current LDS Church’s policies and administration. The problems of the LDS Church will not be resolved from within. I believe in the days [...]

‘Round midnight

The title relates to two things. A jazz song by that name which is kind of a mournful blues. The title and the tune bring to mind things that happen at midnight which would not happen during the day. The other reference of the title comes from the parable of the ten virgins. The bridegroom [...]

CHI #6

The focus of this post is to examine the policies established by the CHI for the worthiness interview required for baptism. Section 16.3.3 covers interviews for convert baptisms. Mission presidents are given the keys for administering baptisms of new members of the church over the age of 8 or for 8 year old children whose [...]

CHI #5

CHI #5 Section 4 deals with missionary service. There are a tremendous amount of procedures and regulations which are used to enable the church to have 50,000 plus full time missionaries serving around the world. I am not going to pick through all of the minutia to try and judge what is scriptural and what [...]

CHI #4 Institutional stigmatizing of divorced members

Section 3.5.2 regards marriage in a temple for time only. To be married for time only in a temple is not required for salvation. It really is just a nice service the church offers. I do not agree with the rules the CHI sets up for allowing or disallowing a couple to receive a for [...]

CHI #3 Whose marriage is this anyway?

Since the CHI deals with LDS church doctrine and in places draws from the scriptures there are many good things said in this handbook. The problem is that the way it is treated is as though it is the gospel. We are expected and many members and leaders do take it to be 100% authoritative [...]

Questions Regarding the CHI #2

This is number two in a series. I add here the preface to each of these posts on the CHI. Since the CHI deals with LDS church doctrine and in places draws from the scriptures there are many good things said in this handbook. In fact so far the vast majority is either administrative policies [...]

The Spirit of Freedom

The Spirit of Freedom Alma 61:15 says in part, “according to the Spirit of God, which is also the spirit of freedom which is in them.” For years when I read that I thought Pahoran was being a little over the top to equate the spirit of freedom with the Spirit of God. He wasn’t. [...]

The Doctrine of Christ

I believe our lack of knowledge of the nature of Jesus and His thoughts and feeling towards us individually is our greatest stumbling block in acting upon His doctrine.