LIVE BLOG: How to Get into Heaven (According to Mormons) at UC Davis

Refresh the page to get the latest updates on the presentation. Newest updates at the top. Our original story became a magnet for debate. Read that story here. 

“Ted Cox returns to Davis for an entertaining, informative, and provocative presentation on his insider experience as a Mormon. You'll learn the four secret handshakes to get into heaven, the real reason Mormons didn't ordain black priests, and why Mormons can't tell you what goes on in the temple.”

I'm typing quickly, so please pardon typos. Quotes are paraphrased. 

9:00 - That's a wrap. What did you think of the discussion?

8:56 - I think it’s the most forgiving and incorporating theology. A lot of times with Christians it’s black and white: Believe in Jesus or you’re going to hell. With Mormonism, I felt it was more of a level playing field.

It can seem like a very strict and damning theology, but if you dive in, there’s a lot of forgiveness and incorporation of the human race as a whole. 

8:50 - Cox: 10 minutes left: We’re going out for Pizza and beer after this. “You guys can have Sprite … If you have beer, I won’t tell anyone.” (Chuckles)

8:45 - Question: Do you think it's becoming more acceptive? 

Mormon 1: There has been a tidal wave of people leaving church as they learn new things. As that happens, people are realizing that people just have to be true to themselves.

Mormon 2: I say that the church either needs to start accepting dissenters more or they will lose more people. BYU: The honor code pissed me off. It was almost Nazi like. I got kicked out for a year. Yes, there are problems. They either will be addressed or this will be a major roadblock.

8:40 - Question: What, if anything, has shaken your faith? 

Answer: Church policies, verses that I thought were anti-Semitic. If you’re rational and don’t have any sort of supernatural experience, then there’s no way for you to believe in this stuff.

There are many things in Mormon doctrine that are brought up in your life (Blacks, women, etc.) that I’ve struggled with. You have to have to deal with it and have a bigger basis. 

8:37 - Missions: Very regimented time. Nothing more with the opposite sex than a handshake. No swimming (which is hard in Costa Rica). There's a rule book, and there's a "Mission President." A lot of it varies. Mision president is very powerful. Mother's Day and Christmas are the only times you can call home.

No swimming: Obscure verse about Satan owning the waters. But insurance issues and temptation are big reasons. 

Editor's Note: The conversation is very interesting, respectful, and often times funny. (Both "sides" laughing). 

8:31 - Question: When prop 8 was on the ballot, was it brought up (often in church)? 

Practicing Mormon 1: Oh gosh, we got his from all sides. I didn’t participate. My best friend from childhood turned out to be gay. Several family members who were gay. I didn’t have it in me to put much heart or support in it.

Practicing Mormon 2: There are a lot of Mormons that went the other way on this. The Mormons were not united on this. The church gave a directive to support it, but it wasn’t universal. There’s a prevailing culture, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t dissenters. I don’t think they should be involved in any politics.

Cox: It was more than a letter. They took active steps … The Mormon church was the bit contributor behind Prop 8. To say otherwise (is false). 

8:25 - When you start to deviate from what you were raised as… Some people still have relationships with kids who leave the church. Others don’t. I think that’s universal across the board. Across faiths.

I hate the us-vs-them part of being in a community like this. I remember seeing friends as a six-year-old whose friends were drinking coffee. Thinking they were evil in my six-year-old mind. Of course, I grew out of that.  

8:21 - Practicing Mormon: “The idea that you will live eternally Some people really dig that … It’s not for everybody.” 

8:17 - I baptized 37 people on my mission. Between my two brothers, they didn't baptize anybody. Most of the baptizing happens in South America. Young women. The baptism rate among teenage girls is like quadruple anything else... "and you have to be celibate." 

8:07 - Audience member asked about how the lives of the ex-Mormons have changed. Cox: "I was a Sunday School teacher, teaching about something I didn't believe in." Paraphrasing: My parents came to visit and go to church. I told them. From what I understand, it's a lot like coming out. My mom cried. My dad thought it was a phase. I thought I had deceived. I was a 20-year-old virgin who had never drank alcohol. I felt like I needed to make up for lost time... and I did. (Laughter) 

8:06 - One of the practicing Mormons said: Some people say, if you want to hear about Mormonism, go talk to a Mormon. That's like saying: if you want to learn about Toyotas, go to a Toyota dealer. Well, what do you think a Toyota dealer's going to tell you? 

8:03 - Satan's Plan in Mormonism: Everyone will do everything right, but I want all of the glory for myself. Humans lose freewill, but they do make it into Heaven. So, everyone still gets into Heaven, but Satan gets the glory. And humans lose freewill. 

8:00 - Any enforcement on the tithing policy, or is it just a trust system? Practicing Mormon said it's an honor system. 

7:55 - Joseph Smith would marry the wives of other men. His first wife was a 14-year-old girl. Blood oaths and swears to secrecy were his ways to keep people quiet about polygamy, Cox said. That's why he included even the most "secret" things. 

7:53 - "There was a lot of talk that was essentially to malign our characters. I feel compelled to ask, Ted, if you can explain what would be the purpose of including the most secret things that have sparked these feelings." 

7:47 - One practicing Mormon said most of the presentation was fair, but the decision to reveal what happens in the temple as in "poor taste." He said he wasn't necessarily offended. But Mormons take it very seriously. 

Panel of speakers for the Q&A: One ex-Mormon male, two current Mormon males, an ex-Mormon female and a “deconverted” male.

Next is a Q&A. 

7:40 - "If there are any Mormons who are having doubts, you're not alone." Cautioned against getting informations from Evangelical Christians, who he said will distort. ldsendowment.org, exmormon.org, lifeaftermormonism.net. Also Facebook.com/TedCoxWriter. 

7:37 - Just said thanks to everyone for coming, and is now offering other information. Check out lbs.org and mormon.org for more information. 

7:36 - Aren't Mormons good people. "They always have their shit together," he quoted. "Mormons are good people." He's now explaining good things that he feels people should keep in mind while thinking about Mormons. 

7:34 - "We've all had some good laughs tonight at the expense of Mormons." Is the idea of a Virgin Mary giving birth to Jesus any more ridiculous? [He's making similar comparisons across faiths]. "I am a fan of Mormonism. It fascinates me." 

7:30 - Now discussing Free Masonry. Joseph Smith became Master Mason in 1842. A few weeks later he produced a new endowment ceremony. Cox is showing similarities between the Masons and Mormons. Comparing symbols, handshakes, rituals, etc. 

7:27 - "Temple is very peaceful. It's a very quiet place. People speak in whispers. It's supposed to represent that joy, that harmony, that oneness with God." 

7:26 - He's showing snapshots from the original Davis Patch article. Quoting Mormons who were "pissed off" about the event. 

7:20 - Now I know Mormons say they're happy ... but if no one's ever gone down on you?"

7:17 - Talking about Prop 8 and Mormon opposition to the Equal Rights Act. 

7:13 - "The Garden of Eden is somewhere near Jackson County, Mo.," according to the Mormon faith, Cox said.  

7:11 - Video about undergarments, featuring football player Steve Young. 

7:00 - Famous people who have been baptized after death: Gary Coleman, Babe Ruth, Lee Harvey Oswald, Nicole Brown Simpson, George Carlin, and more at famousdeadmormons.com. Hitler as well. "Hey, everyone deserves a second chance, right," Cox said. 

6:30ish - Ted edited image of pepper spray cop into an image of Jesus visiting America. It got a lot of laughs, according to an attendee. 

6:00 - The event begins at 6, but I'll be there around 6:20 and will begin the live blog upon arrival.

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