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Mormon History and Common Criticisms

A starting point for exploring the history, texts, controversies, and major criticisms covered by Lucifer's Lantern.

History of Mormonism Major events, claimed revelations, institutional changes, and controversies from 1820-2026. Read the History →
Common Criticisms
The Book of Mormon Read → The Book of Abraham Read → The Book of Moses Read → The Old Testament Read → The New Testament Read →

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Complete historical works and primary-source collections, formatted for direct reading on Lucifer's Lantern.

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Complete 1830 Text The Book of Mormon First Edition · 1830 Read the wording and structure of the first published edition. Open full text → Complete Historical Text View of the Hebrews Ethan Smith · 1823 Read the first edition of a work frequently discussed in Book of Mormon studies. Open full text → Complete Letter Collection Ezra Booth Letters Ezra Booth · 1831 Read all nine letters as they appeared during the church's earliest years. Open full text → Complete Historical Text Delusions Alexander Campbell · 1832 Read one of the earliest extended published criticisms of the Book of Mormon. Open full text →

If Mormon Leaders Know the Church Is False, Why Do They Stay?

A recent r/exmormon post asked a question that comes up often in discussions of Mormonism: if senior leaders know about the historical problems surrounding Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon, polygamy, translation, and other controversial subjects, why would they spend the rest of their lives defending the Church? [1] If these leaders know the Church is false, why would they dedicate their entire finite lives to it? by u/ImportantPerformer16 in exmormon The question is valid because the men at the top of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are not generally isolated from the institution they lead. Apostles serve full-time for the remainder of their lives, and the Church describes the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve as prophets, seers, revelators, and the body authorized to declare doctrine and establish policy. [2] But the question contains an assumption that should be separated from the evidence. We have good reason to believe senior leaders know that many ...
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The Church is Changing the Sunday Schedule... Again

On September 6, 2026, Latter-day Saints will arrive at church to find the second hour rearranged. Sacrament meeting will remain no longer than 60 minutes. Adults and youth will then attend 25 minutes of Sunday School every week, followed by 25 minutes of Relief Society, elders quorum, Young Women, or Aaronic Priesthood quorum instruction. Primary will meet for 55 minutes. The alternating schedule introduced with two-hour church in 2019 will be gone.¹ The First Presidency's March announcement put the change plainly: In the new schedule, sacrament meeting will continue to be no longer than 60 minutes. After a 5‑minute transition, youth and adults will attend a 25‑minute Sunday School class each week. Following another 5‑minute transition, they will attend a 25‑minute priesthood quorum, Relief Society, or Young Women meeting. Primary will continue to meet weekly and will now last 55 minutes.¹ The schedule is a modest administrative revision. The institution capable of making it, thoug...
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What is the Book of Joseph?

The Book of Joseph is one of Joseph Smith’s least-known translation projects. In 1835, soon after Egyptian papyri arrived in Kirtland, his associates began saying that part of the collection contained writings of Joseph of Egypt.[2][3] The record was described, shown to visitors, and expected to be translated and published, but no existing Book of Joseph is known to survive.[8] “Book of Joseph” is a useful modern label, but the nineteenth-century sources used several names.[8] They referred to the “writings of Joseph,” the “record of Joseph,” a “History of Joseph in Egypt,” and, in Oliver Cowdery’s words, “Joseph’s record.”[2][6] The claim appears in Kirtland sources from 1835 and in later accounts by people who saw the papyri.[5][8] Cowdery also tied “Joseph’s record” to particular Egyptian images that can still be examined today.[6][11] 1835: A second biblical record appears in Kirtland Michael Chandler brought four Egyptian mummies and papyri to Kirtland, Ohio, in late June or earl...
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What "Mormonism Explained" Had to say about Torn

Mormonism Explained recently published a response to Jeff Strong’s 2026 book Torn: Why People We Love Are Leaving the Church and What We Can Learn From Them.  (affiliate link) The response argues that Strong’s description of Latter-day Saint “spiritual starvation” should show up in measurable outcomes if it is true. It points to ten studies involving religious attendance, happiness, parental love, longevity, education, and meaning in life, then concludes that the data show the opposite of Strong’s diagnosis. [1] Many of the underlying findings are real. Pew does find unusually high attendance among people who currently identify as Latter-day Saints. A University of Chicago study using smartphone location data finds unusually frequent attendance among people observed visiting Latter-day Saint meetinghouses. A long-running California study found very low mortality among highly active Latter-day Saints. [2] [5] [6] But those findings do not answer the same question as religious disaf...
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Mormon Blood and the Esther Cohen-Tizer-Epstein Letter

With the recent release of nearly 3.5 million pages of the Epstein files, there have been several connections made regarding Jeffery Epstein paying tuition for several students at BYU. The most notable of which is presented in what is known as the Esther Cohen-Tizer-Epstien Letter.    Some are questioning the authenticity of the letter, but some clues seem to point us to a woman named   Esther Cohen .  Lets look at a few connections. Note that these connections are not an attempt at making any accusations and are simply connections made through publicly available information. I will be updating this page as I find more information. EFTA00129111  Reference to the Seven Bowls School of Nutrition From Esther's website: alchemyofnourishment.com (Update March 04, 2026: The site seems to have been taken down) She began studying nutrition as a teenager: Which also seems to align with her site. Alchemy of Nourishment Along with the claim of residing in Colorado Alc...
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Arizona Supreme Court Ruling on Child Abuse Reporting

  On July 30, 2026, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled that two bishops of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were not legally required to report a member’s admissions of child sexual abuse. [1] The ruling did not dispute that the bishops knew about the abuse. It did not dispute that no report was made. It also did not dispute that the abuse continued for years before law enforcement began investigating a video that the abuser had posted online. [1] [3] Instead, the court focused on a narrower legal question: Was it legally acceptable for the two bishops NOT to report the abuse? What the LDS Bishops Knew Around 2011, Paul Adams privately told Bishop John Herrod of the Bisbee Ward in Arizona that he had sexually abused one of his children. Herrod then arranged another meeting with Adams and his wife, Leizza, during which Adams repeated the disclosure. [1] [3] When Robert “Kim” Mauzy replaced Herrod as bishop in 2012, Herrod told him about the abuse. Mauzy convened a for...
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The "Mormon" Trademark is About to Expire

 The request for Mormon Stories to rebrand has spread quickly through Mormon spaces. Followers learned that om November 14th 2025, the LDS Church had reached out with claims that the podcast was infringing on the “Mormon” trademark. The demand leaned on the legal idea that the Church owns the word.  The request was shared on social media by @mormstories, but those posts seem to have been removed. Fortunately, copies of the email were  shared on reddit. But there is a significant detail sitting behind this entire dispute. The Church will have to renew the "Mormon" trademark in the 2026 to 2027 window.  Source: USPTO database When that time comes, they must prove that they still use the word “Mormon” in active commerce. USPTO rules are clear on this point. A trademark only survives if the owner can show that it is still printed on actual goods or services that are still being sold or distributed. The official guidelines spell it out at uspto.gov under “ Keeping your r...
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Candon Dahle to Marry After Child Abuse Conviction

Former BYU baseball player Candon Dahle is expected to marry this week, less than a year after receiving a plea deal that allowed him to avoid sex offender registration despite admitting guilt to two felony counts involving the abuse of a child. News of the wedding has reignited criticism online, where many argue Dahle's return to ordinary life has come far too quickly in light of the allegations against him.  The topic was recently discussed on Instagram by  @justinthenickofcrime View this post on Instagram A post shared by Justin (@justinthenickofcrime) Dahle first made headlines in February 2025 when he was charged in Fremont County, Idaho, with felony lewd conduct with a child under the age of 16. According to the probable cause affidavit summarized by East Idaho News , prosecutors alleged Dahle sexually abused an 11-year-old girl and covered her mouth during one of the assaults. Authorities also filed a separate juvenile case in neighboring Bing...
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How the Book of Mormon Has Changed Since 1830

     Discussion of changes to the Book of Mormon often settles into two opposing claims: either the book has remained essentially unchanged since 1830, or later editors rewrote it beyond recognition. The reality is that both positions carry a bit of truth. Although the main narrative remains recognizable, the book has changed in several distinct ways. Its wording and grammar were revised in the early editions.⁶ , ⁷ The chapter and verse system was reorganized in 1879, while chapter summaries were added in 1920.¹⁹ Those summaries and other study aids were revised again in 2013 and 2025.²⁰ , ²¹ Following these changes in chronological order makes their differences easier to see. The history begins with dictation in 1829 and continues through the original and printer’s manuscripts, the 1830 printing, Joseph Smith’s revisions, and the later editorial committees that produced the modern edition. Tracing that sequence also makes it possible to distinguish changes to the script...
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Are You Temple Worthy?

Temple worthiness isn’t just about "good behavior" in Mormon teaching. It’s a gate that determines who qualifies for the highest blessings the religion offers. The church teaches that only people judged worthy can enter the temple, make covenants, and receive the ordinances that lead to exaltation, which is the belief that humans can become like God and live forever with their families in the celestial kingdom.  This makes worthiness interviews a spiritual checkpoint that can shape someone’s identity, their standing in the community, and even their hope for eternity.    Are You Worthy to Enter a Mormon Temple? Are You Worthy of the Mormon Temple? Yes No Restart Enter the Temple
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A Bit of Original Evidence

In May 1900, Theodore A. Schroeder published an article titled A Bit of Original Evidence  in issue no. 9 of Lucifer’s Lantern . [1] The piece reproduces part of an 1887 letter apparently written by Mississippi attorney E. E. Baldwin to W. O. Norrell of Salt Lake City. [1] [2] Baldwin attributed the story to his uncle by marriage, James G. Horton, who allegedly said that Joseph Smith and several companions staged the discovery of the Book of Mormon plates as a practical joke and used a Bible-shaped box packed with sand. [1] Other accounts conflict with the claim that the box contained only sand. William Smith stated that members of the Smith family felt the plates through the cloth covering them and could distinguish their individual leaves. Martin Harris reported that Alvah Beman heard a metallic sound when the plates were placed inside the box. Those who said they lifted the covered object also estimated that it weighed between forty and sixty pounds, which would be difficult ...
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Why is God so Hard to Find?

Christianity does not just claim that a god exists somewhere beyond the universe. It describes a God who knows us, loves us, wants to be known, and invites us into a relationship. Jesus tells people to ask, seek, and knock. James says that those who draw near to God will find God drawing near to them. Yet many people sincerely search and find no clear response. They pray, study scripture, attend church, and ask for guidance. Some spend years trying to hold on to a faith they do not want to lose. Still, what they were taught to recognize as God never becomes clearly distinguishable from their own thoughts, emotions, hopes, or coincidences. This is the problem of divine hiddenness: If a perfectly loving God wants a relationship with people, why do sincere and willing people so often fail to find him? [1][2] What Christianity Says God Wants The argument starts with Christianity’s own claims, not with an atheist demanding constant miracles. The Bible repeatedly says that God wants to be kn...
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What Would It Take to Show Christianity Is False?

If Christianity's central claims are correct, then the universe has a creator who became incarnate in Jesus of Nazareth, died for the sins of the world, rose bodily from the dead, and continues to offer eternal life to those who trust in him. If these claims are true, they deserve not merely admiration but allegiance. They would represent the defining events of human history. If they are false, however, the implications are equally profound. Christianity has shaped civilizations, inspired art, influenced governments, comforted the dying, motivated charity, justified wars, and guided the lives of billions of people. A religion with that kind of influence should not simply be accepted because it is ancient or widely believed. It should be examined with the same seriousness its claims demand. C. S. Lewis understood this point perhaps better than anyone. Although remembered as one of Christianity's most influential defenders, he famously observed in God in the Dock: Essays on Theol...
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[Satire] Mormon Church Announces Grand Prismatic Temple in Yellowstone National Park

 SALT LAKE CITY. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced plans today to construct the Grand Prismatic Temple near Yellowstone National Park's Grand Prismatic Spring. The temple will serve members throughout the Greater Yellowstone region while providing worthy visitors with an opportunity to worship in one of the world's most recognizable natural settings. Church President Dallin H. Oaks announced the temple during a special localized broadcast, describing it as "another house of the Lord built to bless God's children and stand as a witness of Jesus Christ." According to the Church, the temple will be positioned directly beyond the Grand Prismatic Spring, allowing the building to be visible from much of the existing boardwalk and observation areas. Officials said the location was selected following years of planning, prayer, environmental study, and consultation with local Church leaders. The proposed site is located on federally protected land t...
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