When did the Church apostatize?

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has lost its Theology. Entirely. During Gordon B. Hinckley's Presidency, they didn't say very much about their theology, or the things they said were conservative enough to make it ambiguous.

But now, (and perhaps also at the very end of Hinckley's life, it is hard to tell when things were written) the Church has apostatized (fallen away) from many of its former views.

The most significant one which I see is that they have entered into idolatry by beginning to worship Jesus Christ. This is the next step (and final straw) on top of the Talmage theological reformation which took place beginning around 1915.

The "correct," original position:

Heavenly Father (Father Adam, if we want to get specific) is the only God whom we worship. Also, we pray directly to him.
We are all spirit sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father and Mother, and Jesus is their eldest son, firstborn in the spirit world.

Read Moses Chapter 1 in the Pearl of Great Price. It clarifies that Worship of the Only Begotten is a tactic of Satan, and that Jesus teaches that we should exclusively worship God.

Proposition 8 and LDS Church

I recently ran across the following disturbing statement at newsroom.lds.org

The following letter was sent from the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Church leaders in California to be read to all congregations on 29 June 2008:

Preserving Traditional Marriage and Strengthening Families

In March 2000 California voters overwhelmingly approved a state law providing that “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.” The California Supreme Court recently reversed this vote of the people. On November 4, 2 008, Californians will vote on a proposed amendment to the California state constitution that will now restore the March 2000 definition of marriage approved by the voters.

The Church’s teachings and position on this moral issue are unequivocal. Marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God, and the formation of families is central to the Creator’s plan for His children. Children are entitled to be born within this bond of marriage.

A broad-based coalition of churches and other organizations placed the proposed amendment on the ballot. The Church will participate with this coalition in seeking its passage. Local Church leaders will provide information about how you may become involved in this important cause.

We ask that you do all you can to support the proposed constitutional amendment by donating of your means and time to assure that marriage in California is legally defined as being between a man and a woman. Our best efforts are required to preserve the sacred institution of marriage.

I knew they leaned this way politically for quite a while, but I am quite shocked that they are being so direct about it now. I feel the need to clarify my own position:

Owing to this and previous similar activities, I have ceased to pay tithing or offerings to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and I do not support the evil political designs of this institution in any way. I believe in equal rights for all people. As long as TCoJCoLDS maintains these policies it is evidence that the leaders of the Church are going astray from the teachings of Jesus and are diverting their focus away from what should be their highest goals. I encourage all others who are or have been members of this Church to make a similar statement so that your voice may be heard. I do not want to be counted as one among the "millions" of members who are backing discriminatory, damaging behavior.

If any of the leaders in SLC read this, I have one word of advice: PRAY.

A Gentle Tugging at My Soul

Every day lately, it seems like I've been feeling a gentle tugging at my soul, to go out and share with others the religious knowledge that I have found.  Like I'm supposed to hit the streets and share the original message of Jesus, ethical behavior, the Kingdom of God.  To help set them free from the deception of Paul.  Also, to teach about the restoration, modern revelation, and the priesthood.

My last post about not having a name, is one of my excuses.  I don't feel equipped to do this if I don't have a name to ascribe to the work.  The Hebrew word Kevod popped into my mind today.  It means Glorious.  That isn't a name, though.

Maybe I should go out without a name. How to start? What a humbling feeling.

The Need of a Name

Thomas Jefferson wrote that Paul of Tarsus was "the great Coryphaeus, and first corrupter of the doctrines of Jesus."

By his teachings, Paul has pervaded and forever stained the title of Christian, such that I do not feel inclined to adopt it.  Jesus was certainly not a Christian, for he was an observant Jew.

Just as Paul poisoned the term Christian, so has The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints poisoned, to a large extent, the terms "Latter-day Saint" and "Mormon" in both the popular view and that of the religiously informed.

I am a little bit Jew, a little bit Christian and a little bit Mormon, but I do not feel entirely comfortable using any of these titles plainly to speak of my faith.  Yet, I want to share.  I want to be counted.  There is need for a name in this, not because the name itself is so important, for Mormonism must seem to be a nonsense word to anyone unfamiliar with the book from whence the name is derived, and its etymological roots are even unknown to those who are most acquainted with it.  My people need a name, so that they may be called out.  There is a usefulness in having a name.