Pyreaux

Before you mentioned it, I thought all day I just had too many windows up, because closing some usually helps and I thought I had a virus. I don't think the 170 Guests on the forum are human. Now it definitely sounds like the forum is still under a cyber attack, specifically involving bots. What Happened: There was a Spam Bot attack or a malicious campaign using botnets to quickly create fake accounts and distribute unwanted content. The mod having to stop new joiners was a necessary action to mitigate this immediate threat. Now Being Very Slow to Log In/Open a Reply Window: following the initial bot attack, strongly suggests a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack or an Application Layer Attack. DDoS: The forum's server is being overwhelmed by a flood of traffic, requests, or connection attempts, making it slow or unavailable for legitimate users (like you trying to log in or post). Even if the spamming has calmed, a continuous, lower-level flood can still cause severe performance degradation. Application Layer Attack (e.g., Slowloris/R.U.D.Y.): The bots could be opening connections (like when you try to log in or open a reply window) and keeping them open by sending data very slowly, or they could be submitting complex, resource-intensive requests that tie up the server's processing power. 170 Guests That Aren't Human: This is a near-certain sign of ongoing malicious bot traffic. These are likely the bots or automated scripts, possibly part of a botnet, that are constantly hitting the site. They might be DDoS/Stress Testing Bots: Simply making repeated requests to keep the server overloaded. Initial mass bot spamming followed by persistent, unexplained performance slowdowns and a high count of suspicious "guests" is highly consistent with a sustained bot-driven cyber attack, most likely a form of a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack targeting the forum's application or server resources.

Double Incident: Mont-Dore, New Caledonia, Sunday evening, October 12, 2025. The same day that a fire significantly damaged an LDS meetinghouse in Te Hauke, New Zealand, Sunday morning. New Caledonia, New Zealand, and Australia are located in the Southwest Pacific Ocean, and while they are geographically connected in the broader context of Oceania. Though separated by a considerable distances of open water. New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade describes New Caledonia as its "closest geographic neighbour in the Pacific." The fire caused significant damage to the Church meetinghouse. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation by local authorities. Locally it is believed intentional because that this incident occurred amid a broader pattern of attacks against Catholic religious sites in New Caledonia. Since mid-July of 2024, there has been a documented trend of arson attacks against Catholic churches and missions in New Caledonia, including historic sites near Nouméa and on the Isle of Pines. These attacks have been highly symbolic, with fires ignited in multiple locations (e.g., the altar and entrance) and in some cases, walls have been tagged. These earlier incidents were reportedly linked to rioters and unrest, and were widely condemned by local leaders as "intolerable" and "criminal irresponsible acts." New Caledonia has experienced periods of civil unrest and violence, which have included buildings such as police stations and town halls being set ablaze. While the cause of the Mont-Dore LDS meetinghouse fire is officially unknown, the timing and the recent history of church burnings and civil unrest in New Caledonia will likely lead to rumors and strong suspicion within the community that the fire was criminally motivated (arson), possibly connected to either the ongoing local unrest or the recent fires targeting LDS churches globally (in New Zealand and Australia). https://news-pacific.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/fires-damage-church-meetinghouses-in-new-zealand-and-new-caledonia

Early morning on Sunday, October 12, 2025, the Te Hauke Church, near Hastings, in the Hawke's Bay region of New Zealand. The fire caused significant damage to the meetinghouse, with the main chapel area being engulfed in flames quickly. One report noted that the only item left untouched was a portrait of Jesus Christ... No injuries were reported because the building was empty. All the members were watching the Church's semi-annual General Conference from home. The cause of the fire is under investigation by authorities. No official determination of arson has been made. Similar to the fire in Australia, there is speculation in the community and media about the cause. The local community leader, Ngāti Kahungunu chairman Bayden Barber, stated, "I'm just like everyone else, wondering what happened" and commented on the timing in relation to international incidents, saying, "The church has been on edge... people are on alert around the world, it would seem. People are being emboldened by some of the rhetoric that's happening overseas, and we don't need that kind of behaviour here." This suggests a community fear that the fire could be linked to the events in Michigan and Australia, but this is a sentiment, not an official finding of motive or arson. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/te-hauke-hawkes-bay-church-fire-leaves-only-portrait-of-jesus-intact/GVRMEM3C3ZB47BJVXITQDJQTXE/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/national/te-hauke-hawke-s-bay-church-fire-leaves-only-portrait-of-jesus-intact/

An LDS meetinghouse in Hebersham, Sydney, Australia, was destroyed by a fire in the early hours of Monday, October 6, 2025, shortly after the Michigan attack. As of the latest reports, the cause of the fire is unclear and remains under investigation by authorities. Arson is suspected by the public and the media because the fire was reported to have started in three separate locations of the complex, which has led to speculation it was intentional, though no official confirmation of arson has been made. News reports that suspect arson explicitly state that they did not say whether arson is suspected by the authorities. https://gephardtdaily.com/local/fire-rips-through-lds-church-meetinghouse-in-australia/

Correct, nor should you, that is the introductory note that sets the historical context for later reframing by the Lord about what is of value in Salem. The Church leaders' concerns were only about debt and money which is then contrasted with the Lord's subsequent message focusing on assorted and more lasting treasures. There is a reframing of the concept of "treasure", "more treasures than one", which would benefit Zion more than any immediate money find. Therefore, the introductory note is interpreted as the triggering event for a revelation that ultimately teaches a spiritual principle: God's treasures includes souls, and His solutions to temporal problems come in His time and through His means.

What is the Church's philosophy of criminal justice? The proportionality in sentencing, sometimes called the "proportionality principle" or the "grading of offenses" is to reserve the most severe penalties, like a life sentence or the death penalty (where applicable), for the most egregious crimes, namely murder and sometimes other exceptionally heinous offenses like terrorism or large-scale treason. Without a clear hierarchy of punishment, the moral gravity and social condemnation attached to the most severe crimes are diminished. Then is the Marginal Deterrent Effect. If the penalty for a felony, is already a very long prison term (e.g., 50 years, effectively a life sentence), the marginal cost of elevating the crime to murder (by eliminating victims/witnesses) is perceived as minimal. If the bank robber is already facing a potential life sentence (e.g., 60 years or "three strikes" application), the marginal deterrent from committing murder (still a life sentence) is reduced to near zero. Why risk capture and a certain life sentence for robbery, only to not eliminate the witnesses when doing so carries little to no increased punishment risk but significantly reduces the chance of apprehension? The "Sound of Freedom Act" in Alabama illustrates a political and moral choice to prioritize "retribution" and "absolute deterrence" for child human trafficking, even at the expense of marginal deterrence principles. The underlying crime, Human Trafficking in the First Degree, was already a Class A felony, which previously carried a sentence of 10 to 99 years or life (all dependent on your record, your exact role in the enterprise, cooperating with law enforcement, etc). The central issue with the "Sound of Freedom Act," from a marginal deterrence perspective, is that it sets the punishment for child trafficking equal to or near the maximum penalty for murder. The apparent intent is to make the punishment for the exploitation of a child so severe (retribution) that it functions as an absolute deterrent to the initial crime of trafficking, regardless of the implications for marginal deterrence against homicide. The philosophy of marginal deterrence argues that if a trafficker is facing a guaranteed life sentence for the trafficking act itself, they have little to lose by eliminating the victim (murder) if they believe it would reduce the chance of capture and conviction. The maximum penalty is already reached by the lesser crime.

The SPEAR Fund's own press releases and official documents identify him in this role. The organization is described as one that funds and collaborates with a coalition of experts and organizations to end human trafficking. Court documents related to lawsuits also name him as being associated with The SPEAR Fund. https://thespearfund.org/montana-event/ There appears to be an anomaly. The Tim Ballard Foundation is a new iteration of his anti-trafficking work, but his current primary non-profit affiliation is with The SPEAR Fund. Tim Ballard's personal website says it was launched "Friday, September 26, 2025 at 4:32:46 PM" established in multiple countries, globally, where Tim continues to partner with government leaders and law enforcement in the fight against human trafficking." Without further information (like a registered 501(c)(3) status under this name or details on its activities beyond a website mention), it is hard to definitively confirm it exists as a fully distinct and operational entity separate from The SPEAR Fund, or if it is a rebranded or future name for his efforts.

So, Operation Underground Railroad (O.U.R.) is rebranded as Our Rescue, most "credible" sources, the few news outlets referring to these changes in focus and leadership is from several areas on their website, primarily in their Newsroom/Press Releases and About Us/Mission sections. "From Darkness to Light: The New Our Rescue" (A message from the CEO) provides a clear statement from CEO Tammy Lee on the organization's transformation, new board, and accelerated focus on law enforcement partnerships, technology like ESD K9s, and survivor care. https://ourrescue.org/education/statistics/from-darkness-to-light-the-new-our-rescue) "OUR Rescue Announces New Leadership Team Members to Expand its Global Mission and Impact" (Press Release) This is the official announcement of the new leadership team, including the Chief Mission Officer and others with extensive law enforcement and forensic backgrounds. https://ourrescue.org/resources/news-media/organization/our-rescue-announces-new-leadership-team-members-to-expand-its-global-mission-and-impact "About Our Rescue and our fight against sex trafficking" (General Mission/Strategy page): This page summarizes the organization's current approach, detailing how they work with law enforcement, provide technology, and integrate survivor care. https://ourrescue.org/about

While the claim to have done "more rescues" in the last two years than ever before is difficult to independently verify, especially since he is no longer with the organization he founded, Operation Underground Railroad (O.U.R.). Tim Ballard resigned as CEO of O.U.R. in June 2023. O.U.R. itself continues operations under new leadership, focusing on law enforcement collaboration, digital forensics, and survivor care. Tim Ballard is now a Senior Advisor in Rescue Operations for The SPEAR Fund, a different organization that funds and collaborates with anti-trafficking groups. If he is conducting "more rescues," it is presumably through this new network or independent efforts, although specific, verified details of these operations are not widely publicized. The claim of doing "more rescues" could be intended as a reference to his role in facilitating operations through a new funding organization, rather than necessarily performing a greater number of high-risk, face-to-face undercover missions himself.

Or maybe he found he gets more work done with less couple ruses nowadays... or more of them with less church nowadays.

I'm sure stuff happened, just he may be prone to Confirmation Bias or connecting unrelated incidents to create a preferred storyline. If the call about $10 million campaign "to destroy" him was a heads up about the subsequent press statement from the Church. My first thought was like yours, or it was such a vague psychic prediction any negative response the Church would have made would have confirmed it cost $10mil in Ballard's gullible mind or maybe I'm completely underestimating the sheer estimated cost of handling the legal and public relations fallout from a controversy that involved a high-profile member, a blockbuster movie, fundraising fraud, a political campaign, and allegations of assault. But then Ballard's narrative would only see it as a targeted, pre-planned assassination of his character. He might actually know a bit of the existence of migrant trafficking problems all over the west, including Utah, but his narrative connects it to the church's alleged PR response, and concludes it could only be because of a very specific, dark reason (a cover up) rather than simply a desire to distance the organization from a high-profile individual facing personal misconduct accusations. The church's institutional resistance could have been a defensive reaction to any perceived threat to its image, finances, or political stability, regardless of Ballard's odd and specific allegations. I'm willing to say a falling Jesus painting was probably indeed a dramatic event that had a non-verbal and open to subjective meaning. Being an otherwise mute object could just as easily have been interpreted as Jesus objecting to the High Councilman's defense of Ballard rather than agreeing. But he's the one telling the story.

Tim Ballard, the inspiration for the film Sound of Freedom, made explosive claims regarding a campaign to discredit him and his work, allegedly orchestrated by the "deep state" within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and others. In Ballard's recent appearances, he is now publicly admitting that he was excommunicated, after denying it for a long time. He has not been able to be rebaptized (maybe because he must wait a year following excommunication), but his recent denial is thought to led to a series of his current public rants. The Church booted him for his alleged immoral actions use of the "couples ruse" (convincing women to engage in undercover "married couple activities") in his anti-child trafficking operations and the unauthorized use of Apostle M. Russell Ballard's name. New Conspiracy Theories and Rants $10 Million Conspiracy Ballard claimed that in late August/early September 2023, he received a phone call from a credible insider informing him that $10 million had been invested to "destroy" him. He alleges the Church's campaign began with a statement from the LDS Church intended to derail the "Sound of Freedom Act" he was working on with members of Congress. "I get a phone call saying, '$$10 million has been has been sent to destroy you.' I said, 'What's it going to look like?' They said, 'A bag of bricks.' And that's all they would say. Three weeks later, it begins from the Mormon church." Getting A Sign from Jesus Ballard shared a dramatic anecdote from his recent excommunication proceeding, claiming it was conducted in violation of church policy. He described a moment when a High Councilman stood up to the Stake President in his defense. According to Ballard, as the High Councilman challenged the proceedings, "the big picture of Jesus that sits on the wall of the office comes crashing down." The High Councilman allegedly took this as a sign that "Jesus has weighed in on this." He's telling the story as "divine confirmation" that heaven is on his side. Prayer for Trump-like Resilience Facing the fallout of the controversy, which he said cost him a job, a book deal, and a sequel to Sound of Freedom, Ballard spoke about how he found the strength to continue his fight. Ballard stated that he regularly prays for the tenacity to withstand persecution: "I always said to myself I prayed to God and say 'Help me harness my inner Trump'... He's a great example for me like that's I literally say that in my prayers all the time." Ballard asserts that despite the attempts to silence him, these attacks have ultimately failed, leading him to do "more rescues" in the last two years than ever before and providing more content for the forthcoming film Sound of Freedom 2. Source: Interview with Tim Ballard on the Julie Green Ministries show. Supposedly, Tim Ballard is reportedly making other extreme claims about the church on various podcasts, repeating the Mormon church spent $10 million to destroy him. Alleging that the Church has been infiltrated by forces trying to prevent him from "uncover[ing] the worst thing happening on the planet," which he specifies as satanic ritual abuse of children happening in Utah.

Somewhat odd questions. In LDS doctrine, the term "tabernacle" is most commonly used to refer to the mortal physical body. Spirits are not often described as having a tabernacle of spirit. However, they do have a spirit body, which is described as being in the "form of God's physical body" and spirit matter is "more fine or pure" than matter the physical body. Perhaps in modern terms, he meant energy. The simplest, and perhaps most widely accepted, model is that a spirit is an intelligence that has been organized into a spirit body. Rather than an entity encased in spirit matter. LDS doctrine teaches that agency is an eternal attribute of all intelligent beings, which includes the earliest state of human existence. Intelligences refers to the eternal, uncreated part of humankind. Scripture states, "Intelligence... was not created or made, neither indeed can be" and that all intelligence is an independent agent, "independent in that sphere in which God has placed it, to act for itself." (Doctrine and Covenants 93:30) This scripture is cited as evidence that agency (the ability to act and choose) is inherent to the very nature of intelligence, which has always existed. And spirits possessed and exercised their agency, as evidenced by the "War in Heaven." In summary, the principle of agency is understood to be just as eternal and uncreated as the fundamental intelligence itself.

This kind of reminds me of when 9/11 happened I first started watching news regularly. CNN had a 2-hours of news that basically was on repeat, I had to learn to stop watching after 2 hours. Then I discovered the 700 Club covered all 2-hrs of CNN news in the first 10-minutes. That was a long time ago, I knew then it would be bias, but it saved me a lot of time. I guess I wanted to say, just because something is biased, and you know its biased, can it not still inform you of true events, the bias being the opinion of whether it's good or bad? Or are we saying the Epoch Times lies? So, I looked for a specific example. China probably doesn't like the Conspiracy Theories related to specific claims about the COVID-19 pandemic. Though several initial statements and claims about COVID-19 have been vindicated or substantiated. The big one is Wuhan, China "lab leak" theory censored or dismissed as "misinformation," by various government entities. In 2025, some CIA reports have specifically stated that COVID-19 likely emerged from a laboratory. However, The Epoch Times has been cited for promoting conspiracy theories about COVID-19 include the idea that the virus was deliberately created as a biological weapon or that it was directed by global elites like Bill Gates. That might push things too far for a news story.

It is often interpreted by members in two primary ways: spiritual treasure of "people" via missionary work and temporal treasure which fulfillment is "in due time", with the latter not being tied directly to building millennial temples or the New Jerusalem in Missouri in common commentary. Why Spiritual Treasure is the dominant interpretation of the "treasure" in this section, is that the people of Salem are the greater treasure, "there are more treasures than one," (D&C 111:9-10). D&C 111:2 states, "I have much treasure in this city for you, for the benefit of Zion, and many people in this city, whom I will gather out in due time for the benefit of Zion." This promise of many people was later fulfilled through missionary efforts, notably by Elder Erastus Snow in the 1840s, leading to a significant number of converts who went on to benefit the Church's efforts, or "Zion." The reference to "gold and silver" in verse 4 could be seen as a dramatic literary device to redirect their attention from literal money to eternal souls. However, the reference to "wealth pertaining to gold and silver shall be yours" (verse 4) suggests a literal, temporal blessing of wealth. But since this wealth was not obtained during Joseph Smith's 1836 visit, commentary generally views this as a promise yet to be fulfilled "in due time," through whatever means the Lord chooses to employ for the benefit of Zion, rather than a specific undiscovered cache of gold. There is no prominent or official LDS commentary that specifically connects the eventual wealth from Salem mentioned in D&C 111:4 to the funding of Millennial temples or the building of the New Jerusalem (Zion) in Missouri. While the building of the New Jerusalem and its temple is the ultimate goal of Zion, the immediate concern of the leaders was their current debt, partly from building the Kirtland Temple, and the gathering of people (converts) for the Church's establishment. The Twelve's "Sins" Concerning whether the Twelve Apostles "sins" and rebellion in D&C 112 in July 1837, nearly a year later, was known in foreknowledge and is the reason the wealth in Salem was concealed, is not a standard interpretation found in LDS commentary. D&C 111:1 already explicitly addresses the current "follies" of Joseph Smith and his companions already traveling to Salem from rumors of hidden treasure and seemingly mercifully does not withhold such a blessing, though perhaps redirects their focus to greater treasures. The promise in D&C 111:4 does not seem conditional on the future behavior of the Twelve. Lord does say he will "order all things for your good, and for the preservation of my people, if ye are faithful and wise as serpents, and yet without sin" (D&C 111:11), making the fulfillment of the promises conditional on the faithfulness of the leaders, but primarily on the Lord's timing and purposes for Zion. The Lord's message in D&C 111 is one of mercy and redirection: He accepts their misguided attempts to solve their financial problems and assures them that the greatest treasure is the gathering of souls, a work that will ultimately ensure their financial deliverance (D&C 111:5, 10).

Each other or even yourself. I'm fairly certain temptation is not the sole providence of your devils, and it is not assumed the devil has a devil. Joseph Smith from January 19, 1841, as recorded in the McIntire Minute Book, infers a spirit is an inferior state of being, with limitations inherent in spirit beings, how in the pre-mortal state we were "subject to oppression" from the powers of darkness (Ehat & Cook, Words, McIntire Minute Book: 19 January 1841 (Tuesday), p. 62.) so even in the premortal world, opposition and temptation existed. The power to resist and choose remained, but in order for us to ultimately overcome evil, it was necessary for us to acquire a physical body which could later be resurrected into an immortal one. While I don't have a full text of that specific minute immediately available, but he does say in other places how spirits lack the power and protection of a physical body. In 1843: "All beings who have bodies have more power than those who have not. The devil has no body, and herein is his great limitation." (Discourse, 5 January 1841, as Reported by William Clayton). Latter-day Saints believing in the necessity of a physical body and the purpose of mortality. Having a body gives individuals a greater capacity to resist evil and exercise their agency. Brigham Young taught, "The spirit that the Lord puts into a tabernacle of flesh, is under the dictation of the Lord Almighty; but the spirit and body are united in order that the spirit may have a tabernacle, and be exalted; and the spirit is influenced by the body, and the body by the spirit." He noted that the Devil "does not hold any power over man, only so far as the body overcomes the spirit that is in a man, through yielding to the spirit of evil." This implies that the body acts as a defense for the spirit. However, if the spirit yields to the body's fallen nature ("of the earth"), then the Devil can gain influence over both. In LDS theology, temptation and evil come from not just the temptations of physical lusts of the natural body, but your own weaknesses and the devil's power of persuasion, convincing others to reject the Father and his plan. An evil spirit's power to oppress a spirit without a body is largely the power to whisper doubt and prideful alternatives. The oppression an evil spirit inflicts can be mental anguish, fear, or a sense of hopelessness, all of which are spiritual rather than physical sensations. From the spirit world, an evil spirit can teach a man that he "must not pray" (2 Nephi 32:8) or invite and entice him to do evil (Moroni 7:12). These are attacks on the spirit's spiritual core.

That explains why the theology seems different. So, my question is twofold: Is to proceed to insert the later doctrine of pre-mortality into Moses 7 purely anachronistic? Or is it fair to suggest the passage was intentionally worded to be ambiguous or contains layers, such that it could be read in retrospect as a reference to the War in Heaven/pre-mortal life, even if strictly it wasn't the meaning at the time? When do we avoid sin of reading later ideas back into earlier texts, and when is it okay to place progressive revelation in a living scripture?

The knowledge given to Enoch's brethren is to "all mankind" in the day they were "created" is understood to be the gospel knowledge and instruction they received as spirits in the presence of God during their premortal life. Being taught the Father's plan of salvation, the role of Jesus Christ as the Savior, and principles of righteousness. The ongoing choice the next verse (Moses 7:33) specifies; "that they should love one another, and that they should choose me, their Father." Though everyone forgets what was taught, the "Light of Christ" everyone is born with will cause us to remember. The Lord is expressing sorrow in the passage is because they have strayed from this knowledge and are "without affection." Light of Christ is the spiritual endowment or intelligence given to all spirits, allows them to discern between good and evil. "In the day I created them" refers to the creation of their spirits in the premortal life as the spirit children of God the Father. The phrase "they are the workmanship of mine own hands" is understood as God being the Father of their spirits. This spirit creation is separate from the creation of Adam and Eve's physical bodies or the birth of mortal children. The LDS see Day One as a long creative day. Agency was an essential part of God's plan for His children's progression from the very beginning. The concept of the "War in Heaven" stems from this agency. Lucifer (Satan) sought to destroy the agency of man, proposing a plan that would have forced obedience. When his plan was rejected and the Father's plan (championed by Jesus Christ, which preserved agency) was chosen, one-third of the hosts of heaven exercised their agency to follow Lucifer and were cast out. Those who accepted the Father's plan, includes choosing to come to earth to gain a body and be tested were the ones permitted to be born into mortality.

From reporting, Religion News Service and Salt Lake Tribune are noticing how the Church’s messaging / resources have changed. The new resources are aimed at doubters and those who support them. The Church published two new essays as part of its “Topics & Questions” / “Gospel Topics” section: one called “Seeking Answers to Your Questions” (for those who themselves are doubting), and another called “Helping Others with Their Questions” (for members who have loved ones or friends experiencing doubt). Why is this News? Both curiosity and subtextual skepticism, "because it’s quiet, a little too quiet". Its interesting because the Church almost never telegraphs major cultural pivots. Subtle compassion is showing up in manuals, leader training, and Church content: quietly, without fanfare. That makes it more sociologically intriguing. "Something significant is happening" RNS framed it as strategic pastoral evolution, empathetic and maybe long overdue. The Salt Lake Tribune, being more critical, implied the quiet tone could reflect timidness or caution, unknown risks, like Church wants to change without alienating its base or appearing reactive to critics. What both seem sure of is this institution is shifting tone in a way that signals long-term reform but it’s doing it in the most Mormon way possible: calm, careful, almost invisible. The Older Messaging In previous years, rhetoric around doubt often just emphasized the danger of doubt, avoiding doubt, how doubt is from the devil, that doubters should avoid certain influences, or implying that doubt is necessarily under your control. I agree a bit, if we want my dad to not be angry, we suggest he not watch the news. But he's already seen the news, and believes "X", what now? Elder Dale Renlund’s 2019 remarks warned about “perpetual doubters,” or statements that people who allow doubt to dominate are opening a door for negative influences. The New Way to Engage: 1. Listen Well and Ask Many More Questions The essays encourage listening with humility and empathy. They advise members to avoid judging, to acknowledge and respect questions, to ask open-ended questions like “How do you feel?” or “Can you tell me more?” instead of dismissing or shaming. 2. Avoid Negative Presumptions They also recognize that many people who doubt have already done research or thought through questions internally, not assume that a doubter is uninformed, lazy, or simply looking for excuses. 3. Be Very Patient and Longsuffering The materials stress that the struggle with doubt may take time. They encourage patience, continued love / relationship, even while faith isn’t fully settled. Try not to engage thinking there is a quick fix. Why Is It Low Key? The Church has not made this a loud, high-profile campaign. There was a brief press release when the essays were first released (Dec 2023), and some internal communications (e.g. to educators) when updates were made (June 2024). But the general membership's awareness, especially among people not closely following church publications or media, many seem unaware these resources exist. Even some bishops said they hadn’t heard of them. Is it a Long Game strategy? Are they working behind the scenes? Large institutions often pilot changes quietly before up scaling them. Imagine a Preach My Gospel 2.0, new temple interviews and missionary discussions implementing this more empathic direction over a checklist of orthodoxy. The Hope of Retention By recognizing the emotional / intellectual struggles of people who doubt, the Church may be better positioned to retain members who are wrestling with questions. Feeling listened to and respected tends to reduce alienation. Since “faith crises” are a major reason people leave or become inactive, providing tools for empathy and open conversation may stem some losses. In a more connected, information-rich world, many people encounter critical histories, doctrinal questions, scientific issues, etc. The Church seems to be acknowledging that people will have questions, and it’s better to help them address those than ignore them and hope they'll go away. It signals an adjustment toward more transparency (at least in tone), though not necessarily the sort of "full disclosure" of all contentious topics like critics suggest, but more willingness to engage. What is seen. Doubters are sharing more openly online and in podcasts. Churches who ignore that often seem out of touch. Adjusting messaging helps the LDS Church stay relevant to information-savvy people. It also helps shape the narrative from "doubt is the problem," it becomes "doubters are people we want to engage with compassionately." For existing members, especially those who have friends or family doubting, this change in message gives them tools for more compassionate conversation. It may help reduce friction; less shame, perhaps fewer defensive reactions, more conversations. Public perception may improve among observers who have seen faith communities deal with doubt poorly. If the Church is seen as more humane in this area, that could aid its social reputation. Risk of Resistance? While many see this shift as positive, there are also criticism and risk. People are watching to see whether this is genuinely implemented or just ornamental. The Church didn’t widely promote these resources, many aren’t aware of them. Tools are only useful if people know about them. Critics argue that doing it quietly limits impact. Local leaders (bishops, etc.) may not incorporate these messages into talks, classes, calls, etc., so the change doesn’t reach the grassroots. Not everyone welcomes change. Some members prefer traditional messaging, unambiguous authority, firm verses, fewer shades of ambiguity. So, there may be pushback. Also, some may see this shift as diluting doctrine or weakening discipline, so there may be tension. Some are set in their ways, still give talks that revert to older styles; doubt as sin, doubt as a lack of faith, etc. Some members may feel confusion, they read compassionate resources from the top but still hearing more traditional warnings, and we'll get a mixed message. While the tone in essays / resources may be more empathetic, but individual experiences vary. For many doubters, the way they are treated in their local congregation, by family, by leaders, may still be harsh or dismissive. The institutional messaging is one thing; lived experience is another. Church culture over decades has built up expectations and attitudes that are harder to change. Habit, local norms, peer culture matter. The resources don’t necessarily promise that every historical, scientific, doctrinal difficulty will be fully resolved or explained in ways satisfying to every doubter. Some topics remain controversial, and the Church should probably still control how much is discussed in official settings. What They'll Say: anti-LDS voices Voices critical of the LDS Church (ex-members) will interpret this shift in various ways. Some may see it as: A. Progress They may view these changes as evidence the Church is recognizing pains among its members and the dangers of alienation, stopping the exodus, so is attempting corrective change. For critics who feel the Church has previously been too harsh or dismissive toward doubt, this can be welcomed. B. Too little, too late Others may hold on to the old narrative with deeper issues. Even if local leadership changes, people will still either be hurt by ongoing or past dismissive or judgmental behavior. A critics firm in their new identity, may not want doubters to stay in situations that cause harm (e.g. mental health, identity issues) when leaving is healthiest (or personally lucrative) path in their minds. Retention Matters More Than Conversion Sociologists like Stark, Finke, and Putnam say: Retention is far more powerful than conversion in determining long-term membership. Even a small improvement in member retention rates can produce exponential growth over decades. Here’s why: The Church activity rates vary by region (North America: ~40–45%, Latin America: ~25–35%, Africa/Philippines: ~55–65%). The Church adds ~250,000–300,000 converts per year and "loses" roughly the same through inactivity or quiet resignation. Now, imagine: If conversion stays flat but retention improves by just 10–15%, that means hundreds of thousands more people stay engaged annually. Those retained members raise families, serve missions, and reinforce local units leading to organic generational growth without needing more proselytizing effort. Within one generation (20 years), that could mean a 30–50% increase in active members even with no rise in baptisms. That’s how denominations stabilize after "crisis decades." Catholicism, Evangelicalism, and the LDS Church all see that pattern when pastoral care improves. Why the "Shift to Doubters" Is the Retention Fix Sociologists of religion (like Jana Riess, Benjamin Knoll, and Armand Mauss) have shown that disbelief is not what leads to disaffection. When people feel: unheard, shamed for questions, or made to choose between faith or honesty… they leave. But when they feel safe to wrestle with questions inside the faith, even if they don’t get tidy answers, they tend to stay connected, even if less rigidly. The Church’s new messaging is basically designed to keep emotional and social belonging intact while someone processes doubt. Normalize questioning as part of faith development (echoing scriptural wrestles: Enos, Alma the Younger, Peter’s doubt, etc.). Empower family and leaders to respond with empathy rather than fear or judgment. In short, this is the psychological equivalent of patching a major leak in the retention pipeline. Membership Stabilization, Then Growth If this institutional shift holds, here’s what the next 10–25 years can look like. Instead of plateauing or declining (as mainline Protestant churches did), the LDS Church could maintain positive net growth, especially globally. The largest "inactive" demographic of mid-age members and post-mission millennials will start to reengage through family networks and online fellowship. Gen Alpha Latter-day Saints will have been raised in homes where questions are accepted, will have lower attrition rates in college years. As the "Faith crisis" becomes a normal stage of development, not a point of exit. Religious social scientists predict that when a faith tradition transitions from rigid to resilient, it retains roughly 70–80% more of each generation. Over time, openness to questioning will yield a stronger intellectual ecosystem within the Church: faithful scholarship, spiritual depth, and nuanced teaching. This could make future leaders more relatable, adaptive, and confident in addressing tough issues. What Likely Will Happen in the Future The Church may begin to more proactively publicize these resources, mentioning them in General Conferences, local meetings, or via social media—so more members know. As feedback comes in, the Church might add more resources, covering more difficult, complicated, or controversial questions. Possibly more multimedia: videos, small group curriculums for doubters. Over time, if messaging is consistent, there could be a cultural shift among members: more open conversations about questions, less stigma about doubting, more patience among families and leaders. That might mean more members staying, not leaving, when faced with challenges. I won't fail to suggest God himself may have inspired this correction. The Lord is guiding the Church to build Zion through love and patience rather than fear and exclusion. There’s strong evidence this shift was deliberate and data-driven, not accidental. The Church has world-class data analysts. The Correlation Department and Research Information Division track membership activity and exit causes across thousands of units. Anonymized metrics show where and why members disengage. This "doubter empathy" rollout began now after years of data has been pointing to relational causes, not doctrinal disbelief alone. We’ve been learning from Catholic and Evangelical patterns The Vatican’s post-Vatican II reforms and the Evangelical “Deconstruction” response both showed that compassion and humility slow the loss curve dramatically. Between 2010 and 2020, the Church quietly gathered an enormous amount of data through exit interviews, internal surveys, and monitoring of online discourse, of the "lost generation" (mostly Millennials) revealed why people left: not disbelief in doctrine per se, but feeling dismissed, gaslit, or unheard when they asked tough questions. That’s why the new messaging focuses on relational trust, which the data showed is the real tipping point. So, now in the mid-2020s, the Church knows exactly what was driving disengagement. We’re in a world-wide disillusionment cycle. Governments are distrusted. Media is manipulative. Algorithms reward misinformation. All institutions are assumed to lie. That’s the post-trust era sociologists like Shoshana Zuboff and Jonathan Haidt describe, and the LDS Church seems to have read that moment perfectly. Because in a world where everyone’s "selling" something, what Gen Z and Alpha people crave is sincerity. Boomers still believed in hierarchies and brand loyalty. Gen Z believes if it smells funky, it’s dead. The Church of Boomers can’t win Gen Z’s heart by appeals to "the Church is true. So, stay and obey." but it can demonstrating honesty, humility, and stability, "the Church is a source of answers and belonging, if you keep the faith while you work it out." Ether 12:23–27 "I give unto men weakness that they may be humble... then will I make weak things become strong" When external critics (online ex-LDS communities, TikTok “truth exposers,” etc.) attack Church culture for "stonewalling," this new approach neutralizes that entire line of attack. In other words, the Church isn’t trying to win arguments anymore, it’s learning to outlast the outrage cycle. That’s wisdom. The LDS Church historically excelled with Boomers - who admired its order, structure, and clean family values. But Gen Z’s radar for manipulation and gaslighting is extremely sensitive, they grew up with influencers, propaganda, and trusted institutions lying to them. They won’t accept perfection, for there is none, but they’ll trust sincerity. They won’t follow blindly, but they’ll trust someone who admits uncertainty yet stays faithful anyway. It’s all been expertly timed to coincide with the next leadership handoff - a moment when tone and style can refresh without doctrinal overhaul. It's the most data-backed institutional reform in modern LDS history: emotionally literate, empirically informed, and future-proof. Whether one attributes that to divine guidance or brilliant institutional learning - the outcome is the same. The Church is shifting just in time to regain trust in the Age of Distrust. If they stay consistent for the next decade could make the LDS Church one of the few religions that actually grows in the West through the 2030s and 2040s.

It's completely off screen. [The body cam of the officer shooting the suspect is not looking straight forward, its pointed right, centered on another person/officer by a tree with a gun. When the shots are fired the cam is still pointed at a different person.]

Over $5 Million US The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recently committed $5.1 million US to the American Red Cross to support several key initiatives: blood‐donation efforts, funding new collection equipment, and bolstering programs for sickle cell disease treatment. The donation is partly aimed at securing platelet collection devices, red blood cell machines, and equipment to support new donor centers. In-kind Donations Beyond the monetary gift, they gave disaster relief kits, with essentials such as hygiene items, for those affected by disasters. Use of Church Facilities, Mobilization Logistics, Volunteers and Blood Drives: Organizing, hosting, or staffing thousands of blood drives where Church members donate blood. While not always described in detail, there is reference to mobilizing “thousands of volunteers,” using Church meetinghouses or buildings for blood drives or as shelters, or facilitating donation drives. The Church is the single largest host of such drives for the Red Cross, annually giving tens of thousands of blood units via these drives. These are also "in kind", in terms of donating space, manpower, organizational infrastructure. Tours for Red Cross Leaders The Church and Red Cross are deepening cooperation: Red Cross leaders toured the Church’s humanitarian facilities (Welfare Square, Bishops’ Central Storehouse) to better understand Church operations and strengthen institutional ties. The Church has a long history of working with the Red Cross; for example, they hosted blood drives over decades, provided disaster relief kits, and mobilized volunteers. The tours by Red Cross leadership foster transparency and allow cross‐learning of humanitarian logistics and infrastructure. Health Equity & Sickle Cell The mention of sickle cell disease is notable. That’s a condition predominantly affecting African Americans and other marginalized groups. Supporting more compatible blood units for sickle cell patients is a targeted health equity intervention. In effect, the church is using its resources not just for broad charitable giving, but targeting areas where care is uneven or under‐resourced. Collaborations like this can improve public perceptions of the church, especially among nonmembers who see the tangible benefits. This donation is large enough to be visible in some news media. KSL (Utah's news outlet) “Church of Jesus Christ donates $5.1 M to American Red Cross” — describes how the funds will be used (blood donation programs, equipment, help for sickle cell treatment). Notes that the LDS Church is the largest single contributor to American Red Cross blood drives, with Latter-day Saints donating ~97,000 units of blood annually. Gives historical background: more than one million units collected across thousands of drives over decades. American Red Cross press release Confirms the church’s gift, mentions in‐kind donations (disaster relief kits), thousands of blood drives, volunteer mobilization. Yahoo / Aggregated News In a short summary: “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has gifted over $5 million to the American Red Cross … according to a press release …”

Cool beans, it may take me a bit to read and put together a full reply to your questions, if I'm able at all, I'm not the best for the task. Awesome poster. I hope you'll stick around for a while. That's an exceptionally detailed and critical analysis of the alleged parallels between Thomas' The Philosophy of a Future State and Joseph Smith's revelations. You are correct in observing that many of the supposed "parallels" rely on common biblical themes and that the specific theological details often diverge significantly. Your critique highlights the importance of distinguishing between: Shared Vocabulary: Terms common to contemporary Christian discourse (e.g., "Throne of God," "angels/embassies"). Shared General Concepts: Broad philosophical ideas (e.g., a multi-part soul, a hierarchy of beings, post-mortal progress) found across various religious and philosophical traditions. Specific, Unique Parallels: Concrete, detailed concepts or phrases that are the direct signature of an influence. You are correct that the Book of Abraham does not use the phrase "common centre". Thomas uses it to describe the universe's mechanical rotation. Joseph Smith's scripture focuses the "center" concept on a single, literal star, Kolob, not the entire systems of the universe. You are correct in your assessment of Thomas' intention and theology. Thomas does not call the "Throne of God" a star or planet. Given his belief in God's universal omnipresence (which you correctly noted), he struggles to reconcile this with the biblical tradition of a specific, localized "throne." So he is describing a massive, central region or body of creation, a "material creation", that is so grand it could metaphorically represent the omnipresent God's "throne." This is distinct from Joseph Smith’s theology, which posits God as a corporeal being requiring a specific, organized location (a "residence"). Smith did not adopt Thomas' model. To claim Joseph Smith must have gotten the biblical term "Throne of God" from reading Thomas' book (which quotes the Bible) is illogical and assumes the least likely possibility. The term "Throne of God" is ubiquitous in Christian culture. Thomas explicitly sources it from the Bible (e.g., Revelation 4:2, Psalms 11:4). The specific parallel cited by critics is not the term itself, but the use of the term - in a cosmic hierarchy context: Thomas is looking for a physical reality that corresponds to the biblical "Throne of God" to serve as a common center for all other systems. In both cases, the "Throne of God," exerts cosmic control. This specific combination is the parallel, but the source for the term itself is unquestionably the Bible for both authors. The most concrete evidence that Joseph Smith or his close associates were aware of and used Thomas' ideas comes from Oliver Cowdery's public writings. In December 1836, Cowdery's newspaper, the Messenger and Advocate, published lengthy, uncredited excerpts from Thomas' book, including passages about the plurality of worlds. W. W. Phelps wrote a poem in the same year that contains language highly reminiscent of Thomas' writings. While this doesn't prove Joseph Smith personally read the entire book before receiving the Book of Abraham revelation (circa 1835-1842), it confirms the ideas and specific terminology from Thomas' work were in the immediate intellectual atmosphere of the early Mormon leadership when the Book of Abraham was being produced. Thomas does not explicitly use the phrase "uncreated beings" to describe the spirits on other worlds. This phrase is a summary used by critics to capture the implication of his argument against creation ex nihilo (creation out of nothing) and his discussion of eternal matter. Like Smith, Thomas supported the idea that matter is eternal and indestructible (they agree on some level). His "intelligences" are the inhabitants of an infinite, eternal creation, often called "progressive beings" advancing toward perfection. Thomas places man at the bottom of the intellectual scale. Smith's theology places man at the pinnacle of this creation, as the offspring of God. The parallel relies on two specific pieces of vocabulary: "Intelligences": Used to describe the spiritual/intellectual inhabitants of the cosmos. "Progressive Beings": Used to describe the ongoing, eternal nature of these spirits' development.

That's what I mean. Unless the fine was money that won't be missed, the costs will get passed along to fans somehow.

I don't want them to have ban paying fans on mass. I'd feel better if they could instead offset the fine by passing on the fine on to the fans at the risk of a ban, they can catch some of the consequence.

Well, fact that the shooter was equipped with an assault rifle, multiple IEDs, and chose a solid Sunday morning time strongly suggests a long-awaited plot to maximize casualties. The Ex-Mormons gave an unconfirmed report that the Grand Blanc Stake Conference was originally scheduled for the day of the shooting September 28th and then moved. This comes from a user comment on the r/exmormon subreddit; "I live in the area. They were not having stake conference. They were going to have it yesterday, but two weeks ago moved it to a later date." If true, a minor miracle that he just missed the larger Stake Conference, perhaps he may have even tried to target the conference and failed. For the non-LDS: The Church was the Grand Blanc Michigan Stake Center which is designed to be regional hub for multiple congregations (Wards/Branches), as Stake Conference would be during a peak "crossover" meeting time when the total number of people on site is at its highest, encompassing a vast number of children, youth, and adults with overflow of seats set up in to the Culture Hall. This number would be vastly greater than attending a simple, single-Ward meetinghouse. The attacker may have planned for a larger crowd of multiple Wards. Unlike the General Conferences, Stake Conferences times are set at the local level and do not happen on a single, standardized global date. It is an unverified account being shared. It is not an official statement from the Church or law enforcement. Is anyone able to verify that there was a Conference scheduled for the 28th and then moved?