Before his death, one of the gifts Joseph Smith Jr. left behind is the mysterious role of “patriarch” in the church. Evidently, these men are able to channel god’s personal crystal ball(s) and disseminate his will to recipients under their divinely guided hands, providing details about their pre-mortal life, offering promises and guidance for this life, and peering into the life beyond. Termed a “patriarchal blessing”, these personalized revelations from god become little “liahonas” for the members, and serve to exacerbate feelings of elitism and pride coupled with inadequacy, unworthiness, and confusion.
From its inception, the Mormon church has claimed the "fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ" was restored (past tense) through the prophet Joseph...
There was a western genre TV series in the 70's called Alias Smith and Jones, about two outlaws who were on the run. In...
Dave and Mike talk about the core philosophies of the church around relationships, and how questioning (and especially leaving) the church can have serious...