THE WEB OF LIES THEY SPIN - LDS Hymn Parody #123

Ah yes, the "Web of Lies They Spin."  And what a tangled web it is!!  Cover-up, whitewash, deny... 
all in a day's work for the Mormon Church.

In looking back at my days as an active Mormon (which took up 52 years of my life!!), I'm mortified by how long they were able to pull the wool over my eyes.  It wasn't until the Summer of 2001 when I went on a Mormon Church History Tour that I began to see the real truth.  Before going, I decided to do some reading and research so I would know more when we visited the key places - something I had never done before so I didn't know a lot about Mormon Church History.  And what an eye-opener that was!!  After discovering the very sordid history of the Mormon Church, it wasn't long before I realized that the whole thing is built on a stack of lies, made up from the get-go by Joseph Smith for his own purposes, and has been perpetuated over the years by other men for their own purposes. Those purposes, in my opinion, were/are to gain power and control over people in order to get as much of their money as they can.

Having been born and raised Mormon, I grew up believing what I was told, convinced that my parents would not lie to me and only wanted what was best for me.  Of course, they were both very TBM.  My mother was Relief Society President was I was a teenager, and stayed very active in the Mormon Church until the day she passed away at 64 years old (after having spent the morning at the Stake Center organizing the library).  But she wasn't as bad as my father, at least in my eyes.  My father was very pious and dogmatic about the whole thing.  He lived to be 92 years old and passed away in 2006, two years after I left the Mormon Church, but I never told him I had left because I knew he would preach "fire and brimstone" to me and I didn't want to hear what I knew he would say. Looking back, I still think I made the right decision because my "apostasy" probably would have irreparably damaged our relationship.

I have come to terms with the fact that I spent well over half my life in a bogus religion. What fascinates me now is how many very intelligent people there are who apparently still buy into Mormonism, and although they use critical thinking in other areas of their lives, they either cannot or will not use it when it comes to their religion.  I find that not only fascinating, but very sad.

So here is my 123rd LDS Hymn Parody, dedicated to the tangled web of lies they spin...
and spin... and spin... and spin...

THE WEB OF LIES THEY SPIN

Sung to the tune of Thy Will, O Lord, Be Done – #188

1. When in the depths of questioning,
Deceit apparent from within,
And in my full awakening,
I saw the web of lies they spin.

2. The Mormon Church is fraudulent,
A stack of lies, to my chagrin.
Distressed at all the years I spent
When clear the web of lies they spin.

3. For years, I just denied the lies,
I stuffed it down, just kept it in,
But research made me realize
The tangled web of lies they spin.

4. They cover-up and say it’s true
As they skate by on ice so thin
That I knew I must say adieu
Since clear the web of lies they spin.

© Diane Tingen, 12/29/2015

BECAUSE I FOUND THE TRUTH AT LAST - LDS Hymn Parody #110

Here's my 110th LDS Hymn Parody.  110 has been my goal for quite some time, and there for a while, I didn't think I was going to make it - but I did!!  I'm not sure why I haven't parodied this hymn before this except that the music for it is not on the list of LDS hymns on their website because of "copyright issues." But, naturally, with the internet as expansive as it is today, I was able to find the music on YouTube, and there is a link to that version below.

Of course, the words to this parody expound on a recurring theme in many of my writings, the fact that Mormonism is replete with lies and deception.  The fact that I went along my entire life, believing what I was taught, and that it wasn't until much later in my life (beginning when I was 52) that I did actual research on my own and discovered that I had been duped all along.  Yes, I was complacent, and I regret that now.  But on the other hand, at least I'm not spending my entire life trapped behind the Mormon Curtain.

BECAUSE I FOUND THE TRUTH AT LAST

Sung to the tune of Because I Have Been Given Much - #219

Because I found the truth at last, I had to leave.
Because of all the lies, the fact that they deceive,
I had to turn and walk away,
So very clear I could not stay,
I’m done with all the games they play.

Because the Mormon Church is filled with many lies,
The truth behind it all they think they can disguise.
But if you look, you might agree,
And though it was a shock to me,
So glad that I am finally free.

Because I finally did some research on my own,
And finally saw the lies I should have always known.
Too many years, I went along,
And now I know that I was wrong
To be complacent for so long.

© Diane Tingen

1/23/2015

ONE MORE STRAIN OF CRAZE - LDS Hymn Parody #108

"One more strain of craze."  Of course, this is a take-off on "one more strain of praise," from the LDS hymn "Sing We Now at Parting" - and is also a take-off on the book by Neal Maxwell entitled "One More Strain of Praise."

Having been an active Mormon for 52 years, I know the "craze" well.  I lived with it for all that time until I began to (finally) do some independent research and discovered the realities behind the Mormon Curtain.  And that was it for me...

As someone said on the discussion board on PostMormon.org:
"Like the members are just fish in a large school that's following the leader without any thought or concern.  They refuse to ask reasonable questions and without stopping to think and consider facts, and they discard their personal responsibility of being totally honest with themselves and instead, they just go with it... So many of them would, if ask to do so, toss on their best Sunday clothing, drive to the Stake Center, stand in line and then gulp down the styrofoam cup filled with purple Kool-Aid because... they know God would never allow their leaders to lead them astray."

Oh yes, not using any type of critical thinking whatsoever but rather just going along with whatever you are told.  That is just what Mormons do.

Then there are the judgmental Mormons assuming things that they know nothing about. Not listening to anything critical about the Mormon Church but rather closing their minds to any negative information whatsoever, calling it "Anti-Mormon Propaganda."  Mormons telling you that you're giving up eternal life by turning away from the Mormon Church (and in some cases, such as my father, telling people that they will go to Hell if they don't join the Mormon Church).

But this past week, while perusing the discussion board on PostMormon.org, I came across a post that takes the cake as far as "craze" goes.  The title of his post was "...another strain of craze..." (and from what he relayed, that is an apt title).

In his post, this man talked about what happened after he announced to his TBM wife and Bishop that he no longer believes the Mormon Church is true.  After that revelation, he has been followed to see what he is doing (even so far as Las Vegas), and has been accused of wanting to commit sin, having an affair or having unrepented sin, etc., etc., blah, blah, blah.  This is a man who converted in his 20's after meeting and falling in love with his Mormon girlfriend (to whom he has now been married for 30 years and with whom he has several children - good little TBMs all).  He has held numerous callings over the years, including Young Men President, Seminary Teacher, Bishopric Counsel (2 different times), 10 years on the High Council, and most recently Bishop of a Young Singles Adult Ward.

It was during his time as Bishop of the YSA Ward that his journey toward the actual truth about Mormonism began.  He said that the YSAs would come to him with their doubts and share their concerns with him - and in turn, he would ask them to substantiate what they were saying with fact, which they would do.  In doing so, he began to find out the truth about much of the sordid history of the Mormon Church including the "translation" of the Book of Mormon (the old hat and stone story), and the truth about Polygamy and Polyandry (the fact that Joseph Smith married 11 women who were already married to living husbands).  Of course, I can relate to this completely because I didn't find out about this until I began my independent research before, during and after going on a Mormon Church History tour in the Summer of 2001.  Quite a shock to discover that the Founder and first Prophet of the Mormon Church was basically just a sexual predator, particularly since he also married 10 teenage girls, one as young as 14 years old.  I truly believe that if Joseph Smith had not been killed in 1844 that he would have gone on to marry many more teenage girls and women, and may have ended up with as many as Warren Jeffs now has (72, I believe).  After all, he was only 38 years old at the time of his death.  If he had lived, he would have had plenty of time to accumulate many more wives.  Looking at Brigham Young, the other main Mormon polygamist, history shows that he had 55 wives at the time of his death at 76 years old (which included several teenage girls and some other women who were married to living husbands as well).

Naturally, Mormons have to blame something or someone else if people leave.  The fact that Mormonism is a total sham can't be the reason people are turning away from the Mormon Church.  No, that's not it.  And of course, the fact that the Mormon Church basically tells people to stay away from "apostates" adds to the furor (apparently because it might rub off).  In particular, Mormons have a hard time accepting the fact that someone they love is turning away from "The One True Church," and won't be part of their family unit in the Celestial Kingdom.

And so goes the "craze."  My heart goes out to the man I spoke of above.  It can't be easy to be dealing with all that is being thrown at him.  But then, leaving the Mormon Church isn't easy.  But it is worth it.

ONE MORE STRAIN OF CRAZE
Sung to the tune of Sing We Now at Parting - #156

Sing we now of Mormons,

One more strain of craze.
Of their strong delusions,
Each self-righteous phrase.
Always so judgmental,
Faulting those who leave,
Saying they are sinners
Since they don’t believe.

Mormons will not listen
To the evidence.
Labeling it as “Anti”
Is their one defense.
But if they would research,
Look at all the facts,
They would see the problems,
Not just lame attacks.

It is clear that Joseph
Weaved a stack of lies,
Made up Mormonism,
Truth it all decries.
Clearly just a shyster,
Charlatan and fraud,
Touting Mormonism
As the Word of God.

Just look at the history
Of the Mormon Church,
Independent study,
Actual research.
Do not bend and twist it,
Do not “just believe,”
Think about it clearly,
Do not be naïve.

© Diane Tingen

8/2/2014

A LITTLE MORE ON THE CRAZE...

AND SO THE CRAZE GOES ON... AND ON... AND ON...

LITTLE FLECKS OF HISTORY - LDS Hymn Parody #103

Little flecks of history. Of course, I'm referring to a phrase used by Gordon B. Hinckley during his interview with Mike Wallace on 60 Minutes in 1996. In that interview, President Hinckley basically squelched the segment of the interview dealing with the issue of Blacks being banned from holding the Mormon Priesthood from 1848 until 1978. What's interesting is that the ban on Blacks holding the Priesthood was not instituted by Joseph Smith, but rather by Brigham Young. I didn't know that until I began doing my own independent research. Apparently Gordon B. Hinckley didn't know that either since he agreed with Mike Wallace when he said from 1830 to 1978 Blacks could not become priests in the Mormon Church (or at least he didn't want to bring it up, which may be more likely since that opens a whole other can of worms about the fact that Brigham Young was a huge racist).

Here's an excerpt from that interview:

Mike Wallace: From 1830 to 1978, blacks could not become priests in the Mormon church. Right?

Gordon B. Hinckley: That's correct.

Mike Wallace: Why?

Gordon B. Hinckley: Because the leaders of the church at that time interpreted that doctrine that way.

Mike Wallace: Church policy had it that Blacks had the mark of Cain. Brigham Young said, "Cain slew his brother, and the Lord put a mark upon him, which is the flat nose and black skin."

Gordon B. Hinckley: It's behind us. Look, that's behind us. Don't worry about those little flecks of history.

Mike Wallace: Skeptics will suggest, "Well, look, if we're going to expand, we can't keep the blacks out."

Gordon B. Hinckley: Pure speculation. [Laughs.]

Here's a link to the entire interview:
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=3784251n

And here's a link to a transcript of this interview:
http://lds-mormon.com/60min.shtml

By saying that phrase - "little flecks of history" - Gordon B. Hinckley was essentially saying that history isn't important, that is doesn't matter even though that stance is in direct conflict with the Mormon belief in the Book of Mormon and other scriptures, which they proclaim to be historically based.

After the 1978 “revelation,” the Mormon Church stopped talking about or discussing this issue, seemingly hoping that the issue would disappear, as if it never happened (at least, in my opinion, that was their motivation). I find that to be very troubling. History is an important aspect of the present and the future. Obviously, we should not be buried in the past nor should we be haunted by past occurrences. But since history plays a significant role in how people developed and how places are formed (cities and otherwise), it is vital that we know how things were done, and how events occurred from an historical standpoint. But most Mormons seem to think that since Blacks can hold the Priesthood now, then the fact that they couldn’t do so for 130 years isn’t important.

Of course, Gordon B. Hinckley’s statement to Mike Wallace in the 60 Minutes interview mentioned above is simply ridiculous. When he said, “Don’t worry about those little flecks of history,” he shot all credibility he may have ever had by trying to brush under the rug what happened in the past. The fact that these things occurred and are a part of Mormon Church history is very important, and should be treated as such. What I find interesting is that until something bad comes up, then history is important in the Mormon Church. What the Mormons apparently want to do is alter historical facts to suit their own purposes.

If history isn’t important, then why do people study history at all? The fact that World War II occurred is important from an historical standpoint just as is the fact that the holocaust occurred. If we bury everything from the past, then history is doomed to repeat itself. This has been shown over and over again in many different ways. A man who abuses a woman is very likely to abuse her again and again; and when circumstances present themselves with other women, it is very likely that he will abuse those women as well. This is true of murderers as well, and they are locked up in prison because there is a strong possibility that they will murder again. It is part of their history, and it is important to remember that. So to follow the same lines, since the Mormon Church was a racist organization in the past, it is very likely to be racist now despite the fact that Blacks can now hold the Priesthood. As I said previously, simply because the ban was lifted doesn’t mean that Blacks have joined the Church in droves. They know what occurred historically, and they know racism when they see it.

And so, here is my latest LDS Hymn Parody - #103 - dedicated to that horrible phrase uttered by a supposed Prophet of God.

LITTLE FLECKS OF HISTORY
Sung to the tune of Jesus, Once of Humble Birth - #196

Little flecks of history,
Shading them, no mystery.
Cover up and whitewash, too,
That is what the Mormons do,
That is what the Mormons do.

If you look at evidence,
You will see there’s no defense
For the way the truth they shade
And the way it’s all portrayed,
And the way it’s all portrayed.

It is clearly filled with lies,
Pure deception, no disguise.
Contradictions are throughout,
Not the truth, there is no doubt,
Not the truth, there is no doubt.

Mormonism, finally free,
Finally able to be me,
Not a Mormon anymore,
On the church, I closed the door,
On the church, I closed the door.

© Diane Tingen, 9/11/2013

GRASPING AT STRAWS - LDS Hymn Parody #93

 

 

In thinking about Mormonism, so many cliches, idioms and phrases come to mind, such as: (1) Jumping to conclusions; (2) Burying their heads in the sand; (3) Turning a blind eye; (4) Turning a deaf ear; (5) Grasping at straws; etc.

Of course, many Mormons think that anyone who leaves the Mormon Church is going to hell in a handbasket. Naturally, TBMs think that all Ex-Mormons have an axe to grind, that we are all loose cannons, and have seriously lost our marbles. They seem to constantly be jumping to conclusions about Ex-Mormons' motives, state of mind, and even morals.

Sadly, though, discussing subjects relating to Mormonism with most Mormons is not a level playing field because so many have absolutely no idea about the real facts surrounding Mormon Church History or that it is extremely sordid. Many TBMs also have limited information about the realities of Mormon teachings and doctrines. Even if they do listen, they quickly jump to the conclusion that what Ex-Mormons are really talking about is simply all smoke and mirrors and that Ex-Mormons are trying to pull the wool over their eyes.

So many TBMs simply go along and turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to anything even slightly negative about the Mormonism. "There's none so blind as those who will not see" (and likewise, there's none so deaf as will not hear). Essentially, they seem to spend their time burying their heads in the sand, refusing to even look at other viewpoints. Also, so many seem to grasp at straws, rationalizing their way through Mormonism and its obvious problems, attempting to invent a way to color it all in a positive light.

So here is my 93rd LDS Hymn Parody, dedicated to one of the exercises that all TBMs seem to get a lot of...

GRASPING AT STRAWS
Sung to the tune of True to the Faith - #254

1. While the Mormon Church continues
To attempt to hide details
All about its sordid history,
In the end, the truth prevails. Yes!!

(Chorus)
Grasping at straws as the Mormons refuse to see,
They just believe what they’re told to obediently.
It’s full of lies, there’s no disguise,
And for the truth, there’s no compromise.

2. The deception is apparent
If you open up your eyes.
Do some independent research
And the lies you’ll recognize. Yes!!

(Chorus)
Grasping at straws as the Mormons refuse to see,
They just believe what they’re told to obediently.
It’s full of lies, there’s no disguise,
And for the truth, there’s no compromise.

3. It is clear that Mormonism
Was a hoax right from the start.
Was made up by Brother Joseph
With deception off the chart. Yes!!

(Chorus)
Grasping at straws as the Mormons refuse to see,
They just believe what they’re told to obediently.
It’s full of lies, there’s no disguise,
And for the truth, there’s no compromise.

4. How they market Mormonism
Saying it’s the Word of God,
Is a ploy to gain new members,
Mormonism is a fraud. Yes!!

(Chorus)
Grasping at straws as the Mormons refuse to see,
They just believe what they’re told to obediently.
It’s full of lies, there’s no disguise,
And for the truth, there’s no compromise.

© Diane Tingen, 4/4/2013

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