Prophets, apostles and the church claiming to represent God should be held to a higher standard than normal organizations and individuals. This is a compilation of primary church sources from church leadership that were created in my lifetime that I disagree with and some brief commentary on why I disagree. Emphasis is added by myself.
I will update this post with quotes and sources in the future.
I want it to be clear that I actively support views shared by church leadership on Christian values such as advice to be kind to others, trying to be more like Jesus Christ, etc.
Openly criticizing leadership is apostasy: “Repeatedly acting in clear and deliberate public opposition to the Church, its doctrine, its policies, or its leaders”
Whether or not my concerns are valid, this opinionated post is considered apostasy.
An example of valid concerns leading to excommunication is Bill Reel’s story: excommunication of Bill Reel
In 2019, the church revoked the policy.
“… we are confronted by a culture of evil and personal wickedness in the world. This includes … The increasing frequency and power of the culture and phenomenon of lesbian, gay, and transgender lifestyles and values … [and] a culture that focuses on individual rights and desires rather than the responsibilities and cooperative efforts that have built our societies.”
- Dallin H. Oaks, 2019 BYU Hawaii devotional
“Lazy learners and lax disciples will always struggle to muster even a particle of faith.”
“If you have doubts about God the Father and His Beloved Son or the validity of the Restoration or the veracity of Joseph Smith’s divine calling as a prophet, choose to believe and stay faithful. Take your questions to the Lord and to other faithful sources.”
The church has demonstrated no interest in supporting those with doubtful perspectives. Meaning, if you take Nelson’s advice the only resource you have is God or take the course of silencing your complaints. A contemporary example is the Hamakers’ recent experience with their local leadership and the impending church discipline they avoided: Popular Mormon podcasters resign from LDS church, a step ahead of excommunication
- Russell M. Nelson, Apr. 2021 General Conference
“When someone you love attacks truth, think celestial, and don’t question your testimony.”
“Never take counsel from those who do not believe.”
This seems a direct contradiction to Nelson’s talk 6 months earlier: “I am greatly concerned that so many people seem to believe that it is completely acceptable to condemn, malign, and vilify anyone who does not agree with them.”
“Paying tithing requires faith, and it also builds faith in God and His Beloved Son.”
See my outline of the church’s tax fraud for context as to why tithing bothers me: Example 1: tax fraud
- Russell M. Nelson, Oct. 2023 General Conference
“All Church funds exist for no other reason than to support the Church’s divinely appointed mission. … The Church complies with all applicable law governing our donations, investments, taxes, and reserves.”
- 2019 First Presidency Statement on Church Finances
Money issues:
- At the time of writing, the church is the wealthiest church on the planet
- 2024 wealth estimate
- 2023 the church knowingly committed tax fraud
- The church threatens to sue Fairview, TX over temple height
- No transparency report on funds
- Members have no control over how their donations are used, according to the Church’s official tithing slip at the time of writing: “All donations to the Church are free-will offerings and become the Church’s property. In furtherance of its overall mission, the Church may shift donations from any designated use to other uses, at its sole discretion.”
Below content was added on April 5th, 2025
“And young women, please understand that if you dress immodestly, you are magnifying this problem by becoming pornography to some of the men who see you.”
Just learned about the church’s Instute Manual on Eternal Marriage: Eternal Marriage Student Manual
Almost each section I looked at on controversial topics had points I disagreed with. It’s sexist, dated and it is very clear women are treated as objects for men. Some of these quotes are from content before my time, but I am highlighting them as they are in the current Institute manual on Eternal Marriage.
Here are some highlights:
“To you wives who are constantly complaining and see only the dark side of life, and feel that you are unloved and unwanted, look into your own hearts and minds. If there is something wrong, turn about. Put a smile on your faces. Make yourselves attractive. Brighten your outlook. You deny yourselves happiness and court misery if you constantly complain and do nothing to rectify your own faults. Rise above the shrill clamor over rights and prerogatives, and walk in the quiet dignity of a daughter of God.”
“People inquire about our position on those who consider themselves so-called gays and lesbians. My response is that we love them as sons and daughters of God. They may have certain inclinations which are powerful and which may be difficult to control. Most people have inclinations of one kind or another at various times. If they do not act upon these inclinations, then they can go forward as do all other members of the Church.”
“Our eternal perspective sets us against changes that alter those separate duties and privileges of men and women that are essential to accomplish the great plan of happiness.”
“The Lord never sends apostles and prophets and righteous men to minister to his people without placing women of like spiritual stature at their sides.”
Now that I have a more outside-looking-in perspective, it’s really odd to me that the church thinks it should weigh in on what happens in the bedroom or how women’s decisions with their bodies:
Related, today was the first day of April 2025 general conference and Neal Anderson gave a very pro-life talk on abortion.
An archived version of this manual at the time of writing can be found here: archive.org: Eternal Marriage Student Manual