The Mormon Curtain

(HELEN RADKEY) Mistakes galore, as Mormons perform secret temple rites for the family of Tiger Woods

infymus@mormoncurtain.com — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 08:09:52 MST

Mistakes galore, as Mormons perform secret temple rites for the family of Tiger Woods On November 27, 2009, American professional golf champion, Tiger Woods-the highest-paid athlete in the world-was involved in a mysterious car crash near his Florida home. The accident sparked rumors of domestic violence between Woods and his wife, Elin (Nordegren) Woods. Reports describing the intimate details of Tiger Woods' alleged sex romps with a parade of women began to surface. The famous golfer has fallen from grace as the ultimate role model in sports to an allegedly pathological philanderer. Tiger Woods was known to party and gamble at hotel casinos in Las Vegas. Coincidentally, a few weeks before his extramarital affairs became publicly known, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) performed proxy rites for the paternal family line of Tiger Woods in the Las Vegas Nevada (LDS) Temple. LDS temple rituals are performed by living church members as proxies for the deceased. �Temple work� for the dead includes: baptism, confirmation, priesthood ordination (for males), initiatory and endowment ceremonies, sealing to spouse, and sealing of children to parents. Mormons believe these �ordinances� offer salvation to (non-LDS) deceased. Eldrick Tont Woods (born December 30, 1975), who became known as Tiger Woods, was born in Cypress, California, to Earl Dennison Woods, Sr. (1932-2006), and Kultida (Punsawad) Woods (born 1944). Tiger Woods is the only child of their marriage, but he has two half-brothers: Earl Dennison, Jr. (born 1955); and Kevin Dale (born 1957); and one half-sister, Royce Renee (born 1961), from the 18-year marriage of Earl Dennison Woods, Sr., and his first wife, Barbara Hart Woods. Tiger Woods comes from a background rooted in Buddhism. His mother, Kultida �Tida� Woods, is a Thai Buddhist. Earl Dennison Woods, Sr., the father and mentor of Tiger Woods, died in Cypress, California, on May 3, 2006. Earl Woods, Sr. was baptized and confirmed a member of the LDS Church by proxy in the Las Vegas Nevada Temple on November, 6, 2009. He was also �sealed" for eternity by proxy to his ex-wife, Barbara (Ann) Hart (Woods), on November 9, 2009 in the Las Vegas Nevada Temple, even though the final judgment of their divorce had been granted on March 2, 1972 in the Superior Court of California. Barbara Ann Hart Woods, now known as Barbara Woods Gary, was the first wife of Earl Dennison Woods, Sr. Although it appears she is still living, Barbara Woods was �posthumously� baptized and confirmed a member of the LDS Church by proxy on November 6, 2009 in the Las Vegas Nevada Temple, under her maiden name, Barbara Hart. In a December 2009 online news report, Barbara Woods complains about the grievous mental suffering inflicted on her by Earl Woods, Sr. during their marriage: . If Barbara Woods Gary is not dead, then �posthumous� Mormon rituals on her behalf are inappropriate-and why would anyone want to �seal� her forever to a deceased ex-spouse who caused her so much misery? There is no date or place of death shown on her Mormon record. Did the LDS Church member who submitted her name for LDS temple ordinances bother to check if she was alive or dead? Miles Woods and Maude (Carter) Woods, the parents of Earl Dennison Woods, Sr., and the grandparents of Tiger Woods, were baptized and confirmed members of the LDS Church by proxy on November 6, 2009 in the Las Vegas Nevada Temple. They were �sealed� for eternity by proxy in the Las Vegas Nevada Temple on November 9, 2009. Miles Woods (1873-1943) is recorded in LDS files as Miles Woods, born 1911, Kansas, United States. His correct year of birth is 1873, not 1911. His Mormon listing gives his year of death as 1986, with no death location. Miles Woods died in 1943, not 1986. Maude (Carter) Woods (1893-1947) is described on LDS lists as "Maude" (with no surname), born 1915, United States. Her year of death is shown as 1990, with no location of death. Maude Woods was born in 1893, not 1915. She died in 1947, not 1990. The inaccurate birth and death years for this couple were probably invented by the submitter. Miles and Maude Woods deserve more honest genealogy than fudged Mormon records. In their misguided attempts to offer Mormon-style redemption to all dead non-Mormons, some Mormons are grabbing names, any names, from any family line, and creating false �family history� records for lineages they have no right to be claiming for religious rites. As members of the LDS Church perform proxy rituals in Mormon temples for names from non-Mormon bloodlines-such as the family of Tiger Woods-the LDS Church is now concealing the evidence of this unorthodox practice from the public. Details of all ongoing �work� for the dead-including the identities of deceased individuals who are currently receiving LDS temple ordinances by proxy-are off-limits to outsiders. Only an accredited Mormon with a special user log-in can access this information online at: � Copyright 2010, Helen Radkey-Permission is granted to reproduce, provided content is not changed and this copyright notice is included.

(TITHING - SECTION 2) money that goes to mormon inc. in salt lake city

infymus@mormoncurtain.com — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 08:38:56 MST

When I used to be the financial clerk I soon realized that the fast offering was always used to help others in the ward or community not the church tithing. What made me very upset and sick was how much pressure they put on us to make sure that we did not give out more in funds than we collected in fast offering. If we did then we usually got a nasty letter from the stake to get it straightened out. I remember the 1st year that I was the fiancial clerk I went over our branch budget by about $250, our budget for the year was only $4000. I was given along lecture and felt like a piece of shit for doing the best that I could with no experience and over $250. The tithing not including FO was about 165 thousand that year with all of it going to Salt Lake. I am sure that the members will step forward and donate a generous fast offering to help with the people in Haiti but the lds church will take credit for it. For example if I were to collect money for the homeless shelter or something then I would turn around and donate the money on my behalf and take the credit for it all even though I donated absolutely nothing.

(DANIEL C. PETERSON - SECTION 2) Yeah, Verily, It Has Been Revealed to Me That Daniel Peterson is a Mighty Prophet

infymus@mormoncurtain.com — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 10:52:28 MST

Subject: Yeah, Verily, It Has Been Revealed to Me That Daniel Peterson is a Mighty Prophet... Date: Jan 09 21:33 Author: SL Cabbie Mail Address: Of the self-fulfilling variety (careful, Cabbie, no cracks about his weight; you're not exactly svelte yourself). And ohmygarshgoodness, he's even a bit of a conspiracy theorist as well . . . http://www.mormonapologetics.org/topic/47303-the-book-of-mormon-on-kindle/ Daniel Peterson: >Quite honestly, I don't know whether these things matter much in the long run -- surely, intelligent readers/customers will know what to make of such situations -- but there has been a deliberate effort, spearheaded over at the so-called "Recovery Board," to flood the relatively new entry for the Kindle text of the Book of Mormon with hostile, negative, and dismissive comments: >Some believers may want to go there and provide "alternative voices." RFM regulars have doubtless been following this one. Our regular "Sperco" innocently started a thread noting that there were only five reviews of the BOM on Amazon's "Kindle Version." http://www.exmormon.org/boards/w-agora/view.php?bn=exmobb_recoveryandkey=1262897652andnewest=1262970876 Proving that Exmo's have learned to pay attention, "mechworks" chimed in with . . . >Dan Peterson, you are busted again for reading exmormon.org http://www.exmormon.org/boards/w-agora/view.php?bn=exmobb_recoveryandkey=1262922186andnewest=1262940907 And one of our newer folks with a longish handle, Doctor CamNC4Me, showed excellent surgical technique in getting under Denial C.'s skin . . . http://www.exmormon.org/boards/w-agora/view.php?bn=exmobb_recoveryandkey=1262949670andnewest=1263047571 Doctor CamNC4Me: >Well, I suppose we got our act together long enough to post a ribald rebuttal his vacuous assertions. :) Alas, Doc, I think his vacuous assertions have deteriorated into accusations of a conspiracy (Sorry, Denial Ol' Boy, you can ask ADMIN about this one: RFMer's are like that proverbial herd of atheists-er cats . . . We're an independent-minded bunch. And note I didn't slip over and post anything on Amazon even though I'm registered there; I'm strictly a reporter this time around) You did get their attention over on MAandD, at least a little Doc . . . Again from MAandD . . . Stargazer: >By far the most impactful criticism against the BoM in the reviews was the one that quoted Mark Twain. Of course, one would be well-advised to take the words of a curmudgeon humorist at face value when dealing with matters of religious faith. Why nobody quoted George Carlin on the subject of religion is a great mystery. I keep telling people there's a deeper reason I picked the moniker I did (like I loved the initials). Mostly the MAandD meanderings are a bunch of attempted thread hijackings, though. Nobody has mentioned DNA so far (or my Lehi Boatbuilding and Sailing Contest), just this bit . . . cdowis: >Most of these "one star" comments are entertaining, but some show at least some modicum of thoughtful analysis. The old "it contradicts archeology" argument. >Too bad they don't come here to discuss their views. Listen Dowis, when I wanted to recover from whiskey poisoning, I found it advisable to quit hanging around in saloons . . . And now, Perfesser Peterson, since you claim to be a specialist in Middle Eastern languages, here's a vocabulary word from some Hebrew types that I think is appropos . . . It's "Chutzpah." Expand Reply Edit List Current thread | * * Jan 09 21:33 Yeah, Verily, It Has Been Revealed to Me That Daniel Peterson is a Mighty Prophet... (SL Cabbie) [Latest: Jan 10 11:57] o Jan 09 22:29 Well this isn't exactly a Middle Eastern language, but it's apropos here: (flattopSF) o Jan 09 22:33 Here's the RfM thread that helped rally the evil apostate hordes against Danny the Mighty and Strong- (steve benson) + Jan 09 22:50 At first, Danny the Fanny didn't think that RfM critics would get it together against the BofM- (steve benson) # Jan 09 23:00 What I want to know is ... (flattopSF) o Jan 10 01:41 Re: Yeah, Verily, It Has Been Revealed to Me That Daniel Peterson is a Mighty Prophet... (Happy Old Year: unregistered) + Jan 10 01:58 I would not count on that. (Susan I/S) o Jan 10 09:05 Now, now (M�rv Fr�ndsen) + Jan 10 11:57 Lol! 8^D n/t (flattopSF)

(SERVICE AND CHARITY) How The Church Perverts The Concept Of Charity

infymus@mormoncurtain.com — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:53:38 MST

Now that I don't believe and have not for a couple years now, I periodically have these moments reflection regarding certain specific aspects of my life as a latter day saint. This reflection usually ends with me gaining a new understanding of just how hollow and superficial my life in the church was......

A few days ago I looked back on the amount of service I have done in my life and of course came to the shocking realization that most all of my service was done within the church. I look back on my life of 38 years and on how many people I really helped. Not many. Have I made a difference for the better in anyones life? The answer shockingly was no. I was shocked because I had live a life dedicated (i thought) to the service of the lord. But beyond helping a shitload of people move, i can't say i helped much of anybody. I felt empty. This huge bag of service i was stuffing full of stuff turned out to be empty. I got really depressed. How is this possible I thought? Then of course, it hit me.

I did not spend a life in the service of the lord or in the service of people or their needs. I spent a life in the service of the LDS CHRUCH. I have spent my life getting people in any way possible to conform their lives to the church because that was what was best for them and its all done in the name of service. Think about how the church ruins service:

Through the process of "callings" the church basically tells you how your are going to serve.
you rarely serve outside of this calling let alone outside the ward let alone the church (as a general rule of course)
Each calling has a certain written and unwritten script where you do your JOB in the way that benefits the church first and the people second.
most all callings are referred to as service in the church. it becomes your service.
people who you serve know you are serving them
for bishoprics or eq pres relief pres etc or ward council, the people who are "in need" (which again is another way of saying that their behavior does not conform, many times these people are actually quite happy) well their names become known. and then the people serving them invariably tell their friends how so and so is struggling, but don't tell anybody, and that they are helping them etc.
members basically do not do service in secret (as a general rule)
you really don't even think in terms of what is best for the person, its always, what is best for the church FIRST is what is best for the person period. The person you are serving becomes an object or a vehicle for YOU. It's so backward
Service in the church is basically getting people who don't go to church to go, getting people who don't obey the rules to obey, getting people baptized, sometimes helping people financially which most times winds up being humiliating to the person on some level, doing lessons for sunday even counts as service. All sorts of stupid callings count as service (like sunday school president etc)
The ends always justifies the means in church service. Does it really matter how the 13 year old got to the point where they got up and said they know the church was true, no, just that they said it. and if you helpted manipulate that person, voila, that counts as service!
don't even get me started on elderly missions etc.
My parents spend 30 hours a week working in this singles ward and all they are really doing is getting people to come to church, pay tithing, get married in the temple, come to family home evening, pray every day, read the book of mormon, do their home teaching, go to activities, i mean you get the point. are they really helping anybody? will these peole even remember them 6 months from now? I can't believe how their lives are being wasted with this kind of "service"

The lds church has their members basically work for their own best interest and do it in the name of Jesus AND tell them that they are becoming better people for it. It all revolves around getting more people to conform to their ideal. its horrible.

now that i don't believe me and my wife are exploring ways to help in our community. the process is already much more fulfilling and REAL. My wife still believes but she is excited and i think that she is going to realize that this kind of helping is way better than the facade of church service. We will see which kind of servie makes her "feel" better. Helping children with health problems improve motor skills, learning to read or making a god damn craft your that tuesday nights YW handout. I can't believe how little i have done to help people but i am excited about the future. the church should be ashamed of themselves but of course.

(JEFFERY R. HOLLAND) Hollands Conference Talk

infymus@mormoncurtain.com — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:51:11 MST

Elder Holland, even in my apostate ways, is perhaps my favorite orator. His talk, when he gave it, made me uncomfortable with my apostacy. The man knows how to write and deliver stirring rhetoric that appealed strongly to emotion. This past Sunday his conference address was taught in Priesthood. It wasn't until later when I had a chance to read the talk that I saw it for what it was.

And I sat their and couldn't believe how they lapped it up and didn't see the blatant falacious material. So I provide my arm-chair anti-Apology for Elder Holland talk.

The lynchpin argument of the lession was Elder Holland's comment.

"Later, when actually incarcerated in the jail, Joseph the Prophet turned to the guards who held him captive and bore a powerful testimony of the divine authenticity of the Book of Mormon.8 Shortly thereafter pistol and ball would take the lives of these two testators.

As one of a thousand elements of my own testimony of the divinity of the Book of Mormon, I submit this as yet one more evidence of its truthfulness. In this their greatest�and last�hour of need, I ask you: would these men blaspheme before God by continuing to fix their lives, their honor, and their own search for eternal salvation on a book (and by implication a church and a ministry) they had fictitiously created out of whole cloth?"

The claim that no fraud would walk to their death making a claim like Joseph Smith to the very end: this ignores the countless cult leaders like David Koresh, Marshall Applewhite(of Heaven's Gate fame http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heaven%2..., Jim Jones. It makes the assumption that no man would blaspheme God. It is a falacy by ridicule and plays to the bias of the faithful -- that Joseph Smith was who he said he was.

Then another talking point:

Failed theories about its origins have been born and parroted and have died�from Ethan Smith to Solomon Spaulding to deranged paranoid to cunning genius. None of these frankly pathetic answers for this book has ever withstood examination because there is no other answer than the one Joseph gave as its young unlearned translator. In this I stand with my own great-grandfather, who said simply enough, �No wicked man could write such a book as this; and no good man would write it, unless it were true and he were commanded of God to do so.�

Again, this statement is fallacious. It is falacy by ridicule. It ignores the latest scholarship on the Book of Mormon. It ignores the DNA analysis.

Ah yes. More falacy by ridicule. And how about that straw-man argument. Elder Holland holds up Ethan Smith, Solomon Spaulding, ridicules the argument and then proposes that since all these arguments fail, which he does not explain how they fail, and then proposes the faith-afirming story.

The whole tone of the articule is basically an attack on people who don't believe in the Book of Mormon. It plays to the idea that no one wants to be the fool.

In short, his conference address, was nothing more than a well-written appeal to emotion. He appeals to the believers while setting up those who don't believe as fools, and thus he builds up the unbelievers. It appears to be scholarly while ignoring it.

(MORMON MONEY - SECTION 2) It's Official! LD$, Inc. Is Building A Multi-Million-Dollar Hotel In Hawaii

infymus@mormoncurtain.com — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:31:55 MST

Despite the worst recession in the United States since the Great Depression, Pres. Obama's recent warning that the US economy could slip back into recession, a double-digit decline in tourism in Hawaii, the Obama Admin.'s plan to add $8 trillion to the current national debt of $12 trillion (raising the national debt load by 2020 to 150% of Gross Domestic Product from its current level of 80%), and the extra $2.5 billion that the 'one, true' church, LD$, Inc., is spending on its Great and Spacious Mall-and-Condos project in SLC (the cost estimate in 2003 was 'just' $500M), Mormon 'profits' have authorized construction of the church's new, multi-million-dollar hotel in Hawaii.

"The 45-year-old Laie Inn, adjacent to BYU-Hawaii and the Polynesian Cultural Center, closed for business Nov. 1 and will be demolished to make room for a new development."

"Groundbreaking for the new, modestly sized hotel is expected by the end of 2010." (ref. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/70...)

Given the backlash from church members about the Great and Spacious Mall-and-Condos project (i.e., plenty of Latter-day Saints stopping payment of tithing after discovering that the church was spending billions of dollars on the project), it's not surprising that there is no mention of hotel size or cost in the Des. News report. However, non-LDS news sources have reported on both aspects of the hotel project. From Dec./07:

"Officials from Marriott International Inc. say the company is close to signing an agreement to operate a new 220-room hotel planned for La'ie.

The new hotel, which is expected to be completed sometime in 2010, would replace the 48-room Lai'e Inn, which is controlled by Hawaii Reserves Inc., the land management arm of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."

"Beaver [Eric Beaver, Hawaii Reserves Inc.'s president] said the original $30 million cost estimate given when the hotel plan was first proposed in 2004 is outdated. He said he could not provide an updated cost." (ref. http://www.eturbonews.com/255/hawaii-...)

Given what's happened to the cost of the church's Great and Spacious Mall-and-Condos project in six years (a 500-percent increase), would it be unreasonable to expect that the new, 220-room hotel in Hawaii will end up costing more than $200 million? I don't think so.

Apparently, President and CEO Jesus Christ of LD$, Inc. again wants to spend several million dollars on yet another commercial real estate venture in the debt-ridden USA than do something Christian (in the United States or elsewhere in the world), like feed a portion of the 1 billion people worldwide who are malnourished (ref. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/...) or save 16,400-plus children from starving to death each day (ref. http://wvgazette.com/Opinion/Editoria...).

According to the Des. News report linked above, "...members of the First Presidency have not stayed at the Laie Inn in the last 10 or 15 years because of the condition of the inn." Oh dear! How troubling! People can starve to death and Latter-day Saints can struggle to make ends meet, but at least 1st Prez. members and other LDS General Authorities will soon have a nice, new hotel to stay at in Hawaii, with all the comforts and amenities needed to do the work of the Lord's religious-corporate Kingdom on Earth, LD$, Inc.

(EX-MORMON OPINION - SECTION 16) Marriage, Children, Education And Incredibly Destructive Advice

infymus@mormoncurtain.com — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:36:44 MST

From the Pamphlet, "To the Mothers in Zion"

"Young mothers and fathers, with all my heart I counsel you not to postpone having your children, being co-creators with our Father in heaven.

Do not use the reasoning of the world, such as, "We'll wait until we can better afford having children, until we are more secure, until John has completed his education, until he has a better paying job, until we have a larger home, until we've obtained a few of the material conveniences," and on and on.

This is the reasoning of the world and is not pleasing in the sight of God. Mothers who enjoy good health, have your children and have them early. And, husbands, always be considerate of your wives in the bearing children.

Do not curtail the number of your children for personal or selfish reasons. Material possessions, social convenience, and so-called professional advantages are nothing compared to a righteous posterity. In the eternal perspective, children--not possessions, not position, not prestige--are our greatest jewels."

http://fc.byu.edu/jpages/ee/w_etb87.h...

"I have told tens of thousands of young folks that when they marry they should not wait for children until they have finished their schooling and financial desires .... They should live together normally and let the children come ....

I know of no scriptures where an authorization is given to young wives to withhold their families and to go to work to put their husbands through school. There are thousands of husbands who have worked their own way through school and have reared families at the same time" ("Marriage Is Honorable," in Speeches of the Year, 1973 [Provo: Brigham Young University, 1974], p. 263). Spencer W. Kimball

"when a husband encourages or insists that his wife work out of the home for their convenience, �not only will the family suffer in such instances, � but [his] own spiritual growth and progression will be hampered� (Ensign, Nov. 1987, p. 49)." - President Howard W. Hunter

I remember this advice well from my teenage and young adult days in TSCC. It was drilled into us by our local ward and stake leaders also. This ill begotten advice has caused and continues to cause more damage than the Mormon leadership would like to admit.

Although many people rush to TSCC's defense and say that this is no longer taught the sad fact is that many leaders within Mormonism still believe this tripe wholeheartedly. Many of these pamphlets are still floating around and there are more than enough self-proclaimed leaders in the Mormon church that are all too willing to manipulate and pressure others.

(EX-MORMON OPINION - SECTION 16) Kirby: Defining Deal Breakers When It Comes To Love

infymus@mormoncurtain.com — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:22:20 MST

From Robert Kirby:

Last week, the phone rang at 4 a.m. A close friend was calling to tell me that his wife of 25 years had just left him because -- get this -- he no longer attends church.

I understand my friend's situation well enough to know that little else has changed. He's still an easy-going and hardworking guy who loves his wife and kids. He doesn't drink, philander, or gamble away their savings. He just isn't into church anymore.

"She says if I don't get my temple recommend back, we're through for good," he said.

That's pretty amazing, actually. I mean it takes real effort to believe in a gospel of love and forgiveness, while simultaneously finding a way to not practice it on the one person in your life who deserves it the most.

http://www.sltrib.com/features/ci_138...