Foundational and Historical Truth Claims
Where the church's own founding narrative meets archaeology, genetics, and the historical record — and where critics say the two stop lining up.
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A–1
Book of Mormon Anachronisms
Archaeological, linguistic, and biological inconsistencies — including references to steel, horses, and wheeled chariots in a pre-Columbian American setting where no supporting evidence for any of them has been found.
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A–2
DNA Evidence
Genetic studies on Native American populations contradict the narrative that indigenous Americans are primarily descendants of ancient Israelites, showing East Asian and Siberian genetic markers instead.
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A–3
Nineteenth-Century Milieu
Historians argue the text reflects 19th-century frontier themes — such as the Mound Builder myth and anti-Masonry — rather than an ancient record.
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A–4
Translation Method
Historical records and church essays confirm Joseph Smith translated using a seer stone in a hat rather than physical observation of the plates using the Urim and Thummim.
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A–5
The Book of Abraham
Papyri claimed to be translated by Smith into the Book of Abraham were later identified by Egyptologists as standard Egyptian funerary texts — the Book of Breathings.
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A–6
Shifting First Vision Accounts
The earliest written account of the First Vision (1835) does not feature both God the Father and Jesus Christ, pointing to evolving theology over time.
Objections in Exhibit A concern origins. Exhibit B moves from text to institution — how the church's policies have shifted, and who those shifts affected.
Institutional Evolution and Doctrines of Exclusion
Policies the church has since reversed, revised, or continues to defend — and the people they were built around excluding.
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B–1
Priesthood and Temple Ban
Black men were barred from holding the priesthood, and members were barred from temple ordinances, until 1978 — with past justifications later labeled as folklore.
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B–2
Polygamy and Polyandry
Historical records reveal polyandry (marrying women already married to other living men), the marriage of teenage girls, and past public denials of the practice.
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B–3
Gender Hierarchies
Administrative and spiritual authority remains strictly reserved for men, creating a complementarian structure that critics view as patriarchal.
Institutional policy shapes lived experience. Exhibit C follows the trail from doctrine to the psychological toll critics attribute to it.
Psychological and Social Impact
How belief structures are said to shape doubt, identity, and family life for members and former members alike.
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C–1
Epistemological Confinement
Relying primarily on spiritual confirmation creates circular logic, where doubts or historical anomalies are attributed to personal spiritual failure.
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C–2
LGBTQ+ Policies
Strict stances on gender and marriage have caused severe friction, family division, and psychological trauma among queer individuals.
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C–3
High-Demand Control (BITE Model)
Critics apply control models to aspects like temple garments, mandatory tithing, discouragement of critical sources, and strict lifestyle rules.
The final exhibit turns from belief and behavior to balance sheets.
Financial Transparency and Corporate Structure
What's known — and what isn't — about how the church manages money given by its members.
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D–1
Massive Wealth Accumulation
Whistleblower reports highlighted an investment fund exceeding $100 billion, leading to criticism over the balance between wealth hoarding and humanitarian aid.
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D–2
Lack of Transparency
A centralized hierarchy contrasts with local volunteer labor, with little transparency regarding tithing funds and internal institutional handling of issues.
Exhibits A–D are for reading. Exhibit E is for the doorstep.
The Doorstep Cheat Sheet
A free, printable two-page quick reference for conversations with LDS missionaries — their pitch, your response, the comeback they're trained to give, and your reply to that. Print it double-sided and keep it by the door.