FAIR and FARMS - Anti Mormon Propaganda??

This is a timely post, as we are listening to the prophet and apostles voice in General Conference. I recently came across the websites of FAIR and FARMS- supposedly, they are there to answer "tough gospel questions", but us that the case? For example, look at this answer to the question about the Journal of Discourses. Here FAIR Mormon Journal of Discourses

One might assume, based on how critics quote the Journal of Discourses, that it is something to be shunned, and generally ignored. It does in fact have some errors in it. However many of these errors can be attributed to the fact that the discourses given by the brethren were not always reviewed by them for errors (many gave their sermons impromptu, especially Brigham Young).

They are saying the Prophet of the Lord, even Brigham Young, spoke in error, and that it would take others to correct the prophet to keep him on the straight and narrow. That is anti-mormon propaganda, when the prophet speaks, the thinking has been done!

Listen to this!

Critics cannot understand how the Church can have prophets that are not infallible—they assume either that these men must not be prophets, or that members must regard them and their every utterance as infallible. Neither conclusion is correct.

This is the slippery road to apostacy. How can one think that the prophet does not speak for the Lord? We know that the living prophet is more important to us then the scriptures. We know Brigham Young was a great prophet, even the Moses of the West. How can you say that he wasn't infallible?

Dear readers, look at this! It is found here: Joseph Smith Hiding Polygamy

"The concept of "civil disobedience" is essential to understanding those occasions in which Joseph Smith or other church members were not forthright about the practice of polygamy. Like obedience to civil law, honesty and integrity are foundational values to the Chruch of Jesus Christ. Indeed, the success which critics have in troubling members with tales of polygamy and its deceptive circumstances, is in a way, a compliment to the church. If the church as an institution typically taught its members to have a casual disregard for the truth, a discovery that Joseph Smith had decieved others about polygamy would not be troubling to most. But, because the church (contrary to the suggestions of some critics) really does teach its members to aspire to live elevated lives of moral rectitude, the discovery that deception was involved can come as something as a shock. Disillusionment can ensue if we follow the critics in assuming that because Joseph occasionally misled others in this specific context, he must have lied about everything else, and been absolutely unworthy of trust."

How can we accept this? Joseph Smith being less than forthright and deceptive? How dare they smear the prophet and even say that if they are true believing members of the church! How dare the say it was civil disobedience! This type of garbage makes me sick!

I also found this: Mormon and Racist Issues

"We should be forgiving of past prophets who we today would percieve as being "racist," or otherwise unsophisticated when compared to the present day. Lest we judge harshly, we ought to consider that even the Savior himself spoke of "outsiders" using language that we would consider grossly offensive. We are warned, however, that we will be judged in the same manner in which we judge others. If we condemn those of past for being imperfect or influenced by thier culture, what can we expect for ourselves?"

How dare they say that Christ would say something offensive! How dare they state that prophets were "unsophisticated" or imperfect when they are led on a daily basis by the Lord! Prophets are led by the Lord, which means that the Lord would correct any so called "influence of culture." The true church is above such things! If we believe that early leaders were led by their culture, what would that mean for today's leaders? That they are actually stating false things under their own cultural influence? No, we must believe they guiding light of Christ was with them always!


I strongly advise not going to their websites for answers. It is obviously an anti-Mormon website.

Young People: You Are Responsible For the Thoughts of Others!

Last Sunday, I was asked to speak in Sacrament Meeting. I spoke first, as women speak first in the unwritten order of things. I was startled when I looked down at the audience - women wearning low cut dresses and blouses, exposing that which should not be exposed.! Young women, think of the bretheren who are blessing and passing the sacrament and who are sitting on the stand! If they can look down and see things that cause them to feel things that they should not be feeling, that is a problem. Please dress in a way that can not possibly contribute to them being tempted to feel things that they shouldn't feel until they are married in the temple for time and all eternity.

Elder Tad Callister said it best in his devotional address at BYU-I entitled The Lord's Standard for Morality

"Our dress affects not only our thoughts and actions but also the thoughts and actions of others. Accordingly, Paul the Apostle counseled “women [to] adorn themselves in modest apparel” (1 Timothy 2:9).
The dress of a woman has a powerful impact upon the minds and passions of men. If it is too low or too high or too tight, it may prompt improper thoughts, even in the mind of a young man who is striving to be pure.
Men and women can look sharp and be fashionable, yet they can also be modest. Women particularly can dress modestly and in the process contribute to their own self-respect and to the moral purity of men. In the end, most women get the type of man they dress for."

Women, I took the liberty to look for some nice modest clothing in which  you can feel good and care about yourselves in the way that is pleasing to the Lord. Here is what I found.

Women, what message do you want to send to the young men? You don't want to send a message that you don't care about yourself by dressing immodestly. That is what happened to one young woman in the YSA ward in my Stake. He took the advice to marry quickly to heart and decided to date all the girls in the ward. However, one girl he refused to date because she was dressed immodestly and from that, he knew she did not care for herself. She missed out on a date from that righteous priesthood holder.

The Lord has never deviated on his standard for the way we dress. It has always, and will always, remain the same. Think of the sacred garment. Has it changed througout time? No, it has stayed the way it is now since Adam and Eve and has not changed to suit the fashion of the day. Young Women need the practice of wearing clothes that would cover the garment once they go through the temple with a worthy priesthood holder to be sealed.

Please listen to the thoughts Sister Julie Beck has on this topic:

Julie Beck Q&A about Modesty

Sister Melva Answers Your Gospel Questions!

If you ave a perplexing gospel question, please email sistermelvayoung@gmail.com, and I will do my best to answer it!

Mormons Aren't Racist!

My nephew, Nephi, just came home from his mission and, of course, is planning on attending the Lord's University, even BYU. He stopped by unexpectedly for a chat with Brother Young and myself. He admitted that he had some concerns that needing resolving. He told us about the new essays the church is putting on their website to resolve member's concerns that could other wise be faith demoting to individuals striving to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ in his one true church.

He pulled up a copy of the essay that was giving him concerns. It is the Race and the Priesthood essay. He read to us the paragraph that stated,

"Today, the Church disavows the theories advanced in the past that black skin is a sign of divine disfavor or curse, or that it reflects actions in a premortal life; that mixed-race marriages are a sin; or that blacks or people of any other race or ethnicity are inferior in any way to anyone else. Church leaders today unequivocally condemn all racism, past and present, in any form."

He turned to us and said, "My problem is that church leaders have actually stated the things mentioned in that paragraph." We have a vast amount of gospel books, and he proceeded to show us  quotes.

He showed us this quote by the former prophet, Joseph Fielding Smith in his book "The Way to Perfection"  on pages 101-102.

"Not only was Cain called upon to suffer, but because of his wickedness he became the father of an inferior race. A curse placed upon him and that curse has been continued through his lineage and must do so while time endures. Millions of souls have come into this world cursed with a black skin and have been denied the privilege of Priesthood and the fullness of the blessings of the Gospel. These are the descendants of Cain. Moreover, they have been made to feel their inferiority and have been separated from the rest of mankind from the beginning.... we will also hope that blessings may eventually be given to our negro brethren, for they are our brethren‑children of God‑not withstanding their black covering emblematical of eternal darkness."

and we turned to page 43 of the same book and read:
"That negro race, for instance, have been placed under restrictions because of their attitude in the world of spirits, few will doubt. It cannot be looked upon as just that they should be deprived of the power of the Priesthood without it being a punishment for some act, or acts, performed before they were born."
Bruce R. McConkie stated in his book Mormon Doctrine, on pages 107-108:
In a broad general sense, caste systems have their origin in the gospel itself, and when they operate according to the divine decree, the resultant restrictions and segregation are right and proper and have the approval of the lord. To illustrate: Cain, Ham, and the whole negro race have been cursed with a black skin, the mark of Cain, so they can be identified as a caste apart, a people with whom the other descendants of Adam should not intermarry.

and on pages 527-528 of the same book:

Negroes in this life are denied the Priesthood; under no circumstances can they hold this delegation of authority from the Almighty. (Abra. 1:20-27.) The gospel message of salvation is not carried affirmatively to them... negroes are not equal with other races where the receipt of certain spiritual blessings are concerned, particularly the priesthood and the temple blessings that flow there from, but this inequality is not of man's origin. It is the Lord's doing, is based on his eternal laws of justice, and grows out of the lack of Spiritual valiance of those concerned in their first estate."

and from John Taylor in the Journal of Discourses, Volume 22, Page 304.

"And after the flood we are told that the curse that had been pronounced upon Cain was continued through Ham's wife, as he had married a wife of that seed. And why did it pass through the flood? Because it was necessary that the Devil should have a representation upon the earth as well as God..."

Nephi asked us, "How can the church claim these are just 'theories" when there are many quotes that verify that the church taught that black people are inferior, intermarrying is a sin and that the Curse of Cain was a sign of divine disfavor because of some sin commited in the preexistance?" 

Readers, the spirit told me exactly what I needed to say in this instance. "Nephi, have you ever heard the term 'speaking as a man'?"

"well, yeah" he answered. 

Brother Young continued, "These quotes were stated before the Lord revealed greater light and knowledge to the prophets who rescind these theories. We know that they were not doctrine at all, but simply theories given by our prophets who were speaking as man." 

Nephi raised an eyebrow, "But who could it not be doctrine when it is also in our sacred scriptures?" We then got our well used quad out and looked up scriptures. 

Moses 7:22 reads: they were a mixture of all the seed of Adam save it was the seed of Cain, for the seed of Cain were black, and had not place among them.

Moses 7:8 reads: there was a blackness came upon all the children of Canaan, that they were despised among all people . .

Alma 3:6 And the skins of the Lamanites were dark, according to the mark which was set upon their fathers, which was a curse upon them because of their transgression and their rebellion against their brethren, who consisted of Nephi, Jacob and Joseph, and Sam, who were just and holy men.

I looked at Nephi and said, "Apparently, Alma and Moses were speaking as men, as well. Our church doctrine clearly states what the inspired essay says. We are not racist, and were never racist. We disavow any racism, no matter where it comes from. The important thing that we need to focus on is that the church is true, not some flecks of history that are behind us." 

Nephi was quite for a minute, then decided it was time to leave. I know the spirit helped us reslove his concerns and that he was touched by our words. 

Stick on Tattoos - Let us fight against evil

I was shocked and horrified when my dear granddaughter, Michelle, came over to my house. She had a "stick on tattoo" attached to her hand.
She, in her childlike manner, proudly asked, "Grandma! Do you like my tattoo?" Readers, it looked like this:

I didn't know what to say, but the spirit told me that I should have her wash the vile tattoo off. She asked "Why? I like it!" in which I responded, "Our dear prophets have cautioned against the very appearence of evil. Our prophets have counciled us against having tatoos. Now, dear, go into the bathroom and wash it off. You don't want to go against the prophets, remember the primary song, Follow the Prophet?" She replied yes, she did remember singing that song and went and washed it off.

Let me quote our dear President Hinkley in is talk, Great Shall Be the Piece of the Children
"Now comes the craze of tattooing one’s body. I cannot understand why any young man—or young woman, for that matter—would wish to undergo the painful process of disfiguring the skin with various multicolored representations of people, animals, and various symbols. With tattoos, the process is permanent, unless there is another painful and costly undertaking to remove it. Fathers, caution your sons against having their bodies tattooed. They may resist your talk now, but the time will come when they will thank you. A tattoo is graffiti on the temple of the body."

Like Hinkley, I cannot understand how anyone can tattoo the temple that God gave them, namely, their body. Do we adorn our actual Temples with such pictures and decorations? No, we do not. This is why we can not do so with our bodies. If President Hinkley cannot understand it, that is a good enough for me. We should not engage in anything that the brethern do not understand. My daughter and granddaughter will thank me one day. My daughter, when she came to pick up Michelle, told me that as her mother she decides rather or not Michelle get to have such a thing, and that she felt it was innocent and fine, and to please not go against her wishes in this matter.

I know that now my daughter resists my talk and actions, but I pray that one day she will appreciate my teaching dear Michelle gospel principles, like our dear President Hinkley proclaimed. 

We Thank Thee, Oh God, For a Profit

I came accross this parody of "We Thee, Oh God, For A Prophet". Who ever wrote it is definitely in Satan's, the great deciever's, clutches. They seem to think it is timely, due to tomorrow's court decision.


                       We thank thee, oh God, for a Profit
                      To defraud us in these Latter Days
                      We thank thee for spinning the Gospel
                       to confuse our minds every day
                      Will we be Gods, or won't we?
                      I've been promised my own planet
                       Tithing is now optional,
                       but it used to be commandment


                        We sure love you, Tommy Monson
                          Who else speaks in triplicate?
                          We thank thee for all the platitudes
                           Without you, what would widows do?
                            We want our money back
                          we gave in days gone past
                              We feel it was put to bad use
                             And now, everyone, Let's Go Shop!

The Ordain Women Movement: An Abomination

It is with heavy heart that I broach this subject. I thought I was done blogging for today, when the spirit whispered to me that there is no better time than today to talk about this great, pressing issue. Today, this article, LDS Church: Aims of "Ordain Women" Detract from Dialogue came to my attention.

Women of the church, may I inform you that there never is, or was, a reason for you to request equal rights. As Elaine S. Dalton put it so eloquently, "Young women you will be the ones who will provide the example of virtuous womanhood and motherhood. You will continue to be virtuous lovely praiseworthy and of good report. You will also be the ones to provide an example of family life in a time when families are under attack, being redefined and disintegrating. You will understand your roles and your responsibilities and thus will see no need to lobby for rights." You can read the inspired talk at Prophetic Priorities and Dedicated Disciples.

To the women who are wanting to get in the the Priesthood Session this coming April, please, I implore you. Your actions take away from the spirit of the meeting. The Holy Ghost cannot, and will not, be present when such willful disobedience to God's will is in the area. Your standing in line quietly, wanting to get in to the meeting with your husband, detracts from the peaceful atmosphere of the Temple Square area and the Lord's most sacred nearby Mall.  Please, repent and reconsider your actions.

Kate Kelly's quotes in the article are especially distressing. the article states:

"Kelly said the group doesn't feel like it belongs in the free-speech zones, provided by the city for protestors who demonstrate during the church's semiannual general conferences in April and October.We feel as faithful, active Mormon women we have nothing in common with people who oppose the church and want to protest against it," she said. "The church is its members. We aren't against the church, we are the church."

The Lord doesn't bow down to pressure from the public, just like he did not bend with the Manifesto that put a ban on polygamy in 1890 and the 1978 lift of the ban of men of African decent not having the Priesthood. Kate, may I ask you a couple of questions then? Does God run His church? Does Thomas Monson serve as His spokesperson on Earth at this very moment? What has President Monson in his official capacity as Prophet said about this issue? If you can't anwswer with a resounding "YES!" to these questions, you are not a member in good standing, but a vexatious protester who needs to be moved to the outer limits of Temple Square were protesters meet. Kate, let me answer these questions for you.

(1)Does God run His church?

Yes. Would you all get you Quad out and turn to Isaiah 55:8-9? It reads

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

It is specifically saying that God's thoughts on ordaining women are much higher that yours. His timing was perfect on all the other revelations. God knew Utah needed to be a state, so he timed the Manifesto against polygamy just in time! It wasn't racism that kept the blacks from having the priesthood, it was God's will.  In 1978, around twenty years after the civil rights movement began, God decided it was okay to grant men of African decent the priesthood. It was through revelation, not external pressure to "get with the times", that changed this. It will be the same thing with ordaining women. Gordon B. Hinckley stated of this important revealation, that they just prayed about it and felt good. But enough about that. It is behind us. I don't wish to think more about small, insignificant fleks of history. Read about it here: Priesthood Revelation.

When God wants Women ordained, or treated equally, don't you think that he will tell the prophet as soon as possible?  

(2) Does Thomas S Monson serve as His spokeperson on Earth at this very moment?

Yes, he does. I hear that every time I listen to General Conferance, and the prophets and apostles cannon lead us astray, because they told me so. Also, I had a burning in my bosom last time a was at the Conference Center when Thomas S. Monson came in. I have a hard time telling this type of feeling from simple indigestion, in which I take a rol-aid, or from my own emotions. However, I testify unto you that this time, it wasn't indigestion!  I truely felt he was a living, breathing, Prophet!

(3) What has President Monson, in his official capacity said about this issue?

Hmmm. I don't know. I can't remember him ever addressing such an issue. Could you look into that for me?

In conclusion, women should be happy that their divine calling is to be a wife or mother and homemaker, even if they chose not to marry or have children, are gay or simply haven't found a man to marry or are infertile. A man's divine calling is to hold the holy mantle of the priesthood and to provide for the babies his wife pops out.

I leave you with these words:

It is an abomination in God's sight for a woman to conduct sacrament meeting. Her role is to make sure the kids don't try to go up to the stand.

It is not a women's role to break and pass the bread and water of the holy sacrament. Her role is to pass it down the isle and make sure the next person gets it.

It is not right for a woman to collect fast offerings. Her role is to drive her 12 year old son to do the job, but God would be displeased if she went up to the door.

It is not right for a woman to lay her hands on her sick child. It is her role to call the bishop or home teachers to come over a 2 AM to help give the baby a blessing.

Please, be okay with your God given role as a woman. I have a testimony of it because the brethern have told me so many times. They cannot lead me astray!