Agency. Free Will. Choice.  All important words according to the Plan of Salvation.  Can free agency be assumed in all situations and decisions, or are there prerequisites that make it conditional?  If any choice is reduced to a single alternative, has free will been diminished?  These are important questions while considering the methods employed by the LDS church, both in it's missionary program, and gospel curriculum.  What most Mormons don't realize is that…

Voters take note, Mitt Romney's lying may have very much to do with some simple practices he picked up as a Mormon missionary, a pastor, and just plain being a Mormon.  In Mormonism, that practice is referred to as "milk before meat", meaning, only sharing limited, introductory doctrines to potential converts to carefully lead them down the path to accepting the more hard line, deep doctrines and covenants received in their temples.  In lay mans terms, "milk before meat" is basically "the…

This is by no means a comprehensive list of Mormon beliefs that contradict mainstream Christian views, but these are some of the major ones that leave many a Christian concluding that Mormons are not really Christians.  You make your own decision.

1. Faithful Mormons not only become "like" God, but become Gods themselves
   
   (D&C 76:50-8 and 95, …

Introduction

There are many sources that condition us for passiveness, aggression and passive aggressiveness.  You could write a lengthy blog on how religion, environment, and culture can cause these behaviors, but my intentions for this post are to help us undo this conditioning so that we can move into much healthier relationships with spouses, family, friends and strangers.  Communicating assertively allows us to express our thoughts and feelings without attacking or…

There is one gift you can give this Christmas that will cost you nothing but mean the world to yourself, your family, your friends, acquaintances, strangers and fellow human beings. It is the gift of acceptance. Acceptance doesn't mean agreement. It doesn't require forfeiting yourself or your values. It eloquently says, "I accept you as a fellow human being, worthy of the respect you deserve to guide your own life, pursue your own happiness, and live your dreams, harming none; that you are…

Introduction

For a religion that prides itself on family values, time and togetherness, the LDS Church does a poor job preparing its rising generations for what they consider the most important institution of life and heaven, marriage.  You might say that is a bold claim, however, having been raised and indoctrinated by the LDS Church from birth through adulthood, passing through all of the rites, ordinances, classes, youth programs, mission and temple marriage traditions,…

This post is less about what the LDS church teaches publicly or in writing, and more about what is often not publicly admitted to, whether still believed or not, and about some of the crazier things Mormons come to believe when embedded in Mormon culture.  Though not categorized, some of these are doctrinal, others hearsay over the pulpit from apostles or leaders, and others adopted by more orthodox Mormons. (see also: …

Introduction

When you first arrive to the other side of faith, or at least to an opposing side to one or more of your family, friends or acquaintances, there are a few pitfalls in which one could accidentally sabotage an otherwise desirable relationship and fellowship with them.  Hopefully by identifying those pitfalls and outlining approaches to preserving the relationship we will be aided in a more peaceful transition from having been on the same page in regards to…

America, and more distinctly, the United States, is often referred to as "a nation of believers".  While those "believers" range in denominations from Christianity, to Jews, to many other religions, all the way to non-"believers", and though the individual faith beliefs may vary in definition, style or lack thereof, most of us in that range would agree that we are a land of principles and fundamental values.  Values that include honesty, integrity, forgiveness, and repentance.  With the…

By Kent Ponder, Ph.D.

e-mail address: kponder@swcp.com

This report may be freely forwarded, posted, faxed or otherwise published, so long as it remains untranslated, and my name, e-mail address and copyright notice are included, and nothing is removed, added or changed.…