Author: Sharon Lindbloom
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Mormons Speaking of Catholicism: Surely They Jest…?
The Mormon President of Ohio State University announced his retirement last week amidst controversy over his anti-Catholic remarks. Gordon Gee has a long history of “verbal gaffes,” but his recent comments about “those damn Catholics” apparently crossed the line. According to news reports, “’The fathers are holy on Sunday, and they’re holy hell on the…
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Mormonism and the heresy of the Anthropomorphites
Back in 2007 Mormon Apostle Jeffrey Holland gave a talk at General Conference titled, “The Only True God and Jesus Christ Whom He Hath Sent.” In this address, Mr. Holland denounced the Christian doctrine of the Trinity in what some have called a “demeaning and misleading” way. Because the new Mormon Church curriculum for youth,…
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The Delicate Balance of Mormon Church History
The June 2013 issue of New Era magazine (for Mormon youth) includes an article by LDS Seventy Steven E. Snow, “Balancing Church History.” The focus of the article is on warning Mormon young people about faith-challenging historical information they may encounter on the Internet, and encouraging them to be prepared for these encounters. Mr. Snow…
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The Distinctive Restoration Plan of Salvation
On May 16, 2013 Meridian Magazine (online) published an article by Mormon author Wallace Goddard titled, “The Restoration Plan of Salvation: ‘It Came From God!’” Dr. Goddard’s article is aimed at proving the superior beauty and cohesiveness of the Mormon gospel as compared to any others. He writes, “It is my intent to help us…
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In Mormonism God is a Saved Soul
In the 1974 October General Conference of the Mormon Church Marion G. Romney (Second Counselor in the First Presidency) said, “I am going to talk about some of the very fundamentals of the gospel of Jesus Christ of great importance… “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints affirms as its Third Article of Faith:…
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Elizabeth Smart’s Courage Within the Tragedy of Mormonism
Elizabeth Smart was kidnapped when she was 14-years-old. She was held captive for nine months by Brian David Mitchell, a man who believed 1) that he was a true prophet of God, and 2) that Elizabeth was to become his (plural) wife. In March of 2003 the police rescued Elizabeth in Sandy, Utah. On May…
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Sin Entered, Blood Formed
The Mormon Church recently released an updated edition of its scriptures. One of the resources that underwent some change is the Bible Dictionary, found in the back of the LDS edition of the KJV Bible (print editions). In reviewing some of the changes made to the new digital edition I found one of particular interest…
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Finding Emma
Last week Jana Riess (Flunking Sainthood) wrote about “The Mormon Reinvention of Emma Smith.” Recapping a recent lecture by Emma Smith’s biographer Linda King Newell (co-author with Valeen Tippets Avery, Mormon Enigma: Emma Hale Smith, 1984), Ms. Riess noted that before the publication of Ms. Newell’s book, “Emma had been largely written out of official…
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The Importance of Joseph Smith’s First Vision
At the October 1961 general conference of the Mormon Church Gordon B. Hinckley said, “I would like to say that this cause is either true or false. Either this is the kingdom of God, or it is a sham and a delusion. Either Joseph talked with the Father and the Son, or he did not.…
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Do Mormon Apostles Believe in the Restoration?
A little over a week ago (on April 6, 2013) Christopher Ralph at the Journey of Loyal Dissent blog posted a controversial memorandum written by author and historian Grant H. Palmer. The memo recounts details from Mr. Palmer’s “Three Meetings with a LDS General Authority, 2012-2013.” The information Mr. Palmer relates could be powerfully damaging…
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Tithing Necessary for Mormon Spiritual Health and Welfare
On March 4th 2013 the U.S. Tax Court ruled that Mormon plaintiff George Thompson would not be allowed to consider his church tithe a “necessary expense” in regards to paying back taxes owed to the government. Mr. Thompson owes $883,000 in back taxes, which he intends to pay, over time. In deciding how much Mr.…
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The Dying Christ
As we approach Good Friday, the Cross of Christ is on our hearts and minds. The cross, the great symbol of the Christian faith — the symbol of our hope and assurance — is not embraced by all as an apt expression of one’s faith in and devotion to Christ. The Mormon Church chooses different…
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From the Mailbag (Heavenly Grandfathers)
Dear Sharon, Some critics say that Mormons believe that when they become gods they will have glory equal with Father. But that is simply a lie. I know that our Father will be always our GOD and we will worship Him for whole eternity, becoming gods is not to rob Father’s glory, but to give…
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Living by the Scriptures
For many years the LDS Church-owned newspaper Church News included a column called “Living by the Scriptures.” This weekly column was described by the newspaper in this way: “‘Living by the Scriptures’ is another in a series of Church News reader response articles. Was there a time when a particular scripture touched you, when it…
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A Mormon Apostle Explains the “Component Parts” of God
Foundational to the Mormon gospel is the existence of Heavenly Mother, the spouse and counterpart of Mormonism’s Heavenly Father. When Mormon Apostle Erastus Snow taught on this concept in 1878, he explained that God is a component being, consisting of both male and female “parts.” While Apostle Snow’s remarks could be misunderstood, I believe that…
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Methodists and Mormons
Christopher Jones writes at the Peculiar People blog about the prevalence of early Mormon converts who came from a Methodist background. It is suggested that this was because they (and others) believed about Mormonism, “It’s like Methodism, only more.” Indeed, Mr. Jones quotes Joseph Smith telling a Methodist minister, “We Latter-day Saints are Methodists, as…
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Unpaid Mormon Leaders Get a Pretty Sweet Deal
Late last year (2012) a copy of the 2006 Mission President’s Handbook was posted on an individual’s blog site. This document, produced by the Mormon Church as a practical instruction manual for mission presidents, “contains basic policies and guidelines established by the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to help you lead…
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Changing and Correcting Mormon Scripture
The January 2013 Ensign magazine seems to reflect a new effort toward transparency in the Mormon Church. In an article by LDS historian Gerrit Dirkmaat, “Great and Marvelous are the Revelations of God,” the author discloses “Many Revelations Were Later Revised by Joseph Smith through Inspiration”: “Over the course of the first five years of…