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Main Street Plaza

A Community for Anyone Interested in Mormonism.

Main Street Plaza

A Community for Anyone Interested in Mormonism.

Author: Jonathan

Popular Book of Mormon Criticism Debunked

Jonathan, August 20, 2010June 10, 2023

[tl;dr—Book of Mormon critics can be guilty of confirmation bias, too.] This must be my week for Book of Mormon analysis, a last hurrah of ex-Mormon geekery before the Fall semester starts next week. Vernal Holley in his book Book of Mormon Authorship compiled a list of Book of Mormon…

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How Useful Is the Book of Mormon (to LDS leaders)?

Jonathan, August 19, 2010June 10, 2023

I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book. (Joseph Smith, Documentary History of the Church 4:461)…

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Anything Good in the Book of Mormon

Jonathan, August 12, 2010June 10, 2023

I’m going to ask a strange question of a bunch of exMos, but I hope you can help me out. I don’t know where I could ask this question on the Bloggernacle without it ending badly. I was reading James Kugel’s essay on biblical criticism’s strange relationship to apologetics (highly…

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You might be a member of a cult if…

Jonathan, September 8, 2009June 10, 2023

I don’t want to ghettoize this post by making it about Mormonism, but since that’s why we’re all here, it’s natural to gravitate to that. But this pertains to so much more than one group. I recently watched a video (not the best) that got me thinking about what it…

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The New Gospel Principles

Jonathan, August 12, 2009June 10, 2023

I have mixed feelings. The LDS church has published an updated edition of Gospel Principles (already available for purchase). Sunday school teachers use this manual to teach new church members and anyone thinking about becoming a member. For the next two years, the church will also use this manual to…

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Dreams in a Garden

Jonathan, May 1, 2009June 10, 2023

I had a strange dream last night. I see your eyes glazing over already. Listening to other people’s dreams bores you. I get that. I want to share anyway. I dreamt that I was in the middle of a garden where I enjoyed every earthly delight. Then a man dressed…

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Perpetual Deconversion Aid

Jonathan, March 21, 2008June 10, 2023

Maybe it’s all those talks about 72-hour kits at church , but I’ve been thinking about helping others to be better prepared for the storms that arise as they leave Mormonism. For most, leaving the church doesn’t involve clear sailing. There are lots of turbulent waters to be navigated before…

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New Joseph Smith Manual

Jonathan, October 14, 2007June 10, 2023

A new Melchizedek Priesthood/Relief Society lesson manual is available on lds.org: Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith. I skimmed through it and didn’t find anything unusual. For example, it only mentions the 1838 account of the first vision and avoids discussion of Joseph’s polygamous marriages. It’s more of…

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How Do I Tell My Wife That I Don’t Believe Anymore?

Jonathan, June 14, 2007June 10, 2023

I recently received the following message. Can you help Eric out? I think it would help to hear from both sides of this situation, so if you know a believing member of the church who is handling a mixed-faith marriage, please invite a response from them. He writes:

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Write Your Own Epic

Jonathan, June 2, 2007June 10, 2023

There was a required class in the computer engineering curriculum that was only ever taught by one particular professor. This professor had a penchant for creating pointless busywork. His homework for this class consisted of one page reports on each section of the book that we read. He didn’t tell…

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Latest Comments:

  1. Cara B. Klein on My conspiracy theory #2April 26, 2025

    Wow, I had never thought about it in that way before You have really opened my eyes to a new…

  2. chanson on LDS vs LGBTQ:  Nathan Kitchen sheds false binariesApril 16, 2025

    The haiku at the end is lovely. Sounds like a great book!

  3. Donna Banta on LDS vs LGBTQ:  Nathan Kitchen sheds false binariesApril 14, 2025

    I imagine anyone who has tried to change the church from within will identify with Kitchen's story. I especially like…

  4. Johnny Townsend on LDS vs LGBTQ:  Nathan Kitchen sheds false binariesApril 14, 2025

    This was a painful review to read. For many years, I held the same hope, that the LDS church would…

  5. LDS vs LGBTQ:  Nathan Kitchen sheds false binaries – Main Street Plaza on It’s Time to Vote for the 2024 Brodie Awards!!!April 14, 2025

    […] sincere acceptance is not a priority. Fortunately, this is what he exemplifies in his memoir, the Brodie-nominated Boughs of…

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William Law X-Mormon of the Year:

  • 2023: Adam Steed
  • 2022: David Archuleta
  • 2021: Jeff T. Green
  • 2020: Jacinda Ardern
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  • 2018: Sam Young
  • 2017: Savannah
  • 2016: Jeremy Runnells
  • 2015: John Dehlin
  • 2014: Kate Kelly
  • 2013: J. Seth Anderson and Michael Ferguson
  • 2012: David Tweede
  • 2011: Joanna Brooks
  • 2010: Monica Bielanko
  • 2009: Walter Kirn

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