Latter-day Saint Texts

Translation into English from German by Lincoln B. Fullmer, 2025 The religion of the Mormons is a senseless mix of Christian, Jewish, Mohammedan, Buddhist, and ancient Pagan, especially Greek and Roman, dogmas, liturgical ceremonies or rituals, and mythological elements. The entirety of it is furthermore seasoned with a strong dose of fantastical-chiliastic fanaticisms, as well as with a considerable portion of secret, modern American masonic humbug and impregnated with the reckless entrepreneurial spirit of the nativist Yankee. Die Religion der Mormonen is ein sinnloses Gemisch von christlichen, mohammedanischen, buddhistischen und aldheidnischischen, besonders griechischen und römischen Glaubenssätzen, gottesdienstlichen Zeremonien oder Ritualien und mythologischen Elementen. Das Ganze ist noch mit einer starken Dosis phantastisch-chiliastischer Schwärmereien, sowie mit einem ziemlichen Quantum geheimen, modern amerikanischen Logenhumbugs gewürzt und imprägniert mit dem rücksichtslos...

On the Mormons (1883) Translated from the German in 2025 by Lincoln Fullmer      Henceforth one has two kinds of Mormons to recognize, the Salt Lake Mormons and the Kirtland Mormons. The latter are under the leadership of Joseph Smith, the son of Joe Smith, the true author of Mormonism. They view themselves as the true old or original Mormons, while they see the Salt Lake Mormons as apostates and heretics. We give them the designation "Kirtland Mormons" because this community held their first general conference in the old Mormon temple at Kirtland, in New Ohio, in April of this year, and with that entered the public view for the first time. The conference was visited by 200 Mormons from 16 different states and territories and from Canada. The Mormon temple at Kirtland was the first which the cult built. On the front-facing outside wall, it bears the inscription "House of the Lord, built by the Community of Christ in the year 1834". After the Mormons of its time were...

 I was Born on an Island    by Lincoln Fullmer Part 1 I was born on an Island - It was a happy Island; verdant and green, awash with sunshine. It had great rivers and small streams, towering mountains and low shores, and the whole of it was filled with beauty. Society on the Island was nurturing and pleasant, for we had the kindest Island elders who always, we boasted, demonstrated perfect love and compassion in helping every Islander grow, reach fulfillment, and serve their neighbors, and their efforts truly helped the Island feel like a paradise for all. Through their work, they kindly taught us how uniquely perfect our Island was - how the beauty of other islands paled in comparison with our harbors, forests, mountain paths, and united community - and we all felt truly blessed for being the lucky few to have discovered a most blissful dwelling place. My family had lived on the Island for generations, helping to build it up and maintain it for everyone to enjoy ever s...

 Covenants, Queerness, and Exaltation  By Lincoln Fullmer  Talk given at the inaugural Reform Mormon General Conference, April 5-6, 2025 “As man now is, God once was. As God now is, man may become.” - Lorenzo Snow                 So goes the famous summary of one of the most unique and expansive teachings of Mormonism–that Humanity and Divinity, rather than being ontologically at odds with one another, are merely different rungs on an eternal ladder of upwards progression. Growing up as a mainstream Brighamite Mormon, this teaching, affirming the divine core of all humans and promising the eventual inheritance of all things, was among my most cherished; and yet, this theology that has brought so much joy to me has also wrought heartache and anguish for so many of God’s children–and why is this? Because traditionally, this theology has been inextricably tied to notions of racialized heteronormative patriarchy and authoritar...