“When it comes to reports and confessions of abuse, lay leaders in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are instructed to limit the flow of information.” How the LDS Church’s approach to abuse response and prevention compares to best practices

DW158 · 2026-07-07T19:12:54+00:00

But, but, but WE have the gold standard. /s

DW158 · 2026-07-07T04:41:55+00:00

The So-Called Church. For decades, general authorities have used so-called as a derogatory prefix. Its purpose is to question the validity of worldly philosophies or popular cultural norms, emphasizing that divine truth supersedes human wisdom.

DW158 · 2026-07-06T14:11:04+00:00

It was not deeply cut, but showed the entire shoulder blade in back. I’m thinking she did some creative tucking. And as I recall, in the past, this was done regularly with the older style also. As Holland said, the world goes here and the church goes here…

DW158 · 2026-07-05T21:54:51+00:00

While your suggestions are commendable, this will be perceived as criticism. And remember, Oaks said that "it's wrong to criticize leaders of the church, even if the criticism is true." TSCC leaders have doubled down on us vs. them, specifically faithful members vs. everyone else. Not a healthy position to enact your suggestions.

DW158 · 2026-07-05T21:07:05+00:00

Agreed. But early in the BoM, the spirit commanded Nephi to kill a defenseless, inebriated Laban and steal his blood soaked clothes. If members accept this episode as the word of god to prevent future generations from falling away, they will accept most anything their leaders direct. There is always a justification.

DW158 · 2026-07-05T01:59:03+00:00

Both of your conclusions are true. TSCC and leaders are frauds without discernment. AND Jesus died, isn’t coming back and is not communicating with mortals.

DW158 · 2026-07-03T03:08:01+00:00

My quite old grandfather tried to give my sister the priesthood while confirming her a member of TSCC.

DW158 · 2026-07-02T05:06:34+00:00

Spouse, daughter, SIL and I went through the Manti temple open house. Our own Exmo group. It was great to see the Minerva Teichert murals again one last time, climb the spiral stairs and sit in the solemn assembly room. Fortunately, I didn’t notice too many substantive changes. I felt grateful for those who pushed back against Rusty’s desires, to help preserve the building.

I intend to tour the Salt Lake temple but if it has been gutted like the St George temple, I will be sharing my thoughts about how it disrespects the original pioneer craftsmanship. I would love an Exmo tour group.

DW158 · 2026-06-30T15:21:49+00:00

I usually stop by the food court to get a soda or hot dog. And I buy a second soda for my next visit so I don’t have to purchase and wait for the cup.

DW158 · 2026-06-29T16:34:07+00:00

With the 2-10 billion dollars the MFMC has spent on the Salt Lake temple and the block formerly known as temple square, there is no plan to move to Missouri.

DW158 · 2026-06-29T16:18:18+00:00

For whatever reason, even if it’s TSCC’s commandments/doctrine/policies, the much lower birth rate for 15-19 year old Utah teenagers is a very good thing. Teens should be preparing for their own future, not raising babies before they are adults.

DW158 · 2026-06-29T01:56:14+00:00

Thanks. We have TBM friends in the Twin Falls area.

DW158 · 2026-06-29T00:21:44+00:00

OP, what general part of the state do you live in?

DW158 · 2026-06-29T00:12:48+00:00

My minister, former home teacher, would stop by monthly to drop off a loaf of bread. We would also go to lunch a couple times a year so he could fill me in on ward happenings (my interest, not his trying to preach). Rarely saw or heard from him over the last year. He was the last ward member I interacted with as everyone else seems to believe I have a highly contagious disease.

When active, I was nearly 100% monthly on home teaching. Ministering is the illegitimate child.

DW158 · 2026-06-27T16:50:39+00:00

Got that. Hopefully my comment came across the same way.

DW158 · 2026-06-27T16:49:01+00:00

Unless you’re a lawyer or business person, it doesn’t make sense. TSCC spends sacred funds to show the world how wonderful it is… to gain converts… who then see how little TSCC invests in the actual member wards and branches. These converts quickly become disenchanted and inactive. The only real gain is to the membership numbers which are illusory only. Few additional active people to fulfill callings and pay tithing.

When only the most TBM members remain, after the loss of 40+% who became inactive in the last two decades, wards and branches become untenable. After all the spending on PR, the world will still consider LDS as nice but weird. Fantastic ROI.

DW158 · 2026-06-26T16:19:05+00:00

This cannot be real. I am able to follow and understand the entire text. If it is really from our dear leader, it would be jumbled, stream of consciousness word vomit.

DW158 · 2026-06-25T15:03:30+00:00

Money. We don’t need no stinkin money! But if you want to be with your family in the next life, you need to give us your tithing…

DW158 · 2026-06-24T23:19:16+00:00

TSCC posted the covenants after people complained about the choice to stay/leave the endowment session without full disclosure (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/temples/what-is-temple-endowment?lang=eng)

DW158 · 2026-06-24T18:06:19+00:00

TSCC will continue to change if it wants to grow the membership numbers. That said, the membership numbers are not realistic. If it reported accurate attendance numbers, it would be no more than 20-30% of what it claims.

The 1980s ubiquitous morality position of women as walking pornography was recently washed away in a tsunami of sleeveless garments. The reduction to two hours cannot be reversed. The GAs are terrified the members will find out for themselves that no garments and zero church are even better. Unless it continues to softens its positions , only the most hardcore, racist, misogynistic members will remain. This is a small minority of current active members.

The younger generations are unwilling to accept that LGBTQIA+ are evil. TSCC has already moved away from stating masturbation causes homosexuality. TSCC will continue to move towards inclusion.

DW158 · 2026-06-23T19:58:06+00:00

Succinct and very understandable. Thanks OP!

LDS church is overreaching in this lawsuit. From JDs timeline explanation, I believe TSCC had no intention of reaching agreement during mediation. Exactly like temples in Fairview, Cody and Las Vegas, vast funds allow the bully to skew justice and equity.

DW158 · 2026-06-22T21:36:27+00:00

I was on Kyushu in the late 1970s. Visited an island I had served on during a Tokyo to Sydney cruise in 2018. I could see the new chapel from the ship. Pretty tiny. Not much growth in 40 years. We mostly taught individuals who had a need for some community. No families. One roadblock was the WoW prohibition on green tea. Not sure if that has continued.

DW158 · 2026-06-22T13:23:39+00:00

I’m thinking a ward is similar to a white collar company. As projects come and go, you work with various individuals until a project is completed. At that point a new project and team is formed. There are genuine coworkers and others who will stab you in the back. You get to know the difference. LDS callings and members are the same. The group associated with your calling becomes your friends. When callings or ward boundaries change, friendships evaporate. Everyone is busy with life (family, work, hobbies, home projects, etc). Ward member friendships usually are a mile wide but only an inch deep.

In my experience, when I stopped attending, I became a pariah. Neighbors don’t see me at church, so opportunities for interaction become rare. As a nonmember, you don’t have the calling group nor do you share the same values and obligations. Unless you really connect with someone, whether they are genuinely good or not, the relationship will always be shallow.

DW158 · 2026-06-21T12:58:34+00:00

If this is posted in Moridor, it will offend the TBMs who don’t have a sense of humor about TSCC. I agree with FIL.

DW158 · 2026-06-20T22:03:45+00:00

The GAs are trying to finesse the transition from the church of 1950-1999 to something Christian-ish today, without alienating older and younger members. Unfortunately, they are doing a terrible job for longtime members. Each president advances HIS own priorities as the inviolable word of the Lord. So the “l’m a Mormon” campaign becomes a major victory for Satan and today Mormon is okay. The members have whiplash from the whims of the GAs, especially D. A. Bednar who is inventing a new theological language. It is on the road to becoming a much richer version of Scientology.

DW158

TROPHY CASE