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Items by Chino Blanco

Main Street Plaza

Announcing r/exSistersinZion

Posted: September 3rd, 2010, 12:54pm EDT by Chino Blanco

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Welcome!

Reddit Sisters Are Doin’ It For Themselves.

Good grief, Dave Stewart is a dork.
Hi, my name is Nagla, and I’m a Muslim

Posted: September 2nd, 2010, 11:58pm EDT by Chino Blanco

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Nagla and her crew obviously shot this on a slightly tighter budget than what Josh and Aron had to work with. Not that I begrudge our dueling skateboarders the benefit of the best production values that Mormon and Scientologist money can buy (Josh and Aron deserve no less, considering that they’ve both probably already paid out much more to their respective religions than what the ads cost).

But enough of that, here’s Nagla (you’ll probably need to crank up the sound to hear her clearly):

And if you enjoyed that, please consider subscribing to this “My Faith My Voice” YouTube channel (and leaving a positive comment for Nagla and MFMV over there).

Otherwise, please take a moment to compare and contrast the new Mormon.org and MyFaithMyVoice.com websites and let’s discuss similarities/disparities and the PR challenges facing both Mormonism and Islam.

By the way, this post is dedicated to Mitt Romney and Harry Reid, two LDS politicians too craven to deserve the support of their fellow Mormons or any American.

NY Times: The Caucus: In Ad, American Muslims Seek Calmer Message
Wonkette: Snark: How far we’ve fallen since those “I’d like to buy the world a Coke” ads

UPDATE: After a little more googling, I see that the campaign involves not only personal YouTube statements, but a series of TV PSAs produced by CAIR. Here’s one of the three currently available at CAIRtv:

If the YouTube viewcount is correct, the PSAs from the air campaign have so far attracted little online attention.

P.S. As an aside, Mormons, Muslims and Jews represent roughly equivalent percentages of the US population, and I’m thinking that maybe I’d like to start thinking about the various Mormon-Muslim and Mormon-Jewish dialogues that are happening, even if mostly under the radar (except where this issue is involved).
I don’t care if you’re Mormon, Scilon or Marian … You skateboarders are *all* the same.

Posted: August 29th, 2010, 6:45am EDT by Chino Blanco

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h/t exmormon.reddit.com and lds.org.

Hi, I’m Aron and I’m *not* a Crip.

And I’m Josh, but as I explain in my clip (watch and wait for it), I’m definitely *not* a Scientologist.

Whatever, Josh and Aron. Check this out. I’m the coolest Franciscan on the planet.

Or at least, I’m not *this* fellow priest (NSFW).

Trifecta. Pax et bonum.
Send the gay agenda to the back of the class with these great Christian back-to-school tips!

Posted: August 27th, 2010, 2:56am EDT by Chino Blanco

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I know, we’re supposed to be talking about Mormonism here at Main Street Plaza. Thing is, I happened to notice this tweet from a young Christian street preacher who’s been complaining that he might have to move his Free Speech to a different spot in Manti at the next Mormon Miracle Pageant:

“No gay jokes … the more we laugh at sin the more it gets normalized.”
– Aaron Shafovaloff

Which got me to thinking, does that mean – if I laugh at the Christians in this video – that I’m helping them appear to be normal?

This is me trying not to laugh.

It’s not easy.

Especially when I see anti-gay Christians like Aaron claiming to agree with a sentiment expressed here at Main Street Plaza, that we “would do well to respect the needs of the minority.”

Guffaw.
Another Main Street Plaza? ACLU weighs in on proposed sale of Manti street to LDS Church

Posted: August 25th, 2010, 8:29pm EDT by Chino Blanco

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Update: Latest reporting from The Salt Lake Tribune: Manti wants to sell street block to LDS Church

Lokai: LDS Church to Censor Christians by Buying Manti Road?

Bele: Anti-Mormons whine to the ACLU about sale of Manti city street to LDS.

Headlines, excerpts and random linkage:

ABC4: Manti could sell block of street to LDS Church

In a move that brings back memories of the battles over the Main Street Plaza in downtown Salt Lake, the Manti City Council is considering offering for sale a block of 1st East – and it appears the only interested party is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Deseret News: ACLU expresses concerns about possible sale of Manti street to Mormon Church

“Several years ago the city of Manti approached The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints about acquiring a parcel of land adjacent to the church’s Manti Temple,” spokesman Scott Trotter said in an e-mail Wednesday. “The property is now a dead-end road and no longer useful to the city. The church and city are currently in discussions to determine the viability of moving forward with a sale.”

FOX 13: ACLU cries foul on LDS Church proposed Manti Main Street purchase

The American Civil Liberties Union is raising concerns about the proposed sale of a portion of Manti’s Main Street to the LDS Church. The Manti City Council says it is considering selling a public street that bisects property already owned by the church. The ACLU says the street has historically been a thoroughfare used as a public forum for people of all religious persuasions — particularly during the annual week-long Mormon Miracle Pageant.

All religious persuasions? I’m going to go out on a limb here and suggest that, historically, it’s been a public forum for one persuasion in particular: Manti Pageant Evangelism 2010

Let the fundie hootin’ and hollerin’ begin: LDS Church to Censor Christians by Buying Manti Road

And finally, the text of the letter here (PDF) and blogger Aaron Shafovaloff’s commentary here.

h/t FOX13′s first-on-the-scene TV reporting and ACLU of Utah

P.S. Regarding the question that the title asks, I’d answer … No, this is not another Main Street Plaza. As far as I can tell, the LDS Church has every right to buy, and it’s down to whether or not the Manti City Council ought to sell. If local residents are in favor, I don’t see any reason why the council shouldn’t.
Deseret News introduces Editorial Advisory Board

Posted: August 24th, 2010, 10:08am EDT by Chino Blanco

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Update: Jeremy over at Good As You has now filed his report on this news: Out and proud NOMmers eat away your rights, save room for ‘Deseret’

Rather than reading my random thoughts below, I’d suggest clicking over and reading Jeremy’s post.

For an LDS perspective, I’d suggest checking out this insider’s view of the new board:

The Editorial Advisory Board looks to me like the starting lineup of a Mormon Huffington Post. I have no idea if this will broaden the appeal of the paper outside of the Wasatch Front. Instead of producing news it looks like it is aimed at producing influence.

“… a Mormon Huffington Post.” That sounds about right.

I’ll clean the rest of this up later, cheers.

The new Deseret News board includes Robert P. George (chairman of the board of the National Organization for Marriage) and Matthew S. Holland (former NOM board member).

Maggie Gallagher, (former) NOM president:

“… there is no connection between NOM and the church except that a Mormon serves on NOM’s board.”

Nothing to see here.

Salt Lake Tribune: D-News assembles “thought leaders”
PRIDE In Utah: NOM Leader Named To DesNews Advisory Board

By the way, speaking of LDS media, I just noticed that Meridian Magazine got a facelift. Perhaps a preview of where DesNews is headed? From that SLTrib article linked to above:

The interesting thing to note here is that only four of the 13 ["thought leaders"] live in Utah, which solidifies the speculation that the Deseret News is slowly moving from being a Utah newspaper to a national LDS-centric paper/web entity.

Check out this June report over at Good As You for some background on these new board members and their ties to the Mormon leadership.
My Name is Chad Hardy, and I’m an ex Mormon

Posted: August 23rd, 2010, 6:39pm EDT by Chino Blanco

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Chad apparently heard about the contest we’re planning here at MSP.

Meanwhile, Holly Welker weighs in at The Huffington Post with her take on the Mormon PR campaign.
Hi, I’m Marishia

Posted: August 19th, 2010, 9:07am EDT by Chino Blanco

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In this post, we’re chatting with the author of a mormon.org profile that caught our attention.

Chino,

I’m sad for people like you because you deny the fullness of the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. You choose to put down others like myself who have finally found peace and acceptance with their homosexuality. Rather than be happy for the few of us who are free from depression and suicidal thoughts, you and your friends choose to tear us apart, falsely accuse us and condemn us without ever even talking to us or knowing us. You will never understand the amazing witness I received from the Holy Spirit, if you never accept the Savior and his true gospel fully. I never underwent any Church treatment. I am not involved with any PR for Mufi Hannemann. You and your friends are wrong on everything you have tried to accuse me of.

I hope and pray that you will receive the special witness like I did because then you’ll know for yourself what others like me are talking about.

God bless you Chino.

Aloha,
Marishia.
Hi, my name is Rock, and yep, I’m a Mormon

Posted: August 16th, 2010, 8:09pm EDT by Chino Blanco

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The first spoof of that Hi, I’m Josh, I am a follower of Jesus Christ so yep, I’m a Mormon ad:

Who knew so many Mormons were into parkour? Just like me! Awesome.

Judges, please turn in your score cards below.

And for those just tuning in, this national news report will bring you up-to-speed on the new Mormon ad campaign that’s sweeping the country (and spawning a torrent of parody YouTube clips):

And a random regional news report provides some local flavor. Apparently, in some places, the new Mormon normal is still a lot like the old Mormon normal (but now with motorcycles!):

So many Mormon bikers. Who knew?

Now if only the LDS could produce an ad with a Mormon cowboy.

I always wanted to be a cowboy.
Hi, my name is Robert, and I’m an ex-Mormon.

Posted: August 14th, 2010, 2:28am EDT by Chino Blanco

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You knew it was coming, and now it’s here’s: the first exmo response to the LDS mormon.org ad campaign.

“Hi, my name is Robert, and I’m an ex-Mormon.”

Domo arigato, Mister Ex-Mo-Roberto!
Mormonism: The HAL 9000 of revealed religion

Posted: August 13th, 2010, 10:09pm EDT by Chino Blanco

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HAL: “Let me put it this way, Mr. Amor. The 9000 series is the most reliable computer ever made. No 9000 computer has ever made a mistake or distorted information. We are all, by any practical definition of the words, foolproof and incapable of error.”

Of course, as HAL learns, the problem with making such bold claims is what necessarily follows once it’s been determined that you have, in fact, distorted information and provided wrong answers.

And after reading his follow-up post, I’m wondering how much longer before ~~Dave~~ Reuben pulls the plug?
Hi, I’m Sarah and I’m a Mormon.

Posted: August 11th, 2010, 6:27am EDT by Chino Blanco

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Please go show this brave gal some love by subscribing to her YouTube channel!

For folks who haven’t yet seen the recent Mormon TV ad campaign that Sarah’s clip is spoofing, check it out.
How many Mormons does it take to bless a baby?

Posted: August 9th, 2010, 1:32pm EDT by Chino Blanco

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Twenty Twenty-five Thirty Forty comments later …

Who knows?

Good grief.
You can have it all at a Mormon-owned Marriott Hotel!

Posted: August 9th, 2010, 7:43am EDT by Chino Blanco

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Yes, I’ve been inspired to talk about Marriott, again.

* recent amateur in-room photo courtesy mormonsexposed.com

Pounding the pulpit about porn with one fist while grabbing porn profits with the other?

It’s what happens when The Restoration meets Too Big To Fail.

Fave Mitt Romney quote:

“Pornography and violence poison our music and movies and TV and video games,” Romney said May 5 during a commencement address at Regent University, the evangelical Christian school run by Christian Coalition founder Pat Robertson.

“The Virginia Tech shooter, like the Columbine shooters before him, had drunk from this cesspool.”

Fave faithful Bloggernacler quote:

It is funny to think that the Church gets tithing funds paid for by porn.

Yeah, it’s a real sidesplitter that owning a stake in the cesspool is apparently A-OK as long as one doesn’t sample the product. Hardee har … ahem.

What’s It Like Being Mormon? It’s like never being able to confess publicly that you and your entire family, for generations, have been played for chumps by this crowd.

h/t Canadian Johnson
“And I’m a …”

Posted: August 4th, 2010, 9:16pm EDT by Chino Blanco

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Seen those new Mormon TV ads? Here’s my nominee for best of the bunch:

Runner-up:

Honorable mention:

Meanwhile, Reuben ponders the ad campaign (and waits patiently for his profile to post at mormon.org).

Of course, the best part of the “And I’m a …” schtick? It’s utterly parody-proof

P.S. A faithful Mormon weighs in with his criticism of this latest LDS advertising campaign:

I have to admit that I am sometimes tempted to disguise myself when trying to get what I want, whether by downplaying my Mormon-ness amongst the gentiles or by up-playing my rebelliousness amongst the Mormons. But the truth of the matter is that I’m not fooling anyone, any more than Pooh was able to fool the honeybees with his raincloud disguise. Hiding true intentions will not trick our opponents — political, religious or other — into letting us get our way, and it seems to me that attempts at subterfuge or misdirection have the potential to anger people more than honesty about our stated aims. Bears love honey, and the only reason Pooh is pretending to be a raincloud is to get that honey and eat it.

Advice that I suppose holds doubly true when you’re apparently pretending to be a Scientologist.

And check out the Bagley cartoon in the SHAFT post on this same topic. Too funny.
Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff calls on LDS HQ to take a position on US immigration policy

Posted: June 29th, 2010, 7:58am EDT by Chino Blanco

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No theocracy going on here …

Deseret News promptly weighs in with a response on Thomas S. Monson’s behalf.
Robert P. George’s stand-up comedy routine is beyond stale

Posted: June 25th, 2010, 9:12am EDT by Chino Blanco

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From the NOM chairman’s 2007 debut gig:

No doubt, it’s sure to get a chuckle from Mormons and Catholics … God’s on the line. Who’s He calling? Rome? Salt Lake City? Hilarity ensues.

Best.Joke.Ever. Just ask Matt Holland.

But I exaggerate.

Because it wasn’t until 2009 that Robby began deadpanning the funniest punchline of all time:

Public Discourse: What is the struggle over the legal recognition of same-sex unions a struggle about?

Robert P. George: It’s about sex.

Yes, Professor George, a former presidential appointee to the United States Commission on Civil Rights, a former member of the President’s Council on Bioethics, a former Judicial Fellow at the Supreme Court of the United States, and a current member of the Council on Foreign Relations, is on record opining that the struggle for marriage equality is all about S-E-X.

In his own words:

It’s about sex. Those seeking to redefine marriage began by insisting that what they were fundamentally interested in was gaining needed benefits for same-sex domestic partners. Legal recognition of same-sex partnerships was necessary, they said, so that partners could visit each other in hospitals, extend employer-provided health insurance and other benefits to each other, and so forth. Some people who said this were, I’m sure, being sincere. Most, however, were not telling the truth. Their goal was to win official approbation for sodomy and other forms of sexual conduct that historically have been condemned as immoral and discouraged or even banned as a matter of law and public policy. The clear evidence for this is the refusal of most same-sex “marriage” activists to accept civil unions and domestic partnership programs under which the benefits of marriage are extended, but which do not use the label “marriage” or (and this is very important) predicate these benefits on the existence or presumption of a sexual relationship between the partners. So, it is not really about benefits. It is about sex. The idea that is antithetical to those who are seeking to redefine marriage is that there is something uniquely good and morally upright about the chaste sexual union of husband and wife—something that is absent in sodomitical acts and in other forms sexual behavior that have been traditionally—and in my view correctly—regarded as intrinsically non-marital and, as such, immoral.

I know we’ve covered this ground over and over again in these parts, but Dr. George’s various suggestions in the above graf are so ridiculous that I think they warrant opening the floor for a fresh round of rebuttals and mockery.
Echols County, Georgia, 1884

Posted: June 25th, 2010, 1:36am EDT by Chino Blanco

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The court determines that Sam Echols is not a proper person to raise a child, owing to his opinions.
My great-great-grandfather determines that his zeal for the (Mormon) faith will be his best revenge.

And that’s the last mention of Samuel Echols in the pages of The New York Times.
But not the first.

The young Mr. Echols develops into a Mormon preacher and becomes a leading man among dupes from the South.
Georgia is called up to settle the issue as to whether belief in Mormonism is a stain on citizenship or not.

The feeling among the people is to treat Echols roughly if he should win the suit.

Mrs. Echols learns that Mormonism permits the practice of polygamy, refuses to follow her husband to Colorado, and does not see him again until his return to Georgia two years later.

One month later, as The New York Times will report, Samuel has met my great-great-grandmother and taken her to Salt Lake City to be “sealed unto him.”

“He does not practice polygamy.”
What I really miss about the Yes on 8 campaign is the great parties

Posted: June 22nd, 2010, 9:03pm EDT by Chino Blanco

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x-posted at Daily Kos

Bill Marriott & Mormon Elders Cook, Ballard and Wickman recently threw a party for NOM’s Robert P. George.

Be sure to hit this link and check out the VIPs at the Annual Canterbury Medal Dinner.

I’m sure plenty of folks here will recognize the various faces from NOM, the LDS church, and The Becket Fund among the photos at the above link. The first group got Prop 8 on the ballot, the second made sure it passed, and the third paid for that full-page NY Times “No Mob Veto” ad that ran as a show of support for the LDS church following Prop 8’s passage.

Kinda nifty how that all worked out and how these folks later found themselves all together at a Georgetown party handing out medals to each other.

Jeremy filed the first report on this soirée and has all the details. I just have one question left to ask: When do Bill Marriott and the LDS leadership intend to stop attending award ceremonies for anti-gay figures such as Orson Scott Card and Robert P. George?

And for your viewing pleasure, here’s an excerpt from NOM Chairman Robby George’s talk at BYU, titled “Utah will be whipped into line.” Enjoy:

October 28, 2008: Just as the nation could not endure half slave and half free but eventually had to go all one way or all the other, we will not be able to get by with a situation in which some couples are married in one state, not married when they move to or travel through the next, and married again when they reach a third. If same-sex marriage is legally recognized in a small number of states, it will spread throughout the nation, either through judicial action under the Constitution’s Full Faith and Credit Clause or by the working of informal cultural pressures. Some states – Utah would be one – may try to hold out, but sooner or later they will be whipped into line.

On the eve of the November 2008 ballot, the Mormon leadership filled an auditorium and broadcast Prof. Robert George of Princeton comparing the Prop 8 contest to the Civil War (!). One week later, the same Mormon leadership would begin issuing hypocritical, self-righteous, self-serving calls for Civil Discourse (!):

November 5, 2008: We hope that now and in the future all parties involved in this issue will be well informed and act in a spirit of mutual respect and civility toward those with a different position. No one on any side of the question should be vilified, intimidated, harassed or subject to erroneous information. —The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

And now, nearly two years later, that same Mormon leadership makes sure to thank Robby George for his uncivil Prop 8 help and hyperbole. (Note to self: Keep this 2009 interview with George close to hand)

Not nice. Especially you, Bill Marriott, after all your assurances that you had nothing to do with Prop 8. It’s only been two months since you went to that dinner honoring Orson Scott Card, you know, your fellow Mormon and NOM board member who said this:

“Laws against homosexual behavior should remain on the books … to be used when necessary to send a clear message that those who flagrantly violate society’s regulation of sexual behavior cannot be permitted to remain as acceptable, equal citizens.”

Fool me once, Bill.

As it turns out, the brother of one of the Mormon men photographed at this Georgetown party has written a letter to the LDS leaders deploring the treatment of his gay son at the hands of the Mormon church and its members, in which he decries the “community of ‘Saints’ we live in [that] is so steeped in ignorance, fear, loathing, judgment …” For shame, Brethren.
BYU Law Professor explains why Prop 8 was an unfortunate example of Mormon fundamentalism

Posted: June 21st, 2010, 7:50pm EDT by Chino Blanco

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Frederick Mark Gedicks
Brigham Young University – J. Reuben Clark Law School
William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal, Vol. 18, pp. 901-914, 2010
God of Our Fathers, Gods for Ourselves: Fundamentalism and Postmodern Belief:

” … there is also an ethical reason for wariness. One should pause at imposing absolute truth on those to whom the validity of that truth cannot be demonstrated unless they already believe it — indeed, absolute truth whose universality or validity may sometimes be in question even among those who claim to believe it. As Learned Hand once famously declared, “The spirit of liberty is the spirit that is not too sure that it is right.” This is the best safeguard of religious freedom in a pluralist democracy, a constant and present and humble reticence at imposing one’s own truth as the truth for all.”

h/t Times & Seasons “Notes from All Over”

God of Our Fathers, Gods for Ourselves: Fundamentalism and Postmodern Belief
MSP Exclusive: Russell M. Nelson disses atheists

Posted: June 18th, 2010, 9:42am EDT by Chino Blanco

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[newsroom.lds.org]

Note to Andrew S. et alia explaining this post: It looked as if the Newsroom Blog link to Nelson’s comments re atheists had gone dead and so I posted a screen grab of the post here. Since the link is live again, I’ve taken that down and left the link in its place. As far as the discussion below, it’s regarding a series of posts at Times & Seasons by BYU professor Ralph Hancock, who seems keen to become the new Mormon David Blankenhorn:

In voir dire, Boies noted that none of Blankenhorn’s marriage writing was peer reviewed. Nor has he taught courses about marriage, fatherhood, family structure or anything else. Blankenhorn’s examinations of the results of same-sex marriage are limited to discussions with colleagues and reading articles. His only peer-reviewed work was on cabinet makers and black fathers. Judge Walker indicated that were this a jury trial Blankenhorn might not be qualified to testify as an expert but that he can testify.

Of course, Blankenhorn then went on to testify and prove that he was eminently unqualified.
Fred, Linda and Lance talk about Mormon involvement in Prop 8

Posted: June 18th, 2010, 4:55am EDT by Chino Blanco

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Fred Karger, Dustin Lance Black, and Linda Stay discuss the film 8: The Mormon Proposition
and Mormon involvement in the Prop 8 campaign generally.

If you’ve got 16 minutes to spare, you’re welcome to listen in.
P.S. Pls don’t razz me about the graphics. It’s a radio interview.
I just pulled whatever images happened to be handy.

And here’s another image that happened to be handy.

Greetings from the West Village, circa the last time a Mormon hillbilly arrived in town thinking that overalls were still OK.

It’s Friday night. What I wouldn’t do for a slice right about now. Happy weekend all!
Reason #666 why reverse engineering a postmodernist stance still doesn’t help you if you happen to be a Mormon apologist for Prop 8.

Posted: June 16th, 2010, 12:13am EDT by Chino Blanco

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Ralph Hancock started his three-part series at Times & Seasons by sounding the gay threat alarm, but couldn’t be bothered to actually discuss the nature of the threat, apparently in a rush to get to his third post, in which it’s explained that the real danger lies in something called secular liberal fundamentalism.

The series begins with an introduction to a project that sounds harmless enough (and even potentially useful):

For many years friends and I had considered the possibility of some kind of political-philosophy oriented educational foundation that would try to help religious people, and LDS in particular, to navigate the world of ideas as these concern politics, broadly understood.

But by the second installment, we’re apparently being told that one important idea Mormon audiences need to appreciate is that “prejudice” has gotten a bad rap.

This is not scholarship, it’s the kind of PR that American propaganda pioneer Edward Bernays made famous:

One of Bernays’ favorite techniques for manipulating public opinion was the indirect use of “third party authorities” to plead his clients’ causes.

The client in this case being the LDS church.
When the objective is to obfuscate, not enlighten, talking in circles becomes a tactical diversion.
Fred Who? Fred Karger on Iowa’s WHO radio talk show

Posted: June 10th, 2010, 9:21pm EDT by Chino Blanco

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Dirigo Blue: NOM loses at Appeals Court

Posted: June 8th, 2010, 8:44pm EDT by Chino Blanco

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Maine blogger Gerald Weinand makes my day:

This morning, the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) lost its appeal of a 1st District Court ruling requiring it to turn over information on its donors to the Maine Ethics Commission. NOM was ordered to turn over the names by Magistrate Judge John Rich in May.

NOM is the Mormon front group that donated $1.9 million in a successful effort last year to overturn Maine’s law that would have allowed same-sex couples to marry.

The Appeals Court found that the documents requested by the Ethics Commission do not violate 1st Amendment guarantees, nor does that request impose a “significant risk of chill.”

Joe Sudbay sums up: Bad day for campaign cheaters: NOM loses in Maine; Mormons lose in California

Totally O/T: By the way, I TA’d for Ralph Hancock, the BYU prof who is currently pondering perilous political naïveté & Prop 8 over at T&S in a post titled LDS & Public Square. This is me inviting you to comment over there if you’ve got the inclination and time.

Shorter Ralph Hancock:
Southern Utah University: Other schools only teach the establishment clause.

Posted: June 7th, 2010, 8:00pm EDT by Chino Blanco

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We teach the controversy.
To Jesus and Mary, now Mormon and Married: Mazel tov!

Posted: June 7th, 2010, 8:53am EDT by Chino Blanco

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By Helen Radkey

Jesus of Nazareth, also known as Jesus Christ, or simply Jesus, is the central figure of Christianity. The life and sermons of Jesus form the basis of the Christian faith. Jesus Christ is recognized by believing Christians as God incarnate, the Son of God who was raised from the dead—the Redeemer of mankind—the most important figure in history.

According to Mormon doctrine, Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. However, it seems that even the perceived Savior of the world is not exempt from LDS temple rituals. Proxy rites for Jesus Christ were performed in the Salt Lake (LDS) Temple in Utah, in April 2010. The Salt Lake Temple, located on Temple Square in the heart of Mormon-dominated Salt Lake City, was dedicated on April 6, 1893—three years before Utah became a state in 1896—and is one of the oldest of the 132 currently operating temples that are owned and maintained by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS.)

New FamilySearch is the online genealogy database of the LDS Church that contains updated details of LDS temple ordinances that have been done for dead people. There are multiple listings for Jesus Christ in New FamilySearch—under different versions of his identity—which have been submitted by individual Mormons. It is not known how many times Jesus has been subjected to LDS rites because all New FamilySearch records for him—including combined records—show LDS ordinance details as “Not Available.”

On May 27, 2010, there were two similar records for Jesus in New FamilySearch which had been submitted by the same person. One listing was titled “Jesus Christian,” and showed “Jesus Christian” was born “before 1500 Bethlehem, Israel,” and died “before 1550 Jerusalem, Israel.” LDS ordinances were tagged as “Not available” on this record. The other entry was for “Jesus Cristian,” who was born “before 1502 Bethlehem, Israel,” and died “before 1539 Jerusalem, Israel.” The entry for “Jesus Cristian” gave a description of LDS ordinances, along with the name of a spouse—“Maria Magdelena.”

“Jesus Cristian” was baptized and confirmed a member of the LDS Church by proxy on April 8, 2010 in the “Salt Lake City Utah Temple.” “Jesus Cristian” was also subjected to initiatory temple ordinances on April 8, 2010; an endowment ceremony on April 9, 2010; and a marriage “sealing” to “spouse” “Maria Magdelena” on April 9, 2010—all rites occurred in the “Salt Lake City Utah Temple.”

It appears the submissions for “Jesus Christian,” and “Jesus Cristian” were attempts to manipulate the identity of Jesus Christ through the LDS temple system. The misspelled “Cristian,” instead of “Christian,” could have been a typo, or a deliberate error. It may have been intentionally entered as “Cristian” to get around a computer program that automatically blocks submissions that contain the names “Jesus Christ.” That would explain why the entry for “Jesus Christian” shows LDS ordinances as “Not available.”

While both New FamilySearch records in question lack complete birth and death data, and give imprecise “before” years of these events—the first name “Jesus” combined with the surnames “Christian” and “Cristian” (both spins on the name of “Christ”) are signs that “Jesus Christian” and “Jesus Cristian” are pseudonyms for Jesus Christ.

Other indicators on the New FamilySearch records that point to Jesus Christ are the birth place, “Bethlehem,” and the death location, “Jerusalem.” (Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem and died outside the walls of old Jerusalem.) Another clue to the identity of “Jesus Cristian” is the name of his “spouse”—“Maria Magdelena,” a misspelled variant of Mary Magdalene. “Maria Magdelena” is not listed on the “Jesus Christian” record.

Because “Jesus Christian” and “Jesus Cristian” have similar names and identical birth and death locations—“Bethlehem” and “Jerusalem,” they are probably the same person. Their birth and death years are similar, but not the same. The estimated dates listed for these events look like they have been fabricated. According to their New FamilySearch records, “Jesus Christian” and “Jesus Cristian” were born and died in the 16th century. “Jesus Christian” lived roughly 50 years, while “Jesus Cristian” died in his thirties.

On May 27, 2010, “Maria Magdelena” was listed in New FamilySearch with her birth date as “1504 Israel,” and death date as “before 1540 Israel.” Both years are likely inventions. Along with “spouse” “Jesus Cristian,” “Maria Magdelena” was baptized and confirmed a member of the LDS Church by proxy on April 8, 2010 in the “Salt Lake City Utah Temple.” She was subjected to initiatory temple ordinances on April 8, 2010; an endowment ceremony on April 9, 2010; and the marriage “sealing” to “Jesus Cristian” on April 9, 2010—all rites were done in the “Salt Lake City Utah Temple.”

Mary Magdalene is described in the New Testament as a faithful follower of Jesus. Because the concept of marriage is strongly emphasized in LDS teachings, the notion that a spousal relationship existed between Jesus and Mary Magdalene is common among Mormons—although that belief is not formal LDS doctrine. There is no reliable historical evidence to indicate that Jesus was married—to Mary Magdalene, or anyone else.

LDS Church officials have publicly stated that the New FamilySearch program is a technological deterrent to improper submissions. Yet—under their very noses—on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Jesus Christ—under a false name—two millennia after his birth, was offered Mormon salvation and an erroneous eternal marriage sealing.

Sometime late in the day on May 27, 2010, the individual entries for “Jesus Cristian” and “Maria Magdelena” were scrubbed from New FamilySearch—concealing the evidence that LDS rites had recently been performed for these two names in the Salt Lake Temple. The sudden disappearance of these records is a strong indication that “Jesus Cristian” and “Maria Magdelena” represent Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene.

© Copyright 2010, Helen Radkey
California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) June 10 Hearing Preview

Posted: June 7th, 2010, 1:45am EDT by Chino Blanco

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Item #20:

Late Contribution Violation. In the Matter of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, FPPC No. 08/735. Failed to timely report making late non-monetary contributions totaling $36,928 in connection with the November 4, 2008, General Election, in violation of Government Code Section 84203 (13 counts). Total Proposed Penalty: $5,539.

Salt Lake Tribune: LDS Church fined for tardy financial reports during Prop 8
HRC: Fines Proposed Against Mormon Church for Prop 8 Campaign Finance Violations
Deseret News: Mormon Church agrees to pay small fine for mistake that led to late report of contributions in Prop. 8 campaign

FPPC LDS Church Prop 8 Fine
Orrin Hatch: “Gays and lesbians don’t pay tithing, their religion is politics.”

Posted: June 3rd, 2010, 12:07am EDT by Chino Blanco

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Hatch pleads for his job and proves he will say anything to avoid Bennett’s fate:

“Tea Party members I know by and large are good, honest, decent people, but out of anger should not disrupt the few GOP [candidates] who can win,” he said. He said the Republicans need to organize and pull together just as unions, environmentalists, personal injury lawyers and gay rights activists do for Democrat [sic] candidates.

“Gays and lesbians don’t pay tithing, their religion is politics,” said Hatch.

Almost as funny as that time Orrin pretended to be a Washington outsider.

I’m guessing it’s a calculated ploy by Orrin to attract the ire of the Utah LGBT community so that he can then put on a show playing the martyr for the Tea Party crowd, but I don’t think it’s gonna work. It’s such a clumsy insult that all it’s going to trigger is a bunch of eye-rolling now and more schadenfreude later when Orrin gets the boot from the same folks he’s trying so hard to impress with his playground taunts.

By the way, so far, this has been my favorite response to Hatch’s nonsense:

Hatching falsehood

… I saw today that Sen. Orrin Hatch recently told a crowd at Dixie State College in St. George, Utah, “Gays and lesbians don’t pay tithing, their religion is politics.”

That’s just false. According to a 2009 survey by the Barna Group, 60% of gay adults say faith is “very important” in their lives. The study also found that gay and lesbian Americans are less likely to be registered to vote than heterosexuals.

I suppose one can’t fault Sen. Hatch for not having Barna’s data at his fingertips, but if he cared to understand the role faith plays in the lives of LGBT Americans instead of just spouting false stereotypes, he’d find gay and lesbian people of faith in diverse congregations across the country. He wouldn’t have to go very far, either. Sen. Hatch’s office is 3 ½ miles from my church, which has numerous LGBT members. I don’t snoop around in the collection plate to see who tithes and who doesn’t, but I know that my neighbors in the pews worship God, not politics. Sen. Hatch doesn’t have the standing to dismiss their faith or anyone else’s.

Amen, Dan.

h/t Pride in Utah – Hatch: Gays Don’t Matter Because They’re Not Mormon
The Bloggernacle Won’t Save You

Posted: June 1st, 2010, 11:18am EDT by Chino Blanco

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Why? Because the staff will always be a bunch of wankers. Same as it ever was, so …

And since Scott B. seems to be all about getting kicks from dredging up the past,
here’s a memory from my own dusty ol’ Prop 8 scrapbook: Mormon Blogging or Self-Loathing.

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