Blog Purpose

This Blog is my own investigation into the various CES Letter issues.  I’ll see what the critics have to say, what LDS-friendly folk (FAIR, FARMS, etc.) have to say, what information the Church (General Authorities, Ensign, Gospel Topic Essays, etc.) has, and what my own research yields.

About 2 months ago I was asked to read and know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS Church) Gospel Topic Essays. I read and looked through some additional information on the first 2 topics: "Are Mormons Christians" and "Becoming Like God."

(Note #1: Currently I consider myself to be a Christian. I think Mormons are biblical Christians, but we are not "historic" or "orthodox" [as found in the creeds] or Trinitarian Christians.)  

(Note #2: Currently I think the doctrine of theosis [becoming like God] is Biblical and was believed by Early Christians like Irenaeus, Origen, Clement of Alexandria, Justin Martyr, etc.)

While researching about the next Gospel Topic Essay, “Book of Mormon and DNA studies,” about 2 weeks ago, I came across the CES Letter.  I saw that the author, Jeremy, had recently left the Church (April 17,  2016). I read his story and watched his disciplinary meeting with the Church (also April 17,  2016) on Youtube. I saw him as a truth seeker (active member and return missionary) who the Church saw as an apostate for asking questions. This caused me to think.

(Note: the LDS Church really doesn't have problems with asking questions. And I believe a person is to ask their teacher, Bishop, or Stake President doctrinal questions. At some point, Jeremy went public expressing beliefs contrary to the LDS Church. They don't like that and they don't engage in apologetics.)

I skimmed through the CES Letter, and I have to admit it does not look good for the Church. I ordered Rough Stone Rolling (Bushman), An insider's View of Mormon Origins (Grant), Shaken Faith Syndrome (Ash), and a few other books for my own research.  The books arrived within the last week. Now it's time to roll up my sleeves and get to work.

My LDS background:
I was born and raised in the LDS Church. One parent is a convert, and the other has Pioneer heritage with ancestry living in Nauvoo in the 1840’s. I served a Mission about 30 years ago. I have served in various callings since my Mission including (recently) Ward Sunday School President and Stake Sunday School Counselor.