What do Mormons really believe? This website is not affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (aka "Mormons") in any way, shape, or form, other than that the author of this website, Joshua Steimle, happens to be a practicing member of it.

MormonDNA.org is a collection of my commentary, musings, and answers to sundry questions about the LDS Church, it's doctrines, quirks, and history. I am by no means a scholar, historian, or expert on any of this, I'm merely somebody who is interested in learning more about his own religion, responding to criticism, and fostering productive dialogue. I invite you to read through the various posts on this website and if you feel so inclined, to join the conversation by posting your own comments.

01
Nov

David Eccles Hardy – Letter to Elder Boyd K. Packer on Mormon Homosexuals

Question:

Do you think Bruce Hafens, treating different, and less than with shunning, or high voltage electro shock Mormon aversion therapy would have best solved the following situation?


Dear Elder Packer:

Although we have met briefly before, it is through the context of my family that you would be able to place me.  I am the younger brother of Ralph W. Hardy, Jr. and Clare Hardy Johnson, and the son of Ralph W. Hardy, Sr. and Maren Eccles Hardy.  I most recently served as bishop of the Salt Lake University 29th Ward, Salt Lake University 5th Stake.  My wife, Carlie, is the granddaughter…

31
Oct

Egyptians, Horses, and Rocks in Hats

Question:

Joshua,

I would appreciate the name of just one secular encyclopediaa and page which provides supporting information that:

1. “Reformed Egyptian” was really an ancient language.

2. “Domesticated” horses existed in the America’s prior to Columbus.

3. That ancient languages can be translated by looking at a rock in a hat. See: (Ensign » 1993 » July A Treasured Testament By Elder Russell M. Nelson)

Answer:

Of course there isn’t any secular encyclopedia that provides supporting information, but here are some explanations of perhaps why:

1. Reformed Egyptian was a language perhaps known by no one else but the people of the Book of Mormon, which appears…

31
Oct

The Hypocrisy of Mormons in Opposing Gay Marriage

Question:

Joshua,

How is it possible for you to support your church with it going against its own scripture? “We do not believe it just to mingle religious influence with civil government, whereby one religious society is fostered and another proscribed in its spiritual privileges, and the individual rights of its members as citizens, denied.” (D&C 134:9)

United Church of Christ
The resolution “In support of equal marriage rights for all”, supported by an estimated 80% of the 884 General Synod Delegates, made the United Church of Christ General Synod the first major Christian deliberative body in the U.S. to make a statement of…

30
Oct

The Lost Book of Abraham YouTube Video

On another post where I asked people why they had left the LDS Church, a commenter named Max said this as part of his comment:

About two years ago I came across a video on youtube called “The Lost Book of Abraham.” In a period of 1 hour, my faith and belief in the church was utterly shattered and I could no longer believe. It cost me my marriage, my relationship with my children, my relationship with my brother and my sisters. It cost me the relationships with my parents and my friends.

The video can be found here. However, it bears…

30
Oct

How much can Mormons take?

“I have tried for a number of years to get the minds of the Saints prepared to receive the things of God; but we frequently see some of them, after suffering all they have for the work of God, will fly to pieces like glass as soon as anything comes that is contrary to their traditions: they cannot stand the fire at all.” – Joseph Smith

The more I converse with people who have left the LDS Church, the more I hear stories that go this way “I was completely active in the Church and thought it was true, but then…

26
Oct

My definition of “Anti-Mormon”

In response to a question posed by a commenter on this site, I figured it was fair to provide an answer since I do use the term rather broadly at times. I see there being multiple types of anti-Mormons:

1. The Professional anti-Mormon. These are folks like Jerald and Sandra Tanner who have dedicated their lives to anti-Mormonism as though it were its own religion.

2. The Amateur anti-Mormon. These are the people who attack the Mormon church, but on a part-time basis, when it’s convenient or when they get particularly riled up, but they have day-jobs and lives that aren’t defined by their animosity…

26
Oct

What’s up with Brigham Young and all those racist statements he made?

This post was created to answer questions posed by commenter MQ_2 on the comment thread for If Joseph Smith was a fraud where did the Book of Mormon come from? Since it was off-topic there, this new post has been created to facilitate the conversation. Here is the comment in its entirety:

“Turns out slavery was permitted by Brigham Young in Utah for about 10 years. Did you know that?”

Did you know that BY accepted a slave for tithing? Thats pretty crazy. If you win money in Vegas now the church doesn’t want your money for tithing. BY would take a slave…

26
Oct

Are the 11 witnesses of the Book of Mormon reliable witnesses?

This post is based on comments left on a different thread by Jed Smith asking “If Joseph Smith was a fraud where did the Book of Mormon come from?” But since the comment was off-topic, I’ve copied and pasted it here for response. The comment:

Josh, I appreciate what you are trying to do also in trying to have an open discussion in regards to the Book of Mormon. Regarding it’s authenticity, have you had any questions regarding the integrity of the witnesses? For example, Oliver Cowdery, one of the supposed Three witnesses was excommunicated from the church. He claimed to…

26
Jun

“God and Science Don’t Mix”

So says Lawrence M. Krauss, not to mention many others, of course. But the problem Krauss as well as many other atheists face (feel free to chime in here Dallin) is that their belief in a “no-God doctrine” is based on a faulty understanding of God. That is, their logical train of thought says “The Catholic [insert any other religion here] idea of God doesn’t jive with known science, therefore there is no God.” But what if the Catholic[again, insert any other religion here--I'm not trying to pick on Catholics] idea of God is incorrect?

Krauss claims that “Science is only…

21
Jun

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