Thirteen Theses

Thesis 13: No Empty Chairs

There is a common saying in the Mormon church that is adopted by many families inside of it, including my own: “No empty chairs.” This refers to the idea that if you’re righteous in this life then you’ll get to go to the highest heaven, the celestial kingdom, and be with others who…

Thesis 10: Face to Face With a Magical Rock

Mormon doctrine says that Joseph Smith used this stone to translate the Book of…

Thesis 3: The Illusive Atonement

The basic pillar of Christianity rests on the atonement of Jesus Christ. Basically, the atonement says…

Introduction to Thirteen Theses

I was raised in the Mormon church in a great family. My father was a bishop in our ward and in the stake presidency, my mother was raised in a large “pioneer stock” family, and none of my many siblings have ever seemed to waiver (at least from what I can tell) in terms of…

Thesis 9: The Book of Mormon Logic Train

One of the key trains of logic in the Mormon church goes as follows:

Joseph Smith was a poorly-educated farmboy.

Joseph Smith published the Book of Mormon.

Thesis 1: The Origins of Religion

One of the strangest facets of religious people is their absolute certainty that their religion is…

Thesis 4: The Right Truth

A core part of the Mormon church is the story of Joseph Smith reading the bible, feeling like there was more…

Thesis 11: Masonic Rituals

Growing up I’d watch movies like the Da Vinci Code or Indiana Jones or Sherlock Holmes or National Treasure that highlighted strange groups that had devilish, complex, barbaric rituals. These rituals usually occurred in caves or underground rooms and involved group chants, secret…

Thesis 7: Mormon Culture

If I believed that a church was true, I would stay a part of it even if the culture of the church wasn’t awesome. Because if a church is right then it’s right, regardless of the imperfect people inside of it. So you can read my other essays for the doctrinal and logical reasons why I…