FAIR is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing well-documented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice, and history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Mormon urban legends or folklore
Mormon urban legends or folklore
Frequently Latter-day Saints receive email messages with faith-promoting stories that are difficult or impossible to verify. This article includes examples of these "urban legends," or other bits of LDS historical folklore that are difficult or impossible to verify.
Template loop detected: Question: Does Cain still roam the earth, and does this account for stories about "Bigfoot"?
Template loop detected: Question: Did Albert Einstein refer to Elder James E. Talmage as the smartest man he had ever met?
Template loop detected: Question: Did Rev. Frank Graham praise LDS relief efforts in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina?
Template loop detected: Question: Did Elder Russell M. Nelson talk of a friend who translated the Book of Mormon into Arabic?
Template loop detected: Question: Did President Boyd K. Packer, in a talk given in the Forest Bend Ward in Salt Lake City on 12 October 2008, say that a catastrophic event was looming in the immediate future?
Template loop detected: Question: Did Boyd K. Packer say that today's youth "generals" during the pre-mortal "war in heaven"?
Template loop detected: Question: Did the medical coordinator for the Church's Humanitarian Emergency Response warn of an impending flu pandemic?
Template loop detected: Question: In the spirit world after this life, will those who lived in President Hinckley's time will be bowed to?
Template loop detected: Question: Did a Catholic priest write a book in 1739 that the true church of Jesus Christ would be restored?
Template loop detected: Question: Did the co-founder of Microsoft write an editorial praising Mormons in a California newspaper?
Brigham Young's hearse used in Disneyland?
Summary: A rumor has been spread that the hearse displayed in front of Disneyland's Haunted Mansion was the hearse used in Brigham Young's funeral.Rome Italy Temple and California Prop 8
Summary: An e-mail circulating has claimed that Catholic support for a Rome Italy temple is very high because of LDS efforts around California Prop 8.Elder Bednar on Persecution to follow Mitt Romney's nomination as Republican candidate in 2012
Summary: An e-mail circulating has claimed that Elder Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve warned of persecution to follow Mitt Romney's nomination as Republican candidate for President of the United States in 2012. This claim is false.
Template loop detected: Question: Does Cain still roam the earth, and does this account for stories about "Bigfoot"?
Template loop detected: Question: Did Albert Einstein refer to Elder James E. Talmage as the smartest man he had ever met?
Template loop detected: Question: Did Rev. Frank Graham praise LDS relief efforts in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina?
Template loop detected: Question: Did Elder Russell M. Nelson talk of a friend who translated the Book of Mormon into Arabic?
Template loop detected: Question: Did President Boyd K. Packer, in a talk given in the Forest Bend Ward in Salt Lake City on 12 October 2008, say that a catastrophic event was looming in the immediate future?
Template loop detected: Question: Did Boyd K. Packer say that today's youth "generals" during the pre-mortal "war in heaven"?
Template loop detected: Question: Did the medical coordinator for the Church's Humanitarian Emergency Response warn of an impending flu pandemic?
Template loop detected: Question: In the spirit world after this life, will those who lived in President Hinckley's time will be bowed to?
Template loop detected: Question: Did a Catholic priest write a book in 1739 that the true church of Jesus Christ would be restored?
Template loop detected: Question: Did the co-founder of Microsoft write an editorial praising Mormons in a California newspaper?
Brigham Young's hearse used in Disneyland?
Summary: A rumor has been spread that the hearse displayed in front of Disneyland's Haunted Mansion was the hearse used in Brigham Young's funeral.Rome Italy Temple and California Prop 8
Summary: An e-mail circulating has claimed that Catholic support for a Rome Italy temple is very high because of LDS efforts around California Prop 8.Elder Bednar on Persecution to follow Mitt Romney's nomination as Republican candidate in 2012
Summary: An e-mail circulating has claimed that Elder Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve warned of persecution to follow Mitt Romney's nomination as Republican candidate for President of the United States in 2012. This claim is false.
Template loop detected: Question: Does Cain still roam the earth, and does this account for stories about "Bigfoot"?
Template loop detected: Question: Did Albert Einstein refer to Elder James E. Talmage as the smartest man he had ever met?
Template loop detected: Question: Did Rev. Frank Graham praise LDS relief efforts in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina?
Template loop detected: Question: Did Elder Russell M. Nelson talk of a friend who translated the Book of Mormon into Arabic?
Template loop detected: Question: Did President Boyd K. Packer, in a talk given in the Forest Bend Ward in Salt Lake City on 12 October 2008, say that a catastrophic event was looming in the immediate future?
Template loop detected: Question: Did Boyd K. Packer say that today's youth "generals" during the pre-mortal "war in heaven"?
Template loop detected: Question: Did the medical coordinator for the Church's Humanitarian Emergency Response warn of an impending flu pandemic?
Template loop detected: Question: In the spirit world after this life, will those who lived in President Hinckley's time will be bowed to?
Template loop detected: Question: Did a Catholic priest write a book in 1739 that the true church of Jesus Christ would be restored?
Template loop detected: Question: Did the co-founder of Microsoft write an editorial praising Mormons in a California newspaper?
Brigham Young's hearse used in Disneyland?
Summary: A rumor has been spread that the hearse displayed in front of Disneyland's Haunted Mansion was the hearse used in Brigham Young's funeral.Rome Italy Temple and California Prop 8
Summary: An e-mail circulating has claimed that Catholic support for a Rome Italy temple is very high because of LDS efforts around California Prop 8.Elder Bednar on Persecution to follow Mitt Romney's nomination as Republican candidate in 2012
Summary: An e-mail circulating has claimed that Elder Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve warned of persecution to follow Mitt Romney's nomination as Republican candidate for President of the United States in 2012. This claim is false.
Template loop detected: Question: Does Cain still roam the earth, and does this account for stories about "Bigfoot"?
Template loop detected: Question: Did Albert Einstein refer to Elder James E. Talmage as the smartest man he had ever met?
Template loop detected: Question: Did Rev. Frank Graham praise LDS relief efforts in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina?
Template loop detected: Question: Did Elder Russell M. Nelson talk of a friend who translated the Book of Mormon into Arabic?
Template loop detected: Question: Did President Boyd K. Packer, in a talk given in the Forest Bend Ward in Salt Lake City on 12 October 2008, say that a catastrophic event was looming in the immediate future?
Template loop detected: Question: Did Boyd K. Packer say that today's youth "generals" during the pre-mortal "war in heaven"?
Template loop detected: Question: Did the medical coordinator for the Church's Humanitarian Emergency Response warn of an impending flu pandemic?
Template loop detected: Question: In the spirit world after this life, will those who lived in President Hinckley's time will be bowed to?
Template loop detected: Question: Did a Catholic priest write a book in 1739 that the true church of Jesus Christ would be restored?
Template loop detected: Question: Did the co-founder of Microsoft write an editorial praising Mormons in a California newspaper?
Brigham Young's hearse used in Disneyland?
Summary: A rumor has been spread that the hearse displayed in front of Disneyland's Haunted Mansion was the hearse used in Brigham Young's funeral.Rome Italy Temple and California Prop 8
Summary: An e-mail circulating has claimed that Catholic support for a Rome Italy temple is very high because of LDS efforts around California Prop 8.Elder Bednar on Persecution to follow Mitt Romney's nomination as Republican candidate in 2012
Summary: An e-mail circulating has claimed that Elder Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve warned of persecution to follow Mitt Romney's nomination as Republican candidate for President of the United States in 2012. This claim is false.
Template loop detected: Question: Does Cain still roam the earth, and does this account for stories about "Bigfoot"?
Template loop detected: Question: Did Albert Einstein refer to Elder James E. Talmage as the smartest man he had ever met?
Template loop detected: Question: Did Rev. Frank Graham praise LDS relief efforts in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina?
Template loop detected: Question: Did Elder Russell M. Nelson talk of a friend who translated the Book of Mormon into Arabic?
Template loop detected: Question: Did President Boyd K. Packer, in a talk given in the Forest Bend Ward in Salt Lake City on 12 October 2008, say that a catastrophic event was looming in the immediate future?
Template loop detected: Question: Did Boyd K. Packer say that today's youth "generals" during the pre-mortal "war in heaven"?
Template loop detected: Question: Did the medical coordinator for the Church's Humanitarian Emergency Response warn of an impending flu pandemic?
Template loop detected: Question: In the spirit world after this life, will those who lived in President Hinckley's time will be bowed to?
Template loop detected: Question: Did a Catholic priest write a book in 1739 that the true church of Jesus Christ would be restored?
Template loop detected: Question: Did the co-founder of Microsoft write an editorial praising Mormons in a California newspaper?
Brigham Young's hearse used in Disneyland?
Summary: A rumor has been spread that the hearse displayed in front of Disneyland's Haunted Mansion was the hearse used in Brigham Young's funeral.Rome Italy Temple and California Prop 8
Summary: An e-mail circulating has claimed that Catholic support for a Rome Italy temple is very high because of LDS efforts around California Prop 8.Elder Bednar on Persecution to follow Mitt Romney's nomination as Republican candidate in 2012
Summary: An e-mail circulating has claimed that Elder Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve warned of persecution to follow Mitt Romney's nomination as Republican candidate for President of the United States in 2012. This claim is false.
Template loop detected: Question: Does Cain still roam the earth, and does this account for stories about "Bigfoot"?
Template loop detected: Question: Did Albert Einstein refer to Elder James E. Talmage as the smartest man he had ever met?
Template loop detected: Question: Did Rev. Frank Graham praise LDS relief efforts in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina?
Template loop detected: Question: Did Elder Russell M. Nelson talk of a friend who translated the Book of Mormon into Arabic?
Template loop detected: Question: Did President Boyd K. Packer, in a talk given in the Forest Bend Ward in Salt Lake City on 12 October 2008, say that a catastrophic event was looming in the immediate future?
Template loop detected: Question: Did Boyd K. Packer say that today's youth "generals" during the pre-mortal "war in heaven"?
Template loop detected: Question: Did the medical coordinator for the Church's Humanitarian Emergency Response warn of an impending flu pandemic?
Template loop detected: Question: In the spirit world after this life, will those who lived in President Hinckley's time will be bowed to?
Template loop detected: Question: Did a Catholic priest write a book in 1739 that the true church of Jesus Christ would be restored?
Template loop detected: Question: Did the co-founder of Microsoft write an editorial praising Mormons in a California newspaper?
Brigham Young's hearse used in Disneyland?
Summary: A rumor has been spread that the hearse displayed in front of Disneyland's Haunted Mansion was the hearse used in Brigham Young's funeral.Rome Italy Temple and California Prop 8
Summary: An e-mail circulating has claimed that Catholic support for a Rome Italy temple is very high because of LDS efforts around California Prop 8.Elder Bednar on Persecution to follow Mitt Romney's nomination as Republican candidate in 2012
Summary: An e-mail circulating has claimed that Elder Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve warned of persecution to follow Mitt Romney's nomination as Republican candidate for President of the United States in 2012. This claim is false.
Template loop detected: Question: Does Cain still roam the earth, and does this account for stories about "Bigfoot"?
Template loop detected: Question: Did Albert Einstein refer to Elder James E. Talmage as the smartest man he had ever met?
Template loop detected: Question: Did Rev. Frank Graham praise LDS relief efforts in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina?
Template loop detected: Question: Did Elder Russell M. Nelson talk of a friend who translated the Book of Mormon into Arabic?
Template loop detected: Question: Did President Boyd K. Packer, in a talk given in the Forest Bend Ward in Salt Lake City on 12 October 2008, say that a catastrophic event was looming in the immediate future?
Template loop detected: Question: Did Boyd K. Packer say that today's youth "generals" during the pre-mortal "war in heaven"?
Template loop detected: Question: Did the medical coordinator for the Church's Humanitarian Emergency Response warn of an impending flu pandemic?
Template loop detected: Question: In the spirit world after this life, will those who lived in President Hinckley's time will be bowed to?
Template loop detected: Question: Did a Catholic priest write a book in 1739 that the true church of Jesus Christ would be restored?
Template loop detected: Question: Did the co-founder of Microsoft write an editorial praising Mormons in a California newspaper?
Brigham Young's hearse used in Disneyland?
Summary: A rumor has been spread that the hearse displayed in front of Disneyland's Haunted Mansion was the hearse used in Brigham Young's funeral.Rome Italy Temple and California Prop 8
Summary: An e-mail circulating has claimed that Catholic support for a Rome Italy temple is very high because of LDS efforts around California Prop 8.Elder Bednar on Persecution to follow Mitt Romney's nomination as Republican candidate in 2012
Summary: An e-mail circulating has claimed that Elder Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve warned of persecution to follow Mitt Romney's nomination as Republican candidate for President of the United States in 2012. This claim is false.
Template loop detected: Question: Does Cain still roam the earth, and does this account for stories about "Bigfoot"?
Template loop detected: Question: Did Albert Einstein refer to Elder James E. Talmage as the smartest man he had ever met?
Template loop detected: Question: Did Rev. Frank Graham praise LDS relief efforts in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina?
Template loop detected: Question: Did Elder Russell M. Nelson talk of a friend who translated the Book of Mormon into Arabic?
Template loop detected: Question: Did President Boyd K. Packer, in a talk given in the Forest Bend Ward in Salt Lake City on 12 October 2008, say that a catastrophic event was looming in the immediate future?
Template loop detected: Question: Did Boyd K. Packer say that today's youth "generals" during the pre-mortal "war in heaven"?
Template loop detected: Question: Did the medical coordinator for the Church's Humanitarian Emergency Response warn of an impending flu pandemic?
Template loop detected: Question: In the spirit world after this life, will those who lived in President Hinckley's time will be bowed to?
Template loop detected: Question: Did a Catholic priest write a book in 1739 that the true church of Jesus Christ would be restored?
Template loop detected: Question: Did the co-founder of Microsoft write an editorial praising Mormons in a California newspaper?
Brigham Young's hearse used in Disneyland?
Summary: A rumor has been spread that the hearse displayed in front of Disneyland's Haunted Mansion was the hearse used in Brigham Young's funeral.Rome Italy Temple and California Prop 8
Summary: An e-mail circulating has claimed that Catholic support for a Rome Italy temple is very high because of LDS efforts around California Prop 8.Elder Bednar on Persecution to follow Mitt Romney's nomination as Republican candidate in 2012
Summary: An e-mail circulating has claimed that Elder Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve warned of persecution to follow Mitt Romney's nomination as Republican candidate for President of the United States in 2012. This claim is false.
Template loop detected: Question: Does Cain still roam the earth, and does this account for stories about "Bigfoot"?
Template loop detected: Question: Did Albert Einstein refer to Elder James E. Talmage as the smartest man he had ever met?
Template loop detected: Question: Did Rev. Frank Graham praise LDS relief efforts in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina?
Template loop detected: Question: Did Elder Russell M. Nelson talk of a friend who translated the Book of Mormon into Arabic?
Template loop detected: Question: Did President Boyd K. Packer, in a talk given in the Forest Bend Ward in Salt Lake City on 12 October 2008, say that a catastrophic event was looming in the immediate future?
Template loop detected: Question: Did Boyd K. Packer say that today's youth "generals" during the pre-mortal "war in heaven"?
Template loop detected: Question: Did the medical coordinator for the Church's Humanitarian Emergency Response warn of an impending flu pandemic?
Template loop detected: Question: In the spirit world after this life, will those who lived in President Hinckley's time will be bowed to?
Template loop detected: Question: Did a Catholic priest write a book in 1739 that the true church of Jesus Christ would be restored?
Template loop detected: Question: Did the co-founder of Microsoft write an editorial praising Mormons in a California newspaper?
Brigham Young's hearse used in Disneyland?
Summary: A rumor has been spread that the hearse displayed in front of Disneyland's Haunted Mansion was the hearse used in Brigham Young's funeral.Rome Italy Temple and California Prop 8
Summary: An e-mail circulating has claimed that Catholic support for a Rome Italy temple is very high because of LDS efforts around California Prop 8.Elder Bednar on Persecution to follow Mitt Romney's nomination as Republican candidate in 2012
Summary: An e-mail circulating has claimed that Elder Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve warned of persecution to follow Mitt Romney's nomination as Republican candidate for President of the United States in 2012. This claim is false.
Template loop detected: Question: Does Cain still roam the earth, and does this account for stories about "Bigfoot"?
Template loop detected: Question: Did Albert Einstein refer to Elder James E. Talmage as the smartest man he had ever met?
Template loop detected: Question: Did Rev. Frank Graham praise LDS relief efforts in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina?
Template loop detected: Question: Did Elder Russell M. Nelson talk of a friend who translated the Book of Mormon into Arabic?
Template loop detected: Question: Did President Boyd K. Packer, in a talk given in the Forest Bend Ward in Salt Lake City on 12 October 2008, say that a catastrophic event was looming in the immediate future?
Template loop detected: Question: Did Boyd K. Packer say that today's youth "generals" during the pre-mortal "war in heaven"?
Template loop detected: Question: Did the medical coordinator for the Church's Humanitarian Emergency Response warn of an impending flu pandemic?
Template loop detected: Question: In the spirit world after this life, will those who lived in President Hinckley's time will be bowed to?
Template loop detected: Question: Did a Catholic priest write a book in 1739 that the true church of Jesus Christ would be restored?
Template loop detected: Question: Did the co-founder of Microsoft write an editorial praising Mormons in a California newspaper?
Brigham Young's hearse used in Disneyland?
Summary: A rumor has been spread that the hearse displayed in front of Disneyland's Haunted Mansion was the hearse used in Brigham Young's funeral.Rome Italy Temple and California Prop 8
Summary: An e-mail circulating has claimed that Catholic support for a Rome Italy temple is very high because of LDS efforts around California Prop 8.Elder Bednar on Persecution to follow Mitt Romney's nomination as Republican candidate in 2012
Summary: An e-mail circulating has claimed that Elder Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve warned of persecution to follow Mitt Romney's nomination as Republican candidate for President of the United States in 2012. This claim is false.
Brigham Young's hearse used in Disneyland?
Summary: A rumor has been spread that the hearse displayed in front of Disneyland's Haunted Mansion was the hearse used in Brigham Young's funeral.Rome Italy Temple and California Prop 8
Summary: An e-mail circulating has claimed that Catholic support for a Rome Italy temple is very high because of LDS efforts around California Prop 8.Elder Bednar on Persecution to follow Mitt Romney's nomination as Republican candidate in 2012
Summary: An e-mail circulating has claimed that Elder Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve warned of persecution to follow Mitt Romney's nomination as Republican candidate for President of the United States in 2012. This claim is false.
Answer
Never take faith-promoting stories circulated in chain email messages at face value. Check the sources carefully.
“I would earnestly urge that no such idle gossip be spread abroad without making certain as to whether or not it is true....As I say, it never ceases to amaze me how gullible some of our Church members are in broadcasting these sensational stories, or dreams, or visions, some alleged to have been given to Church leaders, past or present, supposedly from some person's private diary, without first verifying the report with proper Church authorities.” - Harold B. Lee[1]
As early Church historian and member of the Seventy B.H. Roberts noted:
- I find my own heart strengthened in the truth by getting rid of the untruth, the spectacular, the bizarre, as soon as I learn that it is based upon worthless testimony.[2]
Notes
- ↑ Harold B. Lee, "Admonitions for the Priesthood of God," Ensign (January 1973): 105.
- ↑ B.H. Roberts, original letter in Church Archives; see Deseret Evening News (26 June 1926); cited by Truman G. Madsen, Defender of the Faith: The B. H. Roberts Story (Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft, 1980), 363. GL direct link