Author: Eric Johnson
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Splinter Group: The Community of Christ
Summary The Community of Christ is the largest church following Joseph Smith after The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). This is a religion that does not place much emphasis on theology as much as it does on social justice issues, including an emphasis on striving for world peace, feeding the hungry,…
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4 Important Reasons Why Nobody Should Pray About a Personal Testimony…Ever
There appears to be nothing more important to a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints than having a personal “testimony” confirming the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and, ultimately, the LDS religion itself. Some refer to receiving this personal testimony as a “burning in the bosom.” The term comes from…
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Splinter Group: Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS)
Viewpoint on Mormonism did a three-part series on the FLDS that aired on September 2-4, 2020, including an interview with missionary Brodie Olson who lives among the FLDS people. Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Introduction The face of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS) has changed dramatically since Warren Jeffs,…
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Splinter Group: Apostolic United Brethren
Updated 5/21/2025 Check out a 2-part Viewpoint on Mormonism series that originally aired September 28-29, 2020 Part 1 Part 2 Church Name Apostolic United Brethren. Other names include “Allred Group,” “AUB,” “The Work,” “The Group,” and “The Priesthood” Founder Rulon C. Allred (1906-1977) in 1954 Current Leader Lynn A. Thompson (1940-2021) was the leader from…
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Splinter Group: Church of Christ (Hedrickites, Temple Lot)
For a Viewpoint on Mormonism 2-part series on this religion that aired August 31-September 1, 2020, click the following: Part 1 Part 2 Church Name Church of Christ (Temple Lot). Most local congregations include “(Temple Lot)” after “Church of Christ” to distinguish it from other “Church of Christ” denominations. Founder Granville Hedrick (1814-1881)—the church claims…
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Splinter Group: Latter Day Church of Christ (Davis County Cooperative Society, United Order)
Summary One of the most controversial splinter groups of Mormonism, the Latter Day Church of Christ, has been led by members of the Kingston family since it was founded in 1935. The church has received notoriety in two main areas: 1) A polygamous lifestyle and emphasis on arranged incestuous marriages between close relatives, and 2)…
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Doesn’t the Apostle Paul Say There Were Three Degrees of Glory?
The following is from chapter 30 in Answering Mormons’ Questions (Kregel, 2013). To get additional help in answering LDS questions, we recommend purchasing the book. Click here to see more. The three heavens described in Doctrine and Covenants section 76 are called the celestial, terrestrial, and telestial kingdoms. First Corinthians 15:40–41 is used to support…
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Why Should You Trust the Bible When It Has So Many “Contradictions”?
By Bill McKeever and Eric Johnson The following is from chapter 26 in Answering Mormons’ Questions (Kregel, 2013). To get additional help in answering LDS questions, we recommend purchasing the book. Click here to see more. Biblical “contradictions” are often cited by skeptical Latter-day Saints as evidence that the Bible should not be considered trustworthy. While there are…
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Doesn’t the book of James say that “faith without works is dead”?
The following is from chapter 19 in Answering Mormons’ Questions (Kregel, 2013). To get additional help in answering LDS questions, we recommend purchasing the book. Click here to see more. Leaders from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint throughout the years have stressed the importance of good works in order to become exalted and…
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How Can You Believe in a God Who Would Send His Children to an Eternal Hell?
The following is from chapter 18 in Answering Mormons’ Questions (Kregel, 2013). To get additional help in answering LDS questions, we recommend purchasing the book. Click here to see more. The traditional view of eternal punishment in hell is rejected in Mormon theology. Apostle John A. Widtsoe said, “In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,…
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Why Not Just Promote What You Believe and Not Judge Our Faith?
The following is from chapter 9 in Answering Mormons’ Questions (Kregel, 2013). To get additional help in answering LDS questions, we recommend purchasing the book. Click here to see more. Is making a judgment always wrong? If not, is it wrong to critique what Christians believe to be doctrinal error? A common proof text cited…
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If the LDS Church Is Not True, Which One Is?
The following is from chapter 7 in Answering Mormons’ Questions (Kregel, 2013). To get additional help in answering LDS questions, we recommend purchasing the book. Click here to see more. In a fall 2011 general conference address, Tad R. Callister, a member of the Presidency of the Seventy, said, “Have you ever wondered why there are…
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Should Mormons Be Considered “Christians” Because the Name Jesus Is in Their Church’s Title?
The following is from chapter 3 in Answering Mormons’ Questions (Kregel, 2013). To get additional help in answering LDS questions, we recommend purchasing the book. Click here to see more. Generally, Mormons believe their church should be considered Christian. After all, they like to point out how the name of Jesus is in their church’s…
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Splinter Group: The Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonites)
Updated 5/21/2025 Check out a 3-part Viewpoint on Mormonism series that originally aired September 30-October 2, 2020 Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Summary The Church of Jesus Christ is the only religious movement in existence today that can be traced directly to Sidney Rigdon, a man who had an intimate relationship with Mormonism…
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7 Splinter Groups of the LDS Church Movement
While The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is by far the largest group that claims Joseph Smith, Jr. as its founder, there have been more than 100 splinter groups over the past two centuries. While many of them no longer exist, some do. Although the purpose of Mormonism Research Ministry focuses on the…
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I Am a Christian Who Has Never Been Mormon. Why Should I Care About Sharing My Faith With Latter-Day Saints?
“Why do you care about Mormons when you have never been one?” This might be the most common question I get asked in public by curious Latter-day Saints. They explain to me how they do not understand why I, as a Bible-believing Christian, should have any interest in dedicating my time to studying Mormonism (and…
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Do Nicknames for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Offend Jesus?
In 2018, Russell M. Nelson, the 17th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, claimed that Jesus is offended whenever shortcut terms are used in reference to the church, its teachings, or its people. The “style guide” was also revised to advise against using the terms “LDS,” “Mormon,” and “Mormonism.” Speaking at…
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7 Ways Jeffrey R. Holland’s April 2020 Conference Talk Attacks Christianity and its Followers
For a 3-part Viewpoint on Mormonism series that aired August 26-28, 2020, click these links: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Most of the talks delivered at the April 2020 General Conference focused on the bicentennial of Joseph Smith’s “First Vision” of God the Father and Jesus, the Book of Mormon, and a series of…
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Book Review: The Divine Gift of Forgiveness by Apostle Neil L. Andersen
The Divine Gift of Forgiveness and The Miracle of Forgiveness: Changing Mormon Theology? Or Just More of the Same? A closer look at two books written by two LDS apostles five decades apart Reviewed by Eric Johnson Article Summary Over the years some Latter-day Saints have expressed their disapproval with The Miracle of Forgiveness–one of…