I appreciate the opportunity to speak at the Sunstone Theological Symposium on the pillars of my faith as a Mormon.

For some people it may seem a contradiction for me to proclaim my Mormon faith since I was excommunicated eleven months ago.

I want to begin with a statement of what I am not seeking to do.

First, I am not playing word games. When I say that I regard Joseph Smith as a prophet in the same way Moses was,

I am fatically mean that both Joseph Smith and Moses talked with God face to face,

and received the words of God through a process we call revelation.

When I say that I believe the goal plates of the Book of Mormon were as literal as the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments,

I mean that both were physical objects that could be and were touched by human beings,

despite the other worldly dimensions of these two artifacts.

My faith is more literal than some are willing to credit.

Second, I am not seeking a following quote-unquote.

Aside from my hope to be regarded as sincere, even by those who disagree with me, I don't want followers.

My hope is that people will follow the will of God for them wherever that may take them.

Third, I am not seeking to reform the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or to bring about changes in its policies.

There are things about current LDS policies that I wish were different, but it's possible God doesn't share my point of view.

If there is a need for reform or change in the LDS Church, then it is the responsibility of God's prophets, seers, and revelators

to have the active faith to obtain His will, the compassion to see the pain and struggles of the least of God's children,

and the courage to make needed changes.

Fourth, I am not trying to portray myself as a good guy while dismissing the leaders of the Church as bad guys.

This includes the one or two who for years branded me as an apostate Mormon historian and sought to bring about my excommunication.

I've disagreed with LDS leaders about certain matters, but I've always regarded them as better men than I've ever been.

Fifth, I have researched and publicly examined problem areas of the Mormon past, but not to embarrass the current LDS Church or its leadership,

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