WHEN LIES ARE TOLD - LDS Hymn Parody #89

THE TRUTH.
No wiggle room.  No poetic license.

THE FACTS.
No dodging, hedging or dancing around.

Is wanting only ONLY THE TRUTH and JUST THE FACTS too much to ask?  For Mormonism, it seems to be.  The Mormon Church has a very long history of distorting the facts and expecting everyone to believe that they are being upfront and honest when, in fact, that is the furthest thing from the actual truth.

Since leaving Mormonism, though, I've realized that not only is the doctrine false (and the history extremely sordid), but that the way in which the Mormon Church disperses information is suspect as well.  Particularly statistics about its membership numbers and growth rate.

On the Mormonism Research Ministry website, there is a blog entitled Mormon Coffee (It's forbidden, but it's good!).  On that blog, I recently read an entry entitled, "Mormonism's growth figures - what can you believe?" posted on May 7, 2012.  This blog entry starts off by saying:

Screaming front page headline in Wednesday, May 2, 2012’s Salt Lake Tribune (in bold, no less): 

“Multiplying Mormons expand into new turf” Subhead 1: “2010 census: LDS Church is fastest-growth Christian faith in 30 states, report shows” Subhead 2: “Only Muslims, with 67% jump from 2000-2010, outpaces 45% LDS increase.” Anyone picking up the paper on Wednesday received several messages: 1. The Mormons are a Christian faith.2. The church grew by 45.5% over the past decade. 3. The church grew from 4,224,000 US members to 6,144,000 from 2000 to 2010.  

This blog entry went on to say:

These are amazing numbers.  The problem is, the numbers were cooked.  A person who only looked at the front page and the major headlines on Wednesday probably missed the follow-up article on Thursday.  Instead of the front page, a story was placed in Section B of the Utah section next to the page's main article, "Dry winter portends a busy wildfire season."  The one-column article next to it had a much small headline, reading, "LDS Church growth really near 18%."  The subhead:  "Only 40% of Mormons attend church regularly, says researcher."

Really??!!  Cooking the books.  Why does that not surprise me?  For a church that plays fast and loose with the truth, creative accounting is not a big leap.  It's simply "business as usual."  Trying to make the Mormon Church look like it is "the fastest-growth Christian faith in 30 states" is simply part of their marketing scheme.

Of course, some people reading this blog entry (as well as many other entries on my blog) are probably saying, "Well, that's her opinion."  But actually, although everything written here is my opinion, the fact is that my opinions are based on actual facts.  You know, the facts that the Mormon Church goes to great lengths to cover up.  Naturally, any "negative information" about the Mormon Church is characterized by them as "Anti-Mormon Propaganda," which is basically their way of attempting to keep its members from either reading or believing the actual truth about Mormonism.  The Mormon Church even goes so far as to "prohibit" research outside their "approved parameters" (one of the signs of a cult), and includes a question about internet usage and research in the interview to obtain a temple recommend.  From what I've been told, Mormons are denied a temple recommend if they admit that they have looked at this "forbidden information."  If the MOrmon Church had nothing to hide then it wouldn't matter what people read, research or look at, would it?

Mormons are told to "have faith and just believe," regardless of how preposterous the whole thing may seem.  And there are a lot of people who do just that, in essence putting aside all critical thinking and just accepting what they are told to believe.
 
Lies should have no part in anyone's life.  I, for one, do not want to live my life based on lies or half-truths - because in plain and simple terms, "...trust departs when lies are told" (as the below LDS Hymn Parody says - my 89th to date).

WHEN LIES ARE TOLD

Sung to the tune of When Faith Endures, #128

I know the truth, it’s very clear,
The Mormon Church, a false veneer.
For lies are laced throughout it all,
The facts are written on the wall.
For years, I simply went along,
Though deep inside, I sensed it’s wrong.
They say believe, the Lord extolled,

But trust departs when lies are told.

© Diane Tingen, 3/12/2013

IF YOU JUST GO ALONG - LDS Hymn Parody #87

For so many years, I just went along with whatever the Mormon Church told me was true.  If they had told me the wall was red, rather than blue as I saw it, I would have accepted that the wall was red and there was something wrong with my eyes and my ability to see correctly.  Even when I did begin to have doubts, I put them up on my shelf, just like a good Mormon girl/woman, and believed that if I prayed more, read the scriptures more, studied more, attended all my meetings, etc., etc., ad nauseum, then somehow it would all miraculously make sense.  Sadly, though, that never happened - and when I finally began doing my own independent research (in violation of the mandate that Mormons are only supposed to read approved materials because everything else is faith-destroying Anti-Mormon Propaganda), I began to realize that I had been duped my entire life.

There are a lot of Mormons out there who just go along, who follow the admonition to "just believe."  But what they are putting their faith in is actually an enormous stack of lies.  If I could talk with each one of them, I would tell them to please do their own independent research - not to let the Mormon Church pull the wool over their eyes any longer, but to find out for themselves.  A religious organization telling its membership not to research outside the approved parameters is one sign of a cult.  If there was nothing to hide, then it wouldn't matter what they read or look at.  I know Mormons don't want to accept the fact that their church is actually a cult - I denied that for many years.  When I would hear the Mormon Church called a cult, I would become insulted and strongly defend it saying, "Oh no, it's not a cult!!"  But in reality, the Mormon Church is most definitely a cult as is confirmed by studying the characteristics of cults on websites such as http://www.cultwatch.org/ (and in particular, see http://www.howcultswork.com/).  Also, please see Stephen Hassan's website, http://www.freedomofmind.com/.

And so, here is my 87th LDS Hymn Parody, highlighting the fact that Joseph Smith was a crook who invented Mormonism for his own purposes - and ever since his death, other men have perpetuated the hoax that he created way back then.  I just wish that those who are trapped inside the Mormonism could see the real truth because by accepting everything blindly, they are giving their power away. 

IF YOU JUST GO ALONG
Sung to the tune of Let Us Oft Speak Kind Words - #232

If you just go along and don’t question,
Accept what they say to believe,
Every piece of the dubious doctrine,
Denying they work to deceive.
Allowing the church to entrap you,
As in Mormonism you stay,
Not looking at each contradiction,
But giving your power away.

(Chorus)
It’s so clear if you look, Joseph Smith was a crook,
And he made it up from the start.
So don’t just go along, ask some questions,
Do research and take it to heart.

Looking back, I can see the denial,
With sorrow, I sadly recall
When some doubts would arise, I would squelch them,
I blindly accepted it all.
But finally, I started to question
In earnest, my research began.
And soon I could see Mormonism
Was made up by one twisted man.

(Chorus)
It’s so clear if you look, Joseph Smith was a crook,
And he made it up from the start.
So don’t just go along, ask some questions,
Do research and take it to heart.

© Diane Tingen, 2/23/2013

THERE IS SUNSHINE IN MY SOUL AT LAST - LDS Hymn Parody #80

Looking back over the past few years, I can honestly say that I am happier now than I have ever been.  Leaving Mormonism behind was the best thing I ever did.  I am living an authentic life now, without any of the strife I felt for so many years.  Trying to "have faith" and "just believe" as they told me to do was literally killing me.  This is especially true when I began to question in earnest, after going on a Mormon Church History Tour in the Summer of 2001.  When I began to discover the lies behind the Mormon Curtain as well as the sordid history that is the foundation for it all, I began to realize that I had been struggling for so long because it simply isn't true. 

For so long, I thought it was me - that I was the problem.  Being given the message (whether spoken or implied) that I wasn't righteous enough to understand it all made me feel completely inadequate.  I accepted the challenge to study more, pray more, and be more obedient, and also took to heart the admonition given in the Book of Mormon, Moroni 4-5:

4  And when we shall receive these things, I would exhort you that we would ask God, the Eternal Faith, in the name of Christ,. if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

5  And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.

Of course, the message a person is given is that if they do not receive the answer that the Book of Mormon, as well as Mormonism itself, is true, then they are at fault - they are not asking with "...a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ..." 
But what I finally realized is that doing all that didn't work because that premise was being applied to the wrong scenario.  What I ultimately discovered is that Mormonism is an elaborate web of lies made up by Joseph Smith and perpetuated since his death by many others who had or have as much riding on keeping everyone in the dark as did Joseph Smith himself.

Naturally, though, the Mormon Church strongly admonishes its members to not do any independent research, to only rely on "faith-promoting materials" that the Mormon Church itself disseminates.  That directive is wrong on so many levels - and at its root is the fact that charging its members with these instructions is one of the defining signs that it is actually a CULT.  The bottom line is that if there was nothing to hide then it would not matter what anyone reads or researches.

Breaking free from Mormonism gave me a new lease on life.  It helped me to shed years of strife that had placed a burden on my shoulders that was at times overwhelming.  Living an authentic life and being true to myself is a tremendous relief.  I hope that others who are still trapped within Mormonism will do their own independent research without fear of reprimand, chastizement and/or punishment - particularly since it is my understanding that a question has been added to Temple Recommend Interview List about doing independent research and looking at what the Mormons consider to be "Anti-Mormon propaganda" contained on various websites (and if answered that a person has looked at this type of material, a temple recommend will most likely be denied).

Mormons are told to "just believe" and to have "faith."  As I've said before, though, having faith is all well and good, but when there is a mountain of evidence against something being true, then continuing to "just believe" is not faith anymore but rather denial.

So here is my 80th LDS Hymn Parody, dedicated to transcending beyond Mormonism and discovering that There is Sunshine in my Soul - AT LAST!!!

THERE IS SUNSHINE IN MY SOUL AT LAST
Sung to the tune of There is Sunshine in My Soul Today - #227

There is sunshine in my soul at last,
A joy I can’t disguise.
So glad that I have broken free
From Mormonism’s lies.

(Chorus)
Oh, there’s sunshine, blessed sunshine
Without Mormonism in my life.
The questioning is gone for good,
Said goodbye to years of strife.

There is music in my soul at last,
A glorious refrain.
For I did research on my own,
And finally used my brain.

(Chorus)
Oh, there’s sunshine, blessed sunshine
Without Mormonism in my life.
The questioning is gone for good,
Said goodbye to years of strife.

There is springtime in my soul at last,
The dreariness is gone.
For now, I know that Joseph lied,
And he was just a con.

(Chorus)
Oh, there’s sunshine, blessed sunshine
Without Mormonism in my life.
The questioning is gone for good,
Said goodbye to years of strife.

There is gladness in my soul at last,
Such ecstasy and bliss.
For I have seen the false pretense,
That it is all amiss.

(Chorus)
Oh, there’s sunshine, blessed sunshine
Without Mormonism in my life.
The questioning is gone for good,
Said goodbye to years of strife.

© Diane Tingen, 12/28/2012

HAVE YOU STUDIED BELIEFS OF THE MORMON CHURCH? Another LDS Hymn Parody, #68

Being born and raised Mormon, I grew up believing that what I was told about the beliefs of the Mormon Church was the actual truth, and I assumed that what I was told was based on actual facts.  But boy, was I WRONG!!!  Coming to the realization that everything I believed was true is actually FALSE hit me like a ton of bricks.  But it took me a VERY long time to get there - and it took doing my own actual independent research (prior to and after going on a Mormon Church History Tour in 2001) to discover that the Mormon Church whitewashes its very sordid history and misrepresents its beliefs and doctrines.

Sadly, there are many Mormons out there who did just what I did.  They believe what they are told is the truth and don't do their own research.  Such a bad idea.  Therefore, my advice to anyone who is either questioning or investigating the Mormon Church is to do your own research, independently, and don't rely on what you are told is the truth.  Also, don't rely on what the Mormon Church deems to be "authorized reading" to make your decision about its truthfulness.

It should be a RED FLAG that the Mormon Church tells its members to only read from "authorized areas," and to not read or research anything outside those "authorized" areas - what they basically prohibit.  After all, that criteria is one of the signs of a CULT.  Simply put, FIND OUT THE TRUTH FOR YOURSELF... ON YOUR OWN TERMS!!!

And with that in mind, here is my 68th LDS Hymn Parody... 

HAVE YOU STUDIED BELIEFS OF THE MORMON CHURCH?

Sung to the tune of Have I Done Any Good? - #223

Have you studied beliefs of the Mormon Church?
Have you researched it on your own?
Do you just go along, do not question what’s wrong?
If so, you are not alone.

The actual facts are much different than what
They tell you that you must believe.
If you study the history then you’ll see the truth
Through the legion of lies that they weave.

(Chorus)
Then wake up and do something more
Than just bow your head and obey.
There are lies laced throughout it,
Don’t blindly accept it
And give all your power away.

Decisions we make in our daily lives
Take research to make the right choice.
We don’t always accept, and will sometimes reject,
Opinions that others may voice.
And so with religion it should be the same,
Through research the questions are solved.
It takes true discernment to sort through the facts,
And there’s critical thinking involved.

(Chorus)
Then wake up and do something more
Than just bow your head and obey.
There are lies laced throughout it,
Don’t blindly accept it
And give all your power away.

© Diane Tingen, 6/11/2012

THE MORMON LEGACY - LDS Hymn Parody #64

Here's another LDS hymn parody.  This one highlights, once again, my opinion that since the Mormon Church has numerous obvious flaws (and in my mind is actually false), Mormons everywhere need to stop burying their heads in the sand, blindly following what the church tells them to believe, and do some actual research so they can find the actual truth.  To blindly believe, without researching independently, on your own, is simply not wise.  Would anyone buy a car without doing research on its origins and history?  No, that would be absurd.  Would anyone purchase a house without having an inspection and title report done - and look closely at its foundation to insure they have avoided any potential problems?  No, obviously not.  And yet so many Mormons just go along, believing what they are told, not doing any independent research - just believing and having faith.

I find this mindset to be appalling.  Intellectual curiosity is paramount for a thinking individual.  To be told that you can't do any research outside of approved parameters is not only ridiculous but is also one of the signs of a cult.  If a religious organization has nothing to hide then it doesn't matter what people look at, what they read, or what they research on their own.  I really wish more Mormons would think about that instead of accepting it all blindly.  Instead they choose to "just believe" - which, unfortunately, is The Mormon Legacy.

THE MORMON LEGACY

Sung to the tune of How Gentle God’s Commands – Hymn #125

Completely filled with lies,
Created to deceive.
The truth is there for all to find,
Naïve to just believe.

The Mormon Church is false,

Its doctrines are not true.
So clear that it was just made up,
Invented by a few.

The flaws are obvious,
Not hard at all to find.

The sordid history tells the tale,
Not slandered or maligned.

Through research I could see
The lies throughout it all.
Yet others cling to fallacies
Emblazoned on the wall.

They say we must have faith,
That we can’t understand
The ways of God, mysterious,
His ever-mighty hand.

But though that might be true,
That does not testify
To Mormonism’s truthfulness,
The logic is awry.

Not wise to close your eyes,
Submit and just believe
Whatever you are told is true,
The web of lies they weave.

But there is none so blind
As he who will not see
That they’ve been duped by blatant lies,
The Mormon Legacy.

© Diane Tingen, 5/17/2012

MORMONS SAY THEIRS IS THE ONLY TRUE CHURCH - LDS Hymn Parody #57



When I was doing my research about the Mormon Church, its history and its doctrines, I began to realize that what I had heard growing up about the Mormon Church being a cult might actually be true.  Of course, when I was growing up and heard anyone say that the Mormon Church was a cult, I was adamant in my defense of it, saying "Oh no, it's not a cult."  Back then, though, I thought of cults as extremist organizations that require their members to wear weird clothing (or costumes), live in a commune of some sort, or stand on street corners chanting weird verbiage.  But those characteristics are not what makes a cult a cult.  It's their belief system, usually extreme, and always very rigid and inflexible.

So when I began to examine Mormonism very closely, I decided to read a few books about cults - and I very quickly came to the conclusion that Mormonism is, indeed, a cult.  After all, it fits all of the characteristics of being a cult.

I won't go into a lot of detail here since I delve into that topic in-depth in the book I wrote that is posted on this blog (in Chapter 11 - Is the Mormon Church a Cult?), but as stated there, one of the characteristics of a cult is EXCLUSIVISM - or in other words, a religion stating that it is the only true church and that adherence to its tenets is the only way to gain eternal salvation.  Does that sound familiar?  Of course it does... because that's Mormonism to a T.  Interestingly, that premise is also expounded by the Jehovah Witnesses and other religions.  

Here is an interesting article on cults (You Might be in a Cult if...), that discusses the characteristics of cults, including Mormonism.  And here is another article discussing why Mormonism is a cult (http://www.believeallthings.com/5303/mormonism-cult/).

www.howcultswork.com

The philosophy of Exclusivism has always bothered me - even when I was a devout member of the Mormon Church.  I always had trouble believing that only Mormons were going to gain eternal salvation "in the highest degree of the Celestial Kingdom."  I struggled with the concept that there is "only one way" to "get to heaven" or gain eternal salvation - and that only the Mormon Church provides that possibility.  Of course, the Mormons are very "generous" in that they say that those who do not accept Mormonism on this earth still have a chance in the Afterlife... and that's what temples are for, performing baptisms and other ordinances for the dead so that if they accept Mormonism in the Spirit World, then they can be exalted regardless of whether they were Mormon in this life.  Isn't that nice of the Mormon God?  What a guy, huh?!!

But of course, there's a catch... and my very TBM father used to preface that supposed doctrinal statement with saying that people's personalities and thought processes won't change after this life, so if they didn't accept the gospel here, then the likelihood of them accepting it in the Afterlife is very slim.  Kind of a disclaimer clause (and Mormonism is full of them).

And so, here is my 57th LDS Hymn Parody...

MORMONS SAY THEIRS IS THE ONLY TRUE CHURCH
Sung to the tune of Teach Me to Walk in the Light - #304

Mormons say theirs is the only true church,
And who am I to their doctrines besmirch.
But it’s apparent that it’s filled with lies,
Research, research may open their eyes.

It is through research that I found the truth,
Wish I had studied much more in my youth.
But I believed it as they said I should,
Rewind, rewind my life if I could.

Going along when they say just believe
Is what they want as they work to deceive.
Good little sheep, what the members should be,
Yielding, yielding their free agency.

It might be clear if they opened their eyes,
Truth so apparent, there’s no compromise.
Dishonesty manifested throughout,
Fiction, fiction, without any doubt.

© Diane Tingen, 02/14/2012

WHY DO THEY BELIEVE? LDS Hymn Parody #40

Yes, another LDS Hymn Parody - the 40th one I've written (so far).  Well on my way to my current goal of 50...

This hymn parody addresses the issue of blind faith and compliance without questioning, definitely applicable to members of the Mormon Church.  Sadly, I used to be one of them - just went along, believed what they told me to believe, bought into it all.  But I am so glad that I finally opened my eyes and started examining it all because doing so undercovered a plethora of lies and deception. 

This quote by Buddha really hits home for me - "Believe nothing, no matter where you read it or who has said it, not even if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense."  Such good advice.  Of course, in order to use reason in any given situation, a person has to have studied an issue out, to have actually thought about it.  After doing so, that person must apply their own common sense to see if it makes sense to them.  And if it does not make sense to them personally, then it should be discarded. 

Naturally, the leadership of the Mormon Church doesn't want its members looking closely at the doctrine or history, and they certainly don't want members thinking on their own.  They want everyone to accept it all without question.  In researching about cults, I discovered that is one of the signs of a cult.  If an organization has nothing to hide, then no amount of independent research can hurt it.  But, of course, that is not the case with the Mormon Church because it has plenty to hide, and has been trying to do so for its entire history.  With the internet age in full swing, though, their ability to continue to hide it all is diminishing as people "Google it" and discover the actual truth. 

Critical thinking is so important.  Examining issues and deciding for yourself whether it is true or false.  I hope that more members of the Mormon Church begin to realize that to simply follow along without doing any independent research is not wise - and that they open their eyes to the possibility that what they have adhered to is built on a stack of lies.

WHY DO THEY BELIEVE?

Sung to the tune of Now Let Us Rejoice, #3

Why do they believe what they’re told without question?
Although it is nonsense, they cling to the lies.
Why don’t Mormons study and find out the answers?
The concept of critical thinking applies.

(Chorus)

Just open your eyes and you’ll see the truth clearly,
Examine it all, the deception is deep.
Important to think for yourself, independent,
Don’t let them corral you like one of the sheep.

Why does Mormonism promote such reliance
On what they are told to believe down the line?
Accepting by faith is a form of denial
When all of the facts with the truth don’t align.

(Chorus)

Just open your eyes and you’ll see the truth clearly,
Examine it all, the deception is deep.
Important to think for yourself, independent,
Don’t let them corral you like one of the sheep.

I once was a Mormon, believed without question,
But now that I’ve opened my eyes, I can see
It’s all laced with lies, there is no doubt about it,
And I hope they will all know eventually…

(Chorus)

That looking more closely will help them see clearly
It’s not the true church but is riddled with lies.
If only the members would do their own research,
They would find the truth – there is no compromise.

© Diane Tingen, 11/10/2011