Back up and running.

Hey everybody, sorry my blog was down for a few weeks. Some technical difficulties took me offline but they have been addressed and now I will be able to continue my quest to bring light to the reality of what is the LDS church. Stay tuned for more posts! ;) There is plenty in store. More temple ceremony info, book of mormon facts/contradictions, as well as updates on current events involving mormonism.

Thank you all for your comments and support.

Sincerely,

Rich Barton
(ex Mormon)

HBO's "Big Love" Takes a step inside Mormon temple ceremonies

Mormons are making a stink in the media once again...are any of us surprised?? The hit HBO series "Big Love" announced plans to show a sacred temple endowment ceremony. The basis of the series focuses on a polygamist family living in Sandy UT. Although mormons claim they have nothing at all to do with polygamists...the fact of the matter is Mormonism grew from polygamists. Sure its a dark chapter in the history of mormonism, just like when they denied blacks from holding the priesthood until the civil rights movement prompted leaders to magically "receive" revelation changing this policy.....um more like pulled revelation out of their ass. Yes these topics among many others are some of those things that just never seem to be explained when growing up mormon. People just magically seemed to get "revelations" when convenient.

While I find it amusing mormons contiuously make efforts to explain they are in no way connected to polygamist teaching or lifestyle I can only laugh out loud. Joseph Smith creator of mormonism, was the one who once again "received relevation" instating polygamy. This continued with Brigham Young while the mormons made their exodus to Utah. In fact, the only reason mormons ever gave up polygamy was to expedite statehood....this is backed up by the fact that Mormons still believe in Polygamy in the afterlife. See Mormon Doctrine Bruce R. Mcconkie).

I am excited to see just what will be shown on the upcoming episode. Apparently an Endowment Ceremony (for entire temple ceremony script click here) will be shown. HBO reports that an expert familiar with mormon temple ceremonies was available and advising during the entire episode to validate and make certain the ceremonies were portrayed as accurately as possible.

Mormon owned KSL newstation had as their top stories on March 9 and 10 articles about the airing of the upcoming contreversial episode. Not only was I amused but I was actually extremely excited. By making such a big deal and featuring so much on the story it will only cause more and more people to tune in and watch the series. And I am pretty sure that once they see what happens in the temple they will definitely realize how fucked up mormons really are.

I myself have personally witnessed and taken part in these ceremonies. Having grown up mormon and surrounded by it living in Utah, it wasnt until I actually stepped foot in the temple that I ever had any clue what went on inside. Mormons are extremely extremely superstitious when it comes to talking about their temple ceremonies. Part of that comes from fear, part of the temple ceremony discusses the consequences possible if the secrets of the temple are revealed. Up until the 1980's part of the ceremony actually consisted of symbolic movements of drawing the hand across the throat and then up the abdomen...symbolizing having your neck slit and your bowels withdrawn should you reveal or talk about the secret ceremonies. The other factor that stops people from discussing temple ceremonies is the same power the LDS church uses in every aspect to control its members...that factor is GUILT.

For the entire script of Mormon Temple Ceremonies click here

For those who would rather watch a very accurate and informative video of mormon temple ceremony practices with re-enactments as well as explanation click here

Mormons try to gain sympathy for their participation in prop 8

Well the mormons are at it again. Using their media analysts and creative team to try to turn their image from participation in the proposition 8 passage from bigoted tyrant to picked on victim. This couldn't be farther from the truth. The LDS church has issued many statements, each cleverly worded describing their participation in the passage of prop 8 as "part of the democratic process" and they continue to make references to democracy, freedom of speech, and that it was the church members who made this happen not the "church" itself. All of this clever language attempting to draw sympathy to the LDS church does not surprise me. They have the money and the manpower to influence media and many many people, LDS members and nonmembers alike. With so much emphasis on democracy and tradition and rights I am reminded of one of the most famous articles which formed this nation. The Gettysburg Address in which the first line
"Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal."
Now I may be mistaken but I believe that says all men are created equal, leading me to believe that regardless of color, nationality, religious belief or so many other ways that men have devised to seperate themselves from one another, at the core we are all equal. Equal meaning deserving of the same rights. Oh thats right, it must mean all men except the gays right? Just like the mormons declining blacks the right to hold the priesthood in the 60's, only this is different. They needed to change their "doctrine" in order to appease their growing multicultural congregation which came in the form of "revelation". I guess unchanging god, the same god the is the alpha and omega, the beginning and the end, who is the same today and yesterday and will be the same tomorrow, must have changed his mind. Did god make a mistake? The difference between the issues of the past and the issues of the present is this....homosexuals DO NOT want or expect to have mormons accomodate them and marry in their holy temples. They probably do not have any interest in anything that remotely deals with mormons. So why does the LDS church feel so threatened by proposition 8. What special interest do they have in banning gay marriage besides carrying on their tradition of being a bigotous hate monger of a church, intollerant of all people and all beliefs but still spouting out teachings that they claim are "christian" in nature. Sure they are christian in nature in the same way that the crusades spread christian love. So really Thomas S. Monson my question to you is..What does it matter to you? What is your personal investment to this? How does this affect you at all? and How does this undermine the "traditional" family? It doesn't! Not anymore than your secret temple ceremonies with practically naked people wearing shields get washed and annointed and felt up by your temple workers (for more on temple ceremonies see my post on secret temple ceremonies) I say we take a vote on temple marriage, mormons shouldn't have a problem with that. Why don't we just open that can of cultish worms to the media and have a hayday with it. Im sure you won't mind if we destroy your families, expose all your secret signs, tokens and handshakes. So how about it?

The LDS church is not a victim. Neither are the supporters of prop 8. They knew what they were contributing to and supporting and now search for sympathy following the backlash. Well I have something for you. The LDS church can fuck right off! Stop your pouting and take responsibility for your acts of hate, power and downright disgusting behavior!

As for me, I will continue to convince as many members as I can to remove their names from the LDS church records and continue spreading my gospel of truth which is you can't trust mormons, or any other organized religion for that matter.

Peace!

Prop 8 Keith Olbermann

Wow!! A few thoughts from MSNBC's Keith Olbermann on prop 8..absolutely moving!

Prop 8 Protest. Salt Lake City Utah

Yours Truly with my funny sign

I was lucky enough to be able to attend the prop 8 protest at the mormon church headquarters on Nov 7. The turnout was amazing. There were hopes of maybe attracting 1000 protesters...however the spokesperson for the Salt Lake City police said they estimated a whopping 2,000 to 5,000 showed up! It was an absolutely amazing experience! Hopefully those dumb motherfuckers got the message, we are many, we are proud, and we will not settle for 2nd class citizenship. I have a few photos of me and my friends, and as soon as I get more I will upload them! Enjoy!

Me doing what I do best.....mocking dumb mormons

My friends and their signs!

The March took over the streets...forcing traffic to turn around, police had no choice but to watch.

The Mob chanting in Unison "Seperate Church and State" Shadows of figures came to the windows from the massive church office building to peer at the angry mob outside!!

Mormons and Prop. 8

So everyone seems to have heard that the crazy mo's have decided to butt their big noses in on the whole California Gay Marriage proposition 8 issue. Well as a bisexual male I feel that I should have the right to marry a man if I so choose. I'm not surprised that the LDS church has used their power over their members and their vast wealth to wage a campaign to ban gay marriage. Really why should they give a fuck?? Are they afraid their leadership hierarchy made of men will suddenly collapse because they will all run to california to get married?? I have a feeling the the LGBT community will not be calling trying to set up times to have their marriages performed in LDS temples! So what exactly is it that bothers them so bad?? How does giving the right for someone else to enjoy the bond of marriage affect them?? IT DOESN'T!! When I have proposed this question to several Mormons the response I get over and over again is "the bible says marriage is between a man and a woman" blah blah blah. This is the lamest possible response I have heard. Not only have I mentioned before that the bible is the biggest waste of paper and is only good for rolling your own cigarettes but secondly I don't see the mormons practicing all of the rest of the ancient traditions in the bible such as stonings, crucifixion, etc etc. So why is it that they seem to pick out the parts that they like....and ignore the parts that they don't like...I'll tell you why, because they have been taught over and over again to simply be led as sheep, to not ask questions, to not think for themselves.


The mormon church has definitely overstepped their bounds into the political arena, hopefully all of the negative press they have received will help more and more people take the steps to leave this religion based on bigotry, hate, and fear and start thinking for themselves and leading more fulfilled lives.


Below is a template of the letter I used for my own resignation from the church. Hopefully it will inspire people to take the first step and stand of for themselves and remove their names and distance themselves from such a deceitful controlling organization.





____________________________________________________________________

Date

Enter Adress information here

Dear (bishop, stake president etc),

I was born (enter date here) in(enter location). I was raised as a Mormon since birth, and baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (“the Mormon Church”), in the (Ward name), when I was 8 years old. My membership records are currently under your administration, in the (enter ward and stake information).

At this time, I officially resign from the Mormon Church. I wish to no longer be a member of the Mormon Church, and I require that my name be voluntarily removed from all church membership records, to reflect this fact.

In this voluntary removal process, I demand you and the Mormon Church to adhere to the following seven guidelines. The Mormon Church shall:

1. NOT impugn my character, slander my good name, nor disseminate any form of speculation, misinformation, or personal comments regarding me, to anyone.

2. NOT hold a church court, execute a disciplinary action, excommunicate me, or otherwise harass me, nor make any attempts thereto, since I have done nothing to warrant such an action. Nor shall the Mormon Church send any representative to attempt to persuade me not to remove my name from membership roles.

3. REMOVE my name from all membership records, cancel my baptism, revoke all ordinations to church “authority”, and remove all promise of “blessings” for obedience to such.

4. PROVIDE me with specific, written confirmation when this task is officially complete. This letter of confirmation will reflect that my resignation from the Mormon Church was not due to any pressure from or determination by Mormon Church authorities, but rather per my own request.

5. EXERCISE due diligence in carrying out this procedure. I hereby notify you that you have 90 days, (no later than enter date here) to provide written confirmation of my voluntary removal from the Mormon Church. Delays beyond this may result in my engaging legal counsel to pursue other options.

6. NOT contact any member of my family to notify them of my decision to remove my name from church membership roles. Any contact with any member of my family the Mormon Church in this regard would cause irreparable damage to my relationship with my parents.

7. NOT use my name in baptismal or other ordinances for the dead.

If you care to know my reasons for leaving the Mormon Church, I will say only that I do not believe in the doctrines, the authority or teachings of the Mormon Church. I feel it is important to disassociate myself from an organization that I find to be completely at odds with my personal beliefs.

I ask that you respect this resignation as an exercise of my religious rights as a United States citizen and in accordance with the Mormon Church’s own 11^th Article of Faith. Thank You.

Sincerely,

Yo yo! Gimme that secret handshake!!

Ok so I am sitting at work one day and I find this weird cover for a headrest for some table or something and for some odd reason I put in on my head...It just so happened to look like that ridiculous hat they make you wear during the temple ceremony's! Like some sort of fucked up baker hat/beret. Anyways I decided to take a nice little pic and this is what I ended up with!! lol. Dont forget to shake me with the sure sign of the nail!