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About


Kerry Shirts, The Backyard Professor, was a popular LDS Apologist who defended the Church and its truth claims. He was one of the founders of FAIR (Formerly FairMormon, Formerly FAIR) an apologetic organization defending Mormonism, answering critical claims, and helping Latter-day Saints find faithful answers to their questions. Kerry served as the director of research for FAIR. That is until he no longer believed in the truth claims of Mormonism.  Years later he is back and excited to share with you his insights and understanding of Mormonism on this side of things.

15 thoughts on “About”

  1. Randy Schwalbe

    Hello Kerry Shirts –

    I am a big fan of your chess videos, and I have also viewed several of your other videos on philosophy and other religions and even culinary ventures in the kitchen, all very thought-provoking.

    As the Worship Committee chair of the lay-led Unitarian Universalist Community of Cambria here on the central coast of California, I am extending an invitation to you to speak at one of our services next year on a Sunday convenient for you. We run hybrid services on Zoom, so you would have the option of speaking remotely or, if you and yours are interested in visiting the central coast as our guests, in-person.

    You would be delivering a 25 + minute talk on a topic connected, directly or indirectly, to any of our seven principles. Exploring other religions is also a favorite subject line of ours.

    UU Seven Principles

    We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote:

    The inherent worth and dignity of every person
    Justice, equity and compassion in human relations
    Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations
    A free and responsible search for truth and meaning
    The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large
    The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all
    Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part

    Please let me know if you would be willing and able to join us.

    In the meantime, I leave you with this game I found in a chess book written by Horowitz. He did not include the date of the game. He titled it “A Curious Monster” but I think my title is better suited for this game.

    And pardon me if you have already covered this game–I searched your collection to no avail, so if this is new to you, I’m sure you will get a kick out of it. I would love to see how you analyze this gem.

    Thanks.
    – Randy Schwalbe, UUCC Worship Committee Chair

    ranmaryschwalbe@gmail.com
    805-927-5003
    http://www.uuccambria.org

    A Regal of Queens (early 1920s)

    This Game ends with five queens on the board.
    You will need two extra white queens and one extra black queen.

    Alexander Alekhine (white) vs Wladimir Grigorieff (black)

    1. e4 e6
    2. d4 d5
    3. Nc3 Nf6
    4. Bg5 Bb4
    5. e5 h6
    6. exf6 hxg5
    7. fxg7 Rg8
    8. h4 gxh4
    9. Qg4 Be7
    10. g3 c5
    11. gxh4 cxd4
    12. h5 dxc3
    13. h6 cxb2
    14. Rb1 Qa5+
    15. Ke2 Qxa2
    16. h7 Qxb1
    17. hxg8 – Q+ Kd7
    18. Qxf7 Qxc2+
    19. Kf3 Nc6
    20. fQxe6+ Kc7
    21. Qf4+ Kb6
    22. Qe3+ Bc5
    23. g8 – Q b1 – Q
    24. Rh6! Qxf1
    25. Qb4+ Qb5
    26. Qd8+ Ka6
    27. eQa3+ resigns

  2. Randy Schwalbe

    Hello Kerry Shirts – I am a big fan of your chess videos, and I have also viewed several of your other videos on philosophy and other religions and even culinary ventures in the kitchen, all very thought-provoking. As the Worship Committee chair of the lay-led Unitarian Universalist Community of Cambria here on the central coast of California, I am extending an invitation to you to speak at one of our services next year on a Sunday convenient for you. We run hybrid services on Zoom, so you would have the option of speaking remotely or, if you and yours are interested in visiting the central coast as our guests, in-person. You would be delivering a 25 + minute talk on a topic connected, directly or indirectly, to any of our seven principles. Exploring other religions is also a favorite subject line of ours. UU Seven Principles We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote: The inherent worth and dignity of every person Justice, equity and compassion in human relations Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations A free and responsible search for truth and meaning The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part Please let me know if you would be willing and able to join us. In the meantime, I leave you with this game I found in a chess book written by Horowitz. He did not include the date of the game. He titled it “A Curious Monster” but I think my title is better suited for this game. And pardon me if you have already covered this game–I searched your collection to no avail, so if this is new to you, I’m sure you will get a kick out of it. I would love to see how you analyze this gem. Thanks. – Randy Schwalbe, UUCC Worship Committee Chair ranmaryschwalbe@gmail.com 805-927-5003 http://www.uuccambria.org A Regal of Queens (early 1920s) This Game ends with five queens on the board. You will need two extra white queens and one extra black queen. Alexander Alekhine (white) vs Wladimir Grigorieff (black) 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 5. e5 h6 6. exf6 hxg5 7. fxg7 Rg8 8. h4 gxh4 9. Qg4 Be7 10. g3 c5 11. gxh4 cxd4 12. h5 dxc3 13. h6 cxb2 14. Rb1 Qa5+ 15. Ke2 Qxa2 16. h7 Qxb1 17. hxg8 – Q+ Kd7 18. Qxf7 Qxc2+ 19. Kf3 Nc6 20. fQxe6+ Kc7 21. Qf4+ Kb6 22. Qe3+ Bc5 23. g8 – Q b1 – Q 24. Rh6! Qxf1 25. Qb4+ Qb5 26. Qd8+ Ka6 27. eQa3+ resigns

    1. Kerry Shirts

      Hi Randy,
      Sorry so long in responding! Yes I would be very interested in giving a sermon sometime next year. Lets talk more.
      Best,
      Kerry Shirts
      P.S. I am still getting used to my new dashboard and am not doing very well, thank you for your patience!

  4. Ian

    Kerry, I love your podcast and really enjoyed the recent episode about the gospel connections to the Dionysian groups. Especially the connection of the Christian sacrament as basically a copy of a Dionysian ritual of eating the flesh of god to gain some of his power.

    There is a recent book called “The Immortality Key” by Brian Muraresku that I think you would find fascinating. It’s along this same topic and shows evidence that the wine of Dionysus and Jesus was not just simple wine but also very likely had other plant substances mixed in to assist in creating a psychedelic and mystical experience. I would love to hear your thoughts about this book and the connections to what you discussed in this recent episode. I hope I get to hear you talk about this subject in more depth. Love the podcast!

    1. Kerry Shirts

      Muraresku is one of my favorite authors! GREAT reading! I purchased about 12 books out of his bibliography, many of them being Carl Ruck’s another astonishingly fantastic author to read!

  8. James Staples V

    I just heard you on Mythvision , loved you. our stories are too much alike. I was ex’d for “Apostacy and Being a Serious Threat to The Church” I was # 2 in the Ross Lebaron tribe, Long story,[ no other wives Thank All Hells”]
    Have seriously gone into the left hand path but love watch the Sacred Ship Zion going Titanic . I would love to discuss with you, if Mythvision, whatever. My Grandfather was the Last son of a last plural wife . He was sent by Joseph S. Smith to Secret Sealing” Missions in B.C. He was promised a Seat on the New Council of 50 he was going to re-assemble . but then he died and Heber J. Grant,/ Who his wife adored do to his mission visits as an Apostle in Florida— he hated, for all the right reasons. The very people who hid and sheltered him as a new Polygamist
    Apostle {by Direct Revelationary Demend} sheltered him until he could escape on a mission to Japan he put them in prison with a vengance. Got more to say. But hit me up if ye wisheth. !

    1. James Staples V

      OOps, I am living in Missouri, and have had terrible experiance with the Allred Polygamist cult branch settled near Stockten missouri, I currently Live in Marceline. my 2nd long term tour of this shitfield battle ground. Also, do not for to discuss how the Danites stole the Chillicothe Militias Cannon while threatening “ethnic purge actions” , which is why Hauns Mill became the first possible place to find it. Not ever covered in Church History. 93’s Brother

    2. Kerry Shirts

      You are better off. THEY call it apostasy, I call it achieving the further light and knowledge Father promised. And my perspective is more valid and correct. I don’t allow them to use their labels on me at all anymore.

  10. psm

    Kerry,

    Thank you so much for your time and hard work, on your Mormon Stories Podcast episode. The visuals and the organization really helped me put the timeline in place regarding the Book of A. For the last 5 years I have been gathering info and perspective on the matter. Your presentation really brought it all together and a light turned on for me.

    It was extremely inspiring and informative. Sending you my respect and adoration. Your lectures really come to life with the visual accommodation and I hope you can put a few more together in the future (but at this point I am quite used to you shoving books up against the camera lol.)

    Thanks again you are loved brotha.

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