Lucifer's Lantern

SALT LAKE CITY — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has formally entered into an exclusive partnership with Windsor Kärcher Group, designating the Windsor Versamatic as the official vacuum cleaner for all Church facilities, including chapels, temples, and administrative buildings. “For decades, the Windsor Versamatic has been trusted by ward volunteers,” said Elder Craig L. Nielsen of the Church Facilities Department. “This decision reflects our commitment to maintaining a clean and reverent environment in every building where members gather.” The Windsor Versamatic, known for its commercial-grade performance and exceptional durability, is a dual-motor upright vacuum available in 14-inch and 18-inch models. It features a 1.6 HP vacuum motor and a separate 1.1 HP brush motor, allowing simultaneous suction and agitation for deep cleaning across high-traffic carpeted areas. The machine includes a three-stage filtration system, including a top-fill filter bag, moto...

PROVO, UT — After officially resigning from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, local resident Jared Simmons expected a significant shift in his relationships. Instead, he was surprised to find that most of his friends seemed largely indifferent to the news. Simmons, 32, had spent months mentally preparing for the fallout. “I assumed there would be some tough conversations, maybe even a few strained relationships,” he said. “I was prepared to lose some friends over this.” However, the reaction was far more muted than expected. When he told his close friend Josh about his decision, the response was underwhelming. “He just said, ‘Oh, okay,’ and moved on,” Simmons said. “I thought he’d want to know more, or at least ask why.” Simmons shared similar experiences with other friends. “I told a friend I’d officially left the Church, and she just said, ‘That makes sense,’ and kept talking about her weekend plans,” he said. “It felt like they barely registered what I was...

SALT LAKE CITY — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced a partnership with La-Z-Boy to provide more comfortable seating in Relief Society rooms, aiming to create a more welcoming and supportive environment for women’s meetings. “For years, we've heard from members that the seating in Relief Society rooms was uncomfortable and distracting,” said Elder Craig L. Nielsen of the Church’s Facilities Department. “We recognize the important role that Relief Society plays in the spiritual and social lives of our members, and we want to ensure that these meetings are as comfortable and inviting as possible.” The new seating will feature padded cushions with durable, stain-resistant fabric and ergonomic back support. Each chair will also have a slight reclining function to provide additional comfort during longer lessons and discussions. The fabric will be selected in soft, neutral tones to match the existing décor in Church buildings. “This upgrade reflects...

In a notable approach to celebrating the 183rd anniversary of the Relief Society (the womens organization of the LDS church), the recent worldwide devotional prominently featured Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as the central speaker. The Relief Society General Presidency- President Camille N. Johnson, Sister J. Anette Dennis, and Sister Kristin M. Yee also contributed messages during the event.

SALT LAKE CITY — Scholars have discovered the long-lost Book of Joseph , a sacred text Joseph Smith claimed to translate from Egyptian papyri that he acquired in 1835. Thought lost after Smith’s death, the manuscript was recently found in a private collection in New York City and authenticated by experts. But the contents have left many raising their eyebrows — because it’s basically one long prophecy about Joseph Smith himself. Vignette described in 1835 by Oliver Cowdery as coming from the Book of Joseph, allegedly depicting Eve's temptation by the serpent The Book of Joseph expands on the biblical story of Joseph of Egypt, describing his rise to power, prophetic dreams, and visions of Moses and the coming Messiah. But much of the text focuses on a future seer named Joseph who would "restore the fullness of truth" and "translate records from the dust." Dr. Andrew Marshall, professor of religious history at BYU, said, "It’s remarkab...

  President Nelson Clarifies Statement on Jesus Being "Central" to the Church — "We Meant More Like a Supporting Role." Lucifer's Lantern, March 24, 2025 SALT LAKE CITY — President Russell M. Nelson recently clarified that while Jesus Christ is important, the true focus of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints remains on following the prophet. In a statement released after growing speculation about the church’s evolving emphasis on prophetic authority, Nelson explained that Jesus Christ plays a role in the church’s doctrine, but the day-to-day leadership and guidance of the church comes through modern prophets. This view aligns with long-standing church doctrine that places continuing revelation through modern prophets at the core of church governance and spiritual life. The prophet is seen as the Lord’s mouthpiece, and members are taught that sustaining the prophet and following his counsel is the surest way to align with God’s will. Church historian ...

In response to my thoughts regarding the 2013 study on the LDS Faith Crisis , I had someone suggest that I read a talk by Lawrence E Corbridge. After a quick Google search, I found the talk they were referring to and wanted to share some thoughts on it. Here is the relevent exerpt from Corbridge's 2022 BYU devotional: ---------- Primary Questions and Secondary Questions: Begin by answering the primary questions. There are primary questions and there are secondary questions. Answer the primary questions first. Not all questions are equal and not all truths are equal. The primary questions are the most important. Everything else is subordinate. There are only a few primary questions. I will mention four of them. 1. Is there a God who is our Father? 2. Is Jesus Christ the Son of God, the Savior of the world? 3. Was Joseph Smith a prophet? 4. Is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints the kingdom of God on the earth? By contrast, the secondary questions are unending...

What causes someone to lose their faith in the Mormon Church? This question lies at the heart of several significant reports and presentations that have been made public over the years. Among them is a confidential 2013 document prepared for President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, which compiles findings from a two-year study conducted by unpaid scholars, strategists, and volunteers. This report, alongside other related materials, sheds light on the complex factors driving faith crises within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Although these documents were never intended for public disclosure, they have circulated online and provide a compelling glimpse into the challenges facing the Church. Reports and Chronicles on LDS Faith Crises Greg Prince, John Dehlin, and Travis Stratford, members of the team that spearheaded the 2013 report  have permitted the release of several key documents that contextualize the faith crisis phenomenon. These include: Initial Report: Understanding ...

     This is going to be a quick post. I haven't been able to find any major parallels in the first two paragraphs that I share below regarding Sarah's interactions with Lehi. I know I found something before but can't for the life of me remember what it was.       But, for the integrity of this project and my desire to not exclude even a single line of text from the Book of Mormon, I'll just include the text here and come back with any updates as I figure it out.  ~~~~~The Book of Mormon~~~~~     "And it came to pass after we had came down into the wilderness unto our father, behold he was filled with joy, and also my mother, Sariah, was exceeding glad, for she truly had mourned because of us; for she had supposed that we had perished in the wilderness; and she also had complained against my father, telling him that he was a visionary man; saying, behold thou hast led us forth from the land of our inheritance, and my sons are no mor...

It's been a few weeks since my last post, and I apologize. Life got crazy for a minute there and I had to put this project on the back burner. Let's just jump right back in to where we were. Nephi had just killed Laban and is about to attempt to finally retrieve the plates. We are going to focus this post on Zoram, the servant of Laban.  The Book of Mormon, pg 13 ~~~~~The Book of Mormon~~~~~ "And again -- I knew that the Lord had delivered Laban into my hands, for this cause: that I might obtain the records according to his commandments. Therefore I did obey the voice of the spirit, and took Laban by the hair of the head, and I smote off his head with his own sword." "And after that I had smitten off his head with his own sword, I took the garments of Laban and put them upon mine own body; yea, even every whit; and I did gird on his armour about my loins. " (pg 13) ~~~~~~~~~~ This type of language sorrounding 'girding' the armor is found several tim...