Mormonism Research Ministry

Author: Eric Johnson

  • Stela 5 and Lehi’s Vision of the Tree of Life

    Eric Johnson

    By Bill McKeever Note: The following was originally printed in the May/June 2017 edition of Mormonism Researched. To request a free subscription, please visit here. Genesis 2: 9 explains how God planted a garden east of Eden and in it were two trees, the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  Perhaps not…

  • Should I allow my child to visit a Mormon church service?

    Eric Johnson

    For more information on this topic concerning whether adults should visit a Mormon Church service, listen to a Viewpoint on Mormonism podcast that aired Feb. 6, 2017 titled Should I Visit a Mormon Church Service?  Article summary When a Christian child is invited to attend a friend’s church service at a local LDS chapel, the parent…

  • Is the Mormon Doctrine of Preexistence True?

    Eric Johnson

    Note: This article has been taken from chapter 4 (“Preexistence and the Second Estate”) in the book Mormonism 101: Examining the Religion of the Latter-day Saints (Baker, 2015), co-written by the two authors. The teaching of preexistence (also called premortality) says that “prior to their birth into mortality, all people were begotten spirit children of God…

  • Book Review: Conflict in the Quorum: Orson Pratt, Brigham Young, Joseph Smith

    Eric Johnson

    Review of Conflict in the Quorum: Orson Pratt, Brigham Young, Joseph Smith (Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 2002) by Gary James Bergera. Forget the idea that general authorities in the LDS Church have always gotten along. If anything else, reading Conflict in the Quorum by Gary James Bergera will certainly take care of that idea. In…

  • Book Review: “This is My Doctrine”: The Development of Mormon Theology

    Eric Johnson

    Review of “This is My Doctrine”: The Development of Mormon Theology (Greg Kofford Books, 2011) By Charles R. Harrell Check out the 25-part Viewpoint on Mormonism podcast series of this book that plays through the month of March and early April of 2018  Part 1  Part 2  Part 3  Part 4  Part 5 Part 6   Part 7   Part 8   Part…

  • Isaiah 29:14: Marvelous Work and the Restoration

    Eric Johnson

    Isaiah 29:14 says, Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid. Apostle LeGrand Richards writes, Well did Isaiah predict: ‘For the wisdom of their…

  • Why Are Mormons Not Allowed To Drink Coffee?

    Eric Johnson

    Mormons are not allowed to drink coffee because of the Word of Wisdom, which is a health law found in the unique LDS scripture Doctrine & Covenants 89 whereby God supposedly commanded His people to abstain from hot drinks (interpreted as coffee and tea) as well as tobacco, excessive amounts of meat, and alcoholic beverages.…

  • Seventy (Defined)

    Eric Johnson

    Seventy. A man who holds a leadership position following the positions of the First Presidency and the Apostles. Those known as the Seventies fit into eight quorums. The men belonging to the first two quorums are known as General Authorities while the others are referred to as area authorities. Return to dictionary here.

  • La Doctrina Biblica de la Trinadad

    Eric Johnson

    Por Eric Johnson La doctrina biblical de la Trinidad ha sido excesivamente criticado por muchos años.  Las objeciones por los Mormones, Los Testigos Jehová, y los Muslims pueden venir en declaraciones como estas: “No entiendo eso!” “La palabra “Trinidad” no se encuentra en la Biblia!” “No es esto algo que los paganos y herejes inventaron?” Sin…

  • Reinterpreting Moroni 10:32?

    Eric Johnson

    Note: The following was originally printed in the March/April 2017 edition of Mormonism Researched. To request a free subscription, please visit here. Listen to a 5-part Viewpoint on Mormonism podcast on this topic: Part 1   Part 2    Part 3    Part 4   Part 5  February 13-17, 2017 By Bill McKeever The writer of  the last book of the Book…

  • The First Vision: Key to Truth? A Review of Seventy Richard J. Maynes’ June 2017 Ensign article

    Eric Johnson

    There are two cornerstone events in the history of the Mormon religion that are as important as the literal resurrection of Jesus is to Christianity. Remember how the apostle Paul testified to the historicity of the raising of Jesus from the dead? He claimed in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8: 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance…

  • Apologetics Bible Tour to the Holy Land – Videos

    Eric Johnson

  • Book Review: Mormons Believe…What?! Fact and Fiction About a Rising Religion

    Eric Johnson

    Check out a five-part Viewpoint on Mormonism podcast that originally aired on March 20-24, 2017  concerning Lawrence’s book:  Part 1   Part 2   Part 3   Part 4   Part 5 Written by Gary C. Lawrence Synopsis: A Mormon pollster writes a book criticizing the views of outsiders of the Mormon Church who he believes present a wrong portrayal of…

  • Should Pastors Be Paid?

    Eric Johnson

    Some people may wonder if Christian pastors should get paid. The answer is clearly given in the Bible. There are several passages that speak specifically to this topic. First Timothy 5:17-18 says, The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For Scripture says,…

  • Was Polygamy Necessary Because the LDS Church Needed To Have Its Growth “Jump-Started”?

    Eric Johnson

    According to some Mormon apologists, polygamy instituted by the LDS Church in the 19th century was necessary in order for the church membership to grow. According to LDS pollster Gary Lawrence in his book Mormons Believe…What? Because original Christianity needed to be re-established to be the forerunner for the Second Coming of the Savior in…

  • Was Polygamy Necessary in the 19th Century Because There Were More Women Than Men?

    Eric Johnson

    If you speak to some Latter-day Saints regarding the issue of polygamy (the marriage on one man to multiple women), one of the most common arguments still used is pointing out how there were more women than men in the 19th century Utah. If that’s the case, single women needed to have a husband too. Right?  Polygamy to…

  • Am I Good Enough? Will I Make It?

    Eric Johnson

    Note: The following was originally printed in the January/February 2017 edition of Mormonism Researched. To request a free subscription, please visit here.  To listen to a 5-part Viewpoint on Mormonism series that originally aired January 2-6, 2017, click the following: Part 1  Part 2   Part 3  Part 4  Part 5   By Eric Johnson The title for this article is the actual title for…

  • Does James 1:5 Teach About Praying for a Testimony?

    Eric Johnson

    This article first appeared in the Practical Hermeneutics column of the CHRISTIAN RESEARCH JOURNAL, volume 37, number 06 (2014). There is nothing more important to a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS, Mormon) than having a personal “testimony” confirm the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and, ultimately, Mormonism.  James…

  • Commentary on Galatians 6

    Eric Johnson

    Highlighted parts are key quotes that may have been used on the radio shows 5 questions for chapter 5 (to answer before you study chapter 5) 6 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.…

  • Commentary on Galatians 5

    Eric Johnson

    Highlighted parts are key quotes that may have been used on the radio shows 5 questions for chapter 5 (to answer before you study chapter 5)   Christ Has Set Us Free 5 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.  Eric’s Commentary: Freedom…