Mormon Civil War

This is a place for dialogue about 'Christians vs Pharisees: Choosing sides and how to fight for them in the Mormon Civil War' and other collaborations like 'The Loyal Opposition' where Peter Bleakley has teamed up with Nemo the Mormon. At current rates of decline in active membership the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will functionally cease to exist in Europe, most of the rest of the world and several regions of the USA in the next 10-15 years, so radical reforms need to happen now if it is to survive, and it may already too late. The vast majority of members have already left the Church globally, including 80% of the young people raised in it, and recently leaked data has revealed that in my homeland of the UK and the Republic of Ireland we are down to less than 15% of our members active and it is falling fast. The stats across the rest of Europe are similar. I will be discussing not only what the General Authorities and local leaders and members have to stop doing and saying to choose Christian Mormonism instead of Pharisee Mormonism (and stop trying to teach and practice both at once and failing), but also the positive changes that need to happen radically and fast to have this amazing religion with so much positive potential survive and thrive in the real world of the 21st Century. What do you think it will take?

All Episodes

Mormon Civil War

MORMON CIVIL WAR: THE CHRISTMAS TOSCANO DIALOGUES DAY 6 – MYSTICS, PROPHETS AND MANAGERS

December 30, 2024 • Peter Bleakley • Season 1 • Episode 35

Peter, Paul and Mormonism – The 12 Days of Christmas Toscano Dialogues

In this episode we wrestle with the conflicting qualities required of the leaders of a religion. Ideally they need to balance a mystical sensitivity for the divine, a calling to challenge society to do better and champion the interests of the poor and oppressed as social justice warriors, a duty to protect and pass on sacred rituals, and the ability to manage practical day to day administrative and financial matters. Is it possible for anyone to have all these skills? How have we ended up with a leadership oligarchy that only seems to care about being, and promoting, managers, yet isn’t even very competent at management?

Is it their fault? Or simply inevitable when the Common Consent checks and balances on power commanded by the Church’s constitution in the Doctrine and Covenants have been abandoned so, as warned in those scriptures, the LDS General Authorities have mostly become absolutely corrupted by absolute power with no accountability? Have any real prophets made it to the top of this system to give us hope? How can we do better?