These 2 guys are wonderful and share a helpful message.
I’ve known Leo for some time. He and Dan are doing a great work!
David Ostler shares his experiences:
Kirtland Bank Crisis
Solid summary of what occurred with the Kirtland banking crisis:
Much more was going on in 1837, including the Panic of 1837, in the broader economy. Consider the broader context from the videos below.
Short video:
Longer video:
Another view from Gospel Tangents:
” The year 1837 was one of the most turbulent periods in all of Mormon history. It was the year the Kirtland Bank collapsed. Many, including apostles, lost faith in Joseph Smith and his ability to lead. Why did Joseph decide that Kirtland needed a bank? What were the economic reasons behind this?
Historian and Author, Dr. Mark Staker talks about this in his book [Hearken O Ye People: The Historical Settings of Joseph Smith’s Ohio Revelations] about the Kirtland period. We’ll talk to him about the events that led up to the Kirtland Banking Crisis.”
Bruce and Marie Hafen: Understanding and Navigating Stages of Faith, Pt. 1
Awesome podcast.
They discuss the class — Religious Problems — they took at BYU decades ago. The format was that each student would introduce a topic about a “controversial” topic.
Topics included church history, Joseph’s polygamy, race and priesthood, living one’s religion, having the spirit, etc.
We should be able to discuss these things — doubt, faith, questions — in the open. And learn from these topics.
The Hafens gave a topic at BYU-Hawaii: “Faith is Not Blind” and wrote a book with the same title.
The Church’s Role, Succession, and Apostates
The Denver Snuffer is the most recent example of one claiming to be newly enlightened by God. An additional claim by Snuffer and similar apostates is the Church has lost its way.
These apostates typically claim a direct tie to Joseph. However, Joseph consistently taught that keys were shared by the leading quorums of the Church and no special deliveries of keys were to be expected outside the order of the Kingdom.
Cassandra Hedelius shares her research below:
Brett McDonald discusses schism activity today and in the times of Joseph Smith:
Some critics claim Brigham Young didn’t claim to be Joseph’s successor after Joseph’s death. Not true.
Brigham claimed to be a prophet and claimed divine inspiration. But Brigham more than once clarified that he was different from Joseph and Daniel.
Robert Boylan shares these related details here.
An example of schism-related apostasy strikes very close to home for me. My mother’s maiden name is LeBaron. A LeBaron relative claimed he was to start a polygamist colony in Mexico, and did so in 1924.
Ervil LeBaron was the founding polygamist’s son. After several decades of polygamist living, a power struggle engulfed this sect. After killing many, Ervil killed himself in a Draper, UT prison.
Summary from Google: “Ervil Morrell LeBaron was the leader of a polygamous Mormon fundamentalist group who ordered the killings of many of his opponents, using the religious doctrine of blood atonement to justify the murders.”
Read one comprehensive account here in Murderpedia.
My mom used to tell us when we were younger that “all LeBarons would be known for good and Ervil.” Ervil became a household name during the 1970s and early 80s: when he ordered his many (~ 25) murders.
Life is much simpler and better if one remembers the role of the restoration and living prophets. It’s best to ignore claimants — usually intelligent, charismatic, narcissistic, but very much misled — shouting about special keys and general apostasy of the LDS Church.
Below are accounts of individuals who have left the Church. None are as extreme as the Denver Snuffer, John Dehlin, or others. Yet, each is an example of individual apostasy.
Articles of Faith Podcast: Jeffrey Thayne. Jeffrey blogs under the name LDS philosopher.
Thoughts by Michael Ash:
3 prominent Mormons who left and returned:
A young man’s personal journey out of and back into the LDS Church:
Tony, the owner of the Blog Reconverted.Org is interviewed. Tony tells his story of his battle with pornography, his excommunication from the Church and divorce from his wife.
He walks us through his Leaving the Church and his return through re-baptism. It is a great story of one of God’s Prodigal children.
For young Latter-day Saints: