Author: Eric Johnson
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Review of Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Lorenzo Snow
Reviewed by Eric Johnson During 2013, LDS members will be studying the latest manual published by their church, Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Lorenzo Snow. We will evaluate this book regularly, chapter by chapter, by showing interesting quotes and providing an Evangelical Christian take on this manual. * [Chapter 20: The Kingdom of God…
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Two men for every three women?
In Utah, the issue of polygamy is a very sensitive topic. Should the topic of one man marrying more than one wife somehow come up in a conversation, watch the eyes roll and folks run away from the conversation. So, needless to say, this is not an issue generally dealt with over the picket fence.…
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One of the Fastest Growing Churches?
How often have we heard the claim that the growth of Mormonism proves it is a true religion? Honestly, too many times to count. It is insinuated that the LDS Church’s size and success in getting people to join its church are factors that are somehow supposed to lend credibility to the religion’s truthfulness. We…
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Viewpoint on Mormonism (Radio Show and Podcast)
Archive: To hear all the shows since July 2011.Viewpoint on Mormonism past broadcasts catalogClick here to subscribe with iTunesRSS Feed
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Determining the topics for conference talks
Apostle Holland claims that the talks at General Conference are not orchastrated or assigned. Yet there seems to be very specific themes running through the past two conferences. Could this just be coincidence? Or could it be something more?
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Bосемь Mифов Mормонов. (Eight Mormon Myths–Russian)
Bосемь Mифов Mормонов. Билл Маккивер Миф # 1: Церковь Мормонов самая быстрорастущая религия в мире. Явное количество приверженцев Католицизма и Ислама делает иx, несомненно, самыми быстрорастущими религиями в мире только по коэффициенту рождаемости в одиночку. Миф # 2: Церковь Святых Последних Дней (ЦСПД) не имеет оплачиваемое пастырство. Всем главным авторитетам служащим в Церкви Святых Последних…
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Pushing the Temple (and Tithing) on the People
In the last General Conference held in April 2011, three leaders of the LDS Church made a concerted effort to reiterate the importance of the temple. Saying that three new LDS temples were announced at the conference and 26 others under construction, President Thomas S. Monson declared on April 2, “If you have not yet…
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End of the world…as we know it?
Although some may take delight in poking fun at 90-year-old Harold Camping and his ostentatious prediction that Judgment Day will begin on Saturday, I am not one who will do so. First, some background so you can understand what I mean. In 1993, my wife and I visited my grandparents in the appropriately-named Paradise, CA.…
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Another Joseph Smith Offshoot: The New Organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
By Eric JohnsonIn recent times, dozens of new splinter groups claiming to be the true followers of Joseph Smith have cropped up, including a number who practice polygamy. There have also been many factions from the former RLDS Church. One such group formed in 2005 is called The New Organization of the Church of Jesus…
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The Bridge or the Beehive? Mormon Apologetics in a Postmodern Age
Bill McKeever and Eric Johnson Since the time Joseph Smith, Jr., founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‐day Saints (Mormon or LDS) in 1830, Christians have recognized this organization as a heretical religion that does not represent biblical teachings. Not long after Smith’s death in 1844, Brigham Young led his followers into the Salt…
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Keeping “Our Radar Focused” on the Membership
Pity the poor singles who live in the Salt Lake City area of Utah. According to an article in the Salt Lake Tribune (“Loss of young adult members spurred changes to LDS wards,” 4/27/11, p. B1), 5,000 single Latter-day Saints between the ages of 18 to 30 who gathered at the LDS Church’s Conference Center…
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Feelings surpass everything?
I’m in the Holy Land this week with 48 people—the majority are teens—as another apologist and I lead them on a trip they will never forget. Last week I asked a Mormon friend about a particular site in Israel that some are touting as evidence for the Book of Mormon. With a wipe of his…
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“Following the Prophet” = “Continuing Personal Revelation”
Over the past few years, I have read plenty of material written by faithful Latter-day Saints (none of whom have very high authority in the church) who insist that their leaders are not infallible and that LDS individuals must rely on “personal revelation” to confirm the official teachings coming from Salt Lake City. Nice try,…
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Why Grace Can Be So Hard to Receive
I was driving by a car wash near our Utah home for the fiftieth or sixtieth time and once again saw the sign hanging there. It read, “Free vacuum.” Part of me had been avoiding this for the past three months. “C’mon, Johnson, don’t be a sucker,” my rational side screamed at me. “Nothing is…
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Book Review: Shaken Faith Syndrome
Reviewed by Eric Johnson Michael R. Ash, a Mormon apologist who runs the website www.MormonFortress.com, has written a book he hopes will pacify those Latter-day Saints who are thinking about exiting the Mormon Church. He claims on the book’s back cover that “an increasing number of Latter-day Saints are encountering anti-Mormon material….Some arguments have caused…
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Lying for the Lord
Michael R. Ash’s book, Shaken Faith Syndrome, aims to reassure Mormons facing doubt. It discusses the 1890 Manifesto denying polygamy while acknowledging the continued practice, framing it as civil disobedience against persecution.
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Ecumenicalism makes me uncomfortable
My LDS neighbor, a very kind man, was excited about inviting me to an ecumenical Christmas celebration held at his local stake center, so I decided to attend the Sunday night service. For the past seven years, the choirs from the local Mormon stake in my area and a Christian church down the street alternate…
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Quit Pestering Us, Church Leaders Tell Membership in Letter
On October 24th, the LDS First Presidency (led by Prophet Thomas S. Monson) wrote several letters that were to be read in Mormon Sunday services around the world. According to examiner.com, the first letter was “likely spurred by Boyd K. Packer’s most recent General Conference talk entitled ‘Cleansing the Inner Vessel.’ Church Headquarters has been receiving an increased…
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Book Review: What Every Mormon (and Non-Mormon) Should Know: Examining Mormon History, Doctrines and Claims
Reviewed by Eric Johnson Former Mormonism Research Ministry associate Lane Thuett has teamed with Edmond Gross to put together a well-documented 500+-page book on the subject of Mormonism. The authors have pitched a winner as they utilize a great number of authoritative sources to show that Mormonism is truly much different than historical Christianity. The…
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Book Review: What Happened to the Cross? Distinctive LDS Teachings
By Eric Johnson Mormon apologist Robert Millet, a professor of ancient scripture and a former dean of Religious Education at Mormon-owned Brigham Young University, has authored dozens of books on the LDS religion. Hence, he wrote the 2007 book What Happened to the Cross? to help Mormons share their faith about the atonement of Christ,…
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